MovieChat Forums > Emma (1997) Discussion > Age differences.

Age differences.

posted 20 years ago by jjones-43
43 replies | jump to latest

I think Mr. Knightley is too old for Emma, because she's 21 and he's 37. 16 years older than she is! "I was 16 years old when you were born."

[–] roghache 18 years ago

I don't find the age difference inappropriate at all. I actually had an aunt and uncle with this identical 16 year age gap and they had a very happy marriage of fifty plus years. I agree with all the previous comments about women of that era being expected to marry young while men tended to wait longer before choosing a bride.

[–] klorentz 17 years ago

The average age for women to marry in Regency England was 23. If I recall correctly, the average for men was 27.

[–] queenofthestars-1 15 years ago

There's a 17yr age difference between me and my boyfriend. I'm 20, he's 37. We've been together almost 2 yrs now, and we get along as well as we ever did in the beginning. I love him and hope to be with him for my rest of my life. He is my best friend, my lover, my advisor (though I have a mind of my own, not unlike Emma) and my companion. The age difference is actually more a good thing than a bad thing because over the years he has learned patience and tolerance and is able to deal with my imperfections.

[–] queenofthestars-1 11 years ago

Heh. Didn't realise I'd already read this thread before. I'd just like to say that said boyfriend and I are STILL together four years on.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] GladtobeGrey 11 years ago

What does age matter if people love each other? My own parents were 22 and 41 when they married, there was eleven years difference between my husband and me and the same difference between his parents. I was 13 when we fell in love and he was 24, we were together over 40 years before he died and he was my one and only soulmate. My son's wife is 16 older than him and they too are blissfully happy together. Age is just a number, it's what is in the heart and soul that matters.