Is the subject of Emma only marriage and matchmaking?

Romance and
marriage are definitely topics in
. In the nineteenth century when

Emma was published, women had very few opportunities to earn money
to
support themselves; there were very few jobs available to women. Marrying
well was one of the
only methods women had to achieve comfortable homes. Some
women (often from upper class
families) wanted to marry individuals of equal
financial and social status, so they could
maintain their level of comfort
and societal respect. Women from lower classes, too, tried to
marry men of
upper classes to increase their comfort and respectability. Sometimes women
from
wealthy homes fell in love with men with very little money or status. If
a woman loved a man
enough, she might be willing to sacrifice her material
comforts for love. Families generally
disapproved of their daughters (or
their sons) marrying someone of a lower social or financial
status.

In 's novels, marriage is not simply a matter of love and romance;
it
is a financial transaction. This is clearly seen in the idea of marriage
dowries, the gift of
money that a bride brings to her husband, which is seen
in Emma (and other
nineteenth century stories). Emma, we
find out, is an heiress of a substantial dowry. Men, such
as Mr. Elton, try
to woo Emma. It is likely that money is a part of his interest in her, since

he immediately goes on to romance other rich women after Emma rejects
him:

and if Miss Woodhouse of
Hartfield, the heiress of thirty thousand
pounds, were not quite so easily
obtained as he [Mr. Elton] had fancied, he would soon try for
Miss Somebody
else with twenty, or with ten. (ch. 16)

Additionally, friendship is a significant theme in Emma.
Early in
the book, Emma is introduced to a new friend, Harriet Smith. She is
highly involved in Harriet's
romances, as she tries to help her friend marry
a wealthy and respectable gentleman. Emma's
ideas about love and marriage
mature throughout the novel. She maintains a close friendship with
her
lifelong friend, Mr. Knightley. Emma has important conversations with Mr.
Knightley
throughout the book. Many of these talks help Emma to grow in her
understanding of life and
love.