The function of setting in the presentation of Jane Austen’s main concerns in Emma

In Jane Austens novel Emma, the function of setting is to award animateness as it would be in Highbury around the same time as Austen was writing the book (around 1815). The setting mostly refers to the period the is set in story as well as the go under, which of course to a fault bears ofttimes relevance. However, Jane Austens important concern in the book was to convey social convention, an aspect of life which would have a major affect on the characters in the story as it did Jane herself, in context to the period it is set. Also the themes of coupling and wealth excessively tie in with social status in the book as it would be of vastness in the early eighteenth century that it is set in.The character that to help exclusively these themes together as well as Emma herself is Harriet. Not merely is the power of status lay downn by Emmas control over Harriet,( not even by force nevertheless Harriets freewill, as she admires and aspires to Emma)solely she also takes the t heme of coupling with Emmas mischievous behaviour as she tries to match make Harriet to suitors of appearingly higher single out.Harriet also ties in with the preparation being a parlour boarder at Mrs Goddards school. We atomic number 18 capable to see a glimpse of what education is like as Jane Austen necessitate s in her description of Mrs Goddard the mistress of a school not of seminary, or an establishmentsolely, a real, honest, old-fashioned boarding schoolwhere girls whitethorn be sent out the way and scramble themselves in to a little education, without any danger of bringing back prodigies We are shown the benevolent of education girls would have received at the time, a middle class education. Jane evokes a warm sense to the ides of school though the last delimit is a little shocking it brings in the real macrocosm, a world where contraception were not available and pre-marital sex was still a b drop act in the eyes of party. The scramble for education also show s the shell of education the girls may receive. Not a full education but whatever the girls could grasp. In this way we can already see the pleasant of education that society of the period were growing up with. However for Emma, a member of higher class this was different, as it is shown, she was educated by get out Taylor as would all member s of upper class be tutored at home.Through out the novel there are marriage agreements and suitors made and discussions between characters of twin marriage this refers to embraceing a person in the story of equal wealth and status. By the end of the novel it seems all characters seem to have found their equal in marriage, with Emma it is the gentlemanly Mr knightly who if not just equal in status is equal by intellect as is evident through their many long conversations they hold, conversations on a level we never see Emma talk to Harriet with. Harriet also marries Mr Martin who later on all turns out to be the right match for her. Thoug h it would seem the message from the writer is that one should marry within ones own status, it is enkindle to acknowledge the marriage at the beginning of the book. Miss Taylor, Emmas nanny hence middle class, marries Mr Weston, of upper class, and there seems to be no evidence of animadversion from the writer or characters of their marriage. In fact there are so many occasions in the book where the couple are set forth well together and perfectly married it seems they are almost a role model to other married couples at the time.However though there is a happy ending, Jane Austen uses Emma, with her mischief and interfering nature to demonstrate the brilliance of social class and equal marriage within society at the time. As she takes Harriet and manipulates her encounterings towards Mr Elton, the occurrences alone reveal the nature of class to us. When Mr Elton realises Harriet has tenderness for him he is disgusted at the thought of it, even wise Mr proud comments on Mr Eltons views as Mr Elton said he would marry richly. This is revealed even get ahead when he turns his attentions on Emma, the richest female in the story. His desire for Emma or quite an Emmas money in turn disgusts her, and the feeling is evident and her astonishment shows how incommensurate she feels her self to him and how superior. An unequal marriage seems the most shocking of all things in the story, as it would in context.However after being rejected Harriet only turns her attentions higher to Mr Knightly, the richest man in Highbury however the reader does not feel this is arrogance on the part of Miss Smith, believing that he may requite her feelings but the fault of Emma who builds up Harriets vanity through the book. The importance of marrying for money seems far more important than marrying for love and it is only thus when the idea of marrying for love come tos Emma head. The only reason it seems Mr Knightly could marry Harriet would be for love, for Harriet has n othing of possession to mutilateer. Though this idea is introduced, marrying for love, two central characters Emma and Harriet marry into equal relationships, and though they do love their partners, it is the equality that is expressed so importantly. It is simply that Jane Austen has idealised their relationships with their love for their partners and equality both being show to the characters.The marriages contrast to the marriage of Mr Elton and Mrs Elton, as is commented by a character that in marry Mrs Elton, Mr Elton received twenty thousand pounds, an equal marriage but not one for affection to each other. In the novel Jane Austen only shows their judgemental characteristics and superficial attitudes, perhaps the example of a bad marriage, though equal in status?Though the term setting in manufacturing also applies to period, an important factor in this book the setting, in referral to place is also important. Highbury is a rural environment almost cut off from the world. This small town helps us understand the narrow mindedness of some characters, and also the reason of so little action. The central action to the story is conversation, the lack of action means that to livelihood the reader entertained Jane Austen had create something else to keep the readers interest. Through such(prenominal) detailed language and description we receive such vivid characters and receive a lot information from their obstetrical delivery and others speech about them.This also ties in with the period as presentation of a person would be very important and so what you say was also important, this is reproduced in Emma, as everything each character says reveals something about them. Also by setting the story in a remote rural study there can be more attention to new characters that enter the life of Emma. The conversation and excitement created by the awaited arrival of hound Churchill creates a lot of excitement between characters in the book as it is not often visi tors would come. Importance is added on this figure as he is a bachelor of Emmas age and so expectations of the reader and other characters are raised.Therefore in the setting of Emma, Jane Austens main concern with period was to show the social convention of the time, the way it affected marriage and also the importance of marriage in the context of the story. Jane uses Emma and Emmas treatement and views of other characters to show the three main themes of money, status, and marriage within the 18th century period it was set.