Harriet’s Box of Treasures

Harriet’s Box of Treasures

Personal Memorabilia

Harriet keeps a special wooden box with mementos from her days with Mr. Elton. She has a small piece of cloth that he discarded and the stump of a used pencil. The insignificance of the objects demonstrates the lack of real evidence of Mr. Elton’s attraction and Harriet’s own naiveté. Harriet’s choice to keep the box after she realizes Mr. Elton is not interested in her shows her continued hope, and her choice to destroy the objects signifies that she is no longer secretly longing for Mr. Elton.

Tunbridge-ware

Emma, Jane Austen

Brianna Sumption

Novel