John Knightley is a character in Jane Austen's Emma. He is the younger brother of George Knightley and husband to Isabella Woodhouse Knightley.
Biography[]
Early life[]
As the younger son of a wealthy family, John moved in elevated social circles near his family home, Donwell Abbey. He grew close to Isabella Woodhouse, the elder daughter of Henry Woodhouse and later his wife, while moving in those circles.
Marriage[]
John and Isabella married while Emma Woodhouse was still in her early teens and had need of governess, Anne Taylor. Their marriage was one based on mutual affection and love, and they moved away from the country to London, where they had five children by the time Emma was 21.[1]
Character traits[]
Mr. John Knightley is tall, gentleman-like, and a very clever man. He is respectable in his general character, but has reserved manners, which prevents him from being generally pleasing. He was not an aggressive nor unkind man, despite having a sharp temper.[2] Mr Woodhouse and Emma on occasion find him too severe. John Knightley, like his wife, enjoys spending time with his family. To those he is close to he is shown to speak his mind, for example when conversing with Emma (who he's noted as being fond of) on the subject of Mr Elton.