Final answer:
Emily may be seeking validation for her appearance from her mother, indicative of a natural desire for affirmation and influenced by societal views on beauty.
Step-by-step explanation:
Emily may have been asking if she was pretty enough to her mother because she was experiencing the human desire for affirmation and the societal emphasis on physical appearance. This concern with looks can be influenced by various factors, such as the attention from others, as seen when men express a wish to paint Amy or recognize her beauty.
Youth, like Amy's at seventeen, often do not dive deep into psychological self-analysis but rather take things at face value, as indicated by her reflections on the effect of her beauty on men. Emily's query to her mother about her appearance might be rooted in a quest for identity or uncertainty about her own value and beauty.
Furthermore, the importance of appearance is reinforced through the positive characterization of Louisa's looks, indicating societal appreciation for physical attractiveness. In these texts, beauty seems to be linked to happiness and success, as Amy dreams of a future filled with adoration and opportunity that she believes her beauty will bring her.