Elites Acting Badly

Marilyn Butler’s idea is that Emma’s high status gives her more leeway to act badly – but also that her bad actions are her own moral responsibility. On one hand, this seems reasonable; certainly after this election season it seems like elites can get away with things that ordinary people could never do. But at the same time, I wonder whether Austen is actually challenging the idea that women lived their lives in the way that men imagined they do. I don’t know much about any of Austen’s other heroines, but it may be that women always do far more then society tells them they are supposed to. You could argue that poor women have more leeway because they don’t have class expectations thrust upon them.

Emma definitely does have advantages due to status. For instance, her wealth (and doting father) may mean that she can vow to remain single, because she does not have to marry for economic support. But I only think the first half of Butler’s statement may be true. I haven’t seen yet that Emma takes “moral responsibility” for her bad behavior, like when she discouraged the union of Mr. Martin and Harriet due to her own prejudices and self-interest, or when she gossips about Jane's and Mr. Dixon's supposed attraction to each other.