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Anyway, Chapter 4 begins with the blossoming friendship between Harriet and Emma. Emma is utterly delighted that Harriet can be a walking companion for her since Mr Woodhouse—bless his rheumatic, consumptive little head—would not set his frail footfalls beyond a certain threshold of shrubberies.

I’m also realizing that I am predisposed to root for these characters since I had such a nice time with Pride and Prejudice, and that might color my reading of Emma. I’m not sure how, yet, but I can see my journey with these characters is about to be pretty different.

Hmm. Emma ruminates on Harriet—grateful, amiable, agreeable, acquiescent Harriet—being so different than Mrs Weston née Taylor. Harriet could be improved with Emma’s influence, whereas Mrs Weston née Taylor was too grown and independent to need anything from her.

This seems like a cheerfully paved path to toxicity.

OH this is so interesting to me because this paternalistic impulse is something I usually associate with masculinity. I’m more accustomed to seeing men attracted to people over whom they might be considered an authority or a better. And that tends to go sour pretty fast.

The eventual realization that people might not need them as an authority figure in the way they assumed is the basis of many a corvette-honking midlife crisis, tbh.

LMAO Emma tries to figure out who Harriet’s parents are, and Harriet is simply not that curious about it. I haven’t settled on a read of this detail yet.

I’m not sure if Harriet is just comfortably sure of herself in a way Emma can’t quite comprehend OR if Harriet has calculated the over/under on whether her situation would improve if her parentage was known and decided her life would most likely be best situated without that knowledge.

Aw, Harriet seems to really like the Martins, and Emma finds it cute (in a patronizing way) that Harriet is so impressed by the way they live.

Emma is a little annoying in this regard.

Oh Emma does not like that Mr Martin is a single man! This would be bad for… Harriet’s prospects? Or something? I don’t totally understand her concern, but okay. I assume there’s some regency more I’m neglecting to consider. Or maybe Emma is just being overbearing. I don’t know.

Okay, so here I find myself disagreeing with Jane Austen—Mr Martin is definitely exceedingly hot. He’s a sweet fellow who goes out of his way to bring Harriet little treats!!! That is not scrub behavior. That is hot guy shit. AND HE TAKES HARRIET’S READING RECOMMENDATIONS!!!

Canonically Sexy Mr Martin.

He’s 24! He’s a baby!!

Oh my god. He’s a sweetie!!! Emma let the girl shack up with the hot farmer who is nice to her. He’s perfect. Hell, I’ll marry him. Harriet, move.

Okay, how is Emma assuming Harriet is a gentleman’s daughter? Like, an imaginary gentleman? An imaginary gentleman is of a higher station than flesh and blood Mr Martin? Did I miss some detail about Harriet’s parentage? Does Emma know something I don’t know? Or is she fancasting her friend as fancy?

Oh my god if Emma were around today, she would one hundred percent be a menace in the comments on AO3, starting fights over competing headcanons.

Wait never mind, I’m on Emma’s team again. bsky.app/profile/mich...

“I like you, which means you’re automatically better than most people in all regards, actually. You’re welcome.” This is my girl. Emma is my girl.

I think I love this specific flavor of naive privilege; it’s so endearing! It suggests to me that Emma can befriend anybody who delights her. Anyone she likes should be allowed in her social strata, and she’s going to forcefully will a social ladder into existence for a girl she likes. It’s sweet!

I love her so much.

I will NOT be thinking deeply about how I’m less likely to empathize with a smugly cleverer-than-thou protagonist (Elizabeth Bennet) than I am to root for a straightforwardly snobby protagonist (Emma Woodhouse).

Elizabeth: I am better than you because I am very smart and decent, and I can see you for what you really are, and I don’t think you can keep up with my wit and my verve or live up to my standards. Emma: I am better than you! 😊 Isn’t that neat?