Adapting Mr. Knightley: from Jane Austen's novel to the screen

Abstract

Jane Austen’s literary works continue to hold significant relevance in contemporaneity, both for their thematic depth and enduring cultural impact. Adaptations of her novels enable new interpretations, shedding light on overlooked or reimagined aspects of her characters. This article brings a short analysis of the creative differences behind the portrayal of the character Mr. Knightley, from the novel Emma, in the film adaptation Emma (1996a) for ITV. Elements such as physical traits, the character’s stance, opinions about society and moral norms, and behavior were analyzed to provide a more accurate perception of the character, based on A Theory of Adaptation by Linda Hutcheon (2006), who argues for the perception of adaptations as individual works, not relying nor having to submit to the original source. The analysis revealed that the movie adaptation emphasizes a more severe and restrained version of Mr. Knightley, accentuating traits that are present in Austen’s text. These stylistic choices suggest an intentional shift toward a more austere, traditionally British masculinity at that time, reflecting the adaptors’ cultural and narrative priorities.