by Lisa Rosenkranz

Created on: December 15, 2010

In Jane Austen’s Emma, the mutual affections of Emma and Mr. Knightly are subtly revealed from the very beginning.  Mr. Knightly is not only “a very old and intimate friend of the family,” but is the brother of Mr. Woodhouse’s son-in-law, making him Emma’s brother-in-law.   Once we are introduced to Mr. Knightly, his relationship with Emma is revealed in a dialog where they joke with each other in front of Emma’s father about “poor Miss Taylor” being better off with only one person to please.  Mr. Knightly seems to greatly admire Emma, but it is easy to stereo-type their brother/sister relationship as the plot quickly moves onto Emma’s encounter with Harriet, where we get swept away in the novel’s current.  

 Emma has a high regard for Mr. Knightly.  Some of this is exposed in a conversation between herself and Harriet after running into Mr. Martin.  When Harriet asks Emma what she thought of Mr. Martin and Emma tells her that she thought he was “remarkably plain,” “clownish,” and “totally without air,” Harriet seems a bit disappointed.  Emma continues by saying she would expect Harriet to have found him less agreeable since she has recently been expose to “very good specimens of well educated, well bred men,” at Hartford.  Harriet responds by telling Emma that Mr. Martin is certainly not as fine a man as Mr. Knightly, and Emma tells her:  “You might not see one in a hundred, with gentleman so plainly written as Mr. Knightly.”   Emma changes the course of the conversation by stating that Mr. Elton’s manners are superior to both Mr. Knightly and Mr. Weston, a statement that seems to be fabricated for the purpose of matching Harriet with Mr. Elton. 

Right after we see Emma concern herself with Harriet’s affairs, Mr. Knightly tells Mrs. Weston of his concerns regarding Emma and Harriet’s relationship, saying he believes it will do nothing but harm to them both.  Mrs. Weston is surprised that he feels that way, feeling herself that the relationship is beneficial to both girls, and that Emma needs a companion.  Mr. Knightly is so concerned that he tells Mrs. Weston he has all intentions of discussing this with John and Isabella when they come for their holiday visit, and that he is certain they will agree with him.  

Mrs. Weston proceeds in telling Mr.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next Page >>