Jane Austen's "Emma" views the relationships of various 19th century middle- class families in the small town of Highbury. This novel conveys the thoughts, feelings and actions of twenty-one year old Emma Woodhouse and gives the reader an accurate insight into human failings and flaws, exploring our minds delusions, essentially examining human behavior.
             Austen comments on a multitude of subjects that are still subsequent in today's society; the most obvious being the views and opinions made about other characters based solely upon their social ranking. The section of society portrayed in Emma focuses on select middle-class families in a tranquil town, yet the range of social standing is shown to be significant. Focusing usually on how in Highbury, marriage involving people of unequal stations in life will be destined to end in failure. Harriet is proposed to by a modestly prosperous farmer, Robert Martin. However, Emma, the village voice, is repelled and makes a mockery of this proposal when she says "You confined to the society of the illiterate and vulgar all your life! It would be a degradation." Harriet should not have to rely upon the voice and opinion of Emma, or care whether or not her relationship is socially acceptable.
             Mr. Knightly, who is of opposing view, regards Harriet as being a bad connection for a respectable, intelligent gentleman farmer. This arrogance on both sides highlights the strong prejudice of a person's worth, due to their social rank; a human imperfection of which is still prominent in our society. It is obvious in this society that a person's viewpoint of their rank is dependent on the self-deceiving delusions created primarily by others.
             Emma realizes the power of money but finds that those not of fortune are of less importance, when she considers refusing a dinner invitation to a family who earned their money through trade. Mr Elton also knows the value of money and will ...