Emma was sorry; – to have to pay civilities to a person she did not like through three long months! – to be always doing more than she wished, and less than she ought! Why she did not like Jane Fairfax might be a difficult question to answer; Mr. Knightley had once told her it was because she saw in her the really accomplished young woman, which she wanted to be thought herself; and though the accusation had been eagerly refuted at the time, there were moments of self-examination in which her conscience could not quite acquit her.
– Jane Austen
Emma, Chapter 20. Emma’s irrational dislike of Jane Fairfax exposes her own vanity and pride, as well as her tendency to misread people. As a woman of accomplishments Jane presents a rival to Emma, who clearly is jealous of her. Emma enjoys being the alpha female of Highbury, clings tightly to that status and sees Jane as a threat to her position.