I do have issues with Mr. Knightley appointing himself Emma's moral compass. If you notice a few times Austen says he does it when Mr. Woodhouse is not in the room, or he moves closer to her so Mr. Woodhouse does not hear him. When and if Mr. Woodhouse hears Mr. Knightley say negative comments to Emma, he replies with positive, and praise.
Some have felt that Mr. Woodhouse has spoiled Emma, feeling Mr. Knightley is the only one willing to call her out, criticize her, or reign her in, so he has the right to. I do not feel he has the right to constantly critic her every move and word, with everyone. I say thank goodness she has a father who thinks so highly of her. All girls should have a father like Mr. Woodhouse, he has raised her with enough self confidence to be different. To not be a mold of expectations, to speak up for her beliefs, even when they are not popular. She is a woman, not a child, and should be respected, as much as Mr. Knightley expects her, to respect others. She has her flaws, just as everyone does, and yes, she is a work in progress, but it seems Mr. Knightley is never willing to cut her any slack.
Who knows, maybe that is why Jane Austen never married, maybe she is writing about controlling men, trying to mold women, and wanting to break the spirit of strong women, because she herself saw some men like this. Austen was a woman ahead of her times, I sense she never would let a Mr. Knightley get away with this.
I am anxious to see how this story ends. And yes,
Marcie, in
Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcey did indeed write Elizabeth a letter, acknowledging his wrongful actions, and arrogance in the end. Without it, they could never have ended up together. I can only hope Mr. Knightley, will come to see his extreme expectations, and treatment of Emma, and can repent, or maybe he will not end up with her at all.
Barbara,
Emma may be feisty but we are supposed to see this as titillating -
I have not seen Emma's spunkiness or feistiness as "titillating," if anything I see her holding her ground with Mr. Knightley. I sense Austen has wrote it, for Mr. Knightley to see it as "titillating," and he does things, as I said prior, to push her buttons. Emma does seem to smirk and smile with his annoyances of her, but I sense it is her defense mechanisms, because she finds him so critical of her.
Marcie,
I think he, as a friend, is seriously trying to help her become what he sees as her potential (and I don't think it's because he is grooming her for marriage). He sees that there is no one else in her life who does that for her+
If this is the case then why can he not do it comfortably in front of her father? Because, he knows her father will not tolerate this type of behaviour from anyone, where his daughter is concerned, and rightfully so.
I agree with
Barbara, it seems a double standard, Emma is wrong for meddling, yet it is okay for Mr. Knightley to meddle.
I don't see it as abuse, but I do see it as, NOT his place, and hope he realizes it, and comes to an apology.
Whether we agree or dislike it, the love novels of all ages seem to place the man in the same type of character as Mr. Knightley, Mr. Darcy, and even Rhett Butler. Take a look at the disgusting book/movie,
Fifty Shades of Grey., here the author gets away with taking it to an extreme, and women flocked to the stores, and theaters to romanticize, and condone this type of treatment on women. I saw hundreds of posts of women saying they want to have a Christian Grey. Throughout the ends of time the male characters have been portrayed in the dominating roles, trying to make stronger women characters submit to their all knowing ways, or live up to their potential. Who gives the men, the entitlement, to assume they know, what is best for the female? Authors/writers of course!
