Oh gawd, Mrs. Elton. Yes, let's talk about her! She's the epitome of obnoxious, like you said, Tara. I nearly keeled over when Mr. Weston describes Mrs. Churchill to Mrs. Elton (vol. 2, ch. 18/ch. 36) because it reads to me like an equally applicable condemnation of Mrs. Elton, and her reaction is sheer ironic brilliance.
" 'Mr. Churchill has pride; but his pride is nothing to his wife's: his is a quiet, indolent, gentleman-like sort of pride that would harm nobody, and only make himself a little helpless and tiresome; but her pride is arrogance and insolence! And what inclines one less to bear, she has no pretence of family or blood. She was a nobody when he married her, barely the daughter of a gentleman; but ever since her being turned into a Churchill she has out-Churchill'd them all in high and mighty claims: but in herself, I assure you, she is an upstart.'
'Only think! well, that must be infinitely provoking! I have quite a horror of upstarts. Maple Grove has given me a thorough disgust to people of that sort'" (282, Oxford World's Classics edition).
Yet, for all of her ridiculousness, she does what Emma will not do and that's give attention to the important families of Highbury, regardless of whether they're new money or old. That's the saddest bit.
" 'Mr. Churchill has pride; but his pride is nothing to his wife's: his is a quiet, indolent, gentleman-like sort of pride that would harm nobody, and only make himself a little helpless and tiresome; but her pride is arrogance and insolence! And what inclines one less to bear, she has no pretence of family or blood. She was a nobody when he married her, barely the daughter of a gentleman; but ever since her being turned into a Churchill she has out-Churchill'd them all in high and mighty claims: but in herself, I assure you, she is an upstart.'
'Only think! well, that must be infinitely provoking! I have quite a horror of upstarts. Maple Grove has given me a thorough disgust to people of that sort'" (282, Oxford World's Classics edition).
Yet, for all of her ridiculousness, she does what Emma will not do and that's give attention to the important families of Highbury, regardless of whether they're new money or old. That's the saddest bit.
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