But Always a Friend: Why Mr. Knightley Rules
If you’ve watched the 2009 adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma, then 1) you’ve experienced the superior Emma, and 2) you probably noticed a little Latin above George Knightley’s head as he leaves his house in one scene. I’d watched this adaptation a half dozen times before it occurred to me to look up the Latin phrase and see if it held any significance to the story, or if it was just part of the house used for the set.
Scrawled along the doorframe, spotted just above actor Johnny Lee Miller as he leaves his house, is the phrase sed semper amico. Translated to English, we find the words But Always a Friend very aptly chiseled into the very life and home of Mr. Knightley—in my opinion, one of Jane Austen’s most lovable heroes.
My opinion, in short, is that Mr. Knightley rules. I love Darcy, would give anything for a Captain Wentworth, but a Mr. Knightley falls quickly into the category of hero that we all need. And here’s why.
But Always a Friend
This phrase, so simple and sweet, applies so appropriately to Mr. Knightley that I can’t help but believe that the crew and set designers of the 2009 adaptation put it there on purpose. I don’t think it is an original part of the home used for his residence.
Mr. Knightley, first and foremost, is a friend to Emma. Their families have been good friends for years, but more than that, Emma and Knightley have a friendship unlike others we might find in Austen’s novels. First of all, this is a friendship between a man and a woman without any (original) intention of marriage; most male-female friendships in Austen’s novels have a hint of matrimony to them from the start.
Photo Sourced From: jasnaewanid.org/tag/emma-2009/
Emma and Knightley’s relationship, however, is purely friendship; they talk regularly, hang out together, expect to see each other at parties, are expected to be in each other’s circles, come and go in each other’s homes, and are relaxed and more casual around each other.
But more than that, their friendship is rooted in honesty, sometimes brutal honesty, and a love that only friendship can breed; a love that desires the absolute best of the other person. A love that sees faults but knows there is better to be found and honed in the person’s character. A love with history, admiration, and comfort.
From start to finish, Knightley and Emma are always friends.
Why Mr. Knightley Rules
Photo by Laurence Cendrowicz - © BBC 2009
Like I said before, Darcy and Wentworth are wonderful, but Mr. Knightley rules. He rules, very simply, because he is a friend. Emma falls and fails a lot over the course of the story, but Knightley is always there to approve and encourage her successes and good intentions, play devil’s advocate to her less than fabulous plans and machinations, “scold” (as Emma calls it) her mistakes—”badly done, Emma”—and comfort and support her as she corrects her course.
He knows she is better than her worst days and smarter than her worst ideas—and he’s ready to help her see that, too. He wants her to grow into her high station in society and be the leader he knows she can be. He wants her to laugh, have friends, dance, and go on adventures, while also acknowledging her own degree of influence on others and ability to be a positive force in the lives of those around her.
She has the power, Knightley sees it, and wants her to rise to her greatest potential. He loves her, he is her friend, and she is a cornerstone of his life.
Mr. Knightley rules…and I don’t think you’ll ever change my mind.
Conclusion
“But always a friend” is a phrase we should all strive to live out in our daily lives. The people we love need us to be the kind of friend Mr. Knightley is to Emma. The kind that only ever looks for the best in them and fights to bring it to surface at all times.
I love the inclusion of this Latin phrase in the 2009 adaptation, especially since the placement of it in the house suggests it is (or it’s part of) the Knightley family motto. This is also a sign that the writers, designers, producers, and director of the 2009 adaptation were Jane Austen fans, and took the time to genuinely understand the characters and how they relate to each other, as well as the general themes and undertones of the story. In essence, they were fans and needed to do the story justice…unlike some (looking at you, Netflix).
If you haven’t watched this adaptation yet, I highly recommend it and hope you love Knightley as much as I do!
Happy watching & reading!
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