not for the world...

Jane Austen's novel, Emma

     When Mr. Knightley disapprovingly speculates that Emma has influenced Harriet to refuse Robert Martin's marriage proposal, Emma denies influencing Harriet, but then says she might have, only a little....

     In the marriage proposal chapter, Harriet says,

     "Yes.  But what shall I say?  Dear Miss Woodhouse, do advise me."

     "Oh no, no! the letter had much better be all your own.  You will express yourself very properly, I am sure.  There is no danger of your not being intelligible, which is the first thing.  

Your meaning must be unequivocal; no doubts or demurs:  and such expressions of gratitude and concern for the pain you are inflicting as propriety requires, will present themselves unbidden to your mind, I am persuaded.  

You need not be prompted to write with the appearance of sorrow for his disappointment."
     "You think I ought to refuse him then," said Harriet, looking down.


     "Ought to refuse him!  My dear Harriet, what do you mean?  Are you in any doubt as to that?  I thought -- but I beg your pardon, perhaps I have been under a mistake.  I certainly have been misunderstanding you, if you feel in doubt as to the purport of your answer.  I had imagined you were consulting me only as to the wording of it."

     Harriet was silent.  With a little reserve of manner, Emma continued:
    "You mean to return a favourable answer, I collect."
    "No, I do not; that is, I do not mean -- What shall I do?  What would you advise me to do?  Pray, dear Miss Woodhouse, tell me what I ought to do."

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And the reader keeps feeling like -- should Emma be giving advice, even in the form of "hints"?  And -- should Harriet be listening to Emma?


     But there's little hope of Harriet not leaning on Emma's judgment and opinion.  Harriet's personality is not the stronger of the two.  And Harriet is 17 years old; Emma, 20 or 21.  At that stage of life an age gap of only a few years seems to give, or imply, significantly superior Life Knowledge and Wisdom to whichever of the friends is older.

     And the life-and-financial-security-and-social-position of Emma Woodhouse is "above" that of Harriet Smith, and so Harriet believes that Emma "knows"....  

(The English professor who took us through this novel commented on, and made sure we noticed, how Austen describes the characters' behaviors, manners, knowledge ["is he a man of information?"] and economic-security as "rising" or "sinking" -- being "above" or "below"....  Like figures on a computer screen, or bubbles blown from a child's plastic wand....)

     Is Emma's influence good for Harriet Smith?  Or is Emma more or less "trifling" with the fortunes of someone whose social position (or lack thereof) she cannot, or will not, seriously comprehend?


     Does Emma truly care for Harriet's future, as she forwards her Matchmaking Project with Mr. Elton, or is she just having fun?


     Does Emma pay enough attention to Harriet's actual feelings for Robert Martin?

----------------- [excerpt] --------- "Not for the world," said Emma, smiling graciously, "would I advise you either way.  You must be the best judge of your own happiness.  

If you prefer Mr. Martin to every other person; if you think him the most agreeable man you have ever been in company with, why should you hesitate?  

You blush, Harriet. -- Does any body else occur to you at this moment under such a definition?  Harriet, Harriet, do not deceive yourself; do not be run away with by gratitude and compassion.  At this moment whom are you thinking of?"


     The symptoms were favourable. -- Instead of answering, Harriet turned away confused, and stood thoughtfully by the fire; and though the letter was still in her hand, it was now mechanically twisted about without regard.  Emma waited the result with impatience, but not without strong hopes.  At last, with some hesitation, Harriet said --

     "Miss Woodhouse, as you will not give me your opinion, I must do as well as I can by myself; and I have now quite determined, and really almost made up my mind -- to refuse Mr. Martin.  

    Do you think I am right?" ---------- [end, excerpt] ----

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After Mr. Knightley tells Emma of his disapproval and disappointment about the Harriet Smith - Robert Martin connection, he leaves, and Emma feels upset.  She gets to thinking, though, and reworks the components of the situation:


---------------- [excerpt]---------- He had frightened her a little about Mr. Elton; but when she considered that Mr. Knightley could not have observed him as she had done, neither with the interest, nor (she must be allowed to tell herself, in spite of Mr. Knightley's pretensions) with the skill of such an observer on such a question as herself, that he had spoken it hastily and in anger, she was able to believe, that he had rather said what he wished resentfully to be true, than what he knew any thing about.  


He certainly might have heard Mr. Elton speak with more unreserve than she had ever done, and Mr. Elton might not be of an imprudent, inconsiderate disposition as to money matters; he might naturally be rather attentive than otherwise to them; but then, Mr. Knightley did not make due allowance for the influence of a strong passion at war with all interested motives.  

Mr. Knightley saw no such passion, and of course thought nothing of its effects; but she saw too much of it to feel a doubt of its overcoming any hesitations that a reasonable prudence might originally suggest; and more than a reasonable, becoming degree of prudence, she was very sure did not belong to Mr. Elton.

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