Posted by Kali on June 23, 1997 at 06:08:49:
In reply to Re: What does Mr. Knightley say?-"Objective" view for jj & sarah2 posted by Cassandra on June 14, 1997 at 13:59:18
As Kali would say alternative realities. Mr. Knightley is supposed to have a cheerful manner which always did him good. He is kindness personified(as Miss Bates would say, upon my honour) and great natural grace. There are not "one and a hundred with gentleman so plainly written."
] And as for JN being too charming to be Mr. Knightley.."Being charming is not quite enough to induce (a person) to marry. One "must find other people charming-one other person at least."
DING DING DING (and bonus points for resisting the urge to McGrath-ify the "gentleman so plainly written" line!)! Mr. Knightley IS charming...in a quiet sort of way...he's not Dig-Me-Baby like Frank (there's another one of those in-your-face dichotomies which scream ironic potential), but he's not a grouchy old man, either. I think Austen purposefully omits the glowing narrations on Mr. Knightley's behalf so as to plant slyer clues as to his personality (and his perfection as a mate for Emma)...through the words of other characters (Harriet, Emma, Miss Bates, &c.) and through modest descriptions which require a little independent elaboration on the reader's part to reach the conclusion that he's a decent, honest guy with a helpless, nice-guy sort of charm. His grumbling as the Coxes,' for example...he only mutters in Emma's presence, if you notice...probably because that's the only reaction he can comfortably diffuse around her... poor guy!