I would say Emma has a budding friendship of virtue with Mr. Knightley. The fact that they can challenge each other is a sign of promise there. As Debbie said below, it's not as developed in Emma as it is in Mr. Knightley, but it is there, or she wouldn't get so wrapped up in knots by his displeasure.
I think that although there are many elements of a virtuous friendship between Emma and Mr. Knightley, it still functions as one of pleasure because of Emma’s perspective. She knows that Mr. Knightley finds some faults with her character and wishes to lead her in different directions, but I think she finds this more amusing than instructive. Even though he challenges her, he is so good-natured about it that Emma does not see it as serious. I know we’ve talked about how Emma wants to seek out only people who won’t challenger her, like Harriet, but I think she does enjoy the novelty of Mr. Knightley challenging her because it is done in a friendly way and gives her a chance to exercise her wit in a series of verbal sparring matches. Though Emma and Mr. Knightley often have interesting debates about various points of character, Emma is too interested in proving her own intellect to derive much in the way of virtuous instruction from Mr. Knightley.
At this point in the novel, I’m not sure Emma is capable of a friendship of virtue. If such a friendship could be one-sided, you might say she has that with Mr Knightly - it’s clear he wants to see her grow in maturity and goodness by adopting a more gracious and selfless attitude toward others in her circle (Harriet, the Bateses, Jane) and avoiding the bad apples (Mr Elton, Frank). There is one person I can think of to whom Emma consistently responds with grace, compassion and selflessness, and that’s Mr Woodhouse. I wouldn’t call that a friendship, though.
I has also thought of Mr. Knightly, in his effort to help her improve herself and her thinking.
Her friendship with Mrs Weston is very close. It certainly began as one of utility, seems to have changed as Emma came of age. I'm not sure whether it leans more toward virtue than pleasure though. Mrs. Weston seems to want what's best for Emma, but I think doesn't speak to her the same way Mr. Knightly tends to? That may be because it's not Mrs. Weston's intellectual style, or it may be that she is less critical of Emma than Knightly is (which she seems to be I think.)
Or maybe because of the class difference, Mrs Weston might feel that it isn’t her place, perhaps she doesn’t feel able to speak as freely as Mr Knightly who is Emma’s social equal as far as class is concerned.
I’m a bit late to this party but want to share my thoughts anyways.
One of the delights of the book is watching Emma’s relationships change as she grows. Her friendship with Mr Knightly grows into one of virtue as she matures. But I think her friendship with Harriet is as much one of utility as it is of pleasure. Yes, they enjoy each other company, but only in the way it fills Emma’s own selfish needs and prevents boredom. When they both marry at the end, I don’t see them enjoying each others company and friendship in the same way. I see them becoming friendly acquaintances, a somewhat downgraded friendship.
As for Mrs Weston, she is too blinded by her love of Emma to challenge her intellectually or morally. But I’m not sure their relationship fits as one of utility or one of pleasure? Those don’t seem to capture its depth. It’s more of a familial bond, I think.
I also think (spoilers ahead) that Jane is to Frank what Mr Knightly is to Emma, where the more mature partner in each relationship will help the other one grow as their friendship deepens into a true friendship of virtue. Neither began this way, but both end this way.
I had forgotten how much Emma’s conscience troubled her when she was destroying Harriet’s friendship with the Martins! She knew they were good people and good friends to Harriet but Emma was selfish (and a bit prejudiced).
I would say Emma has a budding friendship of virtue with Mr. Knightley. The fact that they can challenge each other is a sign of promise there. As Debbie said below, it's not as developed in Emma as it is in Mr. Knightley, but it is there, or she wouldn't get so wrapped up in knots by his displeasure.
I think that although there are many elements of a virtuous friendship between Emma and Mr. Knightley, it still functions as one of pleasure because of Emma’s perspective. She knows that Mr. Knightley finds some faults with her character and wishes to lead her in different directions, but I think she finds this more amusing than instructive. Even though he challenges her, he is so good-natured about it that Emma does not see it as serious. I know we’ve talked about how Emma wants to seek out only people who won’t challenger her, like Harriet, but I think she does enjoy the novelty of Mr. Knightley challenging her because it is done in a friendly way and gives her a chance to exercise her wit in a series of verbal sparring matches. Though Emma and Mr. Knightley often have interesting debates about various points of character, Emma is too interested in proving her own intellect to derive much in the way of virtuous instruction from Mr. Knightley.
At this point in the novel, I’m not sure Emma is capable of a friendship of virtue. If such a friendship could be one-sided, you might say she has that with Mr Knightly - it’s clear he wants to see her grow in maturity and goodness by adopting a more gracious and selfless attitude toward others in her circle (Harriet, the Bateses, Jane) and avoiding the bad apples (Mr Elton, Frank). There is one person I can think of to whom Emma consistently responds with grace, compassion and selflessness, and that’s Mr Woodhouse. I wouldn’t call that a friendship, though.
I has also thought of Mr. Knightly, in his effort to help her improve herself and her thinking.
Her friendship with Mrs Weston is very close. It certainly began as one of utility, seems to have changed as Emma came of age. I'm not sure whether it leans more toward virtue than pleasure though. Mrs. Weston seems to want what's best for Emma, but I think doesn't speak to her the same way Mr. Knightly tends to? That may be because it's not Mrs. Weston's intellectual style, or it may be that she is less critical of Emma than Knightly is (which she seems to be I think.)
Or maybe because of the class difference, Mrs Weston might feel that it isn’t her place, perhaps she doesn’t feel able to speak as freely as Mr Knightly who is Emma’s social equal as far as class is concerned.
I’m a bit late to this party but want to share my thoughts anyways.
One of the delights of the book is watching Emma’s relationships change as she grows. Her friendship with Mr Knightly grows into one of virtue as she matures. But I think her friendship with Harriet is as much one of utility as it is of pleasure. Yes, they enjoy each other company, but only in the way it fills Emma’s own selfish needs and prevents boredom. When they both marry at the end, I don’t see them enjoying each others company and friendship in the same way. I see them becoming friendly acquaintances, a somewhat downgraded friendship.
As for Mrs Weston, she is too blinded by her love of Emma to challenge her intellectually or morally. But I’m not sure their relationship fits as one of utility or one of pleasure? Those don’t seem to capture its depth. It’s more of a familial bond, I think.
I also think (spoilers ahead) that Jane is to Frank what Mr Knightly is to Emma, where the more mature partner in each relationship will help the other one grow as their friendship deepens into a true friendship of virtue. Neither began this way, but both end this way.
I had forgotten how much Emma’s conscience troubled her when she was destroying Harriet’s friendship with the Martins! She knew they were good people and good friends to Harriet but Emma was selfish (and a bit prejudiced).
Will the discussion questions be posted as they were for Pride and Prejudice?