Posted by Lori on June 29, 1997 at 19:57:09:
In reply to Re: Mr Knightley in love posted by kathleen (elder) on June 29, 1997 at 18:56:55
Potato, potatoe, tomato, tomatoe! Some of us believe that Jane Austen intended that Knightley be in love (even if he not admit it to himself) from the very introduction of Frank Churchill. Others believe that he did not realize it until Box Hill. I don't think we will ever come to an agreement on this subject.
I personally believe that Emma2 worked better in this respect -- it may have not been true to the dialogue of the text, however it was true to the sentiment. Emma2 would have been a boring and confusing movie (as I feel Emma3 was) if Jeremy Northam had not allowed Knightley so much facial expression. The screenwriters of Emma2, I am sure, added the non-verbal expressions, making it clear to a largley Jane Austen illiterate audience that Knightley was slowly falling for Emma.
Indeed, that was my biggest problem with Emma3 (from a film standpoint). Anyone unfamiliar with Jane Austen's Emma would never have a clue that Mr. Knightley would ever end up with Emma. Emma2 succeeded in drawing in an unfamiliar audience by insinuating (non-verbally) that Mr. Knightley was more than just a concerned brother-in-law.
As for the book, the narrator does indeed speak of Mr. Knightley's "enlightenment" -- but that is typical of any work in literature. We don't really expect the character to *say* all that do we? The entire book would be filled with nothing but dialogue if the narrator didn't give us a look into the psyche of the characters once in a while. The narrator was simply explaining to us the feelings that Knightley had been harboring all along -- his passion for Emma. Just because Jane Austen didn't write the expression on his face, doesn't mean that we should assume it wasn't there. That's why we have imaginations!
Ok - again, I probably should have let it go at potato, potatoe... but isn't that why we are here -- DISCUSSION! How boring life would be if we didn't disagree once in a while. :o)
Lori