"Austen's novels are all about money." To what extent is this comment true in relation to 'Emma'? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayBehind every action there is an impulse, a will that serves to support the most open and secret desires of the self. Within Jane Austen's Emma, ​​money serves as a motivator, guiding and sustaining all interactions and relationships that ensue. However, to say that the novel is “all about money” would be a blind approach; Austen paints a vibrant and twisted world, such complexity naturally makes all character motivations not exclusively tied to one thematic desire, but rather multiple. How in the following discussion you will realize the importance of further themes such as love or class, and how Austen skillfully weaves together the use of comedy and commentary to compliment character development and the reader's experience. Money, for many characters, acts as a central motivator. For women, wealth creates independence and distance from their male counterparts and from strenuous or degrading occupations. For men, wealth equates to freedom, ease of life and social respect. A key example is that of Mr. Elton, an individual driven to marry by the prospect of wealth. Whenever found in the narrator or character's discussion, synonymous words emerge surrounding themes of monetary value, such as "high place" and "fortune," both of which have connotations with social hierarchy and tax incentives. The character also points out, using metaphor, that Mr. Elton would prefer "Miss Somebody" rather than Harriet, as for him it naturally requires an individual of a rich and strong social status. The pronoun "someone" acts somewhat hyperbolically, as if to say that Mr. Elton believes that anyone other than Harriet can fulfill such a desired disposition in a partner. Austen also seems to give an underlying message within this simple sentence, which is that an individual who considers money to be the primary reason for marriage is someone with insincere, spiteful, and simply servile motivations, as suggested by this ambiguous descriptive comment from "Miss Somebody". ”. Mr. Elton even exaggerates his thoughts by stating that he "never cared whether she [Harriet] was alive or dead"; such exaggerations appear to the reader ignorantly rude and therefore funny, especially due to the placement of the two characters inside a small carriage and Mr. Elton's subsequent crying. The monosyllabic diction of the words “dead or alive” also emphasizes their direct and offensive nature. The importance of repeating the description of Mr. Elton in this way is then seen in his motivation to marry Miss Hawkins in later chapters, the rapid transition from Emma and Miss Hawkins' wealthy status only proves the truth in this element by Mr. Elton's character and the nature of money as a motivator and theme. From such descriptions it may be easy to understand the centrality of money in Austen's novels, but can money be the only true thematic presence within the text? Not really, as love is arguably a stronger force for both character and plot development. Emma, ​​for example, is constantly fixated on the relationships and flirtatious signs of her social counterparts, noticing all the acts of potential compassion and connection. Marriage and love drive social interaction here, whether it be the numerous attempts to set Harriet up with a partner, the resolution of which is that Harriet is driven to Mr. Martin by love, or the numerous other pairings of which.