Harriet Smith in Emma

Who is Harriet Smith?

Harriet Smith is introduced as a gentle, grateful parlour-boarder from Mrs. Goddard’s school whom Emma quickly befriends and cultivates. She enjoys Emma’s attention, visits Hartfield frequently, and looks to Emma for guidance about society and love. Harriet falls into brief infatuations (most notably with Mr. Elton and later with the idea that Mr. Knightley might prefer her) because she is inexperienced and easily influenced. After being encouraged to refuse Robert Martin’s first proposal, she suffers disappointment when Mr. Elton’s apparent attentions are revealed to be directed elsewhere; Emma then consoles and tends to her. Harriet’s feelings shift over time: she recovers from the Elton episode, endures social embarrassments such as the gipsy scare, and ultimately accepts Robert Martin’s renewed, sincere proposal. By the end of the notes she is happily engaged and later married to Martin, having moved from dependence on Emma’s social coaching toward practical, secure contentment.

In the book: When we first meet her, Harriet Smith is a pretty, impressionable student from Mrs. Goddard’s school who is thrilled to be noticed by Emma Woodhouse. Emma quickly takes her under her wing, chatting about friends and prospects and nudging her tastes toward more fashionable company.

Personality

Impressionable

In Chapter 3 Emma immediately resolves to ‘improve’ Harriet’s connections after learning she is a parlour-boarder at Mrs. Goddard’s school and accepts Emma’s guidance without hesitation.

Grateful

After being received warmly at Hartfield in Chapter 3, Harriet leaves flattered and grateful, visibly affected by Emma’s notice and kindness.

Docile

In Chapter 7 Harriet allows Emma to compose and shape the refusal letter to Robert Martin, following Emma’s counsel despite evident uncertainty.

Tender-hearted

When Emma tells her the truth about Mr. Elton in Chapter 17, Harriet responds with tearful but unresentful sorrow, blaming no one.

Resilient

After several disappointments—Elton’s rejection, the gipsy episode (Chapter 3 of the Randalls ball notes), and social mortifications—Harriet recovers and ultimately accepts Robert Martin’s renewed proposal in Chapter 18.

Character arc

Harriet’s journey begins as a naive, grateful pupil whose identity and prospects are largely shaped by the opinions and plans of others, especially Emma. Early on she is content to accept Emma’s cultivation, talking often of the Martins and allowing Emma to steer her social ambitions toward gentlemen like Mr. Elton (Chapters 3–6). When Robert Martin proposes (Chapter 7) and Emma counsels refusal, Harriet follows Emma’s lead, showing her dependence. The revelation that Mr. Elton loved Emma and not her (Chapter 15–17) is painful but handled with surprising dignity: Harriet mourns but does not turn bitter, and Emma devotes herself to comforting her. After a period away (Isabella’s house) and continued kindness from friends, Harriet’s feelings settle into practical desires for a stable, affectionate marriage. By Chapter 18 she accepts Robert Martin’s renewed, sincere proposal and is presented as happily settled and respectable by the end of the notes. Throughout the narrative Harriet moves from pliant pupil to someone who, though still gentle and unassertive, chooses a secure, contented future rather than continued romantic idealizing.

Relationships

• Emma Woodhouse Harriet’s patron, close friend, and social guide; Emma repeatedly influences Harriet’s tastes, decisions, and emotional life.
• Robert Martin A sensible, steady young farmer whose first sincere proposal Harriet initially refuses under Emma’s influence but later accepts and marries.
• Mr. Elton An object of Harriet’s early hopes after Emma encourages the match; she is heartbroken when his affections are revealed to be for Emma (Chapters 6, 15–17).
• Mrs. Goddard Head of the boarding-school where Harriet is a parlour-boarder and one of Harriet’s original, modest social anchors (Chapter 3–4).
• Mr. Knightley A sympathetic, corrective presence whose criticism of Emma’s management of Harriet helps protect Harriet’s welfare; he later brings news of Robert Martin’s successful proposal (Chapter 8, 18).
• Mrs. Weston A kindly intermediary and friend in Highbury society who supports Harriet’s wellbeing and appears in conversations that affect Harriet’s prospects.

Quotes by Harriet Smith

“He had never heard of such books before I mentioned them, but he is determined to get them now as soon as ever he can.”

Chapter 4Shows Robert Martin’s limited reading tastes and Harriet’s impression of his efforts to expand his knowledge—evidence of his rural, practical character.

“You could not have visited me!" she cried, looking aghast.”

Chapter 7Harriet realizes the social consequences Emma claims would have followed her marriage to Robert Martin and recoils at the thought.

“Miss Woodhouse—if you are at leisure—I have something that I should like to tell you—a sort of confession to make—and then, you know, it will be over.”

Chapter 4Opening line of Harriet’s visit; establishes her nervous determination to confess her attachment and keepsakes.

“I shall never marry.”

Chapter 4Harriet’s abrupt declaration in response to Emma’s casual remark, revealing her resignation rooted in social inferiority.

Why Harriet Smith matters

Harriet embodies themes of social influence, class mobility, and the ethics of matchmaking. Through her susceptibility to Emma’s designs, the novel examines how benevolence can shade into manipulative guidance and how social rank and education shape marital prospects. Harriet’s eventual choice of Robert Martin underscores the novel’s valuation of steadiness, sense, and mutual fitness over social ambition or romantic idealization. Her gentle temper and forgiving nature also highlight the moral contrast between humility and vanity, while her recovery and contentment demonstrate that personal happiness can be found in sincere, practical matches rather than aspirational social climbing.

Chapters with Harriet Smith

• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
• Chapter 12
• Chapter 13
• Chapter 14
• Chapter 15
• Chapter 16
• Chapter 17
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
• Chapter 12
• Chapter 13
• Chapter 14
• Chapter 15
• Chapter 16
• Chapter 17
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
• Chapter 11
• Chapter 12
• Chapter 13
• Chapter 14
• Chapter 15
• Chapter 16
• Chapter 17
• Chapter 18
• Chapter 19

More Emma characters

• Emma WoodhouseProtagonist
• Frank ChurchillMajor character
• Miss BatesMajor character
• Mrs WestonMajor character
• Isabella KnightleyMajor character
• Mr WoodhouseMajor character
• Jane FairfaxMajor character
• Mr WestonMajor character