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This weekend I participated in a discussion with JASNA Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho Region entitled “What a man should be” based off this quote from Emma:

“So unlike what a man should be!—None of that upright integrity, that strict adherence to truth and principle, that disdain of trick and littleness, which a man should display in every transaction of his life.”

Emma’s talking about Frank Churchill but who she’s describing is Mr Knightley. It’s not the first time she compares Mr Knightley to other men —consciously, or unconsciously as she does here.

When Emma is disappointed with Mr Weston, she again (unconsciously) describes Mr Knightley: “General benevolence, but not general friendship, made a man what he ought to be.” Then she adds as an afterthought; “She could fancy such a man.” Austen is making a joke that will take the length of the book to pay off.

At the ball Emma compares his figure to the men around him, unaware that she’s describing her attraction to him. “His tall, firm, upright figure, among the bulky forms and stooping shoulders of the elderly men, was such as … must draw every body’s eyes; and, excepting her own partner, there was not one among the whole row of young men who could be compared with him.”

When she’s telling Harriet that Robert Martin doesn’t have the manners of a gentleman she says; “..Mr. Knightley’s downright, decided, commanding sort of manner, .. suits him very well; his figure, and look, and situation in life seem to allow it..”

At the Cole’s party, Emma remarks to Mrs Weston; “I know no man more likely than Mr. Knightley …to do any thing really good-natured, useful, considerate, or benevolent. He is not a gallant man, but he is a very humane one…” In deference to Mr Knightley’s integrity she tells Harriet, though it pains her to do so, that he “is the last man in the world, who would intentionally give any woman the idea of his feeling for her more than he really does.”

Austen provides a comparison between Mr Elton and Mr Knightley. Emma thinks to herself that Mr Elton “is almost too gallant to be in love.. he does sigh and languish, and study for compliments rather more than I could endure..” But when Mr Knightley proposes he says “I cannot make speeches, Emma:” .. in a tone of such sincere, decided, intelligible tenderness as was tolerably convincing.—“If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.”

Emma admires Mr Knightley’s integrity, how he manages relationships, his figure, his manners, his character and his honesty.

Want to discuss Austen further with me? check out the details

We’re awkwardly aware of the age gap between Mr Knightley and Emma – 16 years makes us uncomfortable. It gets worse when Harriet develops a crush, a full 20 years, making Mr Knightley more eligible to be her father than her husband. His companions are often younger; his brother and sister in law, both Mr and Mrs Elton, Robert Martin, and Mrs Weston may be younger than him also. Exceptions are Mr Woodhouse, Mr Weston and Miss Bates who have elements of childishness in their characters. Mr Knightley might be the only real adult in Highbury.

In chapter 41 it feels like Mr Knightley is sitting at the kids table “placed as to see them all”, he witnesses Emma and Frank’s games, morphing into a disappointed parent (a role he often slides into with Emma) observing their treatment of Jane. He suspects Frank of “double dealing”, of an “inclination to trifle with Jane Fairfax.” Emma is too caught up in Frank’s attention to herself and her schemes of “making him over to Harriet” to observe clearly. Mr Knightley’s senses have been sharpened by his jealousy of Frank.

The image is from Taylor Swift’s music video I Bet You Think About Me, it looks as though she’s telling the children to behave but, if you’ve seen the video, she’s there to corrupt them, clearly indicated by her bright red dress in comparison to the pure white of the children’s dresses (almost copies of each other).

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#taylorswift #mrknightley #emma #janeausten

Lady Susan has an amazing ability to waltz into a situation and mess it up for everyone. Mrs Mainwaring loves her husband who loves Lady Susan, she is “insupportably jealous and so enraged against” Lady Susan that it is “time for (her) to be gone.”

Sir James Martin is (probably) in love with both Vernon ladies and devastated when they leave Langford in this scene though in the book he’s the one that leaves.

Lady Susan “bestowed a little notice” on Sir James Martin, “in order to detach him from Miss Mainwaring” and managed to get him to “make proposals to (her) for Frederica” her daughter. Masterful.

Audio from Fortnight by Taylor Swift

Video from Love and Friendship (Lady Susan adaptation) by jane Austen

If you’d like to discuss Austen with me (possibly with a Swiftie slant?) you can book here

Sunday Star Times 23/3/25

In the more than 200 years since Jane Austen published, people and society haven’t changed all that much (even though I’m writing this on a computer rather than with a quill).

She may be dead, but the patriarchy (sadly) isn’t. Austen lived in a time when it was hard(er) to be a woman; none of her novels bore her name during her lifetime, as it was considered scandalous for a woman to write, let alone earn a living. Let’s be honest: if we were talking about Shakespeare, there’d be no question of continuing relevance. Lydia Bennet is almost ruined by eloping, just as women are slut-shamed today. Lizzy Bennet might be called “mouthy” for daring to have an opinion, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh is recognisable as a micromanager.

The spectre of Napoleon loomed large during Austen’s life (and in her novels), exactly as a couple of male figureheads on the other side of the globe do for us now. Our more connected and mobile world means we are as affected by their decisions as she was by someone just across the channel.

Marriage for financial security, depicted in Austen’s novels, may be making a comeback. In the current climate, with increased economic pressures and uncertainty, it could be argued that you can’t afford to choose a partner without considering their finances. Charlotte Lucas has no affection for Mr Collins when they marry, but marriage is necessary for her survival.

Austen’s novels provide a sense of justice. Bad things happen, but they happen off-page, and everyone gets the ending they deserve (except perhaps Mr. Collins). Lizzy marries someone who appreciates her intelligence; Darcy gains a partner who will tell him off when he needs it. With the way things are going, it’s comforting to know that happy endings exist. 

Frances Duncan (she/they), of Te Whanau ā Apauni, writes Austen-inspired fiction, offers Austen-inspired Life Coaching, hosts The Amateur Austenite Podcast and founded the Jane Austen Society of Aotearoa New Zealand. (Obsessive, much?) On Instagram she creates videos of Austen adaptations paired with Taylor Swift lyrics. Her latest novel is Bag a Boyfriend a contemporary Pride and Prejudice set in a reality TV dating show.
The Jane Austen Society of Aotearoa New Zealand, which celebrated its tenth anniversary last year, will host a birthday party at Elixir in Chews Lane this December to celebrate Austen’s 250th birthday.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/francesduncandoes
Website: https://francesduncandoes.com
Society Website: https://janeaustensocietynz.wordpress.com

Catherine’s only 17 and Mr Tilney proposes (though does he in this adaptation?)

When Catherine is thrown out of his father’s house, Mr Tilney isn’t there but he’s pissed when he returns and discovers what happened. Against his fathers wishes he goes to Catherine.

He felt himself bound as much in honour as in affection to Miss Morland, and believing that heart to be his own … no unworthy retraction of a tacit consent, no reversing decree of unjustifiable anger, could shake his fidelity, or influence the resolutions it prompted.”

Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey C30

Catherine is “assured of his affection” which “originated in nothing better than gratitude, … a persuasion of her partiality for him.” It’s a simple love story really; she meets a guy and falls in love, that sparks his affection. His father attempts to get in the way and fails.

HENRY: Will you have me? Will you love me?

CATHERINE (for most of the novel): I’m only 17. I don’t know anything

If you’d like to discuss Austen with me you can book via the read with me link in my bio

Audio Betty by Taylor Swift

Video Northanger Abbey 1987

Lydia and Kitty, Charlotte and Lizzy: best of friends

Both relationships change dramatically by the end of the book/movie, the pairs are separated and only maintain contact through family relationships. It’s marriage that will separate them; Lydia’s marriage to Wickham and Charlotte’s to Collins. The former everyone with the exception of Kitty and her mother disapprove, the latter everyone with the exception of Lizzy and her mother approve.

I was struck by the similarity of these scenes at the Netherfield Ball; two friends all dressed in white walking together and laughing. You can see the younger two acting at being grown up while probably drunk. Even the hair adornments are similar; Kitty and Lydia have feathers while Charlotte and Lizzy have flowers in their hair.

If you’d like to discuss Austen with me you can book a time

Video from Pride and Prejudice 2005

Audio from You’re On Your Own Kid by Taylor Swift

Lizzy learns rumours of Mr Wickham’s behaviour in a letter from Darcy after his first disastrous proposal. She has a wee “struggle,” partly she thinks because he’d flattered her as Darcy had not, but realises she doesn’t know his “real character.” It’s only when Lizzy reads Mr Darcy’s letter and recalls her first conversation with Mr Wickham where he laid out his rumour of how Darcy had treated him that she is

…struck with the impropriety of such communications to a stranger… he had boasted of having no fear of seeing Mr. Darcy… yet he had avoided the Netherfield ball the very next week. …till the Netherfield family had quitted the country, he had told his story to no one but herself; but that after their removal, it had been everywhere discussed; that he had then no reserves, no scruples in sinking Mr. Darcy’s character, though he had assured her that respect for the father would always prevent his exposing the son.”

Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, C36

So he only starts rumours when he feels relatively safe of their lack of truth being discovered. When Wickham elopes with Lydia Bennet rumours start to swirl about him.

All Meryton seemed striving to blacken the man who, but three months before, had been almost an angel of light. He was declared to be in debt to every tradesman in the place, and his intrigues, all honoured with the title of seduction, had been extended into every tradesman’s family.”

Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, C48

It’s never clear whether the seductions were accurate, but the debts appear to be, as he provides Mr Gardiner with a list of debtors to satisfy. The things Darcy tells Elizabeth in the letter appear to also be true. As Lizzy notes Wickham did note in their first conversation that they had grown up together and Darcy is a good brother, they may be the only true things he conveyed.

The lyric following this selection could also apply to Wickham:

I could build a castle
Out of all the bricks they threw at me”

Taylor Swift, New Romantics

Not only are people talking about him or hurling bricks at his character, enough to build a castle, he manages to use the bad situation he’s got himself into to his advantage – to build himself a castle. He may have to marry Lydia Bennet but he manages to get Darcy to pay off his debts and buy him a new commission plus now they’re brothers so there’s always the future potential. We learn in the last chapter that Wickham himself never asks for money, or at least that we know of, but Lydia has no qualms about asking both of her eldest sisters for money frequently.

Audio from New Romantics (TV) by Taylor Swift

Video from Pride and Prejudice 1995

You can discuss Austen with me by booking a time