George Knightley is a principal character depicted by

Jane Austen Jane Austen ( ; 16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist known primarily for #List of works, her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment on the English landed gentry at the end of the 18th century ...

in her novel '' Emma'', published in 1815. He is a landowner and gentleman farmer, though "having little spare money". A lifetime friend of Emma's though nearly seventeen years older than she, he is one of the only characters willing to correct her when he believes her to be doing wrong.

Character

A kind and compassionate person, Mr. Knightley exhibits good judgement, high moral character, and maturity, in contrast with Emma's still-maturing character: as a hero, he also has presence and authority, and a natural "lifelike" quality. The most hard-working of Austen's heroes, he is also the least grand and ostentatious, not even keeping a pair of carriage horses. As the owner of the largest estate in the area (Donwell Abbey), this makes his down to earth manners all the more remarkable. Despite a certain sharpness of tongue, his genuine qualities are revealed, for example, by his disappointment when he sees Emma insult Miss Bates, a

spinster Spinster or old maid is a term referring to an unmarried woman who is older than what is perceived as the prime age range during which women usually marry. It can also indicate that a woman is considered unlikely to ever marry. The term origin ...

of modest means. Mr. Knightley's reprimand of Emma for this insult also demonstrates his affection and esteem for her as a friend. Another revealing incident is his anger with Emma for persuading Harriet Smith to refuse Robert Martin's proposal of marriage, Martin being in Knightley's eyes an eminently suitable husband for Harriet: the row that follows leaves the pair estranged for a time. But while in some respects serving as a

conduct book Conduct books or conduct literature is a genre of books that attempt to educate the reader on social norms and ideals. As a genre, they began in either the High Middle Ages or the Late Middle Ages, although antecedents such as ''The Maxims of P ...

mentor for Emma, Knightley learns from his own desire for Emma and his jealousy-fuelled blunders, which brings the characters into a more realistic, egalitarian relationship, just as in their marriage ''her'' money will complement ''his'' role as the leading local landowner.

Role in narrative

In the course of the story, Emma believes that she falls briefly in love with a young, handsome man named Frank Churchill. Mr. Knightley's jealousy of the latter is gradually uncovered: he makes several negative remarks about Churchill, and is concerned that Frank has had a negative influence on Emma, but later admits that, because of jealousy, "I was not quite impartial in my judgement...My Emma". Frank Churchill's guardian—his aunt—dies, and he is now free to publicise his engagement to Jane Fairfax, which had been kept secret to avoid his domineering aunt's disapproval. Emma is shocked, but realises she had never really had romantic sentiments towards Frank Churchill. Nevertheless, she worries that Harriet has feelings for Frank, but soon discovers that Harriet has become infatuated with Mr. Knightley. Emma becomes very unhappy; finally it dawns on her that she loves Mr. Knightley—and has for a time, apparently unconsciously—and is distressed as she believes Mr. Knightley and Harriet to be on the verge of marriage. Mr. Knightley is in London, visiting his brother John and sister-in-law Isabella (Emma's sister), when he is apprised of Churchill's clandestine engagement. He decided to return to Hartfield to offer support to Emma, whom he believes to be in love with Mr. Churchill. On the spur of the moment, after finding this to be untrue, he declares his love to Emma and asks her to marry him, and she accepts. Harriet and Robert Martin marry; Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill plan a November wedding. Within a month, Emma and Mr. Knightley marry and, because Emma's father Mr. Woodhouse cannot face life without his daughter, Mr. Knightley gallantly moves in with Emma and her father at the Woodhouse estate, Hartfield.S. Kaye-Smith, ''Talking of Jane Austen'' (London 1946) p. 36-7

Notable portrayals

* John Carson in the 1972 TV serial * Paul Rudd's character in the 1995 film '' Clueless'', Josh Lucas, is based on George Knightley. *

Jeremy Northam Jeremy Philip Northam (born 1 December 1961) is an English actor. His film credits include '' The Net'' (1995), '' Emma'' (1996), '' An Ideal Husband'' (1999), '' Amistad'' (1997), ''The Winslow Boy'' (1999), ''Gosford Park'' (2001) and '' Eni ...

in the 1996 American film *

Mark Strong Mark Strong (born Marco Giuseppe Salussolia; 5 August 1963) is a British actor best known for his film roles such as Prince Septimus in '' Stardust'' (2007), Archibald in '' RocknRolla'' (2008), Lord Henry Blackwood in ''Sherlock Holmes'' (200 ...

in the 1996 British TV film *

Jonny Lee Miller Jonathan Lee Miller (born 15 November 1972) is an English actor. He achieved early success for his portrayal of Simon "Sick Boy" Williamson in the dark comedy-drama film '' Trainspotting'' (1996) and as Dade Murphy in '' Hackers'' (1995) before ...

in the 2009 BBC TV serial * Abhay Deol in the 2010 Hindi adaptation,

Aisha Aisha bint Abi Bakr () was a seventh century Arab commander, politician, Muhaddith, muhadditha and the third and youngest wife of the Prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad. Aisha had an important role in early Islamic h ...

* Brent Bailey in the 2013 modernized adaptation, ''

Emma Approved ''Emma Approved'' was an American multi-platform web series starring Joanna Sotomura and Brent Bailey based on Jane Austen’s 1815 novel '' Emma''. The show is a follow-up to '' The Lizzie Bennet Diaries'' and is the third production out of web ...

'' * Johnny Flynn in the 2020 film

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Knightley, George Emma characters Literary characters introduced in 1815 Fictional gentry