Jane Austen was born on 16 December 1775 at Steventon, near Basingstoke, the seventh child of the rector of the parish. She began to write stories wen she was a girl, but only four of her novels were published during her lifetime.1 Among them was Emma published in the year 1816. Although Jane Austen chooses women as her heroines, there are also different types of men represented. They extend from the villain to the polite gentleman. The following term paper will try to examine Jane Austen’s gentleman ideal in her novel Emma with a representative English gentleman. This is Mr. George Knightley. The virtues that Emma praises in Robert Martin’s letter are all those which can be associated with the traditional age of chivalry: There were merely no grammatical errors, but as a composition it would not have disgraced a gentleman; the language, though plain, was strong and unaffected, and the sentiments it conveyed very much to the credit of the writer. It was short, but expressed good sense, warm attachment, liberality, propriety, even delicacy of feeling.2
The name „Knightley“ reveals already parts of the meaning. It contains the word „knight“ who used to play an important role in Chaucer’s poetry. In Chaucer’s knight and Squire, for instance, is the knightly honour represented and Mr.Knightley embodies this. However, Jane Austen takes Chaucer’s knight with his characteristics as a point of departure but she modernizes this image. While honourable young men dedicated themselves to courtly love, they do not so in Jane Austen’s novels. Mr. Knightley as the representative English gentleman in the novel Emme will be looked at and analysed throughout the novel. The main emphasis will be in his development from the beginning till the end and the characteristics which make him a gentleman.
Table of Contents
Introduction
I. The development of the gentleman ideal from Chaucer to Jane Austen
II. The embodiment of the gentleman ideal in Mr. Knightley
1. Mr. Knightley and Emma
2. Mr. Knightley’s social behaviour and attitude
3. Mr. Knightley vs. Frank Churchill
III. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Themes
This academic paper aims to examine the evolution of the English gentleman ideal, tracing its roots from Chaucerian chivalry to its nuanced representation in Jane Austen's 1816 novel, Emma, with a primary focus on the character of Mr. George Knightley as the archetype of this ideal.
- The historical development of the gentleman ideal from the 14th to the 19th century.
- Mr. Knightley’s role as a moral mentor and educator to the protagonist, Emma Woodhouse.
- The intersection of social behaviour, class consciousness, and ethical responsibility in the Regency era.
- A comparative analysis between the moral maturity of Mr. Knightley and the perceived villainy of Frank Churchill.
- The transition of the chivalric ideal into a 19th-century focus on rationality, duty, and mutual respect.
Excerpt from the Book
II. The Embodiment of the Gentleman Ideal in Mr. Knightley
Emma’s hero, Mr. Knightley, acts from beginning to end as her mentor, who is constantly pointing out her faults, encouraging her virtues and directing her education toward maturity. He is nearly always right in his judgements.
Very early in the book, Jane Austen informs the reader that „Mr Knightley, in fact, was one of the few people who could see faults in Emma Woodhouse, and the only one who ever told her of them (p. 11). When she claims that she has arranged the marriage between Mr. Weston and Miss Taylor, Mr. Knightley points out the facts: „(...) why do you talk of success? where is your merit? - what are you proud of? - you made a lucky guess; and that is all that can be said“ (p. 13).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This section establishes the biographical and literary context of Jane Austen’s work and defines the scope of the paper, specifically the analysis of Mr. Knightley as a representative English gentleman.
I. The development of the gentleman ideal from Chaucer to Jane Austen: This chapter traces the transformation of the gentleman concept from the medieval knight to the refined Regency courtier and local landowner.
II. The embodiment of the gentleman ideal in Mr. Knightley: This core chapter explores Knightley's personal virtues, his pedagogical relationship with Emma, his social manners, and his moral contrast with other male characters.
III. Conclusion: The final section synthesizes the analysis, confirming Mr. Knightley as an authentic and responsible gentleman who represents the author’s ideal of masculine maturity and moral integrity.
Keywords
Jane Austen, Emma, Mr. Knightley, Gentleman Ideal, Chivalry, Regency Era, Moral Education, Social Behavior, Frank Churchill, Class Hierarchy, Rationality, Mentorship, Patronage, Donwell Abbey, English Literature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this academic paper?
The paper explores the concept of the "English gentleman" as depicted in Jane Austen's novel Emma, specifically through the characterization of Mr. George Knightley.
Which key thematic fields are analyzed in the text?
The study covers the historical evolution of the gentleman ideal, the dynamics of social class, moral responsibility, and the nature of mentorship within a 19th-century context.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine how Jane Austen modernizes the medieval chivalric ideal by contrasting Mr. Knightley’s mature, rational behavior with the social conventions of his time.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses a literary-historical analytical approach, examining both primary text evidence from Emma and secondary critical scholarly sources to support the argument.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body examines Knightley's role as a mentor to Emma, his specific social interactions and displays of patronage, and a comparative analysis against the character of Frank Churchill.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The central concepts include the Gentleman Ideal, Chivalry, Social Stewardship, Moral Authority, and the evolution of male behavior in 19th-century literature.
How does Mr. Knightley function as a contrast to Frank Churchill?
Knightley is presented as a stable, honest, and duty-bound figure, whereas Churchill is portrayed as devious and hypocritical, serving as a foil to underscore Knightley's moral superiority.
What role does Donwell Abbey play in establishing Knightley's character?
The author argues that the description of Donwell Abbey reflects Knightley's own values—sincerity, rootedness, and traditional gentility—which solidify his worth as an English gentleman.
- Quote paper
- Emel Deyneli (Author), 2003, Mr. Knightley and Jane Austen's concept of the gentleman ideal, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/16088
