What is Jane Austen's tone in Emma?

The tone of the novel Emmais both ironic and sympathetic. There are many examples of the ironic tone in the novel. For example, Emma thinks herself to be an excellent matchmaker. She sets her eyes upon helping Harriet Smith. Harriet expresses to Emma that she has a romantic interest in Mr. Robert Martin, the farmer. Emma is adamant that Mr. Martin is below Harriet socially. Emma insists her new friend seek to marry someone...

The tone of the novel Emma is both ironic and sympathetic. There are many examples of the ironic tone in the novel. For example, Emma thinks herself to be an excellent matchmaker. She sets her eyes upon helping Harriet Smith. Harriet expresses to Emma that she has a romantic interest in Mr. Robert Martin, the farmer. Emma is adamant that Mr. Martin is below Harriet socially. Emma insists her new friend seek to marry someone above her in social standing. She tries to match Harriet with Mr. Elton, but Mr. Elton is interested in Emma, not Harriet. Emma is unaware of this. Emma tries to bring Harriet and Mr. Elton together, but all the while he is interested in the matchmaker herself. An example of this is when Emma creates a portrait of Harriet. Mr. Elton expresses his interest in the portrait. Emma thinks this is because he is interested in Harriet. Instead, it is because he is interested in Emma, the portrait's painter. The man Emma chose for her friend was interested in Emma herself.

The narrator is sympathetic in revealing Emma's character. Although Emma is often selfish and too focused on her own goals to see the truth, she is not portrayed as an unkind character. She is charitable to the poor, and in the end she even gives her blessing to Harriet to marry Mr. Martin. Mr. Knightley tells Emma about Harriet and Mr. Martin's plans to marry. Emma wishes them well. Mr. Knightley notes Emma has "materially changed since [they] talked on this subject before" (Emma, Chapter XVIII). Emma then admits she was foolish to discourage them. The narrator shows Emma sees the error of her ways and has changed for the better.