Coritza Quintal
Professor Dorothy Zjawin
English 393
November 15, 2015
Connection between marriage and social status portrayed in Emma
In Emma, a novel by Jane Austen, social status is determined by one’s family background, reputation, and wealth. One of the main ways to raise one’s social status is marriage but marrying too far above oneself may lead to unhappiness. There are a number of marriages in Emma and in each marriage the match strengthens the social status of the characters.
The marriage between Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill is very interesting because their social status are not equal. Jane Fairfax is the daughter of Mrs. Bates’ youngest daughter, Jane Bates and Lieutenant Fairfax. The Bates were of high social status for Ms. Jane Bates to marry a commissioned officer in the regimental military “The marriage of Lieut. Fairfax of the - regiment of infantry, and Miss Jane bates, had had its day of fame and pleasure, hope and interest” (Austen 87). Upon her father’s and mother’s death Jane is taken in by the Campbell’s family “and from that period Jane had belonged to Colonel Campbell’s family, and had lived with them entirely” (Austen 88). Jane is beautiful, talented, charming, well-regarded, and she possesses a kind heart and a reserved temperament. Frank Churchill is the son of Mr. Weston and Miss Churchill. Mr. Weston’s family is respectable yet originally not wealthy but Miss Churchill came from a wealthy and well-connected family. The inequality of their social status caused hardship to both “it was an unsuitable connexion, and did not produce much happiness” (Austen 8). Because of his mother’s death Frank is adopted by his uncle and aunt, “and Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, having no children of their own, nor any other young creature of equal kindred to care for, offered to take the whole charge of the little Frank” (Austen 9). Frank is handsome,