Jane Austen’s Depiction Of The Development Of Emma’s Affections Toward Mr. Knightley In The Novel Emma
In the novel Emma, Jane Austen understates the development of Emma’s affections toward Mr. Knightley in a deliberate manner. When observing Mr. Knightley across the room, Emma immerses herself in enjoyment and cannot restrain her the impulse of exploring more about the person she admires. She wishes to see Mr. Knightley dancing more than him standing there among the other standers-by. In the entire process, she experiences the unprecedented fascination toward Mr. Knightley’s behaviors and manners, as his every movement and gesture appear to be charming to her. Though she has not yet realized her real feelings, her genuine admiration for him at the ball denotes her passionate affection, leading them to a relationship beyond that of “brother and sister. ”
Gazing at Mr. Knightley, Emma gradually gravitates toward his outstanding figure and gentlemanlike manner, which promote her admiration of his physicality and behavior. Mr. Knightley’s exceptional charisma shines when Emma sees him as “tall, firm, and upright” while others “bulky,” “stooping,” and “elder”. These positive adjectives stand as symbols of youth and vigor, while the latter ones represent ages and feebleness. Thirty-seven-year-old Mr. Knightley appears to be young and spirited in Emma’s vision, for he always upholds brightest attitudes and most charming nature. From his stature to movements, Austen offers greater indication of possible romantic feelings of the pair by denoting Mr. Knightley is the paragon of behavior to Emma. To depict how Mr. Knightley transcends “the whole row of young men,” Austen specifies that “he moves a few steps nearer, would he but take the trouble”. Mr. Knightley’s tender movements, emphasized by a complex pattern of sentence structure, intensify Emma’s wish of enjoying his graceful dancing.
The sense is syntactically reflected in the actual layout of the phrases in the context, in which the movement of “a few steps” is followed by its illustration of Mr. Knightley’s “gentlemanlike a manner,” signifying his nuanced elegant behavior. Emma’s absolute fascination on Mr. Knightley is thoroughly unfolded in Austen’s vivid description of his refined and gentle behaviors, hinting that her unconsciousness to her feelings toward Mr. Knightley would develop into passionate attention.
Through depicting Emma’s pretense of concern and irrepressible affection, Austen exhibits Emma’s unconscious attention to Mr. Knightley. Throughout the ball, Emma takes every opportunity to gaze at his graceful composure, at which “she is more disturbed by Mr. Knightley’s not dancing, than by any thing else”. Austen makes Emma’s concern of Mr. Knightley extraordinarily notable by stressing “more disturbed”. In the eye of Emma, Mr. Knightley is the embodiment of perfection. Just a look at the figure she admires, Emma cannot help picturing the scene when Mr. Knightley appears before her in a completely different state – rather than staying still there, Mr. Knightley should be dancing, and his graceful movements and posture would overshadow all other men. It is her wholehearted devotion to Mr. Knightley rather than his intention of attracting her. Emma esteems Mr. Knightley’s superior qualities by elevating him above those “husbands, fathers, and whist-players”. These three types of people cover most male figures at the ball, but Mr. Knightley belongs to a pedestal way superior to all the mundane ones: he aspires for greater ambitions, insists on being independent, and values expanded freedom. Mr. Knightley, independent and mature, stands as a prominent exemplar for every male and an engaging companion for every female. Austen develops Emma’s affection on Mr. Knightley and holding him esteem through delineating his gentle manner and outstanding figure above all other “husbands and fathers”. Meanwhile, Mr. Knightley does not lack any characteristics of “husbands and fathers,” for he recognizes Emma’s bad qualities and helps her develop in maturity and self-awareness just like a husband or a father.
Since Mr. Knightley’s critique of Emma reveals his discerning judgement as well as his understanding of Emma’s nature, Emma exerts her wholehearted endeavor to enhance his opinion of her at the ball. Despite of Mr. Knightley’s character above the authoritative figures such as “husbands and fathers,” he is one of the few people that acts like father and husband to Emma. She “forces” him to smile “whenever she catches his eyes”. “Forces” denotes her strong desire to please him, so much that the appreciation from Mr. Knightley would be everlasting pursuit. Her passionate endeavor to gain attention from Mr. Knightley and to seek his smile conveys the idea of her considering him as a significant other that she always wants to appeal. This continues the theme of Mr. Knightley as the only character who truly knows Emma as she expresses that “she does not feel afraid” even if “he were criticizing her behavior”. Whenever Emma conducts some improper behaviors and faces the criticism from Mr. Knightley, she embraces the wisdom conveyed by his words and instruction. Thus, her fearlessness of being judged by this intimate friend and open-mindedness to criticism reveal her trust and dependence on him. The whole brother-sister relationship they have had dissolves somewhere during the course of the passage as Emma proceeds to consider him as her life mentor as well as significant other.
Although Emma is surprisingly blind to her own desires and emotions, the elaborate descriptions reveal her authentic feelings. Their relationship flourishes as they gain mutual trust. By contemplating Mr. Knightley’s dashing appearance and graceful behaviors, Emma tastes unprecedented pleasure. There never has been a time when she does not consider Mr. Knightley as the dearest companion, or when his regard for her has not been infinitely the dearest. The seed of love sows deep at the bottom of Emma's heart.
