In her novel, “Emma,” Jane Austen sets out to create a character she thought no one but herself would much like. Emma Woodhouse possessed many glaring imperfections. Yet, despite the character’s vanity and the novel’s poor example of friendship, Emma remains one of Austen’s most beloved heroines. This is because the heroine has the humility to honestly recognize her failings and is quick to repent.
Though primarily considered a romance novel, Austen’s “Emma” is, at its core, an examination of the nature of friendship. Emma’s friendship with Harriet Smith, with all its flaws, actually ends up being the seedbed for Emma’s character growth. This is despite Emma’s belief that the benefit of the friendship would be almost exclusively Harriet’s.
