 The distinctions between the classes is made explicitly clear to the reader by Emma and by Austen's descriptions.The social class structure has the Woodhouses and Mr. Knightley at the top, the Eltons, the Westons, Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax below them, and even further down the line Harriet, Robert Martin, and the Bates.This social class map becomes important when Emma tries to match Mr. Elton and Harriet together.