Mr. Elton is a recently appointed, bachelor, twenty-seven-year-old, polite and ambitious parish vicar near Highbury. Emma schemes to make this young man the perfect candidate to marry Harriet, frequently inviting Elton to the estate to manipulate the situation. However, the arrogant and pragmatically minded Elton has a different plan in mind; he never considers Harriet, an illegitimate child of common origin, his equal; his true aim is to win the wealthy and respectable Emma. One evening in a carriage, he makes an insolent and reckless declaration of love to Emma, and upon receiving a sharp rejection, his true face is revealed: vengeful and ostentatious. After a short absence, he returns having engaged the wealthy and rude Augusta Hawkins in the town of Bath. In harmony with his wife, he attempts to seek revenge by displaying a crushing, rude sense of superiority toward Emma, and especially toward the lonely Harriet.
A relatively newly appointed clergyman, he is of modest means but has high aspirations. He wishes to secure respectability and a fortune of ten thousand pounds by making a grand marriage.
He is a pleasant type whom everyone might generally find handsome. However, for someone with deep insight like Emma, he lacks real elegance or nobility in his facial features or expression.
Mrs. Elton
His wife, identified with arrogance, whom he chose for her money (10,000 pounds) and matching snobbish character.
Harriet Smith
The naive girl he was offered to marry but despised for being penniless and whom he insulted at the ball.
Emma Woodhouse
The noblewoman he courted as if in love and set his sights on for her money, but after being rejected, gossiped about with his wife.