KnightHouse
- Blog Post #1-
Topic C
May 15 2015
Emma Woodhouse,in the book Emma by Jane Austen, develops many interesting relationships with different characters in the books. One relationship that develops and grows the most is the relationship between Emma and Mr.Knightley. At the beginning of the novel, Emma and Mr.Knightley never seem to be on the best terms. They are constantly arguing and Mr. Knightley always seems to disagree with Emma’s decisions. Mr. Knightley “was one of the few people who could see faults in Emma Woodhouse”(8). He was also one of the few people who ever told her she was wrong and gave her proper guidance.Their relationship at the beginning of the novel was in a sense a push and pull relationship. Mr. Knightley was always someone who would challenge Emma and thus bring out in many ways the best of her. Overtime their relationship grows from almost “frenemies”, to close friends, to a romantic relationship. As the book continues to progress, it becomes more and more obvious that Mr. Knightley is important to Emma. Mr. Knightley becomes jealous with Emma’s other admirers and Emma becomes jealous with Mr. Knightley's significant others. When Emma believes that Harriet is the object of Mr. Knightley's affection, she becomes upset and only then does she realize she loves him. By the end of the novel, Emma truly understands that she has loved Mr. Knightley this whole time. She wonders “how long had Mr.Knightley been so dear to her”(393). Mr. Knightley affects Emma's personality, he makes her a humble person and throughout the novel his opinion affects her for the better. Overall their relationship is one of the most important ones in the novel, that grows overtime.
Emily, I agree that the relationship between Mr. Knightley and Emma is probably the most important relationship and develops more than any other in this book. Emma and Mr. Knightley turn their relationship completely around by the end of the book, going from almost enemies to finally declaring each other’s mutual emotions for the other. I believe that the growth in Harriet Smith and Emma’s relationship is almost as important because it reflects the change in Emma’s character also. At the beginning of the novel, the friendship between Harriet and Emma showed Emma’s self-righteousness and superficial character. As their relationship becomes more real and Emma begins to consider Harriet as more than her project, Emma herself becomes more compassionate and understanding. Her relationships with both Mr. Knightley influences Emma in a very positive way.
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