Emma question

Regarding Point 3, Knightley ran away to his brother's because he couldn't bear to be around Emma & Frank. He believed that Emma was in love with Frank, and based on her behavior at the Box Hill picnic, it appeared that way to everyone. Also, it was Mr. & Mrs. Weston's hope that Emma & Frank would marry, since Emma was like a daughter to Mrs. Weston. At this point, Knightley believed that he had absolutely no chance with Emma, so he went away to escape his agony.

Point 1: I might agree with you, although I do not feel it much.

Point 2 - Part 1: I believe the main point isn't so much Emma's forever-happy with Mr Knightley, but the fact that she has blemished it by having ruined Harriet's happiness (helping her fall in love with 2 wrong guys, while Mr. perfect Smith was right there... poor Harriet). On my part, I was hanging on how that was going to be solved.

Point 2 - Part 2: Some might think the solution to Harriet's love suffering was either a)obvious or b)forced. I believe, though, it fits perfectly well with Harriet's character. What could be more romantic than a strong non-nonsense guy whose love for you stays strong while you are in love with others? Which takes me to...

Point 3: Mr Knightley shows himself incharacter by holding his tongue and running to his brother's house. Not only is he 16 years older (and very no-nonsense), but he has always been the friend who stands by Emma and scolds her. Also, he was the one who said that Emma should feel unrequitted love to, in other words, grow up - and it is funny that both realise their feelings only when they fear the other is forever lost to them.

That is the point, I believe; the thought that they lost their chance and that it is now best - in the name of their long friendship - to say nothing that will hurt them. In Mr Knightley's case, running away and returning only after learning about Frank's treachery - and that he might have a chance - seems to me an action of a gentleman caught between his feelings and his scruples.

I agree with you on Points 1&2. JA loved to put a lot of detail into her novels. It is what I both love and hate about her.

I agree with Joyce on Point 3. I think that Knightley believed that Emma saw him as a brother figure. She even jokingly calls him brother at times. Her behavior with Frank at that time was indicative of an “attachment.” Either a private engagement or at least a declaration of feelings and intentions (practically an engagement). To break up such an attachment would have been seen as scandalous and ungentlemanly. Mr. Knightley, ever the gentleman, put Emma's feelings before his own. Believing her without doubt to be in love with Frank, and a public engagement imminent, he would have considered it pointless to “fight” for her. It would have needlessly embarrassed and hurt her to have to break one of her best friend's heart. It would have also ruined a lifetime friendship. He probably felt that in time he would be able to cope with seeing her with Frank. I think the fact that he was able to put Emma's feelings and happiness above his own, showed more strength of character and love than “fighting” for her would have.

Also, JA loved to show extremes of character. Mr. Knightley is very logical. He always acts in the way that he believed to be the most reasonable and favorable. Remember when Robert Martin comes to him for advice about marrying Harriet. He says that even though he sees no reason why they should not marry financially, that maybe Robert should wait a bit since they are both so young. Emma is the opposite. She is impetuous and bases her actions on emotion. This is why I believe they are so perfect for each other. She mellows him out and teaches him to have fun, while he gets her to see reason and logic.

Noe wrote: "Point 1: Toward the end, J.A. spends too much time on..."

That is letter is pretty long, six pages in my edition, but it would have been vastly improved by paragraph breaks. I've noticed many of the letters in Austen's novels are devoid of paragraph breaks; perhaps a consequence of trying to cram everything into a single sheet of multi-folded paper.

I think were Austen to write today, she'd would not have those "extra" chapters after the proposal, or would put them to different purposes. I don't know how I would feel about that, though.

In general, I'd have to agree with your observations, but short of Jane herself publishing a revised edition …

In my opinion all of the explanations offered to the points brought up by the OP are excellent. An interesting 'addendum' to this conversation is that Mr. Knightley did not return intending to propose to Emma, but rather only to console whatever difficult feelings that he expected to find in her: the proposal was impulsive, after realizing that Emma had never truly loved or desired Frank Churchill as a husband. Thank goodness that Emma, by that time, had come to know her own heart clearly-- the timing was perfect!

Although I find things to appreciate about all of the different 'couplings' throughout JA's body of work, I believe that Emma and Mr. Knightley is my favorite, even more so than Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy (although, did I just say that? ...)