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
