What you say makes a lot of sense to me. Emma is young and I think that plays a part in her sense of invincibility but I think her situation also has encouraged her view that she knows what is best for others. Emma controls everything at Hartfield and things run amazingly well considering Mr. Woodhouse is a bit demanding in his gentle way. That is the role Emma is used to playing.

At Hartfield Emma is a master at controlling her father and keeping him happy by ensuring the house and services within are just so and sheltering him from knowledge and conservation likely to nettle his sensibilities. Emma’s success as mistress of Hartfield might have contributed to her thinking so well of her own abilities like the successful union of Poor Miss Taylor and Mr. Weston bolstered her idea she is a talented matchmaker.

I agree Emma is a master at rationalization and I will admit after the Elton debacle she does seem to be more sensitive to other people’s feelings, the Martin’s for example and Harriet in some situations but her flip-flopping on Jane because she would not fit her rewrite is not to her credit IMO. I am not talking about friendship with Jane but just compassion and respect. I think Emma can respect and have compassion for Jane without liking her or their being friends but it seems at the moment Emma cannot separate the two. I wonder if at some point Emma will be unable rationalize when her plans hurt people (the Martins) because she feels it is for the best in the larger scheme of things. Thanks! (;D)