Class Divisions in Highbury

Jane Austen’s classic novel, “Emma”, is not only a story about love or self-discovery, but it is also a novel which depicts the division of classes in the time during which it was written. During Emma Woodhouse’s time, the mid-1800’s, more and more people seemed to be able to climb up into the wealthier classes. This new class of wealth was rarely welcome, as is apparent in Emma’s behavior throughout the …

…the same time shows her readers the constant threat that the poor can very easily come into the wealthy class. Mr. Knightley moving into the Woodhouse’s home shows that “the small band of true friends” (313) have to group together to combat the threat. Under the pretense of companionship and parental guidance, people like Emma and Augusta try to control the upward mobility of the new wealthy class by maintaining the inferiority of younger women.