Essay | Social Status in "Emma"

Social status is a touchy topic in Jane Austen's Emma. Written and set in 1816, Emma's society is full of social class divides. Even though the extremes between the classes is not as evident today as it was in the 1800's, there are still divides. The rich celebrities throw extravagant parties, the majority of the populace strive to be higher on the food chain and everyone helps the poor people in America. The same can be said about Jane Austen's England; there are the upper class privileged heirs that need not do anything to support themselves, the middle class working men, and the lower class farmers. The Martins and Bateses represent the lower class, the Eltons are a part of the middle class, and the Woodhouses and Knightleys are the upper crust.

The two families representing the lower class in Emma are the Martins and...
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