Blog Post #1

Emma's Relationship with Harriet Smith

Topic C

April 18, 2015

Miss Taylor, Emma's governess, had played a huge part in Emma's life. Since her mother had died when Emma was young, Miss Taylor had taken care of Emma and her sister for 16 years. Miss Taylor had been very fond of Emma and "between them it was more the intimacy of sisters." (Austen 3) However, Miss Taylor had to move out of the Woodhouse's home when she married Mr. Weston. This left Emma without a friend for a while, that is until she met Harriet Smith.  Mrs. Goddard introduced Emma to Harriet, because Harriet was one of her students. When they first begin to talk, Emma “was as much pleased with her manners as her person, and quite determined to continue their acquaintance.” (20) Emma see’s Harriet as someone she can help. At first Emma started planning to improve her and teach her how to “fit in” at Hartfield. Then she begins to plan on getting her to marry someone, like she did with Miss Taylor and Mr. Weston. In a way, Emma’s relationship with Harriet is starting out to be a way for Emma to distract herself from being upset about Miss Taylor. She almost views Harriet as a type of “project” that she could fix. Emma most likely feels as if she needs to immerse herself in another friendship in order to fill in the gap Miss Taylor left in her life. Emma begins to treat Harriet like Miss Taylor when she starts to plan on setting her up with a man, which is what she did for Miss Taylor.