Mr. Knightly or Mr. Darcy?
What do you think?!
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MovieChat Forums > Emma (1996) Discussion > Mr. Knightly or Mr. Darcy?
They're BOTH wonderful!!
I wish Jane Austen would have written more books. I wonder which of her heroines was more like her personality.
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
From the adaptations on film I'd pick... uhmmm... oh my, this is difficult!!!
I think Jeremy is absolutely amazingly super incredibly smokin' hot (I never use that expression, but it is the only thing that applies here!) as Mr. Knightley in Emma (and in general, always), but personality-wise... I think I like the quiet calmness of Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy in P&P.
BUT... thank you to those of you bringing up John Thornton from North & South, even though it's not Austen. Richard Armitage in N&S is (IMO) just the perfect combination of looks and personality. That man and his costumes in that movie!!!
So many gorgeous guys to drool over hehehe ;)
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Mr. Knightly. I think he's underrated and overshadowed by Mr. Darcy, but he's my favorite of Jane Austen's heroes.
shareEither of the Emma Mr Knightlys is more admirable than Mr Darcy. I can't get over how Darcy excuses the fiasco he made of Georgianna's establishment at Ramsgate. He had nothing else of any importance on his plate, his estate being in the hands of a steward, and he'd been well aware of Wickham's propensities for years before he allowed her to fall into that lecher's clutches.
Darcy is an irresponsible trust baby. Knightly is the guy who guys would like to be.
I'm very fond of Mr Knightley, too, and I know Darcy wasn't perfect. But how do you blame him for what happened to Georgiana? When you read the full account of his actions in his letter in chapter 35, I believe he can be absolved of blame. Have you read something I've missed?
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
I'm with you. Darcy has his faults (the whole Jane/Bingley thing still irks me), but I don't understand what he did wrong vis a vis Georgiana. Yes, he knew that Wickham was profligate, but I honestly don't think he could have known that Wickham would try to elope with Georgiana.
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Hi Julie.
I'm at a loss. Even if Joes hasn't read the book, I still can't see how any of the adaptations give the impression that Darcy is negligent in this regard.
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
That's the point, gran. JA doesn't blow a whistle, she calls no foul. It's up to us to call it. I think his negligence is plainly evident. As a guardian he's a total failure. And this thread is just the place to say so.
"... there proved to have been a prior acquaintance between him and Mrs. Younge, in whose character we were most unhappily deceived; and by her connivance and aid, he so far recommended himself to Georgiana, whose affectionate heart retained a strong impression of his kindness to her as a child, that she was persuaded to believe herself in love, and to consent to an elopement. She was then but fifteen, which must be her excuse; and after stating her imprudence,..." It's everyone's fault but his.
And, Lady C at Rosings "When my niece Georgiana went to Ramsgate last summer, I made a point of her having two men-servants go with her. Miss Darcy, the daughter of Mr. Darcy, of Pemberley, and Lady Anne, could not have appeared with propriety in a different manner. I am excessively attentive to all those things."
Someone had to be. Darcy wasn't.
"There is one thing, Emma, which a man can always do if he chooses, and that is his duty;"
Funny how we can read the same passage and come to a different conclusion! I see no negligence at all.
Darcy had respected his father's dying wishes to look after Wickham, and fully discharged those duties. Finally, he dissolved all ties with Wickham. Georgiana was in Ramsgate with her governess, Mrs Younge, and her aunt's man servants. In addition, Darcy must have kept in contact with Georgiana because he says her visited her unannounced. He could not have foreseen that Wickham and Mrs Younge were in cahoots. I see nothing disparaging in Darcy's description of Georgiana's naivety, or any attempt to shift blame.
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
He was responsible for her safety and her fortune and only a lucky visit to Ramsgate saved her from losing both!
He subbed the check on the background of a woman he didn't know and sent his sister off to London and Kent with her while he rambled around Derbyshire and Hertfordshire with Bingley!
London was crawling with fortune-hunting males, not just Wickham, and Darcy knew that. He knew she'd have been in danger whenever she was outside the protection of her guardian. And yet he wasn't moved to exercise his duty responsibly.
Knightly makes it obvious that JA could draw a super-responsible 'white knight' male so an inference that she meant Darcy to be an ineffectual empty suit who keeps landing on his feet is certainly justified. He's a bum.
You are an exacting man, sir! I can only reply by seriously misquoting a certain young lady:
"I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six [perfect men]. I rather wonder now at your knowing any."
('Tis a good thing that Knightley doesn't have a sister. His "white knight" halo may have slipped a bit! )
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
Not exacting at all, gran. If I felt some regret or remorse about my behavior toward a woman, no matter the circumstances, I'd be careful to make those declarations without qualification. Especially if I claimed to be a gentleman.
It's obvious to me that had Lizzie again rejected him he'd have spared himself the fake regrets and finger-pointing on the cowpath.
Based on the books: definitely Mr. Darcy. Mr. Knightly acts more like Emma's father than her suitor, always scolding her and lecturing her. But, Jeremy Northam is so charming as Mr. Knightly that he's hard to pass up.
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