JASA Chronicle , Jane Austen Society of Australia (JASA) December 2025 Abstract This article presents a comparative reading of two memorable characters of social aspiration: Hyacinth Bucket from the British television series Keeping Up Appearances and Mrs Elton from Jane Austen’s Emma . By placing these figures side by side, the article explores the enduring comic archetype of the socially ambitious and self-important character across different historical and cultural contex