Is the fact that Frank Churchill, the product of Mr. Weston's first marriage, is the effective villain a critique of imprudent marriage? Or more specifically a union that disrupts an existing family structure? By them marrying, the late Miss Churchill and Mr. Weston created a rift with her family and their son Frank Churchill will later reveal himself in this novel to be duplicitous and inattentive to familial responsibility and honor. Lends a sort of "live by the sword, die by the sword" note to a potential cause for Frank's behavior. He is also the foil to the stable patriarch Mr. Knightley presents in that sense. In some ways, Emma chooses family above all else by marrying Mr. Knightley. Especially as it is also understood that- realistically- her sole friend will be largely unavailable to her at the end of the novel when neither of them are single women any longer- and due to class separation now that Emma has admitted Harriet is not a secret lady of nobility. What also does it mean that Emma so struggles with what could be equitable relationships- moreso with Jane Fairfax who she envies- but is more comfortable in the patriarchal oversight of Knightley?