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.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (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
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to examine Jane Austen's concept of the gentleman ideal as represented by Mr. Knightley in her novel Emma. It traces the evolution of this ideal from Chaucer to Austen, analyzing Mr. Knightley's character and comparing him to other male figures in the novel.
- The evolution of the gentleman ideal from Chaucer to Jane Austen
- Mr. Knightley as the embodiment of Jane Austen's gentleman ideal
- Comparison of Mr. Knightley's character with other male characters in Emma
- Analysis of Mr. Knightley's social behavior and attitude
- The role of chivalry and courtly love in shaping the gentleman ideal
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introduction sets the stage for the analysis of Jane Austen's portrayal of the gentleman ideal in Emma, focusing on Mr. Knightley as a representative figure. It highlights the contrast between different types of men depicted in Austen's works, ranging from villains to the refined gentleman. The introduction establishes the paper's central objective: to examine Mr. Knightley's character and his embodiment of the gentleman ideal throughout the novel, emphasizing his development and defining characteristics.
I. The development of the gentleman ideal from Chaucer to Jane Austen: This chapter traces the historical evolution of the gentleman ideal, beginning with Chaucer's depiction of the knight in "The Canterbury Tales." It emphasizes the knight's embodiment of courtly love, chivalry, and virtuous behavior. The chapter then examines "The Book of the Courtier" by Castiglione, highlighting the similarities and differences between the Italian courtier and the English gentleman. It explores the influence of the "cult of honnête" in France and its impact on the development of the English gentleman ideal, culminating in Lord Chesterfield's attempt to define a standard of gentlemanly conduct.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Jane Austen, Emma, Mr. Knightley, gentleman ideal, chivalry, courtly love, Chaucer, Castiglione, Lord Chesterfield, social behavior, character analysis, literary criticism.
Jane Austen's *Emma*: A Gentleman's Ideal - FAQ
What is the main topic of this paper?
This paper analyzes Jane Austen's concept of the "gentleman ideal" as portrayed through Mr. Knightley in her novel, Emma. It traces the historical evolution of this ideal and examines Mr. Knightley's character in detail, comparing him to other male figures in the novel.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include the evolution of the gentleman ideal from Chaucer to Jane Austen, Mr. Knightley as the embodiment of this ideal, a comparison of Mr. Knightley with other male characters in Emma, an analysis of Mr. Knightley's social behavior and attitude, and the role of chivalry and courtly love in shaping the gentleman ideal.
How does the paper trace the evolution of the gentleman ideal?
The paper traces the historical development of the gentleman ideal, starting with Chaucer's depiction of the knight in "The Canterbury Tales," then moving to Castiglione's "The Book of the Courtier," and finally exploring the influence of the "cult of honnête" in France and Lord Chesterfield's contributions to defining gentlemanly conduct.
What is the role of Mr. Knightley in this analysis?
Mr. Knightley serves as the central figure representing Jane Austen's ideal of a gentleman. The paper examines his character, social interactions, and attitudes to understand how he embodies this ideal. His actions and relationships are analyzed to demonstrate the characteristics of a gentleman according to Austen's perspective.
How does the paper compare Mr. Knightley to other male characters?
The paper compares Mr. Knightley to other male characters in Emma to highlight the contrasts and further define the qualities that distinguish him as the embodiment of the gentleman ideal. This comparative analysis emphasizes the unique aspects of Mr. Knightley's character.
What aspects of Mr. Knightley's character are analyzed?
The analysis delves into Mr. Knightley's social behavior, attitudes, and interactions to showcase his adherence to the gentlemanly ideal. His relationship with Emma is a key focus of this analysis.
What is the significance of chivalry and courtly love?
The paper explores the historical influence of chivalry and courtly love on the development of the gentleman ideal, showing how these concepts shaped the expectations and characteristics associated with a gentleman throughout history, and how those concepts are reflected in Mr. Knightley's character.
What are the chapter summaries provided?
The provided summaries briefly describe the content of each chapter: The introduction sets the stage, Chapter I traces the historical development of the gentleman ideal, and the conclusion (Chapter III) is not summarized in detail in the provided text.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
The keywords are: Jane Austen, Emma, Mr. Knightley, gentleman ideal, chivalry, courtly love, Chaucer, Castiglione, Lord Chesterfield, social behavior, character analysis, literary criticism.
- Citar trabajo
- Emel Deyneli (Autor), 2003, Mr. Knightley and Jane Austen's concept of the gentleman ideal, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/16088
