the solid, oft repeated themes of the novels in general, and seeking a reliable representative for her views in Mrs Elton! It's just too far from who she is, IMO! Are these folk just being provocative? Perhaps.

Good reading. For one thing, JA is so generous in her description of Harriet, we know (hopefully) that she likes her. She does not take shots at Robert Martin, Jane Fairfax, or Mrs and Miss Bates, etc. These are the ones who experience the difficulty of the rigid class structures the most.

Whereas Mrs Elton especially treats Harriet with ridicule, and does not mind doing it publicly for example, JA doesn't treat her so, as narrator or whatever.