A kind and compassionate person, Mr. Knightley exhibits good judgement, high moral character, and maturity, in contrast with Emma's still-maturing character: as a hero, he also has presence and authority, and a natural "lifelike" quality. The most hard-working of Austen's heroes, he is also the least grand and ostentatious, not even keeping a pair of carriage horses. As the owner of the largest estate in the area (Donwell Abbey), this makes his down to earth manners all the more remarkable. He is a
magistrate, and the leading figure in the
select vestry for the Highbury parish, which also includes Mr Elton, Mr Weston, Mr Cole and Mr Cox, and which meets regularly in the Crown Inn. At this date, select vestries substantially functioned as the sole government of rural parishes; being responsible for collection of rates, registration of births, marriages and deaths, parish schools, upkeep of roads and bridges, the functioning of
houses of correction and
workhouses, and the operation of the
Poor Laws. Despite a certain sharpness of tongue, his genuine qualities are revealed, for example, by his disappointment when he sees Emma insult Miss Bates, a
spinster of modest means. Mr. Knightley's reprimand of Emma for this insult also demonstrates his affection and esteem for her as a friend. Another revealing incident is his anger with Emma for persuading Harriet Smith to refuse Robert Martin's proposal of marriage, Martin being in Knightley's eyes an eminently suitable husband for Harriet: the row that follows leaves the pair estranged for a time. But while in some respects serving as a
conduct book mentor for Emma, Knightley learns from his own desire for Emma and his jealousy-fuelled blunders, which brings the characters into a more realistic, egalitarian relationship, just as in their marriage
her money will complement
his role as the leading local landowner. ==Role in narrative==