Comparison of Emma, Jane and Mr. Knightley: A Look at Society and Social Darwinism Introduction Literature has always been an excellent medium for analyzing and scrutinizing the way society works. Indeed, through characters, both fictional and true to life, are able to portray, romanticize, emphasize, or even mock society. The works of Jane Austen are perhaps one of the greatest examples of this, wherein even though Austen lived in an era much more conservative than today’s modern society, the essential points she has raised in her works still apply today. The novel Emma is Austen’s longest, and perhaps most comprehensive exploration of the society in which man lives in. On the other hand, Austen’s society is perhaps one of periods that most experienced the effect of Social Darwinism. Social Darwinism involves the theory that the principles of Darwin in biological evolution can also be applied to the evolution of the society and politics (Williams 186).