Emma
Harriet Smith
Emma's friend and protegee
A sweet, impressionable young woman of unknown parentage who boards at Mrs. Goddard's school. She adores Emma and trusts her completely.
Harriet Smith lives as a parlor boarder at Mrs. Goddard's school and is the kind of girl who thinks well of everyone. She is sweet-tempered, romantic and a little naive, and she has no family to guide her. When Emma takes her up, she is thrilled to be invited to Hartfield and does whatever Emma suggests.
Harriet's weakness is that she lets others decide for her. She admires people easily, and she is quick to believe that a gentleman is above her. She has a good heart and real feelings, and the story shows that those matter more than rank or polish. She also never holds a grudge, and she bears disappointment with gentle, humble tears.
“Frank Churchill? I never thought of him! It is Mr. Knightley that I love!”
In the story
Contains spoilers.
Harriet is fond of the farmer Robert Martin, but under Emma's influence she writes him a refusal. Emma then encourages her to hope for Mr. Elton, and Harriet is crushed when he turns out to love someone else. At the Crown Inn ball Elton snubs her in public, and Mr. Knightley kindly rescues her by asking her to dance.
Later, when she is frightened by a band of gypsy children, Frank Churchill rescues her. Emma assumes Harriet is in love with him. In fact, Harriet admires Mr. Knightley, which makes Emma see her own feelings. In the end, Robert Martin proposes a second time, Harriet gladly accepts, and they marry in Highbury Church.
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