The quarter of an hour quite convinced her that Mrs. Elton was a vain woman, extremely well satisfied with herself, and thinking much of her own importance; that she meant to shine and be very superior, but with manners which had been formed in a bad school, pert and familiar; that all her notions were drawn from one set of people, and one style of living; that if not foolish she was ignorant, and that her society would certainly do Mr. Elton no good.
– Jane Austen
Emma, Chapter 32. These are Emma’s very negative impressions of Mrs. Elton when she meets her for the first time. Mrs. Elton is a satirical figure, introduced by Austen to mock the pretentiousness and superficiality of the nouveau riche and their efforts to ascend the social ladder. Emma is unimpressed by the newly wealthy Mrs. Elton, finding her lacking in manners, full of self-importance and trying to act superior to the people in Highbury. But it is rather ironic of Emma to call her vain, since Emma herself suffers the same character flaw. Indeed some of Emma’s comments on Mrs. Elton are a reflection of Emma’s own character, yet she is unaware of it.