Miss Harriet Smith
Miss Harriet Smith is introduced to us in the early chapters of the story. She is the illegitimate daughter of an unknown parents and ultimately her unknown father is found to be a trader by profession. When the story opens, Harriet is a student at Mrs. Goddard school, and she is introduced to Emma by Mrs. Goddard herself. Harriet “was a very pretty girl and her beauty happened to be of a sort which Emma particularly admired. She was short, plump and fair, with a fine bloom, blue eyes, light hair, regular features, and a look of great sweetness.”
Harriet certainly is not clever, but she has “a sweet, docile, grateful disposition”. She is totally free from conceit; and she feels glad when Emma becomes her patron. Emma too feels very happy in the companionship of Harriet, and Emma’s father also recognizes Harriet’s value to Emma as Emma’s companion.
When, Harriet is introduced to Emma, she has been very intimate with the Martins’ family for the last several months. But Emma’s snobbery does not permit Emma to allow Harriet to continue her attachment to that family. Emma tries to convince Harriet that the attachment to the Martin family will do her no good so far as her future is concerned. Harriet tried a feeble effort to defend her attachment to the Martin family, but she is overruled by Emma, with the result that Harriet has to keep away from that family as much as possible. Thus, on account of her submissive nature Harriet agrees to obey Emma’s wishes in this matter.
Harriet’s submissive nature is also responsible for rejecting Mr. Martin’s proposal of marriage to her. If Harriet had not been under Emma’s influence, she would certainly have accepted Mr. Martin’s proposal in the very beginning. But Emma argues the case in such a clever manner that Harriet is left with no alternative but to send a negative reply to Mr. Martin. Mr. Knightley was of the opinion that Harriet should consider herself lucky to become Mr. Martin’s wife, but Emma has different plans about the girl to that Harriet’s natural inclination in this respect is thwarted by Emma. Harriet’s rejection of Mr. Martin’s proposal comes as a great disappointment to Mr. Knightley. Mr. Knightley does not share Emma’s high opinion of the beauty and abilities of Harriet, and he says to Emma, “Emma, your infatuation about that girl blinds you. What are Harriet smith’s claims, either of birth, nature, or education, to any connection higher than Robert Martin? She is not a sensible girl nor a girl of any information.”
Emma sows in Harriet the seeds of an ambition to marry Mr. Elton. Under Emma’s persuasion, Harriet really begins to believe that Mr. Elton is in love with her and so she begins to dream of getting married to the vicar. Mr. Elton’s repeated praise of Harriet, his enthusiasm at the portrait of Harriet painted by Emma, his prompt offer to go to London in order to have the portrait framed – are all regarded by Emma, and therefore, by Harriet also, as sure signs that Mr. Elton is in love with Harriet. Consequently, when Mr. Elton proposes marriage to Emma instead of to Harriet, both Emma and Harriet receive a big shock. Harriet’s disappointment is very bitter; her grief is intense, and she sheds abundant tears.
At the ball given by Mr. and Mrs. Weston, Harriet is insulted and humiliated by Mr. Elton who refuses to dance with her. At this time, Mr. Knightley comes to her rescue by inviting her to dance with him. She thereupon filled with a deep gratitude towards Mr. Knightley, and this gratitude takes the form of a passion for him. Harriet is now no longer as welcome a friend to Emma as she was in the past. In fact, Emma wishes that she had never met Harriet. Emma arranges for an invitation from her sister Isabella to Harriet to go to London and spend sometime there. In London, Harriet happens to meet Mr. martin who repeats original proposal of marriage to her. This time there is no occasion for her to reject the proposal, and so Knightley’s view that Harriet was the most suitable wife for Mr. Martin.
Thus, Harriet serves as an object for Emma to exercise her power and authority upon. She is a perfectly passive character as compared to the dynamic and domineering Emma.
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