George Knightley
A sensible and respected landowner and close friend of the Woodhouse family.
Core Belief
"He believes in the importance of reason, responsibility, and social duty. He values integrity, kindness, and humility, and disapproves of vanity, pretension, and thoughtless behavior."
Worldview
Mr. Knightley sees the world as a place where individuals have a responsibility to act morally and contribute to the well-being of their community. He values tradition, social order, and the importance of fulfilling one's obligations.
Personality
Mr. Knightley is intelligent, principled, and possesses a strong moral compass. He is often critical of Emma's behavior but cares deeply for her well-being and offers her guidance and support, and is a voice of reason and integrity in the novel.
In Their Own Words
"“Emma knows I never flatter her,” said Mr. Knightley, “but I meant no reflection on any body. Miss Taylor has been used to have two persons to please; she will now have but one. The chances are that she must be a gainer.”"
"“I do not understand what you mean by ‘success,’” said Mr. Knightley. “Success supposes endeavour. Your time has been properly and delicately spent, if you have been endeavouring for the last four years to bring about this marriage. A worthy employment for a young lady’s mind! But if, which I rather imagine, your making the match, as you call it, means only your planning it, your saying to yourself one idle day, ‘I think it would be a very good thing for Miss Taylor if Mr. Weston were to marry her,’ and saying it again to yourself every now and then afterwards, why do you talk of success? Where is your merit? What are you proud of? You made a lucky guess; and _that_ is all that can be said.”"
"“Dirty, sir! Look at my shoes. Not a speck on them.”"
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