Cheerful manner

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Posted by Kathy F. on July 19, 1997 at 15:40:59:


In reply to Re: Emma2 vs Emma3 posted by Cassandra on July 19, 1997 at 11:34:37

]Many women find him most handsome, a man of information and sense, whose cheerful manner always does him good."


________

I've got a question on that phrase, and hope I'm not jumping the gun on the Group Read, but...

The book starts the paragraph by discussing Mr. Knightley, then giving the reason why he is at Harfield; before that, Mr. Woodhouse was shown to be saddened by Miss Taylor's marriage.

It was a happy circumstance, and animated Mr. Woodhouse for some time. Mr. Knightley had a cheerful manner, which always did him good; and his many inquiries after "poor Isabella" and her children were answered most satisfactorily. When this was over, Mr. Woodhouse gratefully observed:...."

I never thought about this until the last time I read the passage a few days ago. Who was the "him"? The sentence has two men in it; and before that sentence the subject is Mr. Knightley, but after it--indeed after the semicolon, the subject is Mr. Woodhouse. The meaning is unclear. Was Mr. Knightley's cheerful manner somewhat affected (that is not the word I want to think of, but the only other word I can muster is "false" and Mr. Knightley can't use disguise, so I'm at a loss), so as to do Mr. Woodhouse's spirits good in this time of sadness?

Kathy F.



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