“I always say a woman cannot have too many resources – and I feel very thankful that I have so many myself as to be quite independent of society.”
– Jane Austen
Emma, Chapter 36. Mrs. Elton is very thankful to be in the privileged position of having the resources she needs to be independent of society. The nouveau riche Mrs. Elton likes to brag about how much money she and her family have. She is the new money that attempts to place herself on the same social level as people like Emma. Her words are ironic because she is not independent of society but is greatly reliant on the approval and status society brings her.