Philip Elton is a character in Emma. He is a vicar in the prosperous village of Highbury.
Character traits[]
Mr. Elton is a good-looking, seemingly well mannered, and ambitious young vicar. Emma wants him to marry Harriet; however he aspires to secure Emma's hand in marriage in order to gain her dowry.
Mr. Elton displays his mercenary nature by quickly marrying another woman of means after Emma's pickle.
Elton has the appearance to many people of kindness and good taste, but he was really conceited, self absorbed, and fond of money. Elton was was unnecessarily gallant especially to his first love interest, Emma.
He tended to hold grudges and was impolite and rude to those he disliked. He didn't really care for anyone but himself, Emma (formerly), and later, his wife. He was made even more disagreeable and conceited by his marriage to his current wife, Augusta Hawkins.
Emma[]
He mistook Emma's hospitality as encouragement and assumed she was aware of his intentions. His hope caused him to behave imprudent like insisting that she shouldn't visit her sick friend and risk getting an infection and sit down between her and Mrs. Weston without being invited.