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 novel. Austen reveals society's reluctance to accept this new class through characters such as the Eltons, Coles and the Martins.
             The newest family to make their way into the wealthy class was the Coles. "A very good sort of people...of low origin, in trade, and only moderately genteel, the Coles have managed to improve their means quite considerably in a short amount of time to become, in fortune and style of living, second only to the family at Hartfield" (132). Emma outwardly resents the Coles' rapid climb into her society and desperately wants to put them in their place. She plans to do this by refusing to accept their invitation to a dinner party. "The Coles were very respectable in their own way, but they ought to be taught that it was not for them to arrange the terms on which the superior families would visit them" (132). Emma revels in the thought of her "power of refusal" (132) until she realizes that all of her upper-class friends will be attending the party. Upon receiving this news, Emma of course accepts so as not to appear snobbish.
             Emma takes a young girl named Harriet under her wing at the beginning of the novel. She tries to transform Harriet from a dumpy, unknown little girl into a prestigious young woman like herself. Emma, however, ends up hurting Harriet more than helping her. Harriet almost seems to become a canvas for Emma to paint. She does this by inventing a family history for Harriet and persuading her to snub the lesser...