How did Emilia in England portray English social climbers?

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George Meredith George Meredith, detail of an oil painting by G.F. Watts, 1893; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.

In his novel Emilia in England (later retitled Sandra Belloni), George Meredith explores the contrast between a simple, passionate girl and various sentimental English social climbers.1

Meredith utilizes this dynamic as a foundation for his characteristic "Meredithian comedy," which aims to expose and purge egoism—a trait he often associated with self-delusion and excessive pride. By placing a sincere protagonist against characters driven by the superficiality of social climbing, he highlights the absurdity of their pretensions. This approach reflects his broader literary philosophy, where comedy serves as a tool to replace such egoism with sanity and a more authentic engagement with life.1