Tom Jones: What's Inside

Tom Jones
Study Guide by Course Hero
Fielding borrows from the Greek comedic tradition of

What's Inside parabasis, in which the leader of the chorus addresses the
audience by stepping outside the diegis of the play. At other
times when he claims to lack information or not know the
j Book Basics ................................................................................................. 1 meaning of something, the narrator does not have the true
omniscience of an author. The tone of voice this narrator takes
d In Context ..................................................................................................... 1
mimics the gossipy and witty storyteller so highly prized in
a Author Biography ..................................................................................... 4 fashionable London salons, which served up all kinds of snack
delicacies for visitors to eat. These salons were evaluated by
h Characters ................................................................................................... 5 just how witty and juicy both food and discussion were.
k Plot Summary ........................................................................................... 10 TENSE

Tom Jones is written in the past tense, but when the narrator
c Chapter Summaries .............................................................................. 17
interrupts the narrative to speak as the author, he uses the
present tense.
g Quotes ........................................................................................................ 69
ABOUT THE TITLE

l Symbols ...................................................................................................... 72
The full title of the book is The History of Tom Jones, a
m Themes ....................................................................................................... 73 Foundling. The use of the word history contrasts the novel with
romances and grounds the text in realism. A foundling is a child
e Suggested Reading .............................................................................. 74 abandoned by his parents at birth or shortly thereafter. This
word contrasts two types of characters in the book: those
motivated by money and those motivated by birth. In addition
being a foundling makes Tom an outsider, which gives him
j Book Basics social flexibility between the characters of these two worlds.
AUTHOR
Henry Fielding
YEAR PUBLISHED
d In Context
1749
GENRE Tom Jones as a Prototype

Comedy
While Tom Jones was not the first novel ever written, nor the
PERSPECTIVE AND NARRATOR
first written in English, it is considered by most critics to be a
Tom Jones mixes narrative techniques: the main story is told
milestone in the development of the genre. Henry Fielding
from a third-person omniscient point of view; however, the
claimed to be "a founder of a new province of writing." He
narrator frequently (especially in the first chapter of each
borrowed from picaresque tales—which are stories about
book) interrupts in first person and speaks with the authority of
dishonest but likable characters—romances, classical epics,
the author, even directly addressing the reader. In this way,
Tom Jones Study Guide In Context 2
poetry, history, and religious texts, but he created something

entirely new. He consciously called attention to himself as an Catholics versus Protestants
author and crafter of prose in introductory chapters, moving
from high style to low style and from mock epic to serious In the background of the novel is the Jacobite uprising of 1745,
philosophy; he integrated ingenious metaphors and elegantly the failed attempt of the Catholic Stuarts to take back the
crafted prose sentences with idiom, slang, and salty language. throne of England. Great Britain was entirely Catholic until the
These were groundbreaking techniques for that time. 16th century, when in 1534 King Henry VIII, angry that Pope
Clement VII would not grant him an annulment from his wife,
Fielding also shows himself to be a master of irony and double Catherine of Aragorn, broke from the Catholic Church and
entendre as well as a master plotter. The hero's journey is created the Church of England. Henry ended up having six
divided into three stages. The first six books take place in the wives in his quest for male heirs. After his death in 1547 he was
country as Tom Jones grows to manhood and faces a crisis. succeeded briefly by his nine-year-old son, Edward VI, who
The next six books cover his wandering period, in which he died in 1553, and then by his daughter Mary, a Catholic and the
encounters many adventures. The last six books bring him to daughter of Henry and a Spanish Catholic queen.
the city (London) in which he suffers a serious reversal of
fortune, consolidates his lessons, and learns some wisdom. From Elizabethan England to the Glorious Revolution:
Finally, despite its comedy Tom Jones is a serious moral tale Elizabeth I, a Protestant, held the throne from 1558–1603, after
that interrogates the hypocrisy of society and shows a path which it was returned to Catholic James I, a Stuart from
through the dark wood. No doubt Fielding was instrumental in Scotland. From then on a power struggle continued between
elevating a relatively new genre to the level of high art, and this the Catholic Stuarts and the Protestant interests, represented
work became a model for many novelists who followed him. by various factions. Three more Catholic monarchs sat on the
throne until the Glorious Revolution of 1688, in which the
Protestants overthrew James II and put William and Mary on
Notes on the Text the throne. This is the civil war that the Man of the Hill takes
part in. In all, five attempts to put Stuarts back on the throne
were made in the 60 years following the Glorious Revolution.
The fourth printing of Tom Jones came at the end of 1749; this
version, used by the Penguin and Norton editions, capitalizes The Hanovers: The Protestants in the Hanover line began
most nouns, italicizes names, and uses British spelling as well ruling England in 1714 with King George I. Since England did
as old-fashioned spelling of some words. This guide has put all not want monarchs with Catholic bloodlines, a German who
quotations into American English. was a distant relative of King James I was chosen as king in
1714. In addition to religious differences between Catholics and
Capitalization was regularized in the 16th century for words at
Protestants, there were political disagreements. Catholic rule
the beginning of sentences and for proper names. By the 17th
was associated with the divine right of kings and tyranny, while
century titles and personified nouns were capitalized. By the
Protestant rule became aligned with constitutional monarchy
18th century, following continental practice, capitalization was
and limits placed on royal power.
extended to important nouns and then to most nouns. By the
end of that century the grammarians had scaled back on this The Uprising of 1745: In 1745 George II was on the throne,
practice until they arrived at today's rules. although Robert Walpole was the power behind him. The
Stuarts had made an unsuccessful attempt to take back power
Some editions of Tom Jones, including the Penguin edition,
in 1715; then, as Tom speaks with the Man of the Hill, another
include an appendix for "The Man of the Hill." This is alternative
uprising is in progress in 1745, led by Prince Charles Edward
text that appeared in Chapters 14 and 15 of Book 8 in the third
Stuart of Scotland (also called the Young Pretender). Charles
printing. A variant of about two-and-a-half pages makes a
conquered Scotland and then moved onto Derby, England; he
harsher argument against the Jacobins and omits the remarks
was stopped by the Duke of Cumberland in December 1745 on
on the failings of Europeans. Henry Fielding changed this
English soil but not entirely defeated until the English invaded
section of the novel back to its original form in his fourth
Scotland and defeated the Stuart forces at Culloden near
printing, but the appendix is included for readers' information.
Inverness, in April 1746, in a bloody retaliation. When Sophia
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Tom Jones Study Guide In Context 3
and her cousin stop at an inn, she is mistaken for Jenny

Cameron, the supposed mistress of Charles Edward, but in Act
fact the real Jenny was between 40 and 50, had not gone to
the war, never met the prince, and kept the estate of her The Black Act was passed in 1723 during the reign of King
brother while he was away at battle. The French never did George I, establishing the death penalty for poaching animals
invade England in 1745, although at some point the rebels in private parks or on private lands for cutting down trees,
thought that help might come from France. establishing gardens, or committing acts of vandalism on other
people's property. The act was passed to address the growing
poaching problem on royal lands. The act had the worst effect
Bastardy and Bridewell on Britain's poor, who poached out of desperation. The
impetus for the act was the Waltham Blacks, a gang that
blackened their faces before entering a park to poach. After
Illegitimacy (being born out of wedlock) historically has been a
they killed a gamekeeper it became a felony to be found
stigma in most societies, including 18th-century England.
wearing a blackened face, or any other form of disguise, in a
Bastards could not automatically inherit property, for example,
forest or park.
although they could be deeded property or left property in a
will, as Mr. Allworthy is free to do for Tom Jones. Respectable The Black Act was established under the government of
people in the middle and upper classes would avoid marrying a Robert Walpole, one of Henry Fielding's prime targets for
bastard, although the presence of a significant amount of satire, and illustrated the conflict between the haves and have-
money could sweeten the deal. It was important to know where nots. Those without land said game animals belonged to
people came from, however, which is why it is helpful that Tom everyone, since they were wild. Landowners, however, believed
learns at the end of the novel who his parents were. game on their lands was their property. The job of gamekeeper
was to protect the animals from poachers. Arguments about
Before the 19th century the father of a bastard was legally
who owned the game persisted after 1827, when the draconian
responsible for maintaining his illegitimate child and could be
Black Act was repealed. While it was still a crime to poach,
arrested if he refused to do so. Public funds were used to
stealing game could not incur the death penalty. Fielding
support women and children without husbands. The
portrays Black George as a scurrilous fellow, but the author
Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601 made local parishes, or the areas
seems to disagree with the severity of the poaching laws as
around a parish church, responsible for providing money, food,
evidenced in the fact that Tom, the moral center of the story,
and sometimes housing for the poor, and later workhouses
protects George from the squires who insist on having his
were built to use poor people for profit. Women who depended
name.
on the parish could be punished for getting a bastard, however,
with a year in a house of correction. Bridewell was established
in 1553 as a house of correction for poor people and homeless
children. Offenses that typically sent people to Bridewell were Impressment
prostitution, minor acts of dishonesty, vagrancy, and having a
child out of wedlock. Although both sexes could be punished, Impressment was the custom of forcibly taking men into the
women invariably took the weight for the crime of bastardy. seafaring military and was common in England in the 18th
Bridewell is mentioned several times in Tom Jones, and Mr. century. The Royal Navy lacked recruits because of poor pay.
Allworthy is preparing to send Molly Seagrim to Bridewell until Recruits were needed in wartime, and impressment became a
Tom intervenes and claims paternity and responsibility for her type of involuntary draft for men between the ages of 18 and
unborn child. 55. Impressment was made legal under Elizabeth I, with the
Vagrancy Act of 1597. Vagabonds (men with no fixed home)
were a prime target for impressment, which allowed the navy
Poaching Laws and the Black to take homeless or disreputable men off the street and put
them on ships. In 1740 the age limit was established and
foreigners were exempted from impressment, although in
practice the law was often disobeyed. While men could be
taken off the street and impressed in Fielding's time, as

Tom Jones Study Guide Author Biography 4
exemplified with the planned abduction of Tom Jones, men his career when the Licensing Act was passed in Parliament in
were mostly impressed when members of the Royal Navy 1737. The act required all new work to be approved by the Lord
boarded merchant ships and forced experienced sailors into Chamberlain before production, and Fielding's political satires
service. The British ended the practice of impressment in 1814. could never pass muster. Next Fielding turned to law and was
called to the bar in 1740. He also began editing and writing a
newspaper and aligned his politics with the anti-
Pennies and Pounds Jacobites—those opposed to restoring Catholic King James VII
and his heirs to the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
In the mid-18th century 12 pence or pennies equaled a shilling,
Fielding began his career as a novelist in 1741, writing a parody
and 12 shillings equaled a pound (£). A guinea was the
of fellow writer Samuel Richardson's first novel, Pamela: or,
equivalent of 21 shillings, while a farthing was a quarter of a
Virtue Rewarded, which is often referred to as the first modern
penny. In London a large loaf of bread might cost a shilling.
English novel. It is the story of how a servant girl resists the
Working-class wage earners would need about £40 a year to
sexual advances of her master so well that he ends up
support their family, with a middle-class family needing about
marrying her. Fielding's story, called An Apology for the Life of
£100 and an upper-class family £500. Thus the £100 that
Mrs. Shamela Andrews, made fun of Richardson's
Sophia loses is a lot of money, as is the £500 that Mr.
sentimentality and what Fielding considered to be his sham
Allworthy gives Tom for his start in life.
morality. He followed this up with Joseph Andrews, which
begins as another comic parody of Pamela but becomes a
"comic epic-poem in prose" that masterfully uses various types
a Author Biography of irony and engages in social criticism. In 1743 Fielding
published three collections of new and old works, including a
Henry Fielding was born on April 22, 1707, near Glastonbury, new novel, The Life of Mr. Jonathan Wild the Great. In 1744
Somerset, in rural southwestern England. His father, Edmund, Fielding was laid low when his wife, Charlotte, died, and it took
an army officer, married shortly after Fielding's mother, Sarah, him about a year to recover. In 1747 he married his wife's maid,
died, when Fielding was about 11. Fielding's maternal Mary Daniel, who along with his sister Sarah helped him
grandfather, Sir Henry Gould, was a judge of the Queen's through his grief. In 1748 he was appointed magistrate (justice
Bench who died a few years after Fielding was born. The of the peace) for Westminster and Middlesex and had his
author had a somewhat difficult childhood. His mother's aunt, courthouse in Bow Street in London. Fielding worked hard to
Mrs. Cottington, took care of the Fielding children both before clean up crime in the city and strengthened the police force.
and after Sarah's death, spoiling Henry and teaching the
children to hate their father and stepmother. Since Edmund Fielding published The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, in
Fielding was a spendthrift, he argued with Sarah's family about 1749. His comic masterpiece was highly successful in its time,
her estate and the custody of his children. Henry was sent to even if it was derided and misunderstood by some early critics.
Eton College while his younger siblings—three sisters and a One newspaper denounced it as a "motley history of
brother—were raised by their grandmother, Lady Gould, the bastardism, fornication, and adultery," and Samuel Richardson
widow of Sir Henry Gould. said "it had a very bad tendency" in which the author intended
"to whiten a vicious character, and to make his morality bend to
Fielding was wild as a young man. He dropped out of Eton at 17 his practices." As time went on the novel was praised for its
and spent the next four years as a man about town. He plot structure and complex irony and was recognized as a
unsuccessfully tried to force an elopement in 1725 with his first work whose central concerns were moral. Most of all Tom
love, Sarah Andrew, a wealthy heiress. He returned to school Jones has been hailed for helping to establish the novel as a
at the University of Leyden (Netherlands) in 1728 to continue respected literary genre.
his study of the classics but was forced to return home since
his father could no longer support him. Fielding spent the early Fielding's personal experience is integrated into the novel in
1730s running up debt and getting into trouble until he married both fictional and nonfictional form. For example, he
Charlotte Cradock in 1734. In London he became a successful specifically refers to his beloved Charlotte, whom he hopes
playwright, but his satiric attacks on political figures cost him readers will remember in her guise as Sophia. Charlotte is the

Tom Jones Study Guide Characters 5
model upon which Sophia Western is built, and the love

between Tom and Sophia mirrors Fielding's own feelings. Mr. Sophia
Allworthy is partially based on Fielding's kindly mentor Ralph
Allen, postmaster of Bath, who provided financial support to Sophia Western is the heroine of the novel. She is an
the author and his family. Fielding's bad-boy behavior and exemplary female—obedient to her father but at the same time
attitudes about sex are reflected in his hero, who doesn't think prudent enough to not imitate his bad behavior. She is beautiful
intimacy outside of marriage is a great crime so long as the both inside and out, and she has a mature understanding of
female partner is not injured in the process. The author's other people's character, even though she is a young person.
knowledge of the law glosses many sections—for example, in She loves Tom Jones but will not marry him without her
discussions about poaching, inheritance, impressment, and father's consent. At the same time she knows that Blifil is bad
claims to the lost property of others. His positions on the and refuses to marry him, running away from home to avoid
Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the uprising of 1745 are put in this fate. Thus she proves to have both discernment and a
the mouths of Tom and other Protestant nationalists, who strong will and shapes her own course, despite the restrictions
decry the Catholic Stuarts for attempting to retake the throne put on her as a female.
of England.
Tom Jones was followed two years later by Amelia, a more Mr. Allworthy
somber work. Fielding was in poor health, mostly because of
his terrible gout, and later asthma and dropsy, or edema (heart Mr. Thomas Allworthy is the ideal Christian in the novel. He is a
trouble). He took a trip to Portugal in August 1754 to improve landowner, gentleman, and magistrate by virtue of his social
his health in the southern sun and wrote an account of his position and is often called upon to settle disputes and decide
journey in The Journal of a Voyage to Lisbon. He died on that people's fates under the law. For the most part he is merciful
voyage, on October 8, 1754, and was buried in the British and judicious. His charity is well known, and he has been the
Cemetery in Lisbon. benefactor of many. His fatal flaw is that he takes people at
face value and doesn't see their trickery and lies. This causes
him to inadvertently make unjust decisions that seriously affect
h Characters the lives of a few hapless victims. However, he is able to
correct these mistakes by the end of the novel.
Tom Jones Mr. Blifil

Tom Jones is the headstrong and handsome romantic hero in
Mr. Blifil is the chief villain of the novel. He is the son of Bridget
this story of a bastard and foundling's progress through the
Allworthy and Captain Blifil, and from childhood he displays
world. He begins life as nobody's child and is informally
unpleasant traits to the point where he is disliked by his own
adopted by an exemplary Christian and philanthropist. He has
mother. He is a hypocrite and a liar who makes his way in the
a wild streak but is generous, brave, and strong, with a heart of
world by pretending to be a good Christian. He hates Tom
gold and compassion for the poor. His fatal flaw is that he
Jones, although he keeps this fact hidden even from his
lacks good judgment, evidenced by the fact that when a
brother, who loves him. Thus he spends a great deal of time
woman invites him for a tryst he cannot refuse. He is in love
secretly undermining Tom and turning people against
with the fair Sophia, but he must learn many lessons, most
him—especially his uncle, Mr. Allworthy. Blifil is also greedy,
especially the lesson of caution, before she accepts his
which is why he wants to marry Sophia—so that he can get
marriage proposal at the end of the novel.
Squire Western's property.

Squire Western
Squire Western is a comic figure and a foil for Mr. Allworthy.
He also is landed gentry and has responsibilities as a
magistrate, although he often allows himself to be ruled by Mr.
Allworthy. He loves two things in life: Sophia and hunting, but
maybe not in that order. Even so he treats his daughter as
chattel, insisting she must marry Mr. Blifil even though she has
a strong aversion to him. Squire Western dislikes women
(except for his daughter) and continuously fights with his
sister. He is also a drunkard and is foul-mouthed, often cursing
women.
Mrs. Western
Mrs. Western is the rich, single sister of Squire Western. She
has never married but has seen something of the world and
even court life. However, she has not learned much from her
experience and overestimates her ability to read people and
understand social situations. She is exceedingly vain about
everything concerning herself, including her appearance, and
she is vindictive when crossed. Mrs. Western has had a hand in
the rearing of Sophia, and she now insists her niece must
marry for money.
Mr. Partridge
Mr. Partridge is the unfortunate schoolmaster who is falsely
accused by his wife of fathering the child called Tom Jones. As
a result Mr. Allworthy takes away his annuity, and he loses his
occupation as a teacher. Partridge is also a barber and a
surgeon, so is able to survive. When he meets Tom Jones he
attaches himself to him and becomes his companion and
servant throughout his adventures. Partridge thinks he can use
Tom to get back in Mr. Allworthy's good graces. Although
Partridge means no harm, he has no prudence or discretion
and ends up making a lot of problems for Tom on the road. He
is also called Mr. Benjamin and Little Benjamin.

Character Map
Sophia Father
Lovely and loyal heiress;
determined to marry for love
Courts
Plots
Mr. Blifil against
Lady Bellaston
Hypocritical and jealous
Malicious, conniving
liar; bent on destroying
Chaste lovers/ sexual predator
his half brother
Spouses
Enemies/
Half brothers Aunt
Seduces
Tom Jones
Traveling Handsome and headlong
companion hero; cannot resist a
sexual invitation
Mrs. Western
Mr. Partridge Narcissistic spinster;
Unjustly condemned teacher thinks too highly of her
looks and abilities
Foster father/ Father-in-law

Uncle
Siblings
Punishes
Mr. Allworthy Squire Western

Generous and moral Tyrannical father;
Uncle benefactor; misreads Neighbors foul-mouthed sportsman;
people's motives comic foil
Main Character
Other Major Character
Minor Character

Full Character List Lady Bellaston

Lady Bellaston is an evil aristocrat who
seduces Tom. She will stop at nothing
to satisfy her sexual desires.
Character Description
Betsy Miller is the 10-year-old daughter
Betsy
of Mrs. Miller.
Tom Jones is a handsome young man
with a good heart who is born as a
Tom Jones bastard and ends up getting into a lot Betty is Sophia's maid after she is
of trouble because he lacks good Betty
forced to give up Mrs. Honour.
judgment.
Captain Blifil is a fortune hunter who

Sophia Western is a beautiful, good, Captain Blifil marries Bridget for her brother's
and sensible country heiress who falls estate, which he hopes to inherit.
Sophia
in love with Tom Jones when they are
teenagers.
Dr. Blifil is a hanger-on at Mr.
Dr. Blifil Allworthy's house and arranges for his
Mr. Thomas Allworthy is a rich, upright, brother to meet Bridget Allworthy.
and moral philanthropist and
Mr. Allworthy benefactor to many people who
informally adopts Tom Jones when he Miss Bridget Allworthy, also called Miss
is an infant. Bridget, is Mr. Allworthy's sister and
Bridget Tom's mother who has him out of
wedlock before she marries Captain
Mr. Blifil is the child of Bridget Blifil. She later becomes Mrs. Blifil.
Allworthy and Captain Blifil who grows
Mr. Blifil
up to be a spiteful and unscrupulous
young man. Mr. Dowling, a lawyer, becomes Mr.
Mr. Dowling Allworthy's steward and Mr. Blifil's
right-hand man.
Squire Western is a rich country
Squire gentleman, a drunkard, and a
Western sportsman, who loves his daughter but Tom Edwards is one of the liars in Mrs.
treats her like property. Tom Edwards Bellaston's club who tells Sophia a fib
about Tom.
Mrs. Western is the vain and silly sister

of Squire Western who gets involved in Captain Egglane is hired by Lord
Mrs. Western Captain Fellamar to advance his marriage
trying to force Sophia to marry a man
she despises. Egglane proposal to Sophia and later to have
Tom Jones abducted for naval service.
Mr. Partridge is a schoolteacher who is

Mr. Partridge falsely accused of being the father of Mrs. Etoff is Lady Bellaston's lady's
Mrs. Etoff
the foundling Tom Jones. maid.
Mr. Anderson is a poor man who tries Lord Fellamar is a rich suitor and friend
to rob Tom Jones when he is on the Lord Fellamar of Lady Bellaston who falls in love with
Mr. Anderson Sophia.
road so that he can feed his family. He
is a relative of Mrs. Miller.
Mr. Brian Fitzpatrick is a fortune hunter
Mrs. Anderson is the loving wife of Mr. Mr. Fitzpatrick who marries his wife, Harriet, for her
Mrs. Anderson Anderson and the mother of his money.
children.
Mrs. Harriet Fitzpatrick is Sophia's
Will Barnes is the former lover of Molly Mrs. cousin; they live together at their Aunt
Will Barnes and Betty Seagrim and may be the Fitzpatrick Western's for a period of time. Harriet
father of Molly's child. elopes with Mr. Fitzpatrick.

Black George is a poor man with a big Mr. Nightingale Sr. is Jack Nightingale's
Old
family; he is a poacher, a gamekeeper, father; he wants him to marry an
Black George Nightingale
and disloyal friend to Tom Jones. He is heiress.
also called George Seagrim.
Uncle Nightingale is a beloved uncle of

Mrs. Honour Blackmore is Sophia's Uncle Jack Nightingale who says children
Mrs. Honour maid. She is a single woman of an older Nightingale should make their own decisions about
age. marriage but doesn't really believe that.
Mrs. Arabella Hunt is a widow of Ensign Northerton is a scoundrel who

Mrs. Hunt fortune who falls in love with Tom Northerton knocks Tom Jones on the head and
Jones. almost kills Mrs. Waters.
King of the Gypsies is the title for the Mrs. Partridge is the nagging wife of
King of the man who rules over the gypsies; Tom Mrs. Partridge Mr. Partridge who dies early in the
Gypsies Jones and Mr. Partridge meet him story.
during their journey.
The peer is a rich Irish lord who helps

The lieutenant is an upright man who Peer Mrs. Fitzpatrick escape from her
Lieutenant befriends Tom when he volunteers to husband and later becomes her lover.
go to war.
Betty Seagrim is Molly's sister; she

Mr. Maclachlan is an Irish friend of Mr. Betty Seagrim hates her sister because she stole her
Mr. Fitzpatrick whom he meets at the inn at lover.
Maclachlan Upton when Fitzpatrick is pursuing his
wife.
Mr. Thomas Square is one of the tutors
Square of Tom Jones and Mr. Blifil; he calls
The Man of the Hill is the misanthrope himself a philosopher.
The Man of
that Tom Jones meets on his journeys.
the Hill
The Man has withdrawn from the world.
Mr. Parson Supple is a good friend of
Squire Western's who tries to rein him
Mr. Supple
Mrs. Miller is a good friend of Mr. in when his behavior gets too
Allworthy's and a keeper of a passionate.
Mrs. Miller
boardinghouse where Tom Jones stays
when he gets to London.
Susan is a maid at the inn at Upton who
Susan provides Sophia with information about
Molly Seagrim is Tom Jones's first Tom.
Molly lover; she is pregnant with a child that
belongs to either Tom or Will Barnes.
Rev. Roger Thwackum is the
hypocritical clergyman who is the tutor
Nancy Miller is the 17-year-old daughter Thwackum of Tom Jones and Mr. Blifil. He
Nancy of Mrs. Miller who gets pregnant by Mr. constantly beats Tom when he is a
Jack Nightingale. child.
Often speaking directly to the reader in Mrs. Waters is the woman in distress
the first person, the narrator can be whom Tom rescues from Northerton.
Narrator assumed to be Fielding himself, since Later she becomes the common-law
he reflects on the creation of the story wife of an army captain and is
Mrs. Waters
and refers to his wife, Charlotte. instrumental in shedding light on the
identity of Tom's mother. She is also
known as Jenny Jones, Tom's
Mr. Jack Nightingale is a boarder at supposed mother.
Nightingale Mrs. Miller's who begins having an
affair with Nancy and later marries her.

Tom Jones Study Guide Plot Summary 10
the marriage. The young Blifil is to be brought up with little

Watson is a thief and gambler that the
Watson Man of the Hill meets after he leaves Tom. Captain Blifil dies after a few years of marriage. Mr.
school. Allworthy hires two tutors for the boys: Reverend Thwackum
and Mr. Square, a philosopher, with opposing views of morality
Mr. Whitefield is the innkeeper at that Mr. Allworthy hopes will balance each other out. What the
Mr. Whitefield Gloucester where Tom Jones and Mr. tutors have in common, however, is hypocrisy. Both favor Blifil
Partridge stop.
and dislike Tom because Blifil is better at pretending to mind
them and Tom has a wild streak and does not always show
Mrs. Whitefield is the wife of the
Mrs. proper respect.
innkeeper at Gloucester where Tom
Whitefield
Jones and Mr. Partridge stop.
Tom befriends Black George, Mr. Allworthy's gamekeeper, who
has a large family and is often short of money. To help him out
Mrs. Deborah Wilkins, also known as
Mrs. Deborah, is a maid in Mr. Tom pilfers food and game, which gives him the reputation as a
Mrs. Wilkins
Allworthy's household. She is a single thief. By the time Tom is about 20 he begins getting into
woman of an older age. trouble with women—specifically, he has sexual relations with
Molly, the daughter of Black George, who gets pregnant—but
whose baby might actually belong to her previous lover. Tom is
k Plot Summary
in love with Sophia, however, Squire Western's daughter, and
she feels the same. Given his status, though, a marriage
between them is unlikely. Tom promises to take care of Molly's
child but gives up the idea of marrying her when he finds her in
Books 1–6 bed with Mr. Square.
Mrs. Western, the squire's single sister, comes to visit and

Mr. Thomas Allworthy, a landowner and philanthropist widely
notices that Sophia is in love but mistakes her object of
known for his kindness and works of charity, finds an infant
affection. She tells Squire Western to arrange a match with
boy in his bed and decides to keep him and rear him like a son.
Blifil, and when the older Westerns find out she despises him
Mr. Allworthy lives with his single sister, Bridget, and they
and doesn't wish to marry they insist she must. Blifil is Mr.
employ an elderly servant, Mrs. Wilkins. Mr. Allworthy names
Allworthy's heir, and their lands will be joined as a result of a
the baby Thomas, after himself. It soon comes to light, through
union between the young people. Squire Western forces her to
Mrs. Wilkins's investigations, that someone named Jenny
entertain Blifil and is preparing for an immediate marriage. Mr.
Jones is the likely mother of the child. Mr. Allworthy as
Allworthy consents with the provision that Sophia voluntarily
magistrate calls her before him, and she owns the child but will
agree.
not reveal the name of the father, saying she is honor bound
for now to keep his name secret. After giving Jenny a lecture, Meanwhile Blifil and the tutors are continually filling Mr.
Mr. Allworthy sends her away so she can make a fresh start Allworthy's ears with the sins of Tom, often telling half-truths
where nobody knows her, and he also provides her with so that he is seen in the worst light. After Tom gets into a fist
money. After further investigation Mrs. Wilkins uncovers the fight with Blifil and Thwackum, Mr. Allworthy throws him out
name of the father, Mr. Partridge, the local schoolmaster, who but gives him £500 to make a start in the world. In his grief
has been accused by his wife of fathering the child. Jenny was Tom immediately loses this money, which is found and
a servant in the Partridge household. When Partridge comes pocketed by Black George.
before Mr. Allworthy, he strenuously denies paternity. But Mr.
Allworthy is less merciful with him, taking away his annuity. Mr.
Partridge loses his school, and after his wife dies he leaves the
Books 7–12
area in destitution.
Cast out into the world and having no money, Tom decides to
Mr. Allworthy has regular guests, including Dr. Blifil, who invites
become a volunteer with some soldiers he meets. They are
his brother, Captain Blifil, to Mr. Allworthy's table. Bridget and
preparing to fight the Young Pretender, Charles Stuart, who
the Captain hit it off, marry, and have a child eight months after

has recently brought troops into England in a vain attempt to Sophia is staying with. Since Bellaston, a single woman of an
topple the Hanover king and restore the Catholic Stuarts to older age, is herself a rake, she is curious to see Tom Jones,
power. He is sidetracked, however, when an ensign gives him a who is reputed to be exceedingly handsome.
head injury, and he must temporarily stay behind at an inn.
There he meets Mr. Partridge, who attaches himself to Tom When Bellaston sees Tom at Mrs. Fitzpatrick's, she
with the idea that he can convince him to return home. immediately wants him for a lover. She sends him an
Partridge thinks Tom has run away and hopes to restore anonymous invitation to a masked ball, and he goes thinking
himself to the good graces of Mr. Allworthy by bringing the the invitation is from Mrs. Fitzpatrick, who might give him more
young man back. Partridge becomes Tom's companion and information about Sophia.
servant. When Tom recovers, the two of them travel to meet

Tom is staying with Mrs. Miller, an old friend of Mrs. Allworthy's
the soldiers but are sidetracked when Tom rescues Mrs.
who runs a boarding house, and he becomes friends with
Waters from an attacker and brings her to another inn. He
another boarder, Mr. Nightingale. At the masked ball Lady
ends up in bed with her shortly thereafter. Staying at the inn is
Bellaston flirts with Tom and lures him to a house where they
Sophia's cousin, Mrs. Fitzpatrick, who is running away from her
spend the night together. Bellaston quizzes Tom about Sophia,
Irish husband. Fitzpatrick arrives at the inn and hears that there
and he assures her he simply wants to see her one more time.
is a lady in bed with Tom. Fitzpatrick bursts in on Tom, thinking
She promises to make that happen but then puts him off. In the
he is with his wife. When Mrs. Fitzpatrick hears the commotion
meantime she gives Tom money and dresses him in fine
she quietly slips away. In the meantime Sophia has also arrived
clothes, and Tom feels obligated to continue sleeping with her.
at the same inn. She is with her maid, Mrs. Honour, and is
At one point Bellaston is forced to invite Tom to her house, and
running away from her father so she doesn't have to marry
he accidentally runs into Sophia and learns for the first time
Blifil. She learns that Tom is at the inn and asks to see him, but
she is staying there. Tom and Bellaston pretend not to know
Partridge tells Mrs. Honour he is with a wench. Sophia leaves in
each other, while Sophia pretends not to know Tom.
a huff, leaving her muff behind for Tom as a reprimand.
Bellaston hatches a plan to get rid of Sophia by encouraging
Tom is distraught when he realizes he has missed Sophia and
Lord Fellamar, a friend of hers who has fallen in love with
perhaps lost her for good because of his faithless behavior. He
Sophia, to court her. Sophia is uninterested, so Bellaston
gets back on the road with Partridge and runs into a beggar,
counsels Fellamar to rape her so she will have to marry him to
who sells him a pocketbook he found, which turns out to
save her honor. Fellaston reluctantly agrees to this plan, and
belong to Sophia. Tom now has a good excuse to put dreams
when he is alone with her he begins to make advances but is
of soldiering aside and seek out Sophia to return her property.
interrupted when her father arrives in a rage looking for his
He picks up her trail at a nearby inn, where a post boy (guide)
daughter. Squire Western has tracked Sophia down in London
tells him she is headed to London. As it turns out Sophia ran
and takes her back to his lodgings, again pressing her to agree
into her cousin on the road. When the two women stopped to
to a marriage with Blifil. Soon after Mrs. Western also arrives in
rest, Mrs. Fitzpatrick ran into a friend—an Irish nobleman—who
London to advance the marriage plan, and Mr. Allworthy is
offered them a ride in his coach. Tom now heads in the
expected with Blifil. Since Mr. Allworthy is arriving, Tom finds
direction of London.
other lodgings.
Bellaston steps up her demands on Tom, and Nightingale, who

Books 13–18 knows her reputation, advises him to propose marriage to get
rid of her. This plan works, and Bellaston breaks it off. To
Tom arrives in London and luckily finds where Mrs. Fitzpatrick avenge herself on Tom, Bellaston convinces Lord Fellamar to
is staying. She is a bit evasive around Tom because she thinks have Tom picked up and impressed (forcibly drafted onto a
he is Blifil. Later she learns about Tom Jones from her servant, naval vessel). But Tom is arrested instead after he stabs Mr.
who has the story from Mrs. Honour. Nonetheless she thinks it Fitzpatrick, who attacks him in the street after he sees him
best to keep her cousin away from a pauper, bastard, and leaving his wife's lodgings (although Tom is simply paying Mrs.
rake—that is, a troublemaker and womanizer. She consults Fitzpatrick a visit).
Lady Bellaston on the matter, a relation of Mrs. Western whom
In jail Tom finds out from Partridge that Mrs. Waters is Jenny

Jones, and he tells Tom he slept with his mother. In an effort to

persuade Sophia to forget about Tom for good, Mrs. Western
shows Sophia Tom's proposal letter to Bellaston, which
Bellaston gave to her cousin Mrs. Western for spite. Tom then
gets a letter in jail saying Sophia never wants to see him again.
Tom is at his lowest, but Mrs. Waters come to the rescue. She
is also in town and has become the lover of Mr. Fitzpatrick.
First, she tells Tom that she is not his mother, that Fitzpatrick
is out of danger, and that he has confessed that he started the
brawl with Tom once he realized Tom was not sleeping with his
wife. Next, she visits Mr. Allworthy and tells him that Tom's real
mother is Bridget and explains how the two of them pulled off
a ruse to hide the fact from him. During this period of time Mr.
Allworthy learns that Blifil is contriving to destroy Tom and also
learns other important facts that put Tom's transgressions in a
different light. He realizes that Blifil is a villain. He also learns
that Blifil concealed a letter from his mother, written on her
death bed, in which she says Tom is her son.
Mr. Allworthy now visits Sophia to apologize about allowing her

father to torture her with the idea of marrying Blifil, and he
makes a case for Tom. Sophia learns from Mrs. Miller that Tom
sent the proposal letter to Bellaston to get rid of her. When
Western learns that Mr. Allworthy is banishing Blifil and that
Tom is his nephew, he immediately switches his allegiance.
Tom and Mr. Allworthy reunite. Sophia forgives Tom, and when
her father insists she marry him she agrees.

Plot Diagram
Climax
11
10
12
9
Falling Action
Rising Action 8
13
7
6 14
5
15
4
Resolution
3
2
1
Introduction
9. Sophia fights off the rapacious advances of Lord Fellamar.

Introduction
10. Sophia learns Tom Jones proposed marriage to Lady
Bellaston.
1. Mr. Allworthy adopts the infant he finds in his bed.
Climax
Rising Action
11. Tom Jones receives Sophia's letter of dismissal in prison.
2. Bridget Allworthy marries Captain Blifil and has a son.
3. Mr. Allworthy takes ill and Bridget Allworthy dies.
4. Tom Jones is banished from Paradise Hall. Falling Action
5. Sophia runs away from home rather than marry Mr. Blifil. 12. Tom and Mr. Allworthy learn they are nephew and uncle.
6. Sophia learns that Tom Jones has dallied with Mrs. Waters. 13. Mr. Allworthy discovers Mr. Blifil has maligned Tom Jones.
7. Tom Jones meets Lady Bellaston and begins an affair. 14. Tom Jones is reunited with Mr. Allworthy.
8. Tom Jones meets Sophia again and resumes courting her.

Resolution
15. Sophia accepts Tom Jones's marriage proposal.

Timeline of Events
1824
Mr. Allworthy finds an infant in his bed and decides to

adopt him.
Later in 1824
Bridget Allworthy marries Captain Blifil.
1825
Bridget gives birth to a son.
1840
Master Blifil spitefully sets free Sophia's bird, Tommy.
1745
Tom beats Blifil and Thwackum to protect Molly's

identity.
Three weeks later
Tom is thrown out of Paradise Hall for bad behavior.
Days later
Sophia learns of Tom's liaison with Mrs. Waters and

leaves her muff behind.
Days later
Sophia runs away with her maid to avoid marrying Blifil.
Days later
Tom arrives in London and befriends Mr. Nightingale and

Mrs. Miller.
Days later
Tom meets Lady Bellaston and begins an affair with her.
Several days later
Tom renews his acquaintance with Sophia.

Days later
Lady Bellaston convinces Lord Fellamar to rape Sophia

so she will have to marry him.
Next day
Squire Western gets Sophia away from Fellamar and

insists she marry Blifil.
Days later
Lady Bellaston gives Mrs. Western Tom's proposal letter

to turn Sophia against Tom.
Days later
Tom stabs Mr. Fitzpatrick and is jailed; he receives

Sophia's letter cutting him off.
A week later
Mrs. Waters tells Mr. Allworthy that Tom Jones is his

nephew.
Same day
Mr. Allworthy realizes Mr. Blifil has been trying to destroy

Tom Jones.
Day or two later
Tom is released from prison and reunited with Mr.

Allworthy.
Same day
Sophia and Tom Jones reconcile, and she agrees to

marry him.

Tom Jones Study Guide Chapter Summaries 17
c Chapter Summaries Analysis

Henry Fielding speaks as the author and takes the opportunity
to express gratitude, a virtue he held in high esteem. He
Epigraph ascribes all the good characteristics of Squire Mr.
Allworthy—the novel's Christian exemplar—to three men he
considers to be his benefactors. But Mr. Allworthy has his
Summary shortcomings, so Fielding is shrewd to spread his inspiration
among them. Fielding takes pains to emphasize that his is a
The epigraph, or short inscription preceding the main text, moral tale, joining a host of authors who, in the name of virtue,
reads Mores hominum multorum vidit, Latin for "He saw the nevertheless provide ample entertainment from the exercise of
customs of many men." The quote comes from Horace's Ars vice. At the outset he brings to the reader's attention that
Poetica, or "The Art of Poetry," a collection of advice for poets virtue and innocence are most often hindered by
in verse written around 19 BC. It is a paraphrase of the opening indiscretion—or lack of prudence—which snares people in
of Homer's epic poem Odyssey, written around 725–675 BC. "deceit and villainy." Tom Jones, the eponymous hero, famously
lacks discretion. But once the story is underway these moral
snares turn up in a variety of places and often trip up even the
Analysis most innocent characters—including the virtuous squire, Mr.
Allworthy.
While there are other classical allusions in Tom Jones, this one
seems to have been provided mainly to give the novel what
critic Ian Watt calls "a handy classical seal of approval." The Book 1, Chapters 1–5
epigraph invites a comparison of the many journeys and trials
of Tom Jones to join with Sophia with the parallel adventures
of the Greek hero Odysseus to reunite with his wife, Penelope, Summary
after the Trojan War.
Book 1, Chapter 1
Dedication
The narrator, who describes himself as author, is readily
identifiable as Henry Fielding. He begins by announcing a "bill
Summary of fare to the feast" of his story. His offering is a "public
ordinary, at which all persons are welcome for their money."
The novel is prefaced with a dedication to the Honorable On the menu is the entirety of "human nature," and the
George Lyttleton, Esquire. Henry Fielding credits Lyttleton with excellence of the meal will be the result of the author's skill in
giving him the idea for the story as well as material support dressing up his "provision."
while he was writing it. The author mentions two additional
benefactors who served as the models for the picture of the
"benevolent mind" found in his "history." He then leans on Book 1, Chapter 2
Lyttleton's reputation to say that the reader will not find
The setting is Somersetshire in the west of England, and
anything "prejudicial to the cause of religion and virtue" and
Fielding introduces Mr. Thomas Allworthy, a gentleman favored
"nothing inconsistent with the strictest rules of decency." His
by both "nature and fortune" whose home is called Paradise
work seeks to teach people that it is in their interest to pursue
Hall. He is an amiable and healthy widower with "a benevolent
virtue. Finally "virtue and innocence" can be injured by
heart" and has one of the largest estates in the country. His
"indiscretion," and he intends to use "wit and humour ... to laugh
single sister, Miss Bridget Allworthy, a plain woman "somewhat
mankind out of their favourite follies and vices."
past the age of thirty," lives with him.

Mr. Allworthy, a primary character in the novel, has a name that

Book 1, Chapter 3
reflects his status as a moral example. Yet as the story
Mr. Allworthy is further described as keeping a good house, progresses his morality is shown to be less than stellar.
entertaining neighbors, and giving charity to the poor. He's Fielding is a master of dramatic irony, and Mr. Allworthy is
been gone from home about three months, and upon retiring referred to in Book 1, Chapter 2 as a "man of sense and
late one evening on the day of his return he finds a sleeping constancy"; later he will fall short of these virtues. Nonetheless,
infant in his bed. He is delighted by the child and calls on the his basic goodness is apparent from the outset in his
servant, Mrs. Deborah Wilkins, to take the child and ensure he willingness to adopt a bastard child whom Mrs. Wilkins urges
is cared for. She advises him to reject the "misbegotten be left at the door of the church warden. Mrs. Wilkins's lack of
wretch," but he ignores her as the infant's hand has wrapped Christian charity is juxtaposed with Mr. Allworthy's kindness,
itself around one of his fingers, "seeming to implore his which puts her hypocrisy on display, especially when she says
assistance." the child "doth not smell like a Christian."
Bridget hides her affection for the child behind a mask of

disapproval, saying that she will follow her brother's orders
Book 1, Chapter 4
even if they are wrong-headed. Significantly Mr. Allworthy has
Bridget Allworthy is introduced to the infant in the morning and not seen his sister for three months, which is a good thing: he
approves her brother's decision to keep the child and raise it has not noticed her pregnancy. Bridget is the true mother of
as his own, much to the surprise of Mrs. Wilkins. the child, although the narrator suppresses that fact until the
end of the novel.
Book 1, Chapter 5
Book 1, Chapters 6–9
Bridget shows some affection for the child and orders all that
is necessary for his nursery, but she also expresses to Mrs.
Wilkins that she is simply obeying her brother's commands,
which she construes as "an encouragement to vice."
Summary
Analysis Book 1, Chapter 6

Mrs. Deborah (Mrs. Wilkins) takes to canvassing the village to
Fielding calls his story a history, although the word novel was
uncover the guilty mother of the orphan child. The narrator
already in common use. In fact Fielding mentions other
archly addresses the "sagacious reader" and notes that,
"romances, novels, plays and poems" that do a poor job of
although people did not know the nature of Mrs. Deborah's
depicting human nature. The attitude and position of the
business, they naturally ran away from the formidable matron
narrator in the story is entirely consistent with the narrators of
because she was known to "insult and tyrannize over little
Candide (1759, Voltaire), Don Juan (1819, Lord Byron), and The
people." Suspicion falls on Jenny Jones, who had been the
Three Musketeers and Don Quixote (1844 and 1605 and 1615,
servant of the schoolmaster and was recently fired by his wife
Miguel de Cervantes). Even the Romance of Tristan und Isolde
in a jealous rage. Another piece of evidence is that Jenny has
(12th century, Beroul) has a narrator with a careless attitude
recently and often been at Mr. Allworthy's house and nursed
and a tongue-in-cheek humility. Thus Fielding makes a bold
Bridget through a long illness. When Mrs. Deborah confronts
claim that his "feast" is far superior to others', setting himself
Jenny, she freely admits to being guilty as charged.
up as an authority and a writer of uncommon artistry. He will
continue to praise himself as well as condemn his inferiors as
the novel unfolds—and he reserves special scorn for the Book 1, Chapter 7
professional critic. He also introduces a food metaphor: Tom
Jones explores the sensual passions, so he uses recurrent When Jenny is called before Mr. Allworthy, she is given a long
feast/eating references.

and severe scolding, although he declines to confine her to a neighbors do not know why she is stalking about the village in
house of correction. Mr. Allworthy refers to what she has done Book 1, Chapter 6 she is well known as a shrew and a bully so
as a "heinous crime" that drives her out of society. For this they immediately avoid her.
reason he plans to send her away from the "scene of [her]
shame" and allow her to make a fresh start. He asks the name Mr. Allworthy may be a virtuous paragon, but in his
of her seducer, but she refuses to give it, saying she is under a conversation with Jenny Jones he shows a lack of moral
religious vow to conceal his name. However, she promises to discrimination by referring to her giving birth to a bastard as a
reveal it one day. "heinous crime," which is surely an exaggeration, even in

Fielding's time. This scene parallels French playwright
Moliere's Tartuffe (1664), which delighted audiences with the
Book 1, Chapter 8 huge gap between word and action. Mr. Allworthy as a rich
landowner acted as a judge (magistrate) and had the power to
While this conversation is going on, Bridget gently scolds Mrs. send Jenny to Bridewell prison for her indiscretion. An
Deborah for her excessive curiosity and says Jenny acted unmarried woman and her child would be sent to a house of
honorably in admitting to being the child's mother, even while correction for a time, as both a punishment and a way to make
protecting her lover. She speculates that Jenny was misled by the woman pay for her own upkeep, through work at the
her seducer and is at bottom a "good girl." prison. Women without husbands otherwise had to rely on the
parish to support them. Fielding means the reader to read Mr.
Allworthy's speech to Jenny in Book 1, Chapter 7 as containing
Book 1, Chapter 9 situational irony, which is when what happens is different from
what is expected to happen. On the one hand he is not wrong
Once Jenny is removed from the neighborhood, people begin
in pointing out the terrible consequences of a woman's
wagging their tongues about Mr. Allworthy's behavior. The
indiscretion; on the other hand Fielding saw society's
narrator explains that the public was denied the chance to be
treatment of an unwed mother as harsh and hypocritical. And
ashamed of Jenny, and for this reason it turns its rage on Mr.
Mr. Allworthy clearly holds the view of society. His harshness,
Allworthy, who is now suspected as the father of the child. In
however, is mitigated by the fact that he does not send Jenny
"tempering justice with mercy" and not sending Jenny to
to prison but sends her away and provides money for a new
Bridewell, he has robbed "the mob" of "an object for their
start because she has confessed to her offense.
compassion."
Analysis Book 1, Chapters 10–13

Henry Power has pointed out that Fielding addresses the
reader as sagacious at least 41 times when speaking as the Summary
narrator, putting the reader in the position of "conjectural
critic." This is at least partly a mockery of an 18th-century critic
who was known to go beyond the boundaries of a text, Book 1, Chapter 10
supposedly to recover the author's meaning. Fielding, however,
is acknowledging the relationship between reader and text and The narrator remarks on Mr. Allworthy's hospitality, saying he
interestingly anticipates modern critics' ideas about how the shut neither his heart nor his house to "any part of mankind"
two together make meaning. The narrator acknowledges he although he preferred "men of merit." A frequent visitor is the
cannot control what the reader thinks and will slyly augment unsuccessful Dr. Blifil, who is attracted to Bridget. Since he is
the reader's power in some places by deliberately leaving out married he decides to arrange for his single brother, Captain
information and asking the reader to fill in the blanks. This Blifil, to meet her. Within a week of the captain's stay at Mr.
attribute of postmodern literature suggests this story was Allworthy's he is slyly courting the lady.
ahead of its time. At other places he will kindly add important
information as he does here—that although Mrs. Wilkins's

reason for it other than to say that the devil teaches people to
Book 1, Chapter 11
discard those who help them once they are no longer needed.
The captain is unattractive, but Bridget likes the charms of his The novel is filled with sarcastic and witty remarks about man's
conversation, the narrator says. For his part he would "choose inhumanity to man and instances of the petty crimes of
to possess every convenience of life with an ugly woman, than ingratitude, meanness, and spitefulness. Fielding wishes to
a handsome one without any of those conveniences" and is show that people are a mixed bag of goodness and
much taken with Mr. Allworthy's wealth, since his sister is his imperfections, some critics have said. Another way to view the
chief heir. The captain hides his intentions, thinking Mr. novel is to see that its author was somewhat jaded and
Allworthy will disapprove of so uneven a match. perhaps cynical about human nature. Almost all the characters
in the novel exhibit despicable behavior: acts of deliberate
unkindness, spitefulness, selfishness, or maliciousness. Only
Book 1, Chapter 12 four characters perform deliberately good actions: Mr.
Allworthy, Tom Jones, Sophia, and Mrs. Miller. It would appear,
The captain and Bridget secretly marry within a month, and Dr. based on the characters in the novel, that goodness is the
Blifil brings Mr. Allworthy the news, pretending to be angry and exception to the general rule of human behavior.
shocked and expecting anger from his benefactor. To the
doctor's surprise Mr. Allworthy says his sister is old enough to
know her own mind and what will make her happy. Book 2, Chapters 1–5
Book 1, Chapter 13
Summary
Although the captain has his brother to thank for his fortunate
marriage, he now turns on him. "One of the maxims which the
devil, in a late visit upon earth, left to his disciples, is, when Book 2, Chapter 1
once you are got up, to kick the stool from under you," says the
The narrator reminds the reader he is writing a history and not
narrator. Thus the captain is so rude to his brother when he
"a life," but he will not follow historians by relaying details about
visits that he stops coming altogether. The narrator says, "He
uneventful periods of time and will instead skip to the good
died soon after of a broken heart."
parts. "I am, in reality, the founder of a new province of writing,
so I am at liberty to make what laws I please therein," he says.
Analysis
Mr. Allworthy is the gentle target of the narrator's humor when
Book 2, Chapter 2
he claims in Book 1, Chapter 10 he preferred "men of merit" at
Bridget delivers a baby boy eight months after the wedding,
his table and then immediately describes two men at Mr.
"by reason of a fright." Mr. Allworthy is pleased with his new
Allworthy's table whose merit is questionable. The doctor is
nephew but remains loyal to the first child, named Thomas
unsuccessful in his profession as well as his marriage,
after himself. Bridget readily agrees to bring the boys up
apparently, which is why he is drawn to Bridget. He
together, although Captain Blifil quotes scripture to Mr.
surreptitiously introduces his brother to the household—the
Allworthy supporting the idea that bastards should not be
fortune-hunting captain who doesn't mind marrying an ugly
coddled. Mr. Allworthy says that to punish an innocent child for
woman if she is rich. Thus Mr. Allworthy is shown to be
the sins of the parents is "indecent, if not blasphemous" and
completely oblivious to the motives of these two scheming
goes against "the first principles of natural justice." Meanwhile,
brothers, the first instance of many in which he will exhibit a
Mrs. Wilkins has been nosing around to uncover the name of
lack of discernment.
the baby's father.
Captain Blifil's ingratitude toward his brother in Book 1,

Chapter 13 is stunning, and the narrator doesn't provide a

life, and his only protector is Mr. Allworthy. Even though he is

Book 2, Chapter 3
her son Bridget cannot protect him without looking suspicious.
The narrator reminds the reader that Jenny Jones lived with Meanwhile, Tom is assailed on the one hand by Captain Blifil,
the schoolmaster and his wife and had been schooled for four who is trying to push him aside, and on the other by Mrs.
years in Latin by Mr. Partridge. Mrs. Partridge is a jealous Wilkins, who tries to ingratiate herself with the captain in Book
shrew who accused her husband of infidelity, although later 2, Chapter 5, whom she imagines will eventually be the master
her suspicions proved not to be true. of Paradise Hall. Mr. Allworthy shows his Christian mercy and
compassion, however, when he faults the captain on his views
and stands firm in his decision to foster Tom.
Book 2, Chapter 4
One day at the chandler's shop where all the local gossips Book 2, Chapters 6–9
gather, Mrs. Partridge asks if anyone has news of Jenny. For
the first time she hears she has given birth to two bastard
children, and she immediately jumps to the conclusion that her
Summary
husband is father of at least one. Mrs. Partridge reacts by
violently beating her husband until he finally restrains her.
Book 2, Chapter 6
Book 2, Chapter 5
Mrs. Wilkins returns and confirms the story that Partridge is
Tom's father, but Mr. Allworthy sends for the "criminal" to
To ingratiate herself with Captain Blifil, Mrs. Wilkins helps to
examine him personally. Both Partridges attend the meeting,
spread a new rumor, that Partridge is the father of Tom, and
and Anne Partridge says her husband has confessed his guilt.
she repeats it to the captain, who takes the first opportunity to
Partridge pleads innocence, saying he made the false
inform Mr. Allworthy. He responds by sending Mrs. Wilkins to
confession to get his wife to stop nagging him. Mrs. Partridge
town to verify the truth of the story.
baldly lies, saying she found Jenny and her husband in bed
together. Mr. Allworthy tries to find Jenny to testify, but she
Analysis has left the place where she was living with an officer. Mr.
Allworthy then rules that Partridge is guilty and takes away his
An important theme in the novel is how appearance often annuity. Depressed, Partridge stops working and loses his
masks the truth of a situation, and in these chapters the school. His wife dies soon after, and a destitute Partridge
narrator tells the reader with his verbal irony—that what is said leaves that part of the country.
is different from what is meant—that Bridget consummated her
relationship with the captain before they were actually married.
Appearance and reality are at odds when Mrs. Partridge
Book 2, Chapter 7
assumes Jenny Jones has been sleeping with her husband.
Captain Blifil does not achieve his end of turning Mr. Allworthy
She doesn't seem to know that the child in question is
against Tom, of whom Mr. Allworthy grows fonder every day.
Tom—rather she is told Jenny has given birth to two children
The captain begins to treat his wife with disdain, and she
outside the parish—but it now looks suspicious to her that
begins to hate him in return. The captain continues, however,
Jenny has left town, and her mind jumps to her earlier jealousy
to hide his worst side from Mr. Allworthy.
concerning Jenny. Captain Blifil appears to object to Mr.
Allworthy's coddling of Tom on religious grounds since he was
born in sin, but in fact he is envious of Tom Jones's place in the Book 2, Chapter 8
family now that he has a son he reckons should be the heir of
Mr. Allworthy's property. Captain Blifil spends a lot of time thinking about how he will
remodel the grounds of the estate once Mr. Allworthy dies.
Tom's precarious position is evident from the beginning of his
However, his plan is foiled when he dies suddenly of apoplexy

(a heart attack).
Book 2, Chapter 9
Summary
The inhabitants of the estate miss the captain at supper, and
soon one of the servants finds him dead. Mrs. Blifil continues
for about a month with "the decorations of sickness" and acts Book 3, Chapter 1
the part of the bereaved widow for a decent time afterward.
Fielding gave Book 3 this title: "Containing the most
memorable Transactions which passed in the Family of Mr.
Analysis Allworthy, from the Time when Tommy Jones arrived at the
Age of Fourteen, till he attained the Age of Nineteen. In this
In these chapters Mr. Allworthy does not see what is clearly in Book the Reader may pick up some Hints concerning the
front of his nose. When he calls the Partridges before him in Education of Children."
Book 2, Chapter 6 the testimony of husband and wife are at
odds, and he bases his decision on the testimony of Partridge's The narrator urges readers to use their remarkable "sagacity"
wife, hearsay evidence, and gossip spread by Mrs. Wilkins. The to fill up the "vacant spaces of time" in the story—in which
narrator stops to call to the reader's attention the "wisdom and nothing of interest happens—with their own "conjectures." The
sagacity of our law, which refuses to admit the evidence of a narrative will now move ahead 12 years, to the time when the
wife for or against her husband." Mrs. Partridge has already hero of the story is about 14.
lied repeatedly around town about Partridge beating her, and
now she lies to Mr. Allworthy about finding her husband in bed
with Jenny. As a magistrate Mr. Allworthy should know better, Book 3, Chapter 2
especially given Mrs. Partridge's bad character. But he likely
doesn't know about her bad character because he seems Tom Jones is not held in high esteem by his family and seems
blissfully unaware of the goings-on in the parish. In fact at the "born to be hanged." He has already committed three
beginning of Book 2, Chapter 6 the narrator says he was robberies (of some fruit, a duck, and a ball), while Master Blifil,
unaware of the story going around about Partridge and, in any his foster brother, appears to be a Tartuffe: "sober, discreet,
case, was slow to "believe anything to [anyone's] and pious, beyond his age." Tom's only friend is the
disadvantage." Nonetheless, he believes Partridge's wife, and gamekeeper, Black George, and he stole the apples and a
his unjust punishment creates long-term consequences for the duck at George's urging—food that went to George's family.
schoolmaster.
The squire on the estate next to Mr. Allworthy's is very strict
Similarly, he doesn't see the bad character of Captain Blifil: "It about anyone poaching game on his land, but one day Tom
is possible ... that Mr. Allworthy saw enough to render him a chases a bird with the gamekeeper and ends up shooting a
little uneasy; for we are not always to conclude, that a wise partridge on the squire's land. Tom confesses his crime but will
man is not hurt, because he doth not cry out and lament not say the name of his accomplice. One of Tom's tutors,
himself." The narrator finishes his musing in Book 2, Chapter 7 Reverend Mr. Thwackum, tries to get a confession by whipping
by noting that even the best of men have faults. He then Tom mercilessly. Mr. Allworthy forbids further punishment
compares people to fine China: even if a piece has a flaw, "the since he understands Tom is standing on his honor in
pattern may remain of the highest value." Such is the case with concealing the other trespasser.
Mr. Allworthy.
Book 3, Chapter 3
A discussion, which parallels and possibly parodies the
discussions on human nature by English Enlightenment thinker
John Locke (1632–1704) and Scottish philosopher David Hume

(1711–76), now occurs between the tutors who are responsible

for educating Tom and Blifil. The second teacher in the house
Analysis
is Mr. Square, a philosopher, who claims to have mastered all
Tom Jones is introduced in these chapters as a young
the works of Plato and Aristotle. Square "held human nature to
teenager, already marked as bad because of petty thievery
be the perfection of all virtue" and vice as "a deviation from our
done on behalf of his only friend. While Mr. Allworthy is a
nature," while Thwackum contends the "human mind ... was ... a
paragon of virtue and represents an ideal Christian, he is not
sink of iniquity, till purified and redeemed by grace." Neither
the moral compass of the story—rather that role is given to
man seems much concerned with goodness in their debates
Tom Jones. The hero of the story is a sinner, but his basic
about morality, the narrator says. The philosopher judges
goodness and moral courage is evident from the moment the
according to the "unalterable rule of right, and the eternal
reader meets him. Tom instinctively understands that what is
fitness of things," while the parson judges according to
good depends on context, and sometimes a good person must
Scriptural authority. The two teachers now argue whether
choose between the lesser of two evils. Certainly it is bad to
honor can exist apart from religion.
steal, but he is encouraged by his only friend—an adult—to do
so for the purpose of helping to feed a family.
Book 3, Chapter 4 When in Book 3, Chapter 2 Jones impetuously steps onto

Squire Western's land and drags Black George along, he takes
This discussion is interrupted by young Blifil, who has gotten
full responsibility, even though he is a child, rather than
into a fist fight with Tom and received a bloody nose after he
endanger the older man who can lose his job—or worse—as a
calls him a "beggarly bastard." Blifil wants satisfaction and
result of poaching the bird. The Black Laws of Fielding's day
denies he used this bad language. Further he tells the men
allowed for the death penalty for serious crimes of poaching,
Tom has confessed to him that Black George was his
and the narrator satirizes the attitude of landowners when he
accomplice. Tom admits to the truth of the second statement
calls them "preservers of the game," who might be accused by
and begs Mr. Allworthy to have mercy on George's family,
some of the "superstitions" of the vegetarians of India for the
especially because he urged him to follow the bird.
"great severity with which they revenge the death of a hare or
a partridge." He, on the other hand, has a better opinion of
Book 3, Chapter 5 them, since they consume the beasts of the field and thus
"fulfill this end of their creation."
Both tutors condemn Tom for lying and praise Blifil for bringing
Tom is beaten severely in Book 3, Chapter 2 for not giving up
"truth to light." For his part Mr. Allworthy admires Tom's
his accomplice, after which Thwackum and Squire get into a
"invincible fidelity" to his friend. Nonetheless, he dismisses
senseless argument in Book 3, Chapter 3. These two
George, mostly because he allowed Tom to be severely
characters in the novel provide a great deal of comedy, but
punished without speaking up.
they are also meant to be seen as the worst kind of hypocrites,
Thwackum continues to find other reasons to beat Tom. He which the innocent Mr. Allworthy has hired to educate the two
prefers Blifil, who is respectful and receptive to his teachings; boys in his charge. Square has twisted the philosophy of
he hates Tom, who forgets to bow or take off his hat when he Plato—specifically, his idea that there is a realm of perfect
sees the master and is "a thoughtless, giddy youth with little forms from which everything that exists in the world can be
sobriety in his manners." Tom Jones pays little attention to referenced—to come up with the notion that human nature is
either of his masters. Square doesn't like him either, and Tom perfect. Similarly Thwackum twists the Christian tenet that
has even made fun of his "rule of right." Blifil is able to flatter man is born with original sin to come up with the idea that man
both masters and stay in their good graces. is essentially bad and can become good only if he receives
divine grace through the Church of England. Thwackum tries
to "persaude Allworthy from showing any compassion or
kindness" to Tom and even tries to give him a second whipping,
which shows how little he understands about being Christian.
An important theme in the novel is the difference between

dogma and virtue; Thwackum follows the external rules of Blifil's stock rises—partly contributing to Mr. Allworthy's views
Christianity but shows, in his treatment of Tom, that he lacks of Tom's "wantonness, wildness, and want of caution." Thus
virtue. Neither tutor seems capable of discerning the goodness the narrator cautions youths with "goodness of heart" and
in the child who tries to protect a man and his family from "openness of temper" to remember "if your inside be never so
harsh punishment. beautiful, you must preserve a fair outside also."
Appearance once again covers up reality when Blifil, clearly a

liar, denies he has called Tom names and then tattles on him in Book 3, Chapter 8
Book 3, Chapter 4, which earns the approval of the tutors for
bringing "truth to light." They dislike Tom because he is not Tom sells his horse, a present given to him by Mr. Allworthy,
good at flattering them, yet they fail to see the hypocrisy of and when he is questioned by his benefactor he confesses he
Blifil who simply knows how to go along to get along. needed money for Black George's family so they could escape
"absolute destruction." He has been unable to support them
Finally, Black George is shown to be a shady and unscrupulous since he was fired. Mr. Allworthy dismisses him with a "gentle
character who hurts Tom more than once as the novel rebuke."
progresses. In these episodes he first encourages him—a
child—to steal (the apples and duck) and then allows him to be
severely scolded. He could have prevented Tom's beating Book 3, Chapter 9
simply by stepping forward as his accomplice in poaching—and
chances are he would not have been fired by Mr. Allworthy in Tom has also sold the Bible Mr. Allworthy gave him, for the
Book 3, Chapter 5 if he had come clean. same purpose of raising money for George. Blifil is the buyer,
and he arranges for Thwackum to learn of the "crime." The
parson beats Tom for the offense and then reports it to Mr.
Book 3, Chapters 6–10 Allworthy. Square disagrees that selling the Bible is any great
crime—no different from the sale of any other book—and
Bridget weighs in to say that if the seller is at fault so is the
buyer. Mr. Allworthy says he won't punish Tom twice for the
Summary same crime. In the meantime when he, Blifil, and Mr. Allworthy
are out on a walk, Tom steers his benefactor to the place
where George's family lives, and when Mr. Allworthy sees the
Book 3, Chapter 6
extremity of the family's poverty he tells Tom he will find some
way to help them.
The narrator notes with verbal irony (in which what is said is
different than what is meant) that the two pedagogues liked
Mr. Allworthy so much that they "had meditated the closest
Book 3, Chapter 10
alliance with him"—that is, they both had their eye on his sister,
the rich widow. Both think they can ingratiate themselves with
Blifil informs Mr. Allworthy that George has been poaching
Bridget by favoring Blifil and treating Tom poorly. While Bridget
hares from his neighbor Western's property. Blifil swears Mr.
enjoys their attention she has no intention of marrying either.
Allworthy to secrecy, so George never has a chance to defend
Moreover, she strongly dislikes her son and prefers Tom. In
himself: the truth is he poached one hare a while back. Mr.
fact people are talking about the affection she has for him, and
Allworthy now refuses to help Black George, although he tells
both teachers hate Tom the more for it.
Tom he will not let the family starve. Tom has become good
friends with Squire Western, who admires Tom's physical
prowess and hunting skills. The squire is an avid sportsman.
Book 3, Chapter 7
Thus Tom hopes to be made George Western's gamekeeper,
and he applies to Mr. Western's daughter to help him.
When Mr. Allworthy notices his sister "absolutely detested" her
own son, he starts to see "every appearance of virtue in the
youth." Moreover, Tom begins to "sink in his affections" even as

For this reason Blifil reports him in Book 3, Chapter 10 but

Analysis exaggerates the crime and arranges to deliver the information
so that the gamekeeper has no chance to defend himself. Thus
People's tongues are wagging in Book 3, Chapter 6 because
he undoes much of the good done by Tom.
Bridget prefers the teenage Tom, whose "tokens of ... gallantry
of temper ... greatly [recommend] men to women," and with
these words the narrator plays a trick on the reader and once
again shows appearances can be deceiving. The narrator
claims Bridget hates her own son, quite likely because she
hated his father, but perhaps she sees his character more
clearly than anyone else. Further the narrator implies Bridget's Summary
affection for Tom is sexual, and only at the end of the novel
does the reader learn that Tom is in fact her son. Bridget
grumbles behind her brother's back about the foundling, Book 4, Chapter 1
maintaining a pretense of rancor to keep up the appearance
that they are not related. But when he grows into a gallant Fielding begins Book 4 by making a lot of jokes about the ways
young man she cannot help but be pleased with him. in which authors and playwrights introduce heroes and
heroines—with high-flown language and fanfare. Thus he
Mr. Allworthy changes his attitude toward Blifil to compensate intends to introduce his heroine with "solemnity" and "elevation
for his sister's dislike, but he makes the error of thinking that to of style, and all other circumstances proper to raise the
love his nephew he needs turn a blind eye to his faults. This veneration of our reader."
doesn't help Blifil and, perhaps if Mr. Allworthy had corrected
the boy's envious and malicious tendencies, he might not have
grown up to be a villain. Mr. Allworthy forgives Tom for selling Book 4, Chapter 2
the horse in Book 3, Chapter 8 when he hears Black George's
family is close to "absolute destruction," but he is upset with The author uses mock-epic style to bring his beautiful heroine
him for not asking him for help before taking matters into his on stage: "For lo! Adorned with all the charms in which nature
own hands. Yet the reader cannot help but wonder why Mr. can array her; bedecked with beauty, youth, sprightliness,
Allworthy, whose charity is well known, wouldn't have known innocence, modesty, and tenderness, breathing sweetness
the terrible straits George's family was in and done something from her rosy lips, and darting brightness from her sparkling
on his own. One of the themes in the novel is the journey from eyes, the lovely Sophia comes!"
innocence to experience, and it seems as if Mr. Allworthy in
some ways is a grown man who continues in an innocence
that, despite his best intentions, wreaks harm on others.
Book 4, Chapter 3
The narrator uses Tom as an object lesson to caution all Sophia is 17 or 18 and the beloved only child of her widowed
youths about the importance of appearances, and much of father. Since Mr. Allworthy and Squire Western are neighbors,
Tom's suffering is caused not only by his lack of prudence but their children grew up together and were playmates. Not
also by his disregard of social conventions. Specifically he surprisingly "the gaiety of Tom's temper suited better with
never stops to think about how things "look" while he is trying Sophia, than the grave and sober disposition of Master Blifil."
to do what he thinks is right. Blifil takes advantage of this
The narrator now provides a flashback: When Sophia was
blindness in Tom, as well as Mr. Allworthy's blindness to his
about 13, Tom gave her a bird he had nursed from babyhood
faults. The narrator says Blifil falls short on the quality of mercy
and taught to sing. She named the bird Tommy and kept it with
and, like his teachers, prefers justice. The narrator sarcastically
her by tying a string to its leg. One day Blifil asked to hold the
remarks that Black George bagged one hare for "want of
bird and then purposely slipped off the string and threw
bread, either to fill his own mouth, or those of his family ... [and]
Tommy in the air. Climbing a tree, Tom tried to get the bird
basely and barbarously knocked [it] on the head, against the
back but fell in a canal. Blifil claimed to his elders that he felt
laws of the land, and no less against the laws of sportsmen."
sorry for the bird having to be kept in a cage. When Sophia

learned a hawk made off with her bird, she cried. means "wisdom"—is the embodiment of that quality, even at
her young age. This practice is reflective of English writer John
Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress (1678), where allegorical
Book 4, Chapter 4 characters represent virtues and vices in accordance with the
late-Medieval "rhetorics" and Morality plays. As pointed out by
Still relating the flashback the narrator continues: Square the critic Martin Battestin, Tom becomes worthy of Sophia, his
complimented Master Blifil for setting the bird free, since ultimate goal both literally and figuratively, only after he learns
liberty is "the law of nature," while Thwackum claimed Blifil prudence, one of the four cardinal virtues. Prudence in the
simply acted from Christian teaching, learned from him. Mr. humanist tradition is the ability to distinguish good from evil,
Allworthy was sorry for what Blifil had done, although he explains Battestin, to see things as they are and not how they
allowed he acted from a "generous" motive. The two appear to be and to act from that knowledge.
pedagogues began arguing again about who is more
responsible for Tom's wrong-headedness and Blifil's correct Tom and Sophia love each other from childhood, although they
principles. are not aware this love will blossom into romance. When Tom
makes Sophia the present of the bird in Book 4, Chapter 3 he
forever ties himself to her heart, even if Blifil allows Tommy the
Book 4, Chapter 5 bird to escape. Of course the bird symbolizes Tom Jones. Like
him the bird prefers to be a free spirit and flies away at the first
After this incident, the narrator says, Sophia felt more kindness
opportunity, just as Tom flies from Sophia upon his first
toward Tom and more aversion for Blifil—feelings reinforced by
temptation. But Tom's willingness to risk his life to get the bird
subsequent incidents over the years and her own powers of
back also shows his heart is in the right place with regard to
observation. Sophia goes to live with her aunt for three years
Sophia.
and seldom sees the boys in that period. When she returns to
her father's house she presides at his table. Tom, now about When Sophia returns to her father's house in Book 4, Chapter
20, is often at the house since he and the squire hunt together. 5 she falls in love with Tom, who has grown into an extremely
While Sophia has a romantic interest in Tom his affections are handsome and gallant young man. But Sophia clearly discerns
elsewhere. However, Tom is gallant toward Sophia, which only the character of both Blifil and Tom, and she loves the latter
increases her affection. for both his internal and external beauty. She is glad to help
Tom with Black George, not only because it pleases her to do
When Tom gets the opportunity he asks Sophia to intervene on
him a favor but also because she also sees George's need and
behalf of Black George, to which she agrees. He is so
tells Tom she sent George's wife a gown, some linen, and
overjoyed he takes her hand and kisses it, and Sophia blushes
some money. Sophia provides charity to the Seagrim family
and feels new sensations "to which she had been before a
even as her father is in the process of prosecuting George for
stranger." Sophia is successful in convincing her father to hire
the theft of the hare. This shows that although she loves and
Black George.
respects her father she follows her own conscience in her
behavior. Sophia not only convinces her father to drop the
charges but also to hire George as gamekeeper. Neither Blifil
Analysis nor the tutors are happy with Tom's success in his mission, but
Mr. Allworthy commends Tom's "perseverance and integrity of
Fielding lapses from time to time into the language of mock
his friendship." Unfortunately his actions will soon be seen in a
epic, as he does upon introducing the character of Sophia, and
very different light.
his prose is reminiscent of the descriptions of heroes found in
Homer's epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey.
The names of Fielding's characters are often significant: Mr. Book 4, Chapters 6–10
Allworthy has a spotless reputation; Thwackum likes to hit
people; Square is related to geometry with his rule of right;
Black George has a bad character; and Sophia—whose name

will have a bastard by a gentleman without the benefit of

Summary marriage. It is decided Mrs. Seagrim will visit Sophia and offer
her oldest daughter as a maid in lieu of Molly.
Book 4, Chapter 6
Book 4, Chapter 10
Tom is not tempted by Sophia's wealth since he is not a greedy
fortune hunter. He is aware of her beauty, but "his heart was in Tom dines with Mr. Western, Sophia, and Mr. Supple, the
the possession of another woman," namely Molly Seagrim, pastor of the parish. Mr. Supple describes the fight at the
Black George's second daughter. Molly is "tall and robust" as church and the subsequent battle in the churchyard, saying
well as "bold and forward." She perceives Tom is attracted to Molly had to appear before Mr. Allworthy because of physical
her, although he keeps his distance, and she "triumphed over ... harm she caused a traveling fiddler. He also mentions she is
[his] virtuous resolutions." He feels the girl's happiness very pregnant. Tom asks to be excused and leaves abruptly,
depends on him now that they have been intimate, and and Squire Western puts two and two together and thinks that
obligation and attraction merge into a passion that can be Tom is the father of the bastard. When the parson expresses
called love, the narrator says. He will not abandon Molly, and his disapproval, Western makes light of it and says women like
for this reason he does not encourage Sophia. men better for "getting a bastard." He asks for Sophia's opinion
on the matter and she excuses herself, which her father
attributes to modesty rather than a more personal upset.
Book 4, Chapter 7
Sophia sends the Seagrim family some of her finery, and Molly
wears Sophia's baggy gown to church to cover up her now
Analysis
visible pregnancy. Other women begin loudly criticizing her for
While Tom has committed a sexual indiscretion, and a sin
putting on airs, and Mr. Allworthy uses his authority to quiet
according to the laws of the church, he maintains his integrity
them.
by ignoring Sophia's charms since he feels bound to another
woman, George's daughter Molly. Fielding turns the tables on
convention and stereotype for comic effect, presenting the
Book 4, Chapter 8
reader with a male hero who, instead of seducing one or more
Sophia spies Molly at church in her old gown and calls George innocent women is himself seduced by them. In the novel the
to tell him her lady's maid is going away and she would like to hero never makes the first move. Fielding earlier on had
try Molly in service. Sophia is thinking only to do a good deed, satirized the other great novelist of the 18th century, Samuel
but she doesn't know Molly is pregnant. George tries to Richardson, whose novel Pamela became a sensation. Pamela
discourage Sophia and goes to his wife for advice, finding the is the story of a servant girl who eventually gains the heart of a
house in a state of disarray following a fight in the churchyard. rich master by refusing to sleep with him. Fielding believed the
The narrator once again takes up a mock epic style to describe story set a bad moral example that turned sex into a
a physical battle that ensues between Molly and a crowd of commodity, and he found the heroine to be calculating and
hecklers. When Square, Blifil, and Tom pass by and see people manipulative. In response he wrote a parody called Shamela
fighting, Tom immediately jumps into the fray and rescues and then followed that up with Joseph Andrews, his first
Molly. serious novel that takes as its subject male virtue. Richardson
followed Pamela with Clarissa, his own masterpiece, in which a
woman is tormented by an evil seducer. While writing Tom
Book 4, Chapter 9 Jones Fielding quite possibly saw parts of Clarissa, which he
greatly admired, before it was published in 1748, a year before
The action returns once again to the Seagrim home. Molly's Tom Jones. In any case the narrator notes in Book 4, Chapter
sisters are scolding her for wearing Sophia's gown to church 6 that "Molly so well played her part, that Jones attributed the
and creating a ruckus, and her mother chastises her for being conquest entirely to himself, and considered the young woman
the first in the family "that ever was a whore," predicting she as one who had yielded to the violent attacks of his passion."

The pettiness and envy of Molly's neighbors is somewhat

Book 4, Chapter 12
shocking in the scene outside the church and later in the
churchyard in Book 4, Chapters 7 and 8, as a mob of people Sophia's maid Mrs. Honour brings her the tale of Jones, Molly,
begin throwing things at Molly because she is pregnant and and Mr. Allworthy in the morning, but she faults Molly for being
has the audacity to show up in church in a nice dress. While it "a forward kind of body" who has ruined "a pretty young
is comic on the one hand it also shows a lack of kindness and gentleman." Sophia cuts her maid off, asking her to leave. Now
mercy on the part of Molly's neighbors. Almost all the admitting to herself that she has tender feelings toward Tom,
characters in the novel are depicted, in varying degrees, as she puts them out of her mind. Nonetheless, the feelings keep
lacking in compassion and even basic morality. Molly herself is returning, especially when she sees him.
depicted as an unpleasant character—a liar and a seducer who
does her best to beat as many of the people in the crowd as
possible. Fielding also plays against stereotype by depicting Book 4, Chapter 13
Molly as physically strong and violent as well as sexually
predatory. Mr. Western craves the company of his daughter so much he
insists she ride with him while he hunts. On the second day of
Sophia is shocked and disappointed to hear from her father in the hunt Sophia's horse becomes unruly, and Tom, who is not
Book 4, Chapter 10 that Tom is the likely father of Molly's child, far away, sees the danger and gallops to help her, saving her
and Squire Western shows his continued stupidity and lack of from possible harm and breaking his arm. Sophia is impressed
sensibility when he asks her if she agrees that women like a with Tom's bravery. She also makes a strong impression on
man better for sexual promiscuity. He is completely blind when Tom, whom the narrator says had become "sensible of the
it comes to his daughter and, although he loves her he doesn't irresistible power of her charms."
treat her as a person. Moreover, he has no understanding of
women and as the novel proceeds even exhibits dislike and
hatred for women. Book 4, Chapter 14
The surgeon orders Jones to bed in Western's house. Honour
Book 4, Chapters 11–14 tells her mistress she (Sophia) is in love with Tom, which she
denies. Honour mentions that in the previous week she saw
Tom pick up Sophia's muff, which was on the chair, and kiss it
passionately. Sophia is clearly affected, especially after her
Summary maid says Tom has called himself a villain who can only look
upon Sophia as his goddess to worship from afar.
Book 4, Chapter 11
Tom arrives home just as Molly is being hauled away to jail for
Analysis
her illegitimate pregnancy and for not naming the father, and
Mr. Allworthy's punishment of Molly in Book 4, Chapter 11
the narrator notes Mr. Allworthy may have "exceeded his
seems excessive, especially when compared with his
authority a little in this instance." Tom confesses to being the
treatment of Jenny—whom he excused from prison and even
father and throws himself on Mr. Allworthy's mercy, asking him
helped to establish in a new life. Perhaps his harshness with
to allow Molly to return home. Mr. Allworthy releases her and
Molly is partially because she beat the fiddler, but perhaps it
delivers a stern lecture to Tom. When Mr. Allworthy discusses
also is related to the fact that she is less genteel than Jenny
the matter with the tutors, Square seeks to damage Tom by
Jones. The narrator remarks that the constable was
planting the idea in Mr. Allworthy's mind that the young man's
"conducting [Molly] to that house where the inferior sort of
loyalty to the gamekeeper was merely an occasion to corrupt
people may learn one good lesson, viz., respect and deference
his daughter. Although this is untrue it leaves "the first bad
to their superiors; since it must show them the wide distinction
impression" of Jones in the mind of Mr. Allworthy.
Fortune intends between those persons who are to be
corrected for their faults, and those who are not." The narrator

notes, with the knowledge of law possessed by Fielding the his literary work. He wishes to provide contrast, he says—or
barrister, the situational irony (what happens is contrary to more specifically, the serious and the comic. Moreover, he
what is expected) that magistrates daily commit arbitrary acts hopes the "soporific parts" will better offset the more
and do not have the excuse of Mr. Allworthy, and that they do interesting bits.
so "in the court of conscience."
When Tom intervenes on Molly's behalf Mr. Allworthy lets her Book 5, Chapter 2
go home, but he is deeply troubled by Tom's promiscuity, and
the narrator tells us he delivers to Tom the same lecture he Tom gets many visits during his convalescence. When Sophia
gave to Jenny Jones, as he finds sexual indiscretions in either comes with her father she cannot help but reveal her feelings
sex to be a moral failing of equal weight. Thus Mr. in expression and manner from time to time. The narrator says
Allworthy—unlike Western—does not have a double standard that since Tom had never "entertained any thought of
for men and women. Mr. Allworthy is disappointed in Tom but possessing [Sophia] ... he had a much stronger passion for her
still believes in his goodness. However, the tutor Square gives than he himself was acquainted with." But now that he
a different meaning about the many acts of charity that Tom perceives Sophia's mutual attraction he allows himself to feel
has done for Black George, and says Jones "supported the the fullness of his passion.
father, in order to corrupt the daughter, and preserved the
family from starving, to bring one of them to shame and ruin."
Thus Square lays the foundation for the gullible Mr. Allworthy Book 5, Chapter 3
to turn against his foster son.
Tom is tortured by his new feelings. First, he is not completely
Sophia's muff is introduced in Book 4, Chapter 14 and sure Sophia loves him. Second, he knows her father wants her
becomes a symbol for Sophia's love for Tom once he kisses it. to marry a rich man, and he would not ungratefully abuse
After Tom rescues Sophia in Book 4, Chapter 13 she admits Western's hospitality by courting Sophia behind his back or
her feelings for him, and Tom can no longer deny his feelings disgrace himself in his foster father's eyes by doing so. Finally,
either, although he finds himself in a terrible quandary. Mrs. he feels an obligation to Molly. Thus he resolves to forget
Honour, a single woman of an older age, is introduced in Book about Sophia.
4, Chapter 12. Her name is ironic (opposite from its literal
meaning) since there is nothing honorable about her, and much
later in the novel the reader learns her last name is Blackmore. Book 5, Chapter 4
She initially plays a role in egging on the relationship between
Mrs. Honour also visits Tom when he is convalescing. She tells
the young people, and though she likes Sophia she has no real
him Sophia reclaimed the old muff she had put aside after she
loyalty or love for her.
learned Tom had kissed it, and now she wears it on her arm all
the time. When she and her father come to visit Tom and it
Book 5, Chapters 1–4 gets in the way of her playing the harpsichord, her father
snatches it and tries to throw it in the fire. Sophia, however,
rescues the muff from the flames, and this makes a strong
impression on Tom and he surrenders to his loving feelings.
Summary
Analysis
Book 5, Chapter 1
Tom knows there are several obstacles to a union with Sophia.
The narrator pauses in this introductory chapter to Book 5 to Jones is consistently characterized as someone who feels
justify his right to break the rules of the ancients in what he gratitude for those who do him a service, and gratitude is a
calls "prosai-comi-epic writing." He first berates the critics and virtue much extolled in the novel. Tom knows Western expects
then provides a reason for the "several digressive essays" in to marry his daughter to "one of the richest men in the county."

Tom owes a debt to Western, not only for taking in George and expose Square and says he will continue to do what he can for
his family but also for offering Tom himself continuous her. After he leaves she is angry at Square but calms down
hospitality and friendship by hunting with him and having him to when he gives her money.
dine. Tom is grateful to his foster father for rearing him as if he
were his own son, and while he sometimes disappoints Mr.
Allworthy with his behavior he is incapable of doing something Book 5, Chapter 6
that would so deliberately violate his benefactor's ethics, which
are also his own. Tom believes Molly has "sacrificed her Although Tom does not feel jealous of Molly, he feels uneasy
innocence" as a result of her love for him. Thus in Book 5, that he has corrupted her because she now seems to be
Chapter 3 he initially decides to forget about Sophia and stick plunging herself into a life of vice. Her older sister Betty,
with Molly. Mr. Allworthy and Tom are not different in their however, disabuses him of that notion, saying that Will Barnes
moral structure, but Tom lacks prudence when it comes to his was her first lover and, in fact, the child might belong to him. In
sexual desire. On the other hand Mr. Allworthy lacks prudence fact Will was a notorious rake who had first seduced Betty
in his judgment of people. before taking up with Molly. Jones's heart is now "entirely
evacuated, and Sophia took absolute possession of it."
After finding out about Jones's dalliance with Molly, Sophia However, he remains tortured by his inability to court her
initially decided to strip him out of her heart, but as the narrator because of the remaining obstacles. When the two
notes in Book 4, Chapter 12 love is like a disease, and its inadvertently meet in the garden they exchange veiled words
symptoms returned every time she saw Jones. Honour now of love, which leave them both in a state of agitation.
continues to fan the flames of passion, carrying tales between
the would-be lovers. When Tom watches Sophia rescue her
muff from the flames in Book 5, Chapter 4, "the citadel of Book 5, Chapter 7
Jones was ... taken by surprise. All those considerations of
Jones has remained at Western's house past his illness as the
honour and prudence which our hero had lately with so much
squire does not want to part with him. In the meantime Mr.
military wisdom placed as guards over the avenues of his
Allworthy becomes ill after neglecting a cold, and the doctor
heart, ran away from their posts, and the god of Love marched
fears for his life. Thus Mr. Allworthy sends for all his family
in, in triumph."
members, including Tom, to say goodbye and to tell them how
he has disposed of his money—and his disposition displeases
Book 5, Chapters 5–8 everyone except Tom. Mr. Allworthy tells Tom he has
"goodness, generosity, and honour" in his temper but he needs
to add "prudence and religion" to be happy.
Summary
Book 5, Chapter 8
Book 5, Chapter 5 After the physician arrives Blifil brings news that his mother, on
the way back home to Allworthy, has died suddenly of gout in
After Tom is allowed out of bed he visits Molly in her room the head. Mr. Allworthy, however, begins to recover.
above the stairs to propose a financial settlement in lieu of
marriage. Molly bursts into tears at this news and begins to
berate him. In her little garret is an improvised closet at the Analysis
foot of the bed, partitioned with a rug. During this conversation
the rug gets loose, revealing a man hiding—namely, the Fielding entirely lets Tom Jones off the hook by revealing in
philosopher Square, with whom Molly has recently become Book 5, Chapters 5 and 6 that Molly is sexually promiscuous.
intimate. Tom is astonished, but he laughs when the When Tom arrives at her home to perhaps come to an
philosopher claims he has done nothing wrong since Molly is agreement with her that will not result in marriage, he
not innocent and sex is natural. Tom promises he will not accidentally learns, first, that Molly has taken up with Square in

his absence, and second, that he was not Molly's first lover. merriment. Blifil and Jones get into a fight when the latter
Clearly a double standard is at work here, despite Fielding's refers to Jones's illegitimate birth while reprimanding him for
paying lip service to the idea that sex outside of marriage is his merriment during a time when the house is in mourning for
equally reprehensible for men and women: he champions the Bridget.
same moral standard for both sexes when using Mr. Allworthy
as his mouthpiece. Certainly he shows Square to be a
hypocrite when he claims he has done no wrong with Molly Book 5, Chapter 10
since she is already a fallen woman, but to some degree Jones
expresses the same attitude when he finds out Molly has Jones goes out for a walk to clear his head and begins to think
previously been intimate with Will Barnes. On the other hand about Sophia when he runs into Molly, who has been working
three factors can excuse Tom for "evacuating" Molly from his in the fields. The two become amorous and "[retire] into the
heart: first, she is unfaithful to him with Square and, therefore, thickest part of the grove." The narrator notes "Jones probably
does not hold their relationship in high regard; second, the thought one woman better than none, and Molly as probably
child she is carrying probably does not belong to him; and third, imagined two men to be better than one." Unfortunately Blifil
Molly is actually in love with Will Barnes, and the narrator says and Thwackum are also taking a walk, and Blifil spies "a fellow
she took up with Tom and Square to heal her wounded ego. If and wench," whom they immediately investigate.
the reader still has any remaining sympathy for Molly, Fielding
reduces her to the level of a prostitute—she stops berating
Book 5, Chapter 11
Square for her loss of Tom once he gives her some money.
She also tells him she never loved Tom the way she loves him
Tom has heard them coming, so he hides Molly. Thwackum
(Square).
demands Jones bring forth the other person, and when he
continues to bar the way he gets into a fight with his former
While Tom is figuring out his love life Mr. Allworthy takes sick
master and his foster brother. Thwackum is a more worthy
and Bridget dies. Mr. Allworthy imparts what he thinks are his
opponent, although the two of them together begin getting the
dying words to Tom and the whole family, and he tells Jones he
best of Tom. At this point Mr. Weston intervenes on Tom's
has everything he needs for a good life if he can only acquire
side, having suddenly come upon the scene of the fight, and
prudence and religion. Tom is the only one in the family who is
the two of them prevail.
genuinely grieved by Mr. Allworthy's sickness and possible
death. Further, Tom is exceedingly grateful for the £500 a year
that Mr. Allworthy is leaving him as inheritance because he
Book 5, Chapter 12
expected nothing from his foster father who has already given
him so much, in Tom's estimation. Meanwhile both tutors are
The rest of Mr. Weston's party now arrives: Mr. Supple, Mrs.
angry they are left only £1,000 and think they deserve much
Western, Sophia's aunt and Western's sister, and Sophia
more.
herself. The party first seeks to revive Blifil, but then Sophia
falls into a swoon. Jones, who has been helping with his foster
brother, now runs to Sophia, picks her up, and carries her to
Book 5, Chapters 9–12 the stream and begins sprinkling her face with water. Sophia
regains consciousness, and Western once again praises him
for saving Sophia and then urges him to clean up. Jones is
Summary bloody and black and blue from Thwackum's fists. Western
asks what the fight was about and Sophia overhears that a
"wench" was involved.
Book 5, Chapter 9
Tom has been keeping vigil at the bedside of his foster father
and is overjoyed when he learns he is out of danger. He gets
drunk at dinner, kissing the doctor and acting with immoderate

Analysis Book 6, Chapter 1
Tom, who has "naturally violent animal spirits," is so relieved to The narrator pauses to give a discourse on love. He says "the
hear his foster father is out of danger in Book 5, Chapter 9 that desire of satisfying a voracious appetite with a certain quantity
he acts in a reckless manner and gets drunk. Blifil is not wrong of delicate white human flesh" is not love. But while love
to chastise him for forgetting the fact that Bridget has just died satisfies itself more delicately than desire, it does "seek its own
and the house is in mourning, but Blifil doesn't actually show satisfaction." When partners love each other they wish to
any grief on his mother's account, and he gets angry at Tom experience physical gratification, which "heightens all [love's]
merely for not following proper protocol. Still this is another delights to a degree scarce imaginable by those who have
instance in which Tom disregards the rules of decorum to his never been susceptible of any other emotions than what have
detriment. proceeded from appetite alone."
Considering Tom has now decided to commit his heart to The narrator also says some people are gratified merely in
Sophia, his agreeing to a final fling with Molly in Book 5, contributing to the happiness of others, and this type of love
Chapter 10 is more than a little ill advised. The narrator admits may or may not have a sexual component. Moreover, "esteem
that drinking tends to inflame the passions already in the mind, and gratitude are the proper motives to love, as youth and
and certainly Tom is feeling passionate about Sophia and now beauty are to desire"; thus in the case of men and women in
uses Molly in Sophia's place. Moreover, the narrator notes "he relationships when desire ends with sickness and/or old age,
was not at this time perfect master of that wonderful power of love continues.
reason, which so well enables grave and wise men to subdue
their unruly passions, and to decline any of these prohibited
amusements." The real trouble starts in Book 5, Chapter 11
Book 6, Chapter 2
when Tom is found out by Thwackum and Blifil and gallantly
Sophia remains in a grave mood, and Mrs. Western (who is
protects Molly's identity from them. He gets into such a fierce
visiting) tells her brother Sophia is "desperately in love" with
battle with them that Sophia faints when she sees Tom bloody
Mr. Blifil. Mrs. Western saw that Sophia fainted upon seeing
and black and blue. Tom so lacks discretion that he follows
him lying on the ground and noted additional changes in her
Western back to the house in Book 5, Chapter 12, even after
niece's demeanor—not realizing they are related to Tom Jones.
Sophia finds out the fight concerned a "wench."
Western is overjoyed by this "news," as nothing would serve
In these chapters Tom is at his worst in displaying a lack of him better than to join his and Mr. Allworthy's estate through
prudence. First, he should not have gotten drunk, and second, matrimony, and his sister urges him to propose the match.
he should not have allowed Molly to lure him to commit still
another indiscretion. Tom knows it is wrong to have sex with
Molly, but he gives in to his instinctual nature. He does the right
Book 6, Chapter 3
thing in protecting her from exposure to his enemies, but to do
Once Mr. Allworthy is well enough, he fulfills a previous
so he must fight them, which is also wrong. Not surprisingly
engagement to dine at the Westerns, and when the family is at
this episode leads to Tom's losing the protection of Mr.
dinner Sophia directs all her remarks to Blifil to mislead her
Allworthy.
aunt. She thinks Mrs. Western suspects her feelings for Tom.
After dinner Western takes Mr. Allworthy aside to propose the
match between Blifil and his daughter. Mr. Allworthy praises
Book 6, Chapters 1–5 Sophia's virtues and says the match would be excellent from a
material point of view; he says if the young people like each
other he will be happy to match them.
Summary

sickness (the inability to have sex).

Book 6, Chapter 4
Mrs. Western, Sophia's single aunt, arrives on the scene and is
When Mr. Allworthy gets home he speaks to Blifil, who is not in
the female equivalent of her brother, although on the surface
the least attracted to Sophia, although he feels some passion
they are quite different—he has taken up hunting and country
for her wealth. Blifil agrees to "submit himself to [Mr.
pursuits and she is preoccupied with society, royalty, and other
Allworthy's] pleasure." Mr. Allworthy is put off by Blifil's lack of
markers of sophisticated town life. Mrs. Western thinks she is
enthusiasm for Sophia, but when Blifil begins to speak
quite worldly and seriously overestimates her own insight. In
philosophically about love and marriage Mr. Allworthy becomes
Book 6, Chapter 2 she perceives Sophia is in love but she gets
convinced his heart is in the right place. He writes to Western
the love object wrong because she cannot conceive that her
saying his nephew has accepted the proposal, and Western
niece would fall in love with a poor man. Brother and sister are
asks his sister to communicate with Sophia.
alike in their greed and materialism, and the prospect of uniting
their property with a family on their social level is too tempting
to resist—even if it means ruining the life of Sophia. Fielding
Book 6, Chapter 5
takes a page out of Richardson's book in this scenario; in the
Mrs. Western tells Sophia she approves of her passion. A novel Clarissa the heroine also finds herself at the mercy of her
flustered Sophia responds, "What signifies his being base greedy relatives who wish her to marry against her will to
born," stopping her aunt in her tracks. The women now increase their property. But Sophia is more successful than
understand each other, and Mrs. Western asks how she could Clarissa in outsmarting her relatives.
possibly think of disgracing the family by marrying a bastard.
When Mr. Allworthy speaks to Blifil about the match in Book 6,
Sophia points out that her secret was pried out of her and that
Chapter 4, he is surprised his nephew is not more taken with
she would do nothing against her father's will. She begs her
Sophia's charms because he himself "had possessed much fire
aunt to keep her secret and give her time to get over her
in his youth, and had married a beautiful woman for love." He is
distinct aversion to Mr. Blifil.
taken in by Blifil, however, when he begins to "discourse so
wisely and religiously on love and marriage, that he would have
stopped the mouth of a parent much less devoutly inclined
Analysis than was his uncle." Blifil has a great deal of prudence, but it is
of the negative variety, or, as noted by the critic Martin
In the first chapter, which Fielding generally reserves for comic
Battestin, the practice of double dealing for some selfish
remarks about how to write and assess a novel, he makes
purpose.
serious and frank remarks about the subject of love and desire,
a strong theme in the novel. Once again he uses the motif of
food to indicate enjoyment of something that is not food
related—specifically sex, saying love is not merely satisfying Book 6, Chapters 6–10
oneself with another's flesh. Nonetheless, he does not have a
prudish aversion to sexual desire. In fact he notes the
pleasures of sex are enhanced when love is present. He does Summary
not shy away from the idea that women have sexual desire as
much as men do—something no writer before him and many
who followed in the 18th and 19th centuries were too shy to Book 6, Chapter 6
mention because women's sexual desires remained a taboo
subject for hundreds of years in Western culture. He notes that Sophia tells her maid Honour she must be married to a man
love is based on esteem of another person and gratitude for she despises and hates. Honour takes Sophia's part, saying her
what they give, as desire is based on youth (sexual urges) and father has no right to expect her to bind herself to a man she
beauty (attraction to the love object). Nonetheless, when real finds repulsive. She tells Sophia Tom has been walking around
love exists love does not disappear when sex does—whether outside looking very sad, and Sophia asks for her hat and
the end of sex is a result of old age (the slowdown of desire) or gloves, saying she will walk in the grove. Unfortunately she just

misses Tom. Mistaken identities, coincidences, and many

Book 6, Chapter 10
obstacles of class and wealth to true love are solid tropes of
Roman to Shakespearean comedies and the Italian commedia Squire Western visits Mr. Allworthy and tells him Tom has been
del arte conventions. "poaching" on his daughter and she returns his affection.
Western swears Sophia will marry Blifil and stalks off. Mr.
Allworthy now asks Blifil what he will do, and he says he hopes
Book 6, Chapter 7 Sophia will come to her senses and not marry a beggar and
lose her own fortune in the process. He also proceeds to
Sophia dresses herself to receive the man she hates. When
blacken Tom's character in the eyes of his foster father by
Blifil visits Sophia hardly says anything to him and then leaves
telling him what happened on the day Tom got drunk. However,
abruptly. He thinks she is simply bashful. Certainly he has no
he leaves out important details.
suspicion Tom is a rival. Blifil reports success to Mr. Western,
and he is overjoyed. When Sophia sees her father is in such a
good mood she confides her real feelings about Blifil, saying, "I
cannot live with Mr. Blifil. To force me into this marriage would
Analysis
be killing me." Western speaks violently to his daughter in
Squire Western is a comic figure and meant to be a foil to Mr.
return, saying he is "resolved upon the match" and if she does
Allworthy. Unlike Mr. Allworthy he hated his wife and dislikes
not consent to it he will have her "expiring with famine in the
women in general. While Mr. Allworthy is a man of moderation,
street." After Western leaves Sophia he runs into Jones and
Western drinks until he is drunk, on a regular basis. Mr.
tells him about the whole interaction. Tom volunteers to go to
Allworthy is kind and generous, while Western is generous only
Sophia and persuade her to her father's way of thinking.
to his daughter and kind as the mood takes him. He loves his
daughter, the narrator tells us repeatedly, yet he treats her like
Book 6, Chapter 8 chattel, and his desire for her to marry to extend the property
and riches of his family is a manifestation of his greed. While
Tom finds Sophia with bloodied lips since her face hit the floor the scenes in which Western thunders, blunders, and curses
when her father violently broke away from her pleading. She are often funny, they are shocking and disturbing when he is
tells Tom he should have let her die, and he says he lives only cruel toward Sophia. When in Book 6, Chapter 7 she gets on
for her. Tom asks Sophia to promise never to give herself to her knees and begs him not to make her marry a man she
Blifil, and she answers that she never would. He further asks despises, he threatens to withhold even food from her if she
her whether he might hope for more, but she says she can does not comply, and he thrusts her away so violently her face
never cause her father misery. Thus they discover themselves hits the floor. These are the acts of an unrepentant brute, and
at an impasse. a stupid one at that because he sends Tom to Sophia, having
no inkling of how things stand between them.
Book 6, Chapter 9 Despite her father's cruelty Sophia tells Tom that although she
won't marry Blifil, she cannot marry Tom if her father
When Mrs. Western tells the squire where his daughter's true disapproves of such a match. Thus she gives him respect that
affections lie, he begins cursing and thundering and runs to his he doesn't deserve. Meanwhile, Blifil is almost as oblivious as
daughter's apartment. She hears him coming and faints, so the squire, thinking in Book 6, Chapter 7 that Sophia is simply
Western finds her in Tom's arms. Western calls for help, and shy and he is "perfectly well satisfied with his prospect of
Sophia is revived and led off by her maid Honour and her aunt. success." He does not think to possess her heart, the narrator
Parson Supple intervenes before Western turns his rage on says, but only her "fortune and her person," and he has no
Tom and physically holds him back. doubt this will be accomplished because he knows "the strict
obedience which Sophia was always ready to pay to her
father's will." But both he and Western underestimate Sophia,
who understands exactly what Blifil is about. Because she
discerns his true character she actively hates him as a

prospective husband. Honour, who will pass it to Sophia. When George meets her
she has a letter for Tom, which reassures him she will never
When in Book 6, Chapter 10 Mr. Allworthy learns Tom is marry Blifil.
"poaching" on Western's daughter and gets a further report of
his bad behavior from Blifil, he is outraged. Of course Blifil
claims Tom's bad behavior occurred on the day when Mr. Book 6, Chapter 13
Allworthy was in the "utmost danger" rather than right after his
brother learned Mr. Allworthy would recover. He also gives him Mrs. Western is working to convince Sophia that marriage is a
a twisted version of the fistfight, not mentioning Tom was business transaction, used to advance one's fortune in the
protecting a woman or that the two of them double teamed world. Western comes back from Mr. Allworthy's estate and
him until Western intervened. Blifil seems to reluctantly provide locks Sophia in her room. Honour brings Sophia Tom's letter,
this information when he previously sought to shield and and she confesses to her maid that she has "thrown away my
forgive Tom. Blifil plays his hand masterfully, and, once heart on a man who hath forsaken me." When Honour berates
Thwackum confirms the story, this is the last straw for Mr. him, Sophia then defends him, saying "his poor bleeding heart
Allworthy. suffered more when he writ the cruel words than mine from
reading them." Honour relates that Tom has been kicked out of
the house, and Sophia sends him some money through Black
Book 6, Chapters 11–14 George, who doesn't steal it because he would get caught.
Book 6, Chapter 14
Summary
When Mrs. Western discovers that her brother has locked up
her niece, she becomes angry with him. She overrules him and
Book 6, Chapter 11 releases Sophia after a day of being locked up.
After dinner Mr. Allworthy speaks to Tom privately and lays his
charges before him, and since Tom is sad he does not do a
Analysis
good job of defending himself. Mr. Allworthy thus pronounces
him "an abandoned reprobate," adding on the charge of his Fielding's novel has a deliberate symmetry, and the first third
"audacious attempt to steal away the young lady." Mr. covers Tom's early years and his expulsion from "Paradise
Allworthy is most upset about Tom's supposed bad treatment Hall," the name of Mr. Allworthy's estate laden with obvious
of Blifil, who has "behaved with so much tenderness and symbolism. This action is fairly close to Voltaire's Candide
honour towards you." Mr. Allworthy gives him £500 and turns (1759). Tom's sins of indiscretion and imprudence get him
him out of the house, cutting all ties with him. Tom weeps and tossed out of paradise, and now he must hit the road and make
kisses his mentor's hands, eventually pulling himself together. his way in the world as best as he can. Because Tom doesn't
yet understand that how things look is as important as how
things are, he doesn't think to tell Mr. Allworthy in Book 6,
Book 6, Chapter 12 Chapter 11 why he got drunk, and Mr. Allworthy's natural
modesty leaves out the detail Blifil provided—that he exhibited
Tom decides the only thing he can do for Sophia is to leave her
his bad behavior when Mr. Allworthy was thought to be dying.
rather than "pursue her to her ruin." Tom goes to a nearby
Further he doesn't think to tell Mr. Allworthy about Blifil's
house to write a farewell letter and leaves his pocketbook with
violence on that day, not understanding that his benefactor is
the money from Mr. Allworthy beside the brook where he had
most upset about his bad treatment of his brother. Since Jones
been weeping, and when he goes back for it he runs into Black
is honest and upright, he doesn't realize that Blifil has been
George. The two of them search for the pocketbook and can't
scheming against him for a long time. Such deep malice and
find it, but in truth George has already found the money and
dishonesty is not something he can imagine. The fact that he
pocketed it. George now agrees to take the letter to Mrs.
does not get angry at his foster father and feels nothing but

gratitude toward him and terrible sadness upon being for them than they could have elsewhere." Since Western has
forcefully separated from him is a testament to his good been eavesdropping on this conversation, he rushes in and is
character. soon in another argument with his sister about the government
of Sophia as well as the government of the country since she
Tom's carelessness with his property—another form of supports the Hanover line of succession and he sympathizes
imprudence—leaves him penniless when George steals his with the Young Pretender (see Context).
£500. This theft is a very bad act, made worse by the fact that
Tom has been such a good friend to the gamekeeper. George
has no compunction about stealing, and he even would have Book 7, Chapter 4
stolen the money sent by Sophia if he could have gotten away
with it. Perhaps he cannot separate Tom from the gentleman's The narrator provides a brief history of Western's marriage,
class, to which Tom nominally belongs and which has one in which he mostly left his wife to her own devices while he
oppressed him—so he feels no remorse about taking engaged in hunting and excessive drinking. Nonetheless, he
advantage of a gentleman. The extent of Tom's naïveté in his grew to hate his wife partly for her gentle protest about his
relationship with Black George is painful for the reader to think drunkenness, and when he gets angry at Sophia he abuses her
about, and indeed he seems ridiculously innocent as he is mother, especially since he envies Sophia's love for her dead
flayed on all sides and turned out in the world. He determines parent. Western now berates Sophia's mother and his sister.
that the best thing he can do for Sophia is let her go even as
he harbors some faint hope that his situation might change.
Book 7, Chapter 5
Book 7, Chapters 1–5 Sophia reminds Western that his sister loves him and when she
dies she will no doubt leave him her whole fortune. This last
statement brings him up short because he doesn't want a
breach with his sister in which she would leave the estate out
Summary of the family. Thus Sophia begs him to patch up the quarrel
with Mrs. Western who is again threatening to leave. Western
takes her advice and leaves, and Sophia returns to her
Book 7, Chapter 1 apartment to grieve over Tom Jones.
The narrator takes time to meditate on how the world is a

stage, as has been pointed out by many writers. With regard to
Analysis
Black George he notes that "a single bad act no more
constitutes a villain in life, than a single bad part on the stage." Fielding satirizes the materialism of the upper classes when he
explains in Book 7, Chapter 3 that Mrs. Western saw marriage
as a business transaction rather than "a romantic scheme of
Book 7, Chapter 2 happiness arising from love, as it hath been described by the
poets" or a sacred institution as taught by the clergy. Once
Tom gets a letter from Blifil that says that Mr. Allworthy wants
again the use of the word prudence on Mrs. Western's part
him to immediately leave the country. Since Tom has no money
denotes not the true prudence that leads to wisdom that the
he resolves to go to sea and hires a horse and sets out for
narrator recommends for Tom but rather the shrewd prudence
Bristol.
that seeks out what will improve one's fortunes. Mrs. Western
is a single woman, herself possessed of a large fortune, and
Book 7, Chapter 3 she has chosen not to marry no doubt because she likes being
her own mistress and perhaps because she isn't built for love.
Mrs. Western is again lecturing Sophia on the true purpose of But it is the height of hypocrisy for her to insist that her niece
marriage—"a fund in which prudent women deposit their get married—and especially to someone she has so much
fortunes to the best advantage ... to receive a larger interest aversion to—when she herself has skillfully kept herself away

from matrimony.
Book 7, Chapter 7
Sophia has less naïveté than Tom: she sees people clearly and
Mrs. Honour, ever the servant with her ear to the ground,
loves her nearest and dearest despite their considerable faults.
informs Sophia that the marriage is to take place the next
For example, she knows how much her father wants to inherit
morning. The crafty servant is a popular convention of stage
his sister's money and for that reason she reminds him in Book
comedies. Sophia determines to leave the house that night and
7, Chapter 5 about her fortune. She knows her father is greedy
asks her maid to accompany her, promising her a reward. She
and that her aunt is a busybody, so she uses that information
says she can go to London and stay with a distant relation,
to get the siblings to patch up their quarrel. She does this out
Lady Bellaston, who has previously invited her and will protect
of love, not for any ulterior motive.
her from her father. Honour says she will get herself dismissed
In Book 7, Chapter 4 the narrator learns about Western's that afternoon.
disastrous marriage in which he ignores his wife for the most
part and seems to have little interest in sex (the narrator tells
us he goes to bed drunk most nights). Although she is mostly
Book 7, Chapter 8
meek and mild he grows to hate her simply because she is not
Mrs. Honour is weighing the pros and cons of betraying Sophia
him. The narrator repeatedly says he loves his daughter, but
to receive a reward from Western when fate intervenes to
the fact that he has to say it so often is itself situational irony
push her in the direction of affection for her mistress. She gets
(in which what happens is different from what is expected to
into a serious argument with Mrs. Western's maid and calls
happen): the squire seems rather to be a consummate
Mrs. Western an ugly old cat. When Mrs. Western hears this
narcissist who loves people only as a function (which serves
she goes in search of her brother to get Honour fired.
his interests), and when they cross him and assert their own
personhood he cannot help but get infuriated.
Book 7, Chapter 9
Book 7, Chapters 6–10 Honour packs her things and receives her wages, and she and
Sophia arrange a meeting place. Both of Sophia's relatives
shout at her, and she briefly considers going through with the
Summary marriage because of her love and respect for her father, but
her competing love for Jones quickly extinguishes that idea.
Book 7, Chapter 6
Book 7, Chapter 10
Mrs. Western is prevailed upon to stay, and brother and sister
This chapter turns to the adventures of Tom Jones on the
now jointly decide to carry out the "war" against Sophia "in the
road. Jones realizes that his guide does not know the way to
most vigorous manner." Blifil realizes that Sophia hates him,
Bristol, and a Quaker he encounters advises him to stay at a
and he now feels the same about her although he pretends
nearby inn. The landlord hears from the Quaker (who heard
otherwise. Nonetheless he considers Sophia to be "a most
from the guide) that Tom is a "poor parish bastard" and won't
delicious morsel," and his desire is piqued by her aversion to
give him a room, so he falls asleep in a chair in the parlor.
him as well as by the idea that he will be besting Jones by
"supplanting him in her affections." Of course he also likes her
money. Mr. Allworthy has been assured by Western that
Sophia "has proper affection for Blifil," and he confirms this
Analysis
without directly lying to his uncle. Therefore, Mr. Allworthy
Readers glimpse the depth of Blifil's depravity in Book 7,
agrees to the hasty marriage.
Chapter 6. Once he realizes that Sophia truly hates him, he
feels pleasure in going through with the marriage so that he
can force her to bend to his will, and her aversion arouses his

sexual desire. The narrator says it "served to heighten the a volunteer and is accepted.
pleasure he proposed in rifling her charms, as it added triumph
to lust." Partly he intends to avenge himself on her, and partly
he seeks to triumph over Jones at last. His envy of his brother Book 7, Chapter 12
knows no bounds since Jones is superior to him in every way,
which is why people love Jones and not him. Furthermore Blifil The lieutenant of the company befriends Jones; he meets an
uses the piety he learned from Thwackum and the philosophy ensign, Mr. Northerton, who takes an immediate dislike to him.
he learned from Square to convince Mr. Allworthy and Western Tom is called upon to make a toast at dinner, and he names
that he loves Sophia and that she returns his affection. Thus he Sophia Western, after Northerton insists on her surname. He
practices of the wrong kind of prudence. then makes a joke about Sophia's chastity, and after Jones
calls him an "impudent rascal" he hits him with a full bottle that
Squire Western has all the evidence he needs to understand knocks him unconscious. The lieutenant has Northerton
his daughter's true feelings, but he chooses to believe that arrested, and Tom wakes up and the landlady gives him a
Sophia, upon being forced into a second visit from Blifil, is strong drink to help revive him.
simply showing a typical virgin's standoffishness when
confronted with a suitor. He does know better, but he is
pushing the match forward and urges Blifil to be aggressive. Book 7, Chapter 13
Certainly it is hard to understand how such a man can claim to
The surgeon patches Tom up, and when the lieutenant visits
love his daughter. Meanwhile Mr. Allworthy relinquishes
him Tom asks to borrow a sword, thinking he will get revenge.
responsibility, choosing to believe everything told to him by
Concerned about his health the lieutenant advises patience.
Blifil and the squire. Sophia feels the wolves circling and knows
it is time to get out of town. The love she has for her father
inspires her to consider making the great sacrifice of marrying
Book 7, Chapter 14
Blifil for his sake, but she loves Jones too much to consider the
idea for long.
Jones eats a hearty meal and resolves to track down his
assailant, so he purchases a sword from the sergeant. When
Meanwhile Tom Jones's misfortune has followed him out of
Tom enters the hallway where Northerton is being confined
town, with an incompetent guide who doesn't know the way to
and guarded, the sentinel faints since he thinks he is seeing the
Bristol and who then blabs his business to the innkeeper so
ghost of a man who died. Tom goes into the chamber and finds
that the innkeeper won't even rent him a room.
it empty. The sentinel is taken prisoner by the lieutenant since
he is blamed for Northerton's escape.

Book 7, Chapter 15
Summary The lieutenant suspects Northerton bribed the sentinel. In
reality the landlady was charmed by the handsome ensign and
helped him escape. When Tom learns the sentinel has been
Book 7, Chapter 11 jailed, he explains to the lieutenant that he fainted in fright, and
the lieutenant agrees to release him. Since Jones is too ill to
The landlord is roused by a company of soldiers to whom he accompany the regiment he stays behind.
serves beer. The sergeant tells Tom they are going to fight the
rebels and expect to be commanded by the duke of
Cumberland. In 1745 Prince Charles Edward Stuart (the Young Analysis
Pretender) invaded the north of England with the idea of
regaining the crown and restoring his family (the Stuarts) as In Book 7, Chapter 11 Jones meets some soldiers who are on
the rulers of England (see Context). Jones asks to join them as their way to fight the invader—the Young Pretender, Charles
Stuart, who wishes to reclaim the throne of England as a

Catholic king. This puts the start of Tom's journey at the end of bleed him again, but Tom refuses. The landlady says it is just
the year in 1745, since this is when the Scottish invasion as well since Tom is unlikely to pay him. The doctor storms
occurred, as well as the first battle with the duke of back upstairs and demands to bleed Tom, and when he
Cumberland. Tom seems to have found a path to follow, but his refuses again he feels justified in abandoning a likely deadbeat
bad fortune continues when in Book 7, Chapter 12 he is patient.
assaulted by a soldier who feels as if Tom has shown him up
with his superior learning, even though he never went to a
university. Once Jones is patched up he wants to reclaim his Book 8, Chapter 4
honor as a gentleman by challenging his attacker to a duel, but
Northerton gets help escaping and Tom has no choice but to Tom gets up and dresses, asks for dinner, and calls the barber
stay behind while his head wound heals. Benjamin to shave him. Jones enjoys the barber's wit and
invites him to drink with him after dinner. While Tom is eating
the landlady is telling a circle of people (which includes the
Book 8, Chapters 1–5 barber) Tom's story, making up what she doesn't know or
remember.
Summary Book 8, Chapter 5

When Benjamin joins Tom for drinks, he asks if his name is
Book 8, Chapter 1 indeed Jones and says he knows him. The barber relates that
the landlady is repeating his name and stories about him, some
The narrator delivers a discourse on writing. First, he says that of which are lies. Tom now tells the barber his entire story, and
writers ought to stay within the boundaries of possibility when Benjamin comments that Mr. Allworthy must have been told
constructing a story. Second, writers should stay within the lies about him, "invented by his enemies," otherwise he would
rules of probability. Third, action performed should be "within not have thrown out one he loves so dearly. The barber next
the compass of human agency" and within the bounds of what asks Tom the name of the lady he is in love with, and when he
the character might do. Within these restrictions the writer has hears Sophia's name says he remembers both her and her
a lot of freedom, and "the more he can surprise the reader the father.
more he will engage his attention."
Analysis
Book 8, Chapter 2
Fielding spends the first chapter of Book 8 informing the
The landlady visits Tom in his room and takes notice of him for reader of some important principles of fiction writing for a new
the first time. She tells him he should not go around with kind of work, which he calls a history but which has come to be
soldiers since he is "a pretty young gentleman." She appears to called a realistic novel. While it can be argued that he is not the
know his story and claims Sophia slept in the very bed Tom is first person to write a realistic novel in English, he is the first to
sleeping in when she came through with her aunt. Tom tells her claim he is establishing a new province of writing, and perhaps
he must go for a soldier because he has been turned out and the first one to so deliberately craft a tale that mimics ordinary
disinherited; Tom's poverty is a great disappointment to her. characters in day-to-day life. In line with his first principle he
feels free to borrow certain literary elements from classical
literature, but he draws the line at using plot devices that rely
Book 8, Chapter 3 on the supernatural or the intervention of divine forces since
that doesn't occur in real life. Second, the author needs to stay
Of course the landlady knows about Sophia only because the
within the bounds of probability, although for the modern
lieutenant told her about the quarrel between Jones and
reader the coincidences in the novel strain credulity. Third, the
Northerton. When the landlady leaves Tom begins pining over
actions of the characters need to be possible and also
Sophia, so that the doctor finds him in a fever. He wants to

plausible given the way they have been drawn by the author. to the family. Mr. Allworthy will then forget his former anger
For example, it would not be realistic for Sophia to curse at her toward Partridge and reward him so he can return home. The
father given the way her character has been written so far. next day Jones and Partridge set off together, with Partridge
carrying his companion's knapsack.
In the next chapters Tom continues to learn the lesson that
people have little respect for a man without money. But he
remains unaware of the lies and gossip being told about him Book 8, Chapter 8
behind his back. People's strong tendency to exaggerate and
avoid questions, sometimes for personal gain and sometimes The traveling companions arrive in Gloucester at the Bell Inn.
just for fun, is evident in what the landlady tells Tom about Since Jones has the look of a gentleman the landlady, Mrs.
Sophia in Book 8, Chapter 2, as well as in the lies she tells Whitefield, invites him to dinner with her and some other
about Jones around the fire in Book 8, Chapter 4. Tom remains guests, including Mr. Dowling, the lawyer who brought the
an innocent rube, still having no idea how much the bad things news of Bridget's death to Mr. Allworthy through Blifil. After
people think about you can ruin your day. The barber Benjamin, Tom leaves the table a "pettyfogger" (shady lawyer) tells the
none other than Mr. Partridge, the reader will soon learn, landlady a number of bad stories about Tom. As a result she is
knows this lesson well, since he learned it the hard so rude he decides not to spend the night under her roof.
way—through experience. That is why he immediately realizes
that Tom has been thrown out because of untruths that have
been told against him by his enemies. Book 8, Chapter 9
The companions find themselves on the road at night, not sure
Book 8, Chapters 6–10 of where they are going. Tom muses that his lady love might, at
this instant, be looking at the very same moon. When Tom asks
Partridge if he was ever in love he responds that he has tasted
"all the tenderness, and sublimities, and bitterness of the
Summary passion." The conversation turns back to the journey, with
Partridge recommending they return to Gloucester but Tom is
determined to join the regiment.
Book 8, Chapter 6
Since the surgeon has abandoned him and he needs his wound Book 8, Chapter 10
dressed, Benjamin, who is also a surgeon, changes his
bandages. After he finishes Benjamin tells Tom his name is The companions arrive at the bottom of a steep hill. Suddenly
Partridge. He assures Jones that, despite what he may have Partridge sees light in the window of a cottage, and a servant
heard, he is not Tom's father. He also says he has suffered lets them in to briefly warm themselves at the fire. She says the
much on Tom's account and asks a favor in return, which is master is a recluse who shuns company. They suddenly hear
that he be allowed to accompany Tom as he heads off to war. shouting and commotion, and Jones rushes out and saves the
Tom agrees. old man from his attackers. The man thanks him and agrees to
tell Tom the story of how he came to cut himself off from
society.
Book 8, Chapter 7
Mr. Partridge believes Tom Jones is Mr. Allworthy's true son
Analysis
and, therefore, he cannot believe he turned him out. He has
heard Jones has a wild character, so he thinks it likely he has Tom is abandoned by the surgeon and later treated rudely by
merely run away from his father. He means to persuade Jones Mrs. Whitefield, all because of the half-truths spoken against
to abandon the idea of catching up with the regiment. Partridge him. The surgeon thinks he won't pay, and the landlady
imagines Mr. Allworthy will be grateful to him for returning Tom believes he is a disreputable character upon hearing the report

of the pettyfogger. The story of Tom Jones is known outside of farmers and was doing well at a university until he ran into a
the parish where he grew up, and Partridge for one has heard rich young man who encouraged him to begin gambling. The
about him, hearing he is a wild fellow. Tom Jones's bad Man is soon in serious debt and even stoops to stealing money
reputation says more about people's tendency to gossip and from a friend. The Man escapes the authorities, accompanied
think the worst of their fellow human beings than it does about by a disreputable woman who ends up turning him in to get rid
Tom's actual character. It also illustrates how, when a man is of him. When his case comes to trial his friend doesn't appear,
down, bystanders often can't resist taking some jabs at him. so he goes free.
Mr. Partridge has been unjustly treated, but now he gloms onto
Tom as his ticket back to a decent life in his home parish after Book 8, Chapter 12
Mr. Allworthy forgives him and perhaps restores his annuity so
that he can start over. Partridge's behavior is somewhat The Man now leaves Oxford but is ashamed to go home, so he
plausible given his character, but it also is a plot device to returns to London, where he falls in with another unsavory
provide Tom with a traveling companion. Partridge attaches character, Watson, a swindler and a gambler.
himself to Tom on the pretense that Tom owes him a debt
since he was the cause of his ruin, but he himself is the cause
of many of Tom's trials and tribulations on the road. This part Book 8, Chapter 13
of the novel, the middle section in which Tom wanders the
The Man is introduced to a "whole fraternity of sharpers, and
world, takes a page from the picaresque tradition of which Don
was let into their secrets." He becomes addicted to drinking
Quixote is a primary example.
and continues in the company of gamblers and thieves for
When Jones and Partridge leave Gloucester and travel by night about two years. One night he helps a stranger who has been
in Book 8, Chapter 9 they come across the home of the robbed and beaten by thugs. This stranger turns out to be his
famous cynic of the novel, The Man of the Hill. His entry into father, and he persuades his son to return home. He takes up
the story is appropriate, right after the novelist has shown the his studies again by widely reading, especially applying himself
base actions of several characters in their treatment of the to Christian texts. When his father dies he cannot get along
hero of the story. When they ask for shelter the servant gives it with his brother and goes to Bath, where he runs into Watson
reluctantly, not wanting to anger her master, who hates people. again, much in despair and on the brink of suicide.
But the Man is fortunate Tom crossed his path since he saves
him from bandits, and the price Tom asks in payment is to
learn his story. Tom is on a journey of discovery, and it is Book 8, Chapter 14
necessary for him to look the worst of human nature directly in
The Man talks Watson out of killing himself, and the two of
the eye. So far he has lived as an innocent, but he must
them end up fighting with the rebels in 1685 to depose the
experience the depths to which people can sink to test
Catholic king, although Watson ends up betraying him. The
whether his goodness will hold. The Man of the Hill begins his
Man makes a speech railing against the papists (Catholics),
initiation.
and Tom agrees that expelling King James II (in 1688) was
necessary for "the preservation of our religion and liberties."
Book 8, Chapters 11–15 The Man has not heard, however, that two rebellions against
the Protestant crown have taken place since then—with the
second one currently in progress (in 1745). The man went back
home after the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and ceded his
Summary inheritance to his brother in exchange for £1,000, which he
used to travel.
Book 8, Chapter 11
The "Man of the Hill" was born into a family of gentlemen

Christianity he is unable to understand at an experiential level

Book 8, Chapter 15
the teachings of his faith. For example, St. Paul famously
After he finished traveling the Man settled in this place, away counsels in 2 Corinthians that "Love is patient ... it does not
from society. He expresses cynicism about human beings, insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ... it bears all
saying "man ... hath basely dishonoured his own nature; and by things, hopes all things, endures all things." Thus a righteous
dishonesty, cruelty, ingratitude, and treachery, has called his person ought not to expect a return in this world, according to
Maker's goodness into question, by puzzling us to account how the teachings of Jesus, but rather imitate him in practicing
a benevolent being should form so foolish and so vile an mercy and forgiveness. The Man exhibits only bitterness,
animal." Tom says he has known good people in his short life, however. The major lesson Tom must learn from the Man is
but he soon drops the argument. The Man offers to show him that even when faced with base behavior in one's fellow
some vistas. creatures it is important to keep one's heart soft and sweet
and always open to experiences of grace that come through
both God and others.
Analysis
In the telling of his life the Man of the Hill introduces Tom to a Book 9, Chapters 1–4
host of vices to which a man can give in to, and he serves as an
object lesson and a cautionary tale. He comes from the same
part of the world as Tom Jones and also has an immoral Summary
brother; hence his father pins his hopes on his good son.
Unfortunately the Man enters a life of crime that eventually
involves whoring, stealing, and gambling; he is saved only by Book 9, Chapter 1
the intervention of his father. The Man is able to reform himself
by reading both Greek philosophy and Christian texts. Tom This introductory chapter is used by the author to disparage
learns in Book 8, Chapter 13 that the works of Aristotle and fellow writers who write "foolish novels and monstrous
Plato are "inestimable treasures," despite their rude handling romances." He also lists qualifications for "historical writers,
by the likes of Square, and they taught the Man to despise who do not draw their materials from records"—by which he
acquiring riches and power. "They elevate the mind, and steel means novelists who do not write badly. These qualifications
and harden it against the capricious invasions of fortune," he include genius (the power of the mind to penetrate all things);
says of these works, and they are necessary to "defend learning (a competent knowledge of history and the belles
ourselves, with any tolerable security, against the misery which lettres, or literature and the arts); knowledge of different kinds
everywhere surrounds and invests us." But even better than of speech; and knowledge of both the high life and the low life
the consolations of philosophy are the Christian texts, which (according to people's class); and most important, "a good
"soften and sweeten" the mind. heart" (empathy).
Despite the Man's praise of Scripture, he has been unable to

take its words into his heart because the evil of the world Book 9, Chapter 2
overwhelms him. When he leaves his brother the first time to
take the healing waters of Bath, he is once again subjected to The narrator picks up the story with Tom Jones transfixed by
the worst aspects of humanity, in the guise of a crooked old the lovely view at the top of the hill as he looks south, toward
associate whom he saves from suicide and ruin only to be the direction he came from. He then looks northwest toward a
repaid with betrayal. This disappointment is followed by wood, and he hears screams and rushes to the rescue. An
another when his brother cheats him out of most of his assailant has put a garter around a half-naked woman's neck.
inheritance, and his negative view of man is confirmed when he Tom strikes down the villain who is none other than
travels the world. He comes to the strong conclusion that Northerton. Before he deals with the ensign, he steps out of
people are no good—and in fact are the worst of God's the wood and asks the Man where he can get the lady some
creation. Despite the man's considerable learning and claims to clothes. Although Jones has tied Northerton's hands, he

escapes in the interim. Tom and the lady now make their way today's standards. The zany episodes of the Italian commedia
to the town. del arte dramas were thick with this kind of slapstick humor.
But it is no secret people enjoy seeing people fighting, and a
comic scene of fisticuffs is the surest way to wring a laugh
Book 9, Chapter 3 from the audience. Fielding again shows women going against
the stereotype of the gentle female as they slug it out with
When they reach an inn at Upton, the proprietress thinks they their opponents as vigorously as the men. The author wishes
are there to engage in illicit sexual activity, and she physically to show various types of people across a spectrum of emotion,
attacks Tom when he asks her for some women's clothing. and women are not immune to feelings of hatred and violence
When the landlord jumps into the fray, Tom returns his blows, or to acting on those feelings. Luckily a sergeant arrives in
and Partridge upon entering catches hold of the landlady's Book 9, Chapter 4 and recognizes Tom's companion as Mrs.
arms. Tom's lady friend now comes downstairs and attacks the Waters, the wife of his captain, and she immediately goes from
landlady, and the chambermaid takes the side of the the status of slut to lady.
innkeepers. The fight comes to an end when a few new guests
arrive.

Book 9, Chapter 4
The lady friend was able to cover her upper body with a Summary
pillowcase before she came down for battle, and she is now
recognized by a sergeant who has come in with some
musketeers. She is Mrs. Waters, the companion of his captain. Book 9, Chapter 5
The landlady overhears this conversation, in which Mrs. Waters
says Tom saved her life, and she rushes down to make her While Tom is finally getting to eat after starving for a day, Mrs.
apologies. She also offers her some clothes. All the parties Waters's mind turns to love. The narrator stops to remark "Mr.
make up, and the travelers are fed by the innkeepers. Jones ... in reality, [was] one of the handsomest fellows in the
world." Fielding playfully notes Mrs. Waters begins an amorous
battle with Tom, flirting with him until he finally notices and
Analysis succumbs: "I am afraid Mr. Jones ... treacherously delivered up
the garrison," the narrator says, "without duly weighing his
After the Man finishes his story, he takes Tom to the top of the allegiance to the fair Sophia."
hill to see its vistas in Book 9, Chapter 2. This visit symbolizes
Tom's journey. He looks to the south and sees how far he has
traveled from his home, and then he looks north, ahead to the Book 9, Chapter 6
rest of his journey. Just then he hears a noise coming from the
direction of the woods, and he encounters his old nemesis The innkeepers, the sergeant, Partridge, and a coachman are
Northerton, who is in the process of strangling a half-naked gossiping in the kitchen. Partridge fills them in on how Tom
woman. Tom is depicted as a man with unusual strength as found Mrs. Waters, and the sergeant says she is the common-
well as beauty, so he easily overcomes Northerton. Once law wife of his captain. Moreover, she is well acquainted with
again, however, Jones is the subject of people's worst Northerton, who is likely her lover. Partridge relays information
conjectures as the landlady believes he has come to the inn about Tom, saying he is the heir of Mr. Allworthy. A lady and
with this woman to have sexual relations. her maid are forced to spend the night at the inn after the
coachman gets drunk. Meanwhile Mrs. Waters "feast[s]
In Book 9, Chapter 3 another comic battle takes place, and like heartily at the table of love, without reflecting that some other
the one in the churchyard it also involves several female already had been, or hereafter might be, feasted with the same
participants. There is an element of slapstick in the humor of repast."
these scenes and a wide streak of political incorrectness by

initiate a sexual liaison with a woman who was at all reluctant.

Book 9, Chapter 7
From that perspective Tom simply takes what is offered and
The narrator confirms Mrs. Waters has been carrying on an exhibits his customary gratitude.
affair with Northerton. The two of them had planned a
Mrs. Waters realizes in Book 9, Chapter 6 that Tom is in love
rendezvous at Worcester, where she was first meeting with
with another woman, but that does not stop her from feasting
Captain Waters. The captain expected his wife to return to
heartily on the seconds, as the narrator says, again employing
Bath until the campaign against the rebels is over. When
a food metaphor to describe the pleasures of sex. Clearly Tom
Northerton arrived, a few hours after Captain Waters left (they
has not learned how to be prudent when it comes to his
are in different companies), Northerton told her about his
relations with women, and fate immediately punishes him for
scrape with Jones, when he insulted Sophia and knocked
his indiscretion before the day is over.
Jones unconscious. The lovers determined he must escape to
Wales and she would accompany him. They began the journey
on foot to avoid attracting attention, and Mrs. Waters
mentioned she had £90. At some point Northerton decided
he'd rather go it alone, along with her money. Jones came upon
them as he was attempting to rob and kill her.
Summary
Analysis
Book 10, Chapter 1
The narrator describes a follow-up battle in these
chapters—one in which Mrs. Waters lays siege to the The author addresses the reader as a friend and warns not to
carelessly guarded fortress of Tom Jones. In truth Mrs. Waters condemn a character as bad just because he or she is flawed.
is not all that scrupulous when it comes to sexual relations. The author asserts that characters with flaws are actually
Although not married to Captain Waters she is his common-law more instructive than those without them.
wife and thus owes him the obligation of fidelity. Yet she is
cheating on him with the ensign, whom she is planning to run
away with. In addition to having loose morals Mrs. Waters is a
Book 10, Chapter 2
poor judge of character because Northerton nearly kills her for
Returning to the story at midnight, the narrator notes everyone
her trouble.
is in bed except Susan the chambermaid. In rushes an Irish
Mrs. Waters now has her eye on the handsome young man gentleman looking for a lady. Susan immediately assumes he is
who rescued her, shamelessly flirting with Tom until he gets looking for Mrs. Waters and sends him up to her chamber,
the message. Once again Jones sleeps with a woman because where he bursts in without knocking. After he encounters Tom
she—albeit implicitly—asks him. Fielding casts Jones against at the door, the two come to blows; then Mrs. Waters begins
stereotype, as he becomes the passive recipient of female screaming. An Irishman next door, Mr. Maclachlan, comes to
sexual overtures. Nonetheless there is an aspect of a soldier Mrs. Waters's rescue and recognizes the intruder as his friend,
being called to (and accepting) service in Tom's response to Mr. Fitzpatrick. The landlady by this time is also awake, and
women; another metaphor that fits is of a gentleman being Tom recovers his wits enough to say he also came on the
challenged to a duel who must accept for the sake of his scene when he heard Mrs. Waters's calls for help.
honor. Apart for his love and attraction for Sophia, Tom
exhibits no discrimination in his lady partners, accepting two
women who are considerably older than him—Mrs. Waters and
Book 10, Chapter 3
Lady Bellaston. He is a young, virile man, no doubt with strong
Fitzpatrick is a penniless gentleman who has gone through
natural urges, so perhaps it makes sense he would not turn
almost all his wife's fortune, and he has been trying to get
down an invitation. And since he has a lot of respect for
what's left. Because of his cruelty and jealousy, she has run
women and seems incapable of deceit it is unlikely he would
away from him. Two more riders now show up, a lady richly

attired and her companion. The lady asks to warm herself by the story that Tom is running away from Sophia, whose love he
the fire, and the landlady convinces her to take a room for the does not return.
rest of the night.
The thing that bothers Sophia the most is Tom has shown,
based on the evidence, terrible disrespect of her and her love
Book 10, Chapter 4 for him and has dragged her name through the gutter. Once
again, appearance and reality are diametrically opposed since
The lady's maid, calling herself Mrs. Abigail, returns to the Tom has done no such thing. It is easy to understand why this
kitchen to get some food. Partridge makes her acquaintance bothers Sophia more than anything. But how Sophia lets Tom
and happens to tell her "the young Squire Mr. Allworthy" is in off the hook so easily for sleeping with other women is a little
the house. When Mrs. Abigail, who knows Mr. Allworthy, puzzling. She knows, for example, he slept with Molly one last
contradicts that Mr. Allworthy has a son, it comes to light that time, and both the narrator and Sophia gloss over that fact.
the man in question is Tom Jones. Abigail quickly finishes her Now he has slept with a second woman, and his act seems too
dinner and returns to her mistress. easily eclipsed by what she sees as his disrespect of her good
name. With regard to Sophia's character, the text contains
dramatic irony and exaggerations and distortions of reality in a
Book 10, Chapter 5 way designed to permit the reader to discern realities the
character is unable to perceive. Perhaps at play here, despite
These two new guests are Sophia Western and Mrs. Honour.
Fielding's wish to level the moral playing field when it comes to
When Sophia hears Tom is in the house, she sends Honour to
the indiscretions of men and women, is a double standard. As a
get someone to wake him. Partridge refuses to do so and says
result the woman in question accepts, on some level, that
point blank he is "in bed with a wench." Sophia has the
"boys will be boys" and engage in behaviors that are
chambermaid Susan check Tom's bed, which is empty. Susan
unthinkable for ladies of quality. Sophia punishes Tom by
also repeats some lies Partridge has been telling—that Sophia
leaving her muff behind, a signal she perhaps will also leave
is "dying of love" for Tom and he is going to war to get away
behind the love it represents given he has proven he is not
from her. After Susan leaves, Sophia says Tom "is not only a
worthy of it.
villain, but a low despicable wretch." She is most angry that he
has exposed her name to ridicule. Sophia's muff has been her
constant companion since she left home, but she now asks
Susan to put it in Tom's empty bed. She and Honour settle the
bill and resume their journey.
Summary
Analysis
The plot thickens when Tom, in bed with Mrs. Waters, is Book 10, Chapter 6
interrupted by a jealous Irishman looking for his wife. Tom is
not a very good liar, but he finally catches up, saying he too is In the morning Tom calls for Partridge, who once again tries to
in Mrs. Waters's room because he heard her yelling and keep him from going to war. Partridge next relates that two
wanted to save her. The fact that the landlady believes this "wenches" wanted to disturb him the previous night and hands
story just goes to show how much people are affected by their Tom Sophia's muff, which is lying on the ground. Sophia's name
prejudices and predispositions in what they believe about is pinned to it, and Tom is beside himself. He berates Partridge
others. The landlady has decided Tom and Mrs. Waters are in the strongest terms.
respectable, so she falls for the ruse. Susan, on the other hand,
is not so naïve. When Sophia shows up with Honour and learns
Tom is at the inn, things go from bad to worse. Partridge
Book 10, Chapter 7
commits the first of many follies, first by spilling the beans to
Arrived at the inn is Squire Western, in pursuit of his daughter.
Honour that Tom is with a woman, and second, by making up

He has just missed both Sophia and Mrs. Fitzpatrick, who, as it daughter—given that she left her muff behind. The squire
turns out, was also at the inn (by herself) and happens to be his doesn't recognize Mr. Fitzpatrick, since his niece, Harriet
niece. When Mrs. Fitzpatrick heard her husband making a Fitzpatrick, eloped when marrying him and he never met the
commotion, she paid the landlady handsomely to "furnish her nephew-in-law.
with horses for her escape."
Sophia shows remarkable pluck in leaving home in Book 10,
Western sees Tom and insists his daughter must be with him, Chapter 8 to avoid a marriage to Blifil. As the critic April
as does Parson Supple, Western's traveling companion, when London points out, Fielding deliberately contrasted his heroine
he sees Sophia's muff. Mr. Western searches the entire house with the eponymous heroine of Richardson's Clarissa, who is
and does not turn up his daughter. He leaves in a rage to find intimidated by male power and thus makes poor choices in
her. Mrs. Waters leaves with Fitzpatrick and Maclachlan since trying to escape a forced marriage. Sophia uses prudence in
they are going to Bath. Tom and Partridge mean to pursue deciding to disobey her father while still remaining under the
Sophia. protection of a female relation—specifically the cousin of Mrs.
Western, Lady Bellaston, who has encouraged her in the past
to take a break from her overbearing father and visit her in
Book 10, Chapter 8 London. When Sophia leaves home in Book 10, Chapter 9 she
relies on Mrs. Honour to make the arrangements for horses
The narrator moves back in time to explain how Sophia got to and then bravely takes a ride from a stranger at midnight to
Upton. On the morning of the day Sophia was to marry, Mr. meet her maid. The three of them ride on horseback (the maid
Blifil attended breakfast with the Westerns when it was now riding behind the guide) as Sophia unconsciously begins
discovered Sophia had flown the coop. Brother and sister riding in the direction Tom took instead of heading straight to
began fighting, with Mrs. Western blaming her brother for what London. Sophia also shows prudence in recollecting herself
had happened. Blifil returned home. and following Honour's counsel not to chase after a man; when
she realizes what she is doing she pushes on toward Upton,
where she inadvertently has followed Tom anyway. Finally
Book 10, Chapter 9
Sophia shows prudence in rebuking Tom and, for the time
being, rejecting him because of his bad behavior.
Sophia had stolen away from her home at midnight, riding on
horseback behind a stranger sent by Honour. The three rode
toward Bristol when Sophia learned this was the way Tom
went. They arrived at daybreak in the same village Tom first Book 11, Chapters 1–5
had passed through and picked up fresh horses. Honour
scolded Sophia about the impropriety of chasing after a man,
and Sophia resolved to go to Gloucester and then on to Summary
London. The women passed quickly through Gloucester and
then pushed on to Upton.
Book 11, Chapter 1
Analysis The narrator returns to his critique of critics. The word critic is
derived from the Greek and means "judgment," but the modern
In Book 10, Chapter 6 Tom severely berates Partridge for not critic generally is a "common slanderer." And when critics
calling him in the night when Sophia inquired after him, and slander a book, he says, they slander the author. Bad critics
while he realizes his bumbling companion told Sophia he was in condemn books they haven't read or condemn a work in
bed with another woman he does not know all the other things general terms, or condemn the entire work for minor
she has heard from Susan—since he is not yet aware of the lies imperfections.
Partridge is spreading about him. Fielding creates more
comedy with the deceptiveness of appearances when Western
shows up and has good reason to think Tom was with his

Book 11, Chapter 2 Analysis

The history now returns to Sophia as she travels the side roads In the meeting of Sophia and Harriet Fitzpatrick, the author
to avoid detection. She is about a mile from an inn when her provides a study in contrasts, and Harriet is a foil for Sophia as
party is overtaken by speeding horses. The travelers are an example of a woman in Sophia's class who imprudently
Sophia's cousin, Mrs. Fitzpatrick, and her maid and guide. The handles the central project of an 18th-century woman's life:
four women ride together for hours until they reach another inn love and marriage. When the cousins reconnect in Book 11,
and decide to take a room and sleep. The landlord, who has Chapter 3 and fondly remember their days together with Mrs.
heard the rebels are a day away from London, decides the Western, Harriet also recalls the names they had for each
lovely Sophia is Jenny Cameron, the legendary mistress of other—Miss Giddy and Miss Gravairs; the former name
Charles Stuart, the leader of the rebellion. belonged to Harriet and the latter to Sophia. Sophia lived with
Mrs. Western for three years in Bath, and after she left the
handsome and gallant Mr. Fitzpatrick arrived on the scene.
Book 11, Chapter 3
Although Harriet immediately sees this fortune hunter is
The cousins wake around the same time, and the narrator courting her old and not very handsome aunt for her money,
notes that Mrs. Fitzpatrick is very pretty but is eclipsed by she fails to see this when he switches his allegiance to her,
Sophia's beauty. Sophia tells Mrs. Fitzpatrick she is going to even as he continues toying with her aunt. Harriet accepts his
London. Although Mrs. Fitzpatrick originally planned to go to attentions, flattered that he chooses her over her aunt and all
Bath to see her Aunt Western, she now is also headed to the other eligible women at Bath. Mrs. Western, who thinks
London since she wishes to escape her husband. The two herself astute in her judgment of character and her
women agree to trade stories. understanding of the world, completely misses that Fitzpatrick
is courting her niece, even though everyone else seems to be
aware of it. Mrs. Western is also a study in imprudence,
Book 11, Chapter 4 although she believes herself to be otherwise. Moreover, she is
ill equipped to guide young women, and it is not surprising that
The two young women spent time together when they were
Harriet goes astray under her care. Even the advice of a well-
both under the care of their Aunt Western in Bath. After Sophia
intentioned friend falls on deaf ears, and Harriet elopes with
left Mr. Fitzpatrick courted both Mrs. Western and Mrs.
Fitzpatrick, creating a lifelong enemy in her Aunt Western. In
Fitzpatrick, and this created a great deal of gossip. At one
keeping with the theme of innocence and experience, Harriet
point a kind man took Mrs. Fitzpatrick aside and told her to
soon realizes her mistake, but it is much too late. She is now
stay away from Fitzpatrick, who is a scoundrel, but she didn't
isolated in a foreign country with a mean, irresponsible
listen to him. She eloped with Fitzpatrick and Mrs. Western
husband who begins running through her fortune, and she is
disowned her.
further tied down by the child she's carrying. It remains to be
seen if Harriet learns from her experience or whether she will
Book 11, Chapter 5 continue making the same mistakes.
After they were married Fitzpatrick insisted his new bride go

with him to Ireland. Mrs. Fitzpatrick found a letter written to her Book 11, Chapters 6–10
husband in which the writer made reference to debts he owed
and how he would be marrying for money. When she
confronted him he made plausible excuses, but after the Summary
couple arrived in Ireland Mrs. Fitzpatrick began to see her
husband was a "surly fellow" and an "arrant blockhead." He
spent his time hunting, drinking, entertaining unruly company,
and belittling Mrs. Fitzpatrick, who got pregnant and had a
child during this period.

uneventful and takes two days.

Book 11, Chapter 6
The landlord now interrupts the women, bringing food, and
addresses Sophia as if she were Jenny Cameron. He says she
Book 11, Chapter 10
may give "some folks" the slip and get to London without being
When they arrive in London Mrs. Fitzpatrick gets her own
overtaken, and Sophia immediately thinks he knows about her
lodgings, although Sophia realizes the peer is her "vice-
father and begs him not betray her. When Honour comes in
husband" and she prefers not to share lodgings. Sophia
and says they are "undone" because the French have landed,
immediately goes to her relation, Lady Bellaston.
the landlord disagrees, saying the French are their friends.
Sophia asks Honour to find out what the landlord knows about
her.
Analysis
Jenny Cameron was a real woman, but not the young mistress
Book 11, Chapter 7
of Charles Stuart—a mythical character created by the English.
Jenny was said to travel with the Young Pretender to England
Mrs. Fitzpatrick picks up her story. She is much alone and
when he attempted an invasion to retake the throne. Fielding
writes to her Aunt Western but gets no answer. Her baby dies
uses this as an occasion for more comedy and mistaken
in this period, which adds to her sorrow. Finally a relation of
identity. When the women arrive at the inn, the landlord
Fitzpatrick visits and tells Mrs. Fitzpatrick that he keeps a
attributes some romance to them and decides Sophia is this
mistress. When her husband gets home he tells her he has
mysterious woman. During the time of the Stuart incursion
spent all her money and now wants her to sell her small
there was hope the French would arrive with troops on English
remaining estate. She refuses, and he confines her to her room
shores, but that never happened. Still false rumors circulated.
for about two weeks. When her husband is away she escapes
Mrs. Honour is a patriot, standing with the Hanover king,
and makes it this far.
George I, while the landlord temporarily takes the Catholic side
in solidarity with Sophia, whom he thinks is Jenny. Meanwhile
Book 11, Chapter 8 Sophia fears the landlord has seen her father and that he's on
her trail. When Honour gets to the bottom of the mystery in
Sophia now tells Mrs. Fitzpatrick her story but leaves out Book 11, Chapter 8 she has a fit because any dishonor
entirely any mention of Tom Jones. They are then interrupted associated with her mistress reflects on herself, and she does
by violent yelling coming from Mrs. Honour, who is outraged not want to be associated with a "whore" and a traitor. Once
the landlord thinks Sophia is Jenny Cameron, "that nasty, again the narrator shows how so much of what people believe
stinking whore ... that runs around the country with the are lies and half-truths. Also he points out that so much of
Pretender." Sophia is amused and relieved. A gentleman is then what people believe is convenient to their own estimations of
announced, a noble peer and friend of Mrs. Fitzpatrick who has themselves and others, their agendas, and their self-serving
an estate nearby her husband and who helped her escape. He greed. In this Tom and Sophia stand out on a separate, nearly
is surprised she is not at Bath, but she explains her husband is incomprehensible level, much as Romeo and Juliet do among
not far behind her and she is now headed to London with her the other characters of Shakespeare's play.
cousin, who is also escaping her own "tyrant." He offers to take
Harriet Fitzpatrick continues to suffer for her rash decision to
them both in his coach.
marry a dishonorable man after her baby dies and she writes
to Mrs. Western. The older woman cannot forgive her,
Book 11, Chapter 9 however, and displays her vindictiveness and heartlessness by
not answering her letter.
The women and their maids prepare to leave, and Sophia
realizes she is missing a £100 note, the only money she has, In the middle of Mrs. Fitzpatrick's story a peer (a nobleman)
which she may have lost when she fell off her horse just before from Ireland appears and is surprised to see his friend at the
meeting her cousin on the road. The ride to London is inn because he expected her to be in Bath. As it turns out, they

were supposed to meet in that town—information Sophia

Book 12, Chapter 3
gleans from the peer while they ride to London. Like
Richardson's Clarissa, Harriet had been imprisoned in her room This chapter picks up Tom's story, who rages against
by a tyrannical man. Fielding was not unsympathetic to the Partridge, grabbing him and shaking him violently. After he
limited choices of women, and the narrator says: "Mrs. calms down and apologizes Tom is even more resolved to join
Fitzpatrick wisely considered that the virtue of a young lady is, the army now that he has lost Sophia, and Partridge again tries
in the world, in the same situation with a poor hare, which is to keep him from this course of action.
certain, whenever it ventures abroad, to meet its enemies."
Thus Harriet exchanges the protection of her husband for the
protection of the peer, which does not come without strings. Book 12, Chapter 4
Sophia clearly reads her cousin's predicament and
understands she would rather not lodge with her in London so The travelers are approached by a beggar, and Tom gives him
that she can receive her lover. a shilling. He then asks them to buy a pocketbook (a small
book with a billfold in it) he found in his travels, and Tom is in
ecstasy when he opens it because Sophia's name is written on
Book 12, Chapters 1–5 the first page; he also finds her banknote for £100 inside and
gives the man a guinea.

Jones begins walking quickly, thinking about Sophia, and
Book 12, Chapter 1 Partridge has a hard time keeping up. After a while they hear
the music of a puppet show and then arrive at an alehouse.
The author discusses on the meaning of plagiarism, addressing
Tom stops since he is no longer sure of which way he wants to
the "learned reader" who may have noticed he has been
go. The travelers have dinner and watch the puppet show,
translating passages from authors without quoting or
which is not to Tom's liking since it has a serious theme and is
mentioning the original text. He justifies his actions, saying "the
not comic, as is usual with a Punch and Joan (Punch and Judy)
ancients may be considered as a rich common, where every
show.
person who hath the smallest tenement in Parnassus hath a
free right to fatten his muse." On the other hand he is
scrupulous about crediting modern authors with their own Analysis
lines.
Fielding does not always credit his classical sources because,
as he explains in Book 12, Chapter 1, he is showing respect for
Book 12, Chapter 2 the discernment of the readers who would know his
references without the author's help. Furthermore he takes the
Squire Western, after leaving the inn in a fury, hears the sound
view that, since these masters of the written word are long
of a pack of hounds at a short distance away. He decides to
dead, they cannot be hurt by his liberal borrowing and puts
abandon his chase for his daughter and join this hunt. He is
them, in 18th-century language, in the public domain. However,
readily received by his fellow sportsman, who later invites him
he believes it is theft to not properly attribute a contemporary
to dinner. Western gets very drunk after dinner and is carried
author, and he has in mind some lines from a poem by
off to bed. The next morning he decides to return home with
Alexander Pope, a contemporary of Fielding, in which a
Parson Supple.
playwright used Pope's lines with permission but without
attribution.
Sophia is for the moment clear of her father, who shows where
his heart is in Book 12, Chapter 2 when he abandons his search

for his daughter, takes up a hunt instead, and then decides to

Book 12, Chapter 8
go back home. Tom's story is then picked up in Book 12,
Chapter 3, in which he lays hands on Partridge, saying, Jones is awakened by the puppet master beating the actor
"Fool—blockhead! Thou hast undone me, and I will tear thy soul who played Merry Andrew. The man is beating him for having
from thy body." However, he gives him only a good shake. Tom sex with the servant girl, but the actor says she was willing
turns his thoughts back to the army, but fate intervenes when while the puppet master was thinking about ravishing a fine
he finds the pocketbook, which gives him a good excuse to lady in a riding habit the previous day. Tom now takes the actor
follow Sophia to London. aside and learns it is his Sophia who passed by. The man
shows him the exact place, and Tom now knows in which
Fielding uses the opportunity of the Punch and Judy show in
direction to go. Partridge also learns a post boy (a guide) who
Book 12, Chapter 5 to make fun of people who disparage
attended Sophia's party is at the inn and can provide
comedy, like the solemn puppet master who has replaced
information, and Tom takes him aside in private.
Punch and Joan with more serious fare. He doesn't see why his
puppet show can't be used to teach people moral lessons, but The narrator says it is unfair Tom has been shunned by Sophia
to do so his story must be serious and not include "low stuff." for "the freedoms which she thought ... he had taken with her
This scene contains situational irony, which is when something name and character." But while Tom is being discreet,
is contrary to what is expected, since the author of Tom Jones Partridge once again is spreading gossip in the kitchen by
is using comedy to teach morality to his audience. openly questioning the other guide who relays everything that
happened when Sophia and her cousin Mrs. Fitzpatrick
stopped at the inn.
Book 12, Chapter 9
Summary
Tom rents horses so he can travel more quickly and has the
boy guide take him to the last inn where Sophia stayed before
traveling by coach to London. Partridge is now happy they are
Book 12, Chapter 6
pursuing Sophia instead of war. Jones encounters Mr. Dowling
again and shares a bottle of wine with him while the boy is
Partridge prevails on Tom to stay overnight at the inn since
resting the horses.
they are not sure in which direction Sophia has gone and might
get further information in the morning. Tom then goes to bed
with Sophia's pocketbook and muff, while Partridge proceeds
Book 12, Chapter 10
to get drunk.
The lawyer drinks to Mr. Allworthy and Blifil, but Tom calls the
latter a scoundrel. Dowling met Blifil only once, when he told
Book 12, Chapter 7
him about the death of his mother. Tom explains that Blifil has
through "a long train of wicked artifice" contrived his ruin and
Partridge tells the people in the kitchen his master is rich and
then tells how he came to be a ward of Mr. Allworthy. Tom
crazy. The exciseman (taxman) says he should be taken by
says he has never coveted Mr. Allworthy's fortune, but Blifil
force and sent home to his relatives—a plan that is music to
perhaps thought he did and for this reason plotted against him.
Partridge's ears. However, the landlady steps in and tells them
there is nothing wrong with Tom and she will not have anyone
lay hands on him.
Analysis
Although Partridge has been scolded by Tom for gossiping,
Tom doesn't know the half of the gossip his companion
spreads in the kitchens of the inns where they stop. Although

chasing Sophia is better than going to war, Partridge is still

Book 12, Chapter 11
fixated on the idea of getting Tom back home. Luckily for Tom
women often step up to help or shield him, and in Book 12, The guide admits they have missed the road to Coventry.
Chapter 7 the landlady does so, recognizing Tom is only in Partridge, a superstitious man, fears they've been bewitched;
love; she tells them to keep their hands off him. Partridge is nonetheless they soldier on.
shown, in this conversation with the people around the fire in
the kitchen, to be not only a bumbler but also a scoundrel. He
has little care for Tom and simply wants to use him to reclaim Book 12, Chapter 12
Mr. Allworthy as a benefactor.
The party sees a light in the distance and comes upon a band
In Book 12, Chapter 8 the puppet master is shown to be of gypsies celebrating a wedding. The king of the gypsies
another hypocrite who pretends to be moral while he thinks invites Jones to dine at his table and tells him something of
about ravishing a young woman (Sophia) who passes by on gypsy customs. During the festivities Partridge goes off to get
horseback. Once again, by fortunate coincidence Tom gains his fortune told and ends up in a compromising position with
information about Sophia, through the post boy who led her the fortune-teller, whose husband finds them and demands
party before they left again in a coach. Post boys were boys or money for the offense. They are brought in front of the king,
men on horseback who guided coaches or people on who questions the husband and learns he kept watch during
horseback. People who traveled through the country did not the entire transaction, so he pardons Partridge and sentences
have maps or other technology to guide them, so they relied on the husband to wear the horns of the cuckold and the wife to
experts who knew the path of travel, although sometimes they be called whore for a month.
are less than expert—for example, the guide who loses his way
to Bristol at the beginning of Tom's journey. With some verbal irony (in which what is said is different from
reality) the narrator says that he is a supporter of absolute
When Tom runs into Mr. Dowling in Book 12, Chapter 9, he tells monarchy, since no other form of government can rise to the
him his whole history, which is not a good idea, and the perfection of being ruled under a single master. The only
narrator mentions that in "the compliance of his disposition" he problem, he says, is to find a man who qualifies for the office:
is like Sophia, but he does not resemble her in prudence. moderation, wisdom, and goodness in sufficient quantities.
Telling a stranger your business is never a good idea, and later
in the novel Dowling becomes employed by Blifil. Meanwhile
Tom says he is a scoundrel who has been working against him. Book 12, Chapter 13
He doesn't know the whole truth yet, but after speaking with
Partridge and perhaps reflecting on certain incidents, he notes Tom arrives at an inn Sophia has left just a few hours before,
that "very lately only ... have [I] discovered half the villainy but he has to wait for fresh horses and Partridge wants to eat.
which is in him." On the other hand the prudent Sophia has told Partridge mentions Tom might use the money in Sophia's
her cousin Mrs. Fitzpatrick, in Book 11, Chapter 8, that she is pocketbook, to which Tom responds that taking found
running away from her father and an undesirable marriage, but property when you know the owner is the same as stealing.
she wisely never says a word about Tom Jones, since she The two briefly quarrel then make up.
understands that a person's words can return to her in other
people's mouths to do them harm.
Book 12, Chapter 14
Book 12, Chapters 11–14 After they hit the road again a stranger asks if he may ride with
them for safety's sake. Partridge mentions Tom is carrying a
banknote, and the stranger pulls a pistol, demanding the
money. Tom wrests the gun away from him. The pistol is
Summary unloaded, and the highwayman pleads for mercy, saying this is
his first robbery because his family is in distress. Tom gives
him two of his three guineas and lets him go.

fancy with the hope of charming ages yet to come." He asks

Analysis that some "tender maid, whose grandmother is yet unborn" will
read about the fictional Sophia and perceive the real worth of
Fielding uses the interlude with the gypsies in Book 12, Chapter
his wife, Charlotte, who once existed. He asks that he might
12 for some political satire. The justice of the gypsies is fair and
"foresee ... enjoy ... feed on future praise," and that he will be
straightforward, unlike much of what passed for justice in the
read with honor, long after he is gone.
English system. The gypsy couple is acting as prostitute and
pimp, and the gypsy king immediately sees through their scam. The author then calls on the muse of fortune to ensure his
Although Partridge is also at fault for being lured by the book makes money. Finally he calls on genius, humanity,
fortune-teller, he is a mark. The husband interrupts them learning, and experience to inspire his pen.
before anything happens between Partridge and the gypsy's
wife, but he demands money to assuage his honor. The gypsy
king absolves Partridge, and since the gypsy community fears Book 13, Chapter 2
being shamed he shames both husband and wife before the
entire community. The narrator admires his ruling, but in Jones and Partridge finally arrive in London, and the hero finds
sarcastically professing admiration for absolute monarchy he out where Mrs. Fitzpatrick is staying. Mrs. Fitzpatrick is
points out its obvious shortcoming: the imperfections of man. cautious when she sees Tom, thinking he is Mr. Blifil, and thus
Fielding was a staunch supporter of the Protestant kings, who will not give him any information. After he leaves her maid Betty
in turn supported a limited monarchy and under whose rein the says he is probably Mr. Jones. She knows his story from Mrs.
country was moving toward a more democratic form of Honour and now tells it to Mrs. Fitzpatrick. But she still thinks it
government. Since the uprising of the Scottish Pretender to might be best to keep Sophia away from such a rake.
the English throne occurred while Fielding was writing the
novel, he makes a direct hit on the Catholic idea of absolute
monarchy in his commentary on gypsy justice. Book 13, Chapter 3
Partridge again reveals he is a scoundrel by suggesting in Upon reflection Mrs. Fitzpatrick is a little upset that her cousin
Book 12, Chapter 13 that Tom use the money in Sophia's concealed her affection for Mr. Jones. She now thinks she has
pocketbook. A similar situation occurred when Black George a chance to reconcile with her Uncle and Aunt Western by
pockets Tom's money, and while the law cannot actually preventing a marriage between Sophia and her unsuitable love
prosecute someone for this act—as Mr. Allworthy learns at the interest. She is also a distant relation of Lady Bellaston and
end of the novel—it is clearly morally wrong, a fact that resolves to take the matter to her, since this older woman is a
escapes Partridge. The squirrely schoolmaster is responsible known foe of romantic love and "indiscreet marriages."
for the highwayman pulling a gun on Tom, once more because
When Mrs. Fitzpatrick visits early in the morning, she learns
he blabs without thinking. Partridge shows his cowardice by
Bellaston has already heard of Jones, through her maid Etoff,
running away and his lack of compassion when he scolds Tom
who says he is a very handsome fellow. Mrs. Fitzpatrick
for letting the robber go and even giving him some money.
suggests getting in touch with Squire Western, but Bellaston
says she would rather find her a suitable match for Sophia. The
women arrange for Bellaston to visit that afternoon since
Book 13, Chapters 1–4 Jones is planning to call on Mrs. Fitzpatrick.

When Jones calls Mrs. Fitzpatrick says she doesn't know
Book 13, Chapter 1 where her cousin is and asks him his business. He then relays
his desire to return her pocketbook, and just then Lady
Fielding begins with a mock-heroic invocation to a Bellaston comes in. The peer also arrives, and the three of
muse—calling her "the love of fame." He says, "Fill my ravished them begin talking as if Tom doesn't exist. Mrs. Fitzpatrick tells

him to leave his address. Afterward the three begin abusing

the name of Tom Jones, and Bellaston says Sophia is "in no Book 13, Chapters 5–8
danger of this fellow."
Summary
Analysis
In Book 13, Chapter 1 which begins the last third of the novel, in Book 13, Chapter 5
which Tom enters the town and will work out his destiny,
Fielding creates both a comic and majestic invocation that When Jones returns to Mrs. Fitzpatrick's in the morning, he is
cannot help but move the reader. In no other part of the work told Sophia is not home, and he gets the same answer the
does the narrator seem to be so clearly Henry Fielding, facing whole day.
the author's sad realization of the likelihood that his words will
disappear into the ether with him once he is dead. Yet he Jones is staying at the boarding house of a friend of Mr.
believed in the possibility of his fame and that he will charm the Allworthy's: Mrs. Miller, a widow with two daughters: Nancy
ages to follow, and, indeed, here are his readers studying his (age 17) and Betsy (age 10). Also lodging at the house is a
work more than two and a half centuries later. Fielding was still gentleman, Mr. Jack Nightingale. Jones becomes acquainted
mourning the death of his beloved wife, Charlotte, only a few with him after he breaks up a fight between Jack and his
years dead, and his sorrow is apparent in his hope that she will footman over comments made about a lady. Mrs. Miller invites
be remembered in his fictional rendition of Sophia. Fielding him to breakfast.
strikes a more playful note when he calls on the muse of

fortune to send him money, but he reiterates the four qualities
Book 13, Chapter 6
he believes a writer of fiction should have, which he has
explained in depth earlier in Book 9, Chapter 1.
In the morning Tom receives the bad news that Mrs. Fitzpatrick
has left her lodgings. He receives a package containing a
When Mrs. Fitzpatrick realizes who Tom Jones is in Book 13,
domino, mask, and invitation to a ball from the "Queen of
Chapter 2 and that her cousin was not forthright about her
Fairies." Thinking the invitation might be from Mrs. Fitzpatrick,
entire history, she gets annoyed. But Sophia is proved to be
he decides to go, and Mr. Nightingale agrees to accompany
correct in keeping her own counsel, because the first thing
him.
Harriet thinks about is how she can use her cousin's situation
to advance her own agenda. She does not wish to be
indefinitely dependent on the likes of the Irish peer, and it
Book 13, Chapter 7
appears as if the Westerns are her only relatives. Thus like
Partridge, she thinks if she can bring Sophia home she will be
Tom approaches every woman who resembles Sophia in
rewarded by being accepted back into their good graces. Mrs.
height or shape but can't find her. Finally a woman comes up to
Western disowned her after she ran off with Fitzpatrick, and by
him and mentions "Miss Western." He follows her, and she says
extension so has the squire. Harriet thinks to bring Lady
Sophia is not at the ball. The masked woman chides Jones for
Bellaston in to support her plan. This rich, single woman and a
thinking she would help him ruin her cousin. He says he loves
cousin of Mrs. Western already knows about Tom and is
Sophia and is prepared to give her up, but simply wishes to see
anxious to meet him because she has heard he is handsome.
her one more time. The woman, actually Lady Bellaston, now
She is a female rake, although neither cousin knows that yet.
scolds him for speaking of his passion for another, and Tom
Bellaston covers her designs by saying, after Jones leaves the
responds to her flirtation, first as a point of honor, and second,
house in Book 13, Chapter 4, that he is nothing much to worry
because he thinks she can lead him to Sophia. Tom ends up
about.
following her to a house nearby and spending the night.
Bellaston promises to bring him to an interview with Sophia in a
few days.

Book 13, Chapter 8 Book 13, Chapters 9–12

The next day Tom asks Partridge to change a £50 banknote,
which is a present from Lady Bellaston. While dining with the
Miller family, Tom learns Mrs. Miller has gone to visit a poor Summary
cousin in the most wretched state of poverty. Tom is so moved
he talks to her privately, giving her his £50 and telling her to
take as much as she thinks is proper to her cousin. Mrs. Miller Book 13, Chapter 9
agrees to take 10 guineas and gives him back the rest.
That evening Tom Jones meets Bellaston for another round of
amorous shenanigans. After repeated "interviews" with
Analysis Bellaston, Jones is no closer to seeing Sophia. He is now

obligated to Lady Bellaston, who makes Tom "the best dressed
Tom is staying with an old friend of Mr. Allworthy's. Tom man about town" and raises him to "a state of affluence
happens to know Mrs. Miller's boarding house is where his beyond what he had ever known." He feels obliged to continue
benefactor stays whenever he goes to London. Mrs. Miller runs granting her his sexual favors.
a boarding house and also lives there with her two daughters.
One evening he gets a note from Bellaston canceling their
Jack Nightingale is also a boarder, and the footman likely said
rendezvous at the usual meeting place. Then he gets a second
something snide about Nancy, who is having an affair with
note telling him to meet her at home. The acquaintance who
Jack, although that doesn't come to light until later. Mrs. Miller
owns the house no longer wants to be party to Bellaston's
likes Tom immediately because he is an agreeable man. At
affairs. Bellaston does some quick thinking and sends Sophia
present she doesn't know about his connection to Mr.
and the two maids to a play so she can receive Tom in private.
Allworthy.
After the conversation that takes place between Mrs.

Fitzpatrick, Lady Bellaston, and the Irish peer in Book 12,
Book 13, Chapter 10
Chapter 4, Harriet moves her lodgings because the peer is
Just before Tom meets Bellaston, he runs into Mrs. Miller's
jealous and doesn't want her to have anything to do with the
impoverished cousin, Mr. Anderson, who is the highwayman
handsome young man. The narrator archly notes "the noble
Tom met on the road. Mrs. Miller introduces her cousin to the
peer had from some reason or other, perhaps from a regard
benefactor who saved his family, and Tom graciously accepts
for the lady's honour, insisted that she should not see Mr.
his thanks without revealing their previous acquaintance.
Jones, whom he look on as a scrub." But Lady Bellaston has
her eye on a new conquest, which is why she invites Tom to
the masquerade. While Jones had no thought in his head of Book 13, Chapter 11
getting involved with another woman, "he held it as much
incumbent on him to accept a challenge to love, as if it had Tom arrives at Bellaston's house early and runs into Sophia,
been a challenge to fight," the narrator says. Thus in Book 13, who has left the play early. Tom gives Sophia her pocketbook
Chapter 7 he follows her chair out, which is a sedan chair that and asks for her pardon. He tells her "she, into whose company
fashionable people were carried in throughout London during I accidently fell ... was not an object of serious love." When she
the 18th century. Bellaston doesn't take him back to her own brings up his abuse of her name he is genuinely surprised, but
house but to a house she uses for her trysts with men. At the then figures out it is Partridge's doing, and she believes his
end of their sexual encounter she gives him money, a good explanation. Once this hurdle is cleared they begin talking like
part of which Tom immediately distributes to Mrs. Miller, lovers; she reminds him of her duty to her father, and he
showing what little interest Tom has in accumulating money promises to renounce her. Bellaston now returns home and
and how generous a heart he has when he sees other people interrupts them. Jones and Bellaston pretend not to know each
in distress. other, and Sophia pretends not to know Tom.

Book 13, Chapter 12 Book 14, Chapters 1–5

Sophia continues to pretend Tom is a stranger. Bellaston
taunts her by saying she thought the gentleman was Tom
Jones and reminds her of her promise not to marry without her Summary
father's consent. Sophia sticks to her story that she is
indifferent to Mr. Jones, and the women separate. Sophia
cannot sleep that night because she is troubled by having lied. Book 14, Chapter 1
The narrator complains English writers have failed to
Analysis accurately portray the upper classes because they know

nothing about them. He opines that the high life is dull and
Lady Bellaston had every intention of continuing to string gives few opportunities for humor or entertainment, unlike the
Jones along and not tell him anything about Sophia. But her lower spheres. Lady Bellaston, however, is an exception, as
plan is foiled by serendipity in Book 13, Chapter 11, in which she is an "intrepid character."
Tom and Sophia run into each other. Sophia readily forgives
Tom once he tells her he was not disparaging her publicly, but
nothing has changed with regard to their impasse (she won't
Book 14, Chapter 2
marry someone against her father's will), so all they can do is
Not long after Tom gets home, Lady Bellaston arrives and
moon over each other. Of course the last thing Tom wants is
accuses him of scheming behind her back. Just then Partridge
for Sophia to find out he is now sleeping with Bellaston. But
comes up the stairs to tell her Mrs. Honour wishes to see him,
that would be very inconvenient for the lady as well, so they
and Jones hides Bellaston. Honour brings a letter from Sophia
mutually decide on the spot to pretend they have never seen
and also berates Bellaston for entertaining lovers at a place
each other. Lady Bellaston is well acquainted with Sophia's
she rents. After she leaves Bellaston is in a rage and blames
entire story; therefore, the last thing Sophia wants is for her
Jones for ruining her reputation. They decide he will visit the
relation to know she has just seen Tom Jones. Lady Bellaston
house openly since everyone will think he is coming for
can't resist taunting her, however, and because she is not a
Sophia's sake.
very good liar Bellaston easily trips her up so she slips and
calls the gentleman who returned her pocketbook "Mr. Jones"
in Book 13, Chapter 12. She probably realizes Bellaston is on to Book 14, Chapter 3
her, which is one reason she is shamed and embarrassed by
her lie. Sophia's letter asks Tom not to visit because Lady Bellaston is
suspicious. Tom is distraught but decides to pretend to be sick
Bellaston has also ensnared Tom Jones. Because she keeps
to avoid visiting. Jones now gets a visit from Mrs. Miller, who
giving him money, he feels indebted to her. He has a strong
tells him to stop bringing women to his rooms. She also
sense of gratitude, and once he takes her first payment it is
mentions his generosity to her cousin Mr. Anderson when he
difficult to refuse subsequent gifts. To do so would be to insult
attempted to rob him as well as his connection to Mr.
the lady, which would offend his sense of gallantry. And
Allworthy. Tom is annoyed, saying he must be able to entertain
realistically he needs money to live in London, so a ready cash
whomever he likes in his rooms. When she leaves Tom takes
flow is hard to turn down. Jones has now descended to the
Partridge to task for lying and then tells him to find new
lowest level to which he falls in the novel—as a kept man, the
lodgings.
paramour of Lady Bellaston.
Book 14, Chapter 4

Nightingale enters Jones's rooms after Partridge leaves and
teases him about his lady caller. Tom tells him he is leaving,

and Nightingale has the same plans. Jones now mentions his occurred to him that Lady Bellaston probably has had a string
serious flirtation with Nancy; he scolds his friend for breaking of lovers.
her heart and sneaking away. Nightingale says Tom is hardly
an angel, and Tom admits to his fault but says he has not Tom's dalliance is juxtaposed with Jack Nightingale's when
caused misery to any woman. Nightingale explains his father Jones scolds him in Book 14, Chapter 4 for running out on
expects him to marry a rich heiress. The two men agree to Nancy. So far Jones can claim he has not hurt any woman by
lodge together. sleeping with her given the checkered history of his sexual
partners: Molly is unfaithful to him and seems able to easily
replace him with Square or any other man; Mrs. Waters clearly
Book 14, Chapter 5 understands they are having a very short fling; and Lady
Bellaston is using him as a sexual commodity. Nancy, however,
Mrs. Miller invites Tom to tea because she wants them to part has higher expectations and has given herself to Jack with the
friends. She tells him how Mr. Allworthy set her up with the idea that they will marry.
boarding house and an annuity after her husband died. She
also says Mr. Allworthy held him in high regard and always Partridge once again has been spreading Tom's business,
spoke well of him. After Mrs. Miller reveals these confidences, which is how Mrs. Miller learns he is responsible not only for
Tom tells her his whole story but leaves out any mention of helping Mr. Anderson in the present but also for saving him
Sophia. from great harm on the road. Mrs. Miller will be able to do Tom
a great service as well when she becomes the bridge between
him and Mr. Allworthy, helping to bring them together again.
Analysis
In the first chapter of Book 14, Fielding is both patting himself Book 14, Chapters 6–10
on the back for doing such a good job portraying the intrepid
Lady Bellaston and at the same time warning the reader that
she is not meant to represent all the women of the upper class. Summary
She is certainly a rarity in English fiction in the 18th century.
Lady Bellaston has a sexual appetite the equal of any man as
well as a hearty appetite for villainy that can rival any such Book 14, Chapter 6
character in literature of the opposite sex. Of course
Richardson's Lovelace comes to mind from the novel Clarissa, Late morning Tom awakens to another commotion. Mrs. Miller
but Lovelace is more complex than Bellaston and thus less evil. is beside herself because Nightingale has broken off his
relationship with Nancy. He has sent her a letter explaining his
Lady Bellaston is most interested in continuing a sexual
father's insistence he marry "a young lady of fortune." He
relationship with Tom Jones, and the best way to do so, now
mentions Nancy is pregnant and says he will provide for the
that she can no longer see him at her friend's house, is to have
child. Nancy has tried to kill herself and is threatening to try
him over under cover of visiting Sophia. Of course she has no
again. Jones volunteers to speak to his friend Jack.
intention of stopping there and fully intends to get Sophia out
of the way. Sophia realizes Lady Bellaston knows the identity
of Tom Jones, so she tells him to stay away from the house, Book 14, Chapter 7
thinking Bellaston is against a match with Jones because he is
a pauper. Tom finds Nightingale to be sad at his new lodgings and scolds
him for leaving a family "in misery and ruin." Tom appeals to
Bellaston is naturally outraged when she overhears the servant
Jack's sense of honor after he tries to wiggle out of his
Mrs. Honour berating her for her sexual promiscuity in Book 14,
obligation, and Nightingale admits he loves Nancy and wants to
Chapter 2, and although she knows it is hardly Jones's fault
be with her. If his father can be convinced, he is ready to do
she uses this as another bargaining chip to make Tom Jones
right by Nancy. Jones thus asks for and is granted permission
feel indebted to her. Being the innocent that he is, it hasn't
to speak to his friend's father, but Jack suggests he tell the

father they are already married. family." Luckily Tom has something to work with because
Nightingale truly does care for Nancy and is merely spouting
the hypocritical excuses that men of his time generally gave
Book 14, Chapter 8 for leaving a girl in ruin because he has to answer to his father.
Tom arrives at Mr. Nightingale's and introduces himself as At first it seems as if Uncle Nightingale will be an ally in
Jack's friend. He begins listing the sterling qualities of Nancy, Nightingale's affair of the heart. Uncle Nightingale doesn't like
although old Nightingale thinks he is talking about the rich girl, the girl his brother has picked for Jack, but he says he believes
Miss Harris. Jones then announces his friend is married to Miss a child should make their own choice of marital partner after
Nancy Miller. Old Nightingale's brother is also on hand and has consulting the parent. When he learns in Book 14, Chapter 9
been against the match with Miss Harris, who is neither that Jack is not yet married to Nancy, he immediately tries to
attractive, good-natured, nor intelligent. He says parents interfere by dragging him away, thus doing the exact thing he
should not expect to choose a marriage partner for their has faulted his brother for. His objection to the marriage is the
children, although his nephew should not have married without same as his brother's: it brings no money to the groom.
his father's advice. Jones now brings the uncle, who is a Nightingale's dilemma parallels Jones's because Sophia's
second father to young Nightingale, to Mrs. Miller's house. father is also against a match between her and Tom based on
the fact that he is a pauper and Blifil is Mr. Allworthy's heir.
Thus Fielding demonstrates how some parents care only about
Book 14, Chapter 9 enriching their children through marriage and never give a
thought to love, happiness, or compatibility.
Uncle Nightingale knows the Millers, and he congratulates
Nancy. Mrs. Miller takes Jones aside and thanks him profusely
for his intervention, telling him the couple will marry in the
morning. After Jack has drunk quite a bit, he confesses to his
uncle he is not yet married. Suddenly the uncle claims the
match is foolish and asks Jack to come back home with him so
he can convince him not to go through with the marriage. Summary
Book 14, Chapter 10 Book 15, Chapter 1

After the dinner party at the Millers, uncle and nephew go back The author begs to differ "that virtue is the certain road to
to the uncle's lodgings. While Jones is thinking over the happiness, and vice to misery." As Tom is virtuously working "to
behavior of the Nightingales, he gets some bad news about preserve his fellow-creatures from destruction," others are
Sophia from Mrs. Honour. working behind his back to "make him completely miserable,"
which is not an uncommon phenomenon in the real world.
Analysis
Book 15, Chapter 2
Not surprisingly the relationship between Jack Nightingale and
Nancy Miller has ended in a pregnancy. Jack tells Tom in Book Lady Bellaston conceives a plan to get rid of Sophia. Lord
14, Chapter 7 she could have saved her situation by keeping Fellamar, who frequents Bellaston's house, has fallen in love
quiet about her pregnancy and then married someone else so with her and wants Bellaston to propose a match to her father.
she didn't tarnish her reputation, thus recommending lying, She informs him he has a rival in the form of "a beggar, a
hypocrisy, and subterfuge with a subsequent lover. But Tom bastard, a foundling." She invites him to dinner with a few
presses him, saying, "You have so entirely gained her others so she can prove to him Sophia has this dangerous
affections, that it is the loss of you, and not of her reputation, passion.
which afflicts her, and will end in the destruction of her and her

modern reader, but in Fielding's day and much after it this was
Book 15, Chapter 3
a strategy unscrupulous men used to force women to marry
Lady Bellaston belongs to a society club in which the members them in the era when a woman's virginity was held at a
are charged with telling a fib at least once a day. She applies to premium and a girl would be ruined for life by a rape. In fact
one of the members, Tom Edwards, to tell a fib for her when this is the very ploy Lovelace uses in Richardson's Clarissa to
her guests are playing cards the next day. Thus he casually convince her to finally marry him (which she does not). Of
mentions he saw a man from the country named Tom Jones course this stratagem is the height of iniquity, and if Fellamar
dead in a coffeehouse. Sophia faints, and Lord Fellamar is had any real love for Sophia—and was not mostly lusting after
convinced. Bellaston later proposes a plan to Fellamar for her—he could have never agreed to such a plan. Furthermore,
winning Sophia. She will get everyone out of the house the if he had any moral scruples he would not force a woman to
next evening and have Fellamar call on Sophia and rape her have sex with him under any circumstances. This is also the
and then propose marriage—which Sophia and her relatives opinion of the narrator.
will agree to after she has been humiliated in this way.

Book 15, Chapter 4
Upon reflection Lord Fellamar has serious problems with the
Summary
rape plan, which he shares with Lady Bellaston in the morning.
She proceeds to provide false and distorted examples of
classical instances in which females were ravished; she
Book 15, Chapter 5
appeals to his manly pride until he finally agrees.
Sophia is reading a novel by herself in the evening, and Lord

Fellamar suddenly comes in. He begins making passionate
Analysis verbal love to her. Sophia asks him "to desist from a vain
pursuit," at which point he grabs her and she begins screaming.
The narrator seems to turn cynical in Book 15 when he says
Luckily for Sophia her father shows up at this very instant and
virtue is not necessarily rewarded with happiness and vice with
begins bellowing for her, and Fellamar lets go of her, doing no
misery. However, his sentiment echoes the thoughts of the
more violence than kissing her neck.
Man of the Hill, and the readers might remember that people
ought not to be virtuous to be happy or to get a reward but Lady Bellaston enters the room and pays her compliments to
should simply do what is right according to their faith and Western. Fellamar steps forward and addresses Sophia's
conscience. father as a suitor. Western is very rude to him, however, and he
leaves offended. Western then insists Sophia leave with him
Lady Bellaston wants Sophia out of the way, and she has no
but will not allow Honour to accompany them.
time to wait until Sophia decides to go back to the country and
marry Blifil. In addition she has disdain for the Western cousins
and would prefer to see Sophia married to someone she Book 15, Chapter 6
chooses for her. Lord Fellamar is a very rich gentleman who is
smitten with her and can hardly believe Sophia would choose a Mrs. Western had gotten a letter from Mrs. Fitzpatrick
beggarly bastard over him, which is why Bellaston sets up the informing her of Sophia's whereabouts. Brother and sister had
ruse in Book 15, Chapter 3 in which she proves to Fellamar that fought as usual over the best course of action, and the squire
Sophia is in danger of running off with Tom Jones and ruining agreed to allow his sister to take the lead since she is the
herself. expert on town manners. But once Western got to London he
barged into Bellaston's to retrieve his daughter.
Lady Bellaston now proposed a diabolical plan to force Sophia
to marry Fellamar: she convinces him to rape her so she will
have no choice but to marry him. This may sound absurd to a

occurred in Book 14, Chapter 2, but to even greater comic

Book 15, Chapter 7
effect. Honour has lost her job because the squire is angry with
The story now resumes at the point when Mrs. Honour brings her for helping Sophia escape. When Bellaston arrives and
Tom Jones the news that Sophia has been carted off by her Honour hides, and then Jack comes in and Bellaston needs to
father and she herself has been "turned out of doors." hide, the two women are in a quandary. Bellaston now fears
Bellaston arrives at this moment, and this time Tom hides Honour will tell people what she heard in Tom's room, so she
Honour behind the bed. Bellaston speaks romantically to Tom, suggests the maid come back to her house and she will give
but he cannot return her compliments because of his hidden her a job to keep her quiet about Bellaston's habit of chasing
guest. An awkward moment is relieved when a drunken Tom.
Nightingale accidentally bursts into Tom's room and Jones
Mrs. Fitzpatrick has blown the whistle on Sophia for the
escorts him out. When Tom returns he finds Lady Bellaston
purpose of ingratiating herself with the Western relatives after
has tried to hide in her usual place and found it occupied.
she decides to part ways with Bellaston on the best way to
Bellaston tells her to come by the house the next day as she
handle Sophia. However, she hasn't reckoned with the depths
wants to make amends to her now she is out of a job. After,
of vindictiveness present in her aunt's heart because Mrs.
Honour berates Tom for being a faithless cad, but she
Western doesn't actually answer the letter and will never
promises to keep his secret and bring him news of Sophia.
forgive her, as becomes apparent in Book 16, Chapter 4.
Jack Nightingale is able to successfully marry Nancy because

Book 15, Chapter 8 he was let off the hook by a fortunate turn of events, in which
his uncle has to go home to deal with the elopement of his
The next morning Mrs. Miller gently scolds Tom for his nightly
daughter to a man he doesn't approve of—which puts him in
shenanigans, and this time he promises to create no more
the same category as his brother Mr. Nightingale. Thus two
disturbances. Tom has agreed to stand in as father of the bride
Nightingales of the older generation have been defied by their
for Nancy. Young Nightingale escaped from his uncle the
children.
previous night when the man received news that his daughter
had eloped with a clergyman. Uncle Nightingale immediately
ordered a post chaise (horse and carriage) to return home and
left off trying to get his nephew too drunk to attend his own
wedding. That morning Nancy Miller and Jack Nightingale
marry.
Summary
Analysis
Book 15, Chapter 9
Lord Fellamar is stopped from carrying out the rape when
Squire Western characteristically bursts into the room without Tom arrives home to find three desperate letters from Lady
notice. Of course he is completely oblivious to the fact that Bellaston. Nightingale informs Tom he knows all about his
anything is wrong since Fellamar stood down as soon as he affair with Bellaston and that he is hardly the "first young fellow
heard the squire. Bellaston pretends to like her cousin, and she hath debauched." When Tom realizes he doesn't have to
while she is happy to get rid of Sophia she is not done trying to protect Bellaston's reputation, he pours his heart out to his
wreck her life. Squire Western has no use for Fellamar since he friend. Nightingale now says that Tom could get rid of Lady
is of the aristocratic class, which he associates with King Bellaston by proposing marriage to her, which will immediately
George I and the Hanovers, whom he hates. Even though put her off. He knows another of her lovers who did so and was
Western is rich he is a country bumpkin and proud of it—and he turned away. Tom takes his friend's advice and writes a
wants his daughter to marry someone from the country. proposal letter to Lady Bellaston, who immediately turns Tom
down, calling him a fortune hunter. When he keeps up the
Bellaston is continuing her pursuit of Tom, and in Book 15, pretense she breaks it off with him.
Chapter 7 the same scene is played out in Tom's bedroom that

villainess who scorns marriage because it will rob her of her

Book 15, Chapter 10
power. Were Lady Bellaston to marry, her money would belong
Mrs. Miller has received a letter that Mr. Allworthy and Blifil are to her husband, who would be free to use it for any purpose,
coming to town and will need rooms. Jones plans to find including cheating on her, as Mr. Fitzpatrick has done to his
another place to stay, and the married couple will stay at wife. Thus while Bellaston is quite taken with Tom Jones,
Nightingale's new lodgings. Tom is upset, however, with no probably more so than she has been with other lovers, she has
word from Sophia. He finally gets a letter from Honour saying no intention of marrying him and giving up her freedom.
she has been promoted to Lady Bellaston's waiting woman and
Tom's biggest test comes when Bellaston breaks it off with him
can no longer be of any assistance to him.
and he gets a marriage proposal from Arabella Hunt in Book 15,
Chapter 11. Mrs. Hunt is about 30, still attractive, very rich, and
seemingly amiable. Tom is alone in the world with no money
Book 15, Chapter 11
and no prospects. Here is an opportunity to make his life
Mrs. Arabella Hunt, age 30, and a widow with a fortune knows whole. Moreover, things with Sophia are at their bleakest, and
Tom Jones through Mrs. Miller. Recently out of mourning, she Mr. Allworthy and Blifil are coming to town to complete the
writes Tom a love letter and offers herself as his wife. Although marriage transaction. But Tom remains loyal to his love for
Mrs. Hunt has much to recommend her, she is not Sophia. Sophia and honorably tells Mrs. Hunt the truth—that he is
Therefore, although Tom is without resources he answers her pledged to another.
that his heart belongs to another.

Book 15, Chapter 12
Partridge has found out from Black George, who is in London
as part of Squire Western's household, where Sophia is being
Summary
kept. George tells him Blifil has come to town to marry Sophia.
Tom determines to write a letter, which will be delivered by
Book 16, Chapter 1
Partridge to Black George, who will deliver it to Sophia.
The narrator takes time to abuse prologues, which are

annoying to write and mostly are interchangeable with one
Analysis another. Mostly the prologue serves the critic as a whetstone
to "fall with a more hungry appetite ... on the history itself."
Just as Tom was well aware of Nightingale's affair with Nancy
They are good for lazy people, however, who like to skip over
before he told him, Jack knows what is going on with Bellaston.
them and save some time.
When Jack explains to him in Book 15, Chapter 9 that Bellaston
is a rake who hardly needs protection, Tom is able to ask for
help, and he takes Nightingale's advice. Bellaston's reaction to Book 16, Chapter 2
Tom's proposal is meant to be shocking: she doesn't believe in
romantic love and thinks marriage is bad. In her first letter to This chapter moves back in time to when Sophia is first
Tom she says: "When I read over your serious epistle, I could ... brought at her father's house. As before he locked her up
have sworn that you already had the legal right you mention; when she refused to marry Blifil. Fellamar sent Captain
nay, that we had, for many years, composed that monstrous Egglane as an envoy to forgive the squire of his bad behavior
animal a husband and wife." Fielding clearly believes women and reopen marriage negotiations. Western said his daughter
should subordinate themselves to men, and later in the novel, is spoken for; the envoy responded with a challenge to a duel
in Book 17, Chapter 3, Mr. Allworthy admires Sophia because with Fellamar for those same insults. Western called the
she feels unqualified to give an opinion and defers to the men. captain a liar; Egglane hit him and then left in disgust.
However, Fielding has great imaginative sympathy for the
female perspective, which is seen in his ability to create a

letters, with neither of them able to take a step that will alter
Book 16, Chapter 3
their situation. Sophia cannot escape, and even if she could
George delivers a meal to Sophia in which the stuffed hen she would not marry Jones without Squire Western's consent.
contains a love letter from Jones, saying he is in agony over The most she can do is refuse to marry Blifil. Tom will not try to
the fact she is suffering for his sake. He professes his "ardent force a decision from her, so they remain at an impasse.
love" and urges her to fly to him. However, if such an action
In Book 16, Chapter 4 Squire Western readily agrees to allow
would destroy her peace of mind, then she should drive him out
Sophia to go with her aunt when she demands Sophia's
of her thoughts. First and foremost he desires her happiness.
release because he wants to stay in his sister's good graces. It
Sophia cannot write back because she has no pen or paper.
is now clear how vindictive Mrs. Western can be and how long
She now hears her father and aunt, who has just arrived,
she can hold a grudge, as evidenced in the fact that she did
arguing downstairs.
not answer Mrs. Fitzpatrick's letter and, for spite, gave it to Mr.
Fitzpatrick when he came looking for Harriet. The numerous
comments the narrator has made, earlier in the novel, about
Book 16, Chapter 4
how forgiving Mrs. Western is and how much she loves her
Mrs. Western is upset to learn that her brother has taken his brother now appear with double verbal irony, in which what is
daughter from Lady Bellaston's and locked her up. She again said is different from what is meant. The squire understands
reminds him that "women in a free country" are not chattel and his sister very well, and he doesn't want to do anything to
insists he release her. The squire allows Mrs. Western to take alienate her or put himself in a position in which she will not
Sophia to her beautiful home. Mrs. Western has had a visit leave her money to him.
from Mr. Fitzpatrick, who is still looking for his wife, and she
To ingratiate himself with his sister he says, "I am sure, sister,
gives him the letter from her niece. Mrs. Western asks her
you can't accuse me of ever denying to trust my daughter to
brother not to see Mrs. Fitzpatrick if she happens to show up,
you," and "the girl can never be in better hands than yours." But
to which he heartily agrees.
behind her back he "ejaculated twenty bitches" to Parson
Supple. "Now one hath been a slave so long, it would be pity to
lose it at last, for want of holding out a little longer. The bitch
Book 16, Chapter 5
can't live for ever, and I know I am down for it upon the will." In
Once Sophia is free, she writes back to Jones. She reiterates Book 16, Chapter 4 they are shown to be the most unpleasant
she won't marry Blifil nor marry someone her father does not and narcissistic people imaginable, continually one-upping
approve of. She also sends him the banknote he found in her each other and using Sophia as a pawn between them. Clearly
pocketbook. Tom is happy with the letter and keeps kissing it. Sophia does not resemble her father's side of the family and
Later Jones attends Hamlet with Mrs. Miller and her younger must be like her mother.
daughter. After the play Tom is approached by Mrs. Fitzpatrick,
who asks him to stop by her house the next day.
Analysis
Summary
When Captain Egglane issues the squire a challenge to a duel,
he says he can't make it, although it is not even clear he
understands he is being challenged. He makes no response to Book 16, Chapter 6
Fellamar's slaps other than to bellow and threaten, showing
himself to be a physical coward who can bully only people who Blifil is as eager as ever to marry Sophia. Besides greed, he is
are weaker than he. In line with his bullying behavior he has driven by hatred, an emotion he intends to satisfy once he has
once again locked Sophia in her room. Sophia. Mr. Allworthy is put off by the idea of Blifil and Sophia
marrying once Sophia runs away, but his nephew pretends to
Sophia and Tom keep going over the same ground in their love

be madly in love. Blifil also blames Jones for what has Tom has no formal training, he stabs Fitzpatrick. A gang of
happened and says he must save Sophia from Jones. Mr. men now rush in and grab him. They have been hired to put
Allworthy reluctantly goes along with his nephew, and they Tom on a ship, but now they carry him to the magistrate, who
arrive in London. sends him to prison. He gets a visit from Partridge the next
day, who tells him Fitzpatrick is dead, and a letter from Sophia
saying she has seen his proposal and wants his name never to
Book 16, Chapter 7 be mentioned to her again.
Mrs. Western is lecturing her niece on "prudence" and

"matrimonial politics" when Western barges in with Blifil, and Analysis
naturally he is scolded by his sister. Mrs. Western gives Sophia
permission to leave and then tells her brother she will receive Mr. Allworthy by now should have enough information to know
Blifil in good time, according to the rules of decorum. Blifil is that Sophia is being forced into a marriage with his nephew,
not only disappointed but also suspicious that something and he shows a lack of moral courage in not standing up to
further has happened to interfere with his marriage. him. Even the narrator steps in to chide him by saying, "Thus
did the affection of Allworthy for his nephew betray the
superior understanding to be triumphed over by the inferior;
Book 16, Chapter 8 and thus is the prudence of the best heads often defeated by
the tenderness of the best of hearts." Mr. Allworthy falls short
Lady Bellaston wants to revenge herself on Tom and suggests
of that important virtue. He knows what the right course of
Fellamar have him involuntarily drafted into the navy ("pressed
action is, but he does not have the grit to carry it out.
into service"; see Context). Fellamar commissions Captain
Egglane to do the job. Bellaston then visits Mrs. Western to tell Meanwhile Mrs. Western continues to lecture Sophia about
her Fellamar has agreed to settle his fortune in any way the counterfeit prudence in Book 16, Chapter 7, and Blifil clearly
family would like. Soon Mrs. Western betrays Blifil and agrees sees he is in danger for the first time when Mrs. Western
with Fellamar. Lady Bellaston also provides Mrs. Western with shows disdain for him when she asks him and her brother to
a letter of proposal Tom Jones sent to her. leave after they barge in. Given Mrs. Western's pretensions
and materialism, she sees Lord Fellamar as a much better
match for her niece because of his rank and money. And since
Book 16, Chapter 9 husbands are merely resources by which a young woman
makes her way in the world, she sees no problem in
After Mrs. Fitzpatrick is rejected by both her Aunt and Uncle
substituting Fellamar for Blifil.
Western, she desires revenge. For this reason she invites Tom
Jones to her house to suggest he could get to Sophia by Lady Bellaston wants revenge on Tom, which is why in Book
courting her aunt, a strategy that worked for Fitzpatrick. Jones 16, Chapter 8 she proposes the plan to have him impressed.
hates this idea. When Tom expresses his heartfelt feelings for She, of course, is angry Tom forced her hand so that she had
Sophia, she feels a great attraction to him and begins flirting. to break it off with him and knows he has actually rejected her.
Tom politely leaves and resolves not to make any return visits For his part Fellamar still has high hopes Sophia will marry him,
to her. and he is anxious to get his rival out of the way. Moreover, he
has convinced himself he'd be doing Sophia a service. But
Bellaston's revenge on Tom would not be complete without her
Book 16, Chapter 10 giving his letter to Mrs. Western, which she feels sure will drive
a wedge between Sophia and Tom for good. If she can't have
After being informed of his wife's whereabouts by Mrs.
Tom, she doesn't want Sophia to have him either. Additionally
Western, Mr. Fitzpatrick travels to her lodgings and happens to
she has hostility against Sophia because, in her mind, she is
see Tom leaving. Fitzpatrick remembers Jones from Upton and
her rival for Tom's affections.
immediately jumps to the conclusion he is his wife's lover. He
hits him over the head and then draws his sword. Although Revenge is also in the heart of the Fitzpatricks and is the

motive for Mrs. Fitzpatrick to suggest that Tom try to get to

Book 17, Chapter 4
Sophia through Mrs. Western and the reason Mr. Fitzpatrick
goes after Tom—because he thinks he has slept with his wife. Mrs. Western says his lordship is coming to visit and she will
All of these revenge plots ultimately fail, but Tom Jones does leave Sophia alone with him. Sophia strenuously objects,
end up in jail as a result of the work of several people who wish complaining Fellamar tried to rape her. Mrs. Western proceeds
to do him harm. to blame the victim, saying she herself would not have endured
such liberties. She begins reminiscing about her younger days
and how she turned down lovers, and Sophia uses flattery to
Book 17, Chapters 1–5 say her aunt is still eligible and attractive and has waited, so
why can't she wait? Thus she buys herself some time.
Summary
Book 17, Chapter 5
Mrs. Miller and Nightingale visit Jones in prison, and Partridge
Book 17, Chapter 1
comes in to say actually Mr. Fitzpatrick is alive although still in
danger. Even though he was defending himself, Tom feels
The narrator notes his comedy has turned into a tragedy and
remorse about shedding blood. He is also depressed about
he is still left with the task of delivering "this rogue, whom we
losing Sophia. Mrs. Miller knows the whole story from
have unfortunately made our hero." He promises not to use any
Partridge, and she vows to do what she can to help him; thus
supernatural means; he would rather see him hanged at Tyburn
he gives her a letter for Sophia.
"than forfeit our integrity, or shock the faith of our reader."
Book 17, Chapter 2 Analysis

Blifil sits down to breakfast with Mrs. Miller and Mr. Allworthy It is difficult not to criticize the lack of prudence Mr. Allworthy
and says Mr. Jones "has proved one of the greatest villains displays toward the end of the novel when he stands up for
upon earth." Mrs. Miller vigorously defends Jones, and Mr. Blifil after Mrs. Miller rebukes him in Book 17, Chapter 2 for
Allworthy is surprised she knows him. She says he is the best calling Tom one of the devil's beloved. Mr. Allworthy not only
of men and has saved her family from ruin. Mr. Allworthy says takes Blifil's part but also says any aspersions cast on him
he has shown baseness and ingratitude toward Blifil. He "must only come from the wickedest of men, [and] they would
continues his story, saying Jones has murdered a man. only serve, if that were possible, to heighten my resentment
against him" (meaning Tom). Mr. Allworthy claims Blifil has
been Tom's "warmest advocate" while Tom has been "the
Book 17, Chapter 3 ungrateful wretch." While it is understandable that Mr.
Allworthy thinks badly of Tom for the acts he has committed,
Squire Western has arrived to tell the company he is being given they have been taken out of context, it is still hard to see
attacked by his sister and Lady Bellaston to consent to have how they rise to the level of earning Tom the title of the
Sophia marry Fellamar. Mr. Allworthy immediately releases "wickedest of men." Further, how is it Mr. Allworthy has
Western from "any engagement," but Western is still bent on completely forgotten the Tom he knew before he began
his first choice. Mr. Allworthy praises Sophia's many fine viewing him through the distorted lens of his half brother Blifil?
qualities, calling her a jewel, but he says it is wrong to force a Mr. Allworthy also shows a lack of discernment as the
woman into a marriage. Blifil begs for a little more time to evidence piles up that Sophia does not wish to marry Blifil and
change Sophia's mind. After Western leaves he advises Blifil to Western is the one pushing the marriage. Yet he continues to
examine his heart to determine whether he has a "vicious" support Blifil's goal of winning Sophia through "perseverance."
passion in loving a woman who seems to hate him. The closest he comes to a rebuke of Blifil is to say "love ... is
the child of love" and his desire to pursue someone who hates

him is unnatural. He asks Blifil to examine his heart to

Book 17, Chapter 8
determine, through "virtue and religion," whether he has a
"vicious passion," and if so to drive it from his heart. Bellaston tells Mrs. Western Sophia must be rushed into the
marriage with Fellamar before she has time to think about it.
Mr. Allworthy clearly has enough evidence to understand that
Thus the truce between Mrs. Western and Sophia is
Blifil is conspiring with Squire Western to force Sophia into
abandoned, and Sophia is forced to agree to a private meeting,
marrying him, yet he continues to participate in Sophia's
in which she strenuously disapproves of Lord Fellamar's
persecution. At the same time he has enough evidence to
proporsal. Mrs. Western demands to know whether Sophia will
know Tom cannot be as bad as Blifil claims, and as a
marry Lord Fellamar, to which she responds with an emphatic
magistrate should know he is continually getting one side of
"no." In retaliation Mrs. Western says Sophia must leave her
the story. Mr. Allworthy is lacking in the cardinal virtue of
house the next day.
prudence—manifested as practical wisdom, arrived at through
discriminative thinking, and acted upon with certain knowledge.
Book 17, Chapter 9

Book 17, Chapters 6–9 Nightingale has been investigating the duel between Tom and
Mr. Fitzpatrick and turns up two men who claim Tom struck the
first blow, although Tom vehemently denies this allegation.
Summary After Nightingale and Mrs. Miller leave Tom gets a visit from
Mrs. Waters, who became Mr. Fitzpatrick's common-law wife
after traveling with him from Upton. She tells Jones Mr.
Book 17, Chapter 6 Fitzpatrick is recovering and will certainly live and that he
admits starting the fight. Mrs. Waters is disappointed that Tom
Sophia agrees to see Mrs. Miller. When her maid Betty leaves, now regrets his past bad behavior and seems like a different
Mrs. Miller tells her everything Tom has done for her family. man from the one she knew in Upton.
She then leaves, putting the letter from Tom on the table. Tom
confesses his unworthiness and fidelity and says he can give
her a good explanation for the proposal to Bellaston. Analysis
Mrs. Miller is grateful for all Tom has done for her family and
Book 17, Chapter 7 becomes in Book 17, Chapters 6 and 7 a key player in
redeeming him in the eyes of both Sophia and Mr. Allworthy. At
Mrs. Miller has a long conversation with Mr. Allworthy in which first Sophia will not accept his letter, but Mrs. Miller bares her
she tells him of Tom's adventures since he turned him out and soul to portray Tom as her savior. This is enough to convince
how he lost the money he was given. She also relates how Tom Sophia to read the letter after Mrs. Miller leaves, and her
has helped her family. Mr. Allworthy allows that no one is testimony together with Tom's humility begins to soften her
entirely bad but wishes to never hear Tom's name again. Mrs. even though she is still angry at him.
Miller insists when everything comes to light Tom will be
vindicated and implies that Blifil is not what he seems to be. Mrs. Miller then turns her attention to Mr. Allworthy, who
She reminds Mr. Allworthy of how much he loved Tom. Mr. remains unimpressed with her story of Tom but is moved when
Allworthy changes the subject and asks about her daughter. she reminds him of his real feelings for his foster son, which he
Then Blifil comes in with Mr. Dowling, who at Blifil's suggestion has buried beneath the pile of lies he has been force fed by the
has been hired as Mr. Allworthy's steward. vile Blifil.
Things are also looking up at the jail in Book 17, Chapter 9. Mrs.
Miller shows up to tell Tom her new "husband," Mr. Fitzpatrick,
has admitted to starting the fight. Even more important, Tom
begins feeling genuine remorse for his past behavior, so much

so that Mrs. Waters finds herself disappointed Tom has

Book 18, Chapter 3
changed so much since their affair at the inn at Upton.
Mr. Allworthy keeps his promise to Mrs. Miller to visit his
Once Mrs. Western realizes in Book 17, Chapter 8 that she has
acquaintance old Nightingale to reconcile him with Jack. Mr.
reached an impasse with Sophia, who will never willingly
Allworthy sees Black George there and learns from Nightingale
consent to a marriage with Lord Fellamar, she abandons her to
that he has saved £500 and wants to invest it in some real
her father. Her enormous ego cannot bear what she sees as
estate. Mr. Allworthy tells Nightingale that George stole the
Sophia's defiance. Moreover, she shows the fakeness of her
money but asks him to hold onto it for now and not say
so-called love. Like her brother she sees Sophia as a function,
anything to the thief.
an extension of herself that is supposed to bring glory to the
family in the form of money and position; she has no interest in Mr. Allworthy tells Mrs. Miller old Nightingale has agreed to see
being an aunt to a niece who is actually a person. his son and that he's tracked down Tom's lost money. Jack
now brings news that Fitzpatrick has openly admitted he
started the fight. He tells Mr. Allworthy Tom always speaks
Book 18, Chapters 1–4 highly of his foster father, which brings tears to the old man's
eyes.
Summary
Book 18, Chapter 4
Mr. Allworthy gets a letter from Mr. Square saying he is
Book 18, Chapter 1
dying—and writing to make amends. He admits to having been
unjust to Mr. Allworthy's adopted son, testifying Tom was the
Fielding says goodbye to the reader, likening the time they
only one who expressed real concern when Mr. Allworthy
have spent together to a journey on a stagecoach. At the end
seemed to be dying; he went wild with joy when he was out of
of the journey all disagreements are put aside. He addresses
danger. A second letter from Thwackum in the same post says
the reader as "friend," begging not to be called a "scurrilous
he has heard from Blifil of Jones's villainy and assigns blame to
fellow." He feels sure this page will long outlive him, the author,
Mr. Allworthy for being too permissive with him. The purpose of
as well as the works of his "abusive contemporaries."
his writing is for Mr. Allworthy to consider him for a vicarage
because the current pastor is in bad health.
Book 18, Chapter 2
Partridge comes in to Jones's cell, "paler than ashes" and tells Analysis
Tom the lady who just left is his mother. Tom says, "Fortune
will never have done with me 'till she has driven me to In Book 18, Chapter 2, when Tom gets the news in jail that he
distraction," but then allows that he himself has caused his has slept with his mother, he hits rock bottom in his fall from
misery. Tom sends Partridge to find Mrs. Waters, and a few grace, and the letter from Mrs. Waters (Jenny Jones) prolongs
hours later he receives a letter from her saying she will his agony because its wording seems to indicate she is
acquaint him with "a matter of ... high importance" when she confirming the horrible news he receives from Partridge: "little
next sees him. She also tells him Fitzpatrick is out of danger. did I think, when I passed that happy day at Upton, the
reflection upon which is like to embitter all my future life, who it
Black George visits Tom in jail and says Mrs. Western brought was to whom I owed such perfect happiness." She will reveal
Sophia back to her father. After the siblings got into an to Tom in Book 18, Chapter 10 that she is not his mother; her
argument about Fellamar and Sophia took her father's side, he letter in fact alludes to how hard she fell for Tom and that her
began showing his daughter affection. night of bliss with him will embitter her future life because she
doesn't expect anything that comes after it to equal that
happiness.

But for the time being Partridge's revelation echoes the recently learned he slept with his mother since Mrs. Waters is
famous Greek tragedy of King Oedipus, whose mother kills Jenny Jones. Mrs. Waters now arrives at Mrs. Miller's, greets
herself after learning she has slept with her son, while Oedipus Mr. Allworthy, and asks to speak with him in private.
puts out his own eyes. Tom merely sits in his personal
purgatory, mulling over the results of his indiscretions.
Although his encounter with Mrs. Waters seems like terrible Book 18, Chapter 7
luck, he knows he has only himself to blame for putting himself
in fate's line of fire. If he has ruined his life and his chance for Mrs. Waters/Jenny Jones tells Mr. Allworthy that Tom is the
happiness with Sophia, he has no one to blame but himself. son of a clergyman named Summer whom he supported at
university and who then lived at Paradise Hall for a year until he
While Jones is repenting his sins and resolving to sin no more, died of smallpox. The mother is Allworthy's own sister, Bridget
his friends outside the prison are working to clear his name Allworthy. Jenny and her mother conspired with Bridget to hide
and address the wrongs that have been done to him. In Book the pregnancy, and Jenny was well paid for taking the blame
18, Chapter 3 Mr. Allworthy learns about the heartless theft for the foundling. Bridget had intended to tell her brother the
committed by Black George, and a dying Square has found truth but never got the chance. Mrs. Waters now takes Mr.
God and writes an atonement letter in which he owns the way Allworthy to task for hiring a lawyer to prosecute an innocent
in which Tom's behavior on the night he got drunk was Tom Jones. Specifically, Dowling approached Mrs. Waters
misrepresented to Mr. Allworthy. Tom's foster father receives a thinking she was Fitzpatrick's wife and offered her money to
second letter from Thwackum, who writes to berate Tom and prosecute him in the event her husband died.
also ask a favor, remaining his unregenerate self.
Book 18, Chapter 8

Book 18, Chapters 5–8 Western comes on the scene and interrupts them, yelling
because he found Tom's letter in Sophia's pocket. After he
leaves Jenny tells her own story: she was betrayed and
Summary abandoned by her first love and then became the common-law
wife of Mr. Waters, although she glosses over her other affairs.
Book 18, Chapter 5 The conversation is again interrupted, this time by the arrival of
Mr. Dowling who reports Black George cannot be prosecuted
Mrs. Miller tells Mr. Allworthy the so-called witnesses against for his crime. (Mr. Allworthy had assigned Dowling the task of
Jones were employed by Lord Fellamar and were about to looking into the matter.) Mr. Allworthy questions him in front of
abduct him for service on a ship. He also learns these rogues Jenny, and he admits he was sent by Blifil on the errand to Mrs.
were questioned by Lawyer Dowling. Mr. Allworthy now calls Waters. He admits to questioning the two witnesses to Tom's
for Blifil who admits he sent Dowling, but only to soften their attack, but only to make sure the other side hadn't tried to taint
evidence against Tom. them. Dowling also tells Mr. Allworthy he brought a letter to him
at the time Bridget died but gave it to Blifil since Mr. Allworthy
Mr. Allworthy asks Mrs. Miller to accompany him on a visit to
was so sick. Blifil later claimed Mr. Allworthy had decided to
Tom, but then Partridge arrives with the bad news about Tom
conceal the fact of Tom's origin out of regard for his sister.
sleeping with his mother, and Mrs. Miller makes an excuse to
delay the visit. Mr. Allworthy recognizes Tom's servant as Mr. When Mrs. Miller comes in Mr. Allworthy tells her Tom is his
Partridge, and they sit down for a private conversation. true nephew and the brother of the "wicked viper which I have
so long nourished in my bosom." Mr. Allworthy tells Blifil to find
the letter his mother sent on her deathbed.
Book 18, Chapter 6
Partridge denies being Tom's father yet again and relates his
history from the time he was banished. He says Tom has

Analysis Book 18, Chapters 9–12

Tom's vindication continues, as Mr. Allworthy learns the
remainder of Blifil's misdeeds. He has been playing a part with
his uncle for a long time, and he concealed the truth about
Summary
Tom's birth out of greed and envy. More than anything Blifil
worships money, and when Mr. Allworthy thought himself to be
dying he told everyone his nephew would inherit his estate.
Chapter 9
The news that Jones is also his nephew was something Blifil
Mr. Allworthy visits Sophia and tells her he has learned Blifil is a
wanted to keep secret in case Mr. Allworthy decided to
villain. He also says Tom is his nephew and asks her if she
reverse his original intentions of making him the heir to the
would allow him to court her. Sophia says she will not because
property. What is more, Blifil has been spiteful, greedy, and
she will never marry without her father's consent. When Squire
hypocritical from a young age, and no doubt he was jealous of
Western barges in, Mr. Allworthy points out his cruel treatment
a brother who was favored by everyone.
of his daughter. Once Western hears Tom is Mr. Allworthy's
nephew, he begins urging Sophia to marry Tom, but Mr.
Why Bridget does not marry Tom's father remains a mystery,
Allworthy stops him and again scolds him for his abuse of
as well as why she decided to keep the secret so long.
Sophia.
Perhaps she began having an affair with the clergyman's son
shortly before he got smallpox and died. Perhaps afterward
she was too ashamed to tell her brother—so honest and
Chapter 10
upright and entirely in possession of his physical urges, and so
unlike herself. The reader now understands why she pretended
Tom is exonerated and released from prison, and he has a
to dislike her brother's disposition of Tom and acted as if she
tender reunion with his foster father at Mrs. Miller's house. By
did not love the little foundling. The reader now knows she
now he has also learned from Mrs. Waters the details of his
loved Tom as a handsome and gallant teenager because he
parentage. Mr. Allworthy apologizes profusely for his treatment
was her son and a lot easier to love than the dour Blifil.
of Jones and tells him of all the dirty tricks that have been
played by Blifil. Mrs. Miller takes Tom aside and says she has
Particularly noteworthy is the result of the investigation of
told Sophia he used the ploy of writing Lady Bellaston a
Black George's pocketing of Tom's money. The Black Act,
proposal to get rid of her. Nonetheless, Sophia says that
which was a law that often served disproportionate and unjust
doesn't excuse him from being sexually immoral. Mrs. Miller
punishments for crimes of poaching, cannot be used to punish
tries to smooth Tom's path by also telling Sophia Tom has
George—who committed an act that was criminal in the moral
turned down Arabella Hunt. When Mr. Western arrives he
sense. There is situational irony here, in which something is
greets Tom heartily, noting one Christian should forgive
contrary to what is expected, because the Black Act often
another.
punished people whose actions were not criminal in the moral
sense—for example, poaching a hare on someone's land to
feed a family.
Chapter 11
Mr. Allworthy is left to reconsider his entire worldview at the
Tom tells Mr. Allworthy and Mrs. Miller that he was freed when
end of these chapters. He must take responsibility for unjustly
two surgeons testified on his behalf, together with two lords,
punishing Partridge, whose life was partially ruined by his
with one offering his sincere apologies to Tom. This occurs
judgment. His misjudgment of his two nephews has almost led
after Fitzpatrick clears Tom's name with Fellamar when he
to the destruction of one and perhaps ruined the other, if there
learned from Mrs. Waters that Tom wasn't sleeping with his
was any chance to make Blifil a decent human being. Like Tom
wife. Fellamar then does everything in his power to make Tom
Mr. Allworthy has exhibited a lack of prudence and now has to
whole because he feels remorse.
pay for the consequences of those errors of judgment. While
Tom has been punished by the world, Mr. Allworthy is punished
Tom asks Mr. Allworthy to be merciful to Blifil, and later tells his
by his conscience.

brother he will do all he can to help them reconcile and to help learns prudence. For him prudence means learning to say no to
him financially. Tom also hears how Black George robbed him the wrong women. The mark of Tom's reform is his ability to
but can't be prosecuted. Tom wishes to forgive George, but his turn down three women: Mrs. Hunt, the heiress; Mrs.
uncle says "mistaken mercy is not only weakness, but borders Fitzpatrick; and Mrs. Waters. He has grown strong enough to
on injustice." act on what he knows to be right and uses knowledge to guide
his decisions. This is the meaning of prudence in the classical
sense—active wisdom. For this reason Sophia can finally say
Chapter 12 yes to him since he has become worthy of her.
The Allworthys visit the Westerns, and Tom and Sophia get Mr. Western is one character who cannot change. Once he
some private time. Tom asks for another chance, and Sophia learns Tom will be Mr. Allworthy's heir in Book 18, Chapter 9, he
wants to know how she can trust a man who seems incapable quickly changes his allegiance from Blifil to Tom and
of constancy. Time alone can convince her he is truly sorry, hypocritically tells Tom to forgive him (Western) since it is the
she says. Sophia says she needs 12 months to forgive him Christian thing to do. Sophia at first tells Tom he will have to
entirely, but then her father breaks in as usual and demands prove himself before she can marry him, but then she agrees
she get married immediately, and this time she consents to to marry him immediately because her father told her to do so;
obeying her father. in actuality marrying Tom is her desire. Thus Sophia remains
prudent until the end of the story and is able to successfully
steer her life in the right direction.
Analysis
In the closing chapters several people repent and make Book 18, Chapter the last
amends, and both Tom and Mr. Allworthy have learned
prudence in their respective areas. While Mr. Allworthy is an
exemplary Christian and a model of virtue, his deliberate
refusal to see the flaws in other people's character has led to
Summary
serious lapses in judgment with grave consequences.
Moreover, his reluctance to mete out punishment where it is
deserved (while overcompensating by being too harsh when a
Chapter the last
reprimand may not be called for) has caused more than one
Old Nightingale reconciles with his son, and Uncle Nightingale
hardship in the lives of others. Mr. Allworthy is a humble man,
reconciles with his daughter. Blifil gets £200 a year and "has
however, unlike Squire Western, who can never own up to a
turned Methodist, in hopes of marrying a very rich widow."
bad decision and sticks with it simply so he does not have to
Squire dies and Thwackum gets the vicarage. Mrs. Fitzpatrick
admit being wrong. Thus the first thing Mr. Allworthy does
lives off the remains of her money and continues to be the
upon learning the truth about his nephews is to approach
mistress of the peer. Mrs. Western reconciles with Sophia.
Sophia and ask her pardon for his part in pushing Blifil at her.
Jack Nightingale lives near his father with his wife and her
He knows she loves Tom and vice versa, so he now asks if
family. Mrs. Waters marries Parson Supple; Black George runs
Tom may court her. Mr. Allworthy humbly apologizes to Tom,
away and Tom supports his family. With the help of Tom,
who holds no malice toward his benefactor and is simply
Partridge sets up a school and is now engaged to Molly
overjoyed to be back in his good graces. Mr. Allworthy also
Seagrim. Mr. Western has given most of his estate to Tom; he
forcefully stands up to Squire Western for the first time about
and Sophia have two children—a boy and a girl. Tom will be Mr.
his treatment of his daughter. Last he tells Tom that misplaced
Allworthy's heir, and constant contact with him and his wife,
mercy may be no better than injustice. As a result of his
Sophia, keeps Tom on the straight and narrow.
experiences Mr. Allworthy will likely make a better magistrate
in the future.
Tom has a good, kind, and generous nature, but his faults
include carelessness, and in the course of his journey he finally

Tom Jones Study Guide Quotes 69
Allworthy) is a person of wisdom who takes people as they

Analysis come and doesn't expect them to be perfect. But this
comment that follows delivers a double dose of verbal irony:
As in any good comedy the principal players live happily ever
Mr. Allworthy is both unwise and fails to see the evil in others.
after, and even the scoundrels do not suffer too much. Blifil is
When the narrator says he hopes his friends will pardon his
still trying to satisfy his greed and perhaps might marry a rich
faults, he is thinking of Mr. Allworthy's faults, namely his
widow, and Thwackum is not punished by Mr. Allworthy for his
blindness to other people's shortcomings. Since Mr. Allworthy
part in persecuting Tom. Sophia reconciles with her unworthy
is a good man he hopes we will forgive him.
aunt, and Squire Western passes his wealth to the next
generation. Most important, the hero and heroine unite in holy
matrimony and begin a family, and Mr. Allworthy and Sophia
remain Tom Jones's guiding angels. "Both religion and virtue have
received more real discredit from
hypocrites than the wittiest
g Quotes
profligates or infidels could ever
"It is much easier to make good cast upon them."
men wise, than to make bad men — Narrator, Book 3, Chapter 4
good."
The narrator addresses readers. Previously he has told them
— Narrator, Dedication that his purpose, in making fun of Thwackum and Squire, is not
to disparage true religion and philosophy. Rather the
hypocrites who pretend to represent venerable human
Henry Fielding addresses his benefactor, George Lyttleton, in
institutions are more likely to give virtue and religion a bad
the dedication, and declares his purpose in writing the novel.
name than are people of bad character.
This statement encapsulates the moral of the story, which is
that good men can learn to be wise—i.e., learn from
experience—while truly immoral men can never learn to be
good. "No man can be good enough to
enable him to neglect the rules of
"For I hope my friends will pardon prudence; nor will Virtue herself
me when I declare, I know none of look beautiful, unless she be
them without a fault; and I should bedecked with the outward
be sorry if I could imagine I had ornaments of decency and
any friend who could not see decorum."
mine." — Narrator, Book 3, Chapter 7
— Narrator, Book 2, Chapter 7

The narrator refers to Tom Jones, who is sinking in Mr.
Allworthy's estimation, partly because Allworthy consciously
Before the narrator makes this comment he says Mr. Allworthy begins to favor Blifil since his mother dislikes him and partly
glossed over the faults of Captain Blifil because he (Mr. because Tom has been getting into scrapes that put him in a

bad light. Thus, although Tom is a good person, he must

sweetens it. The former makes us
appear to be a good person by following the rules of society.
the objects of human admiration,
the latter of Divine love."
"I am convinced, my child, that you
have much goodness, generosity, — The Man of the Hill, Book 8, Chapter 13
and honour, in your temper: if you

The Man of the Hill values both Christianity and philosophy,
will add prudence and religion to and he has been reading the Greek philosophers, whom he
these, you must be happy." says elevate the mind. But he makes the point that Christian
texts are much superior. While philosophy strengthens the
mind, Christianity softens it so that it can be receptive to love.
— Mr. Allworthy, Book 5, Chapter 7
Moreover, people admire a philosopher but God loves a
Christian.
Mr. Allworthy thinks he may be dying when he says this to Tom,
and for that reason he wants to leave him with some words he
will remember. He reminds Tom he is a good person with three "What is the reason, my dear, that
important virtues. However, to grow into a responsible man and
lead a happy life he must apply religious precepts to his we, who have understandings
actions and learn prudence, which is the application of wisdom.
equal to the wisest and greatest of
Tom knows what is right—but there is a gap between what he
knows and what he does. the other sex, so often make
choice of the silliest fellows for
"There is in some (I believe in companions and favourites?"
many) human breasts a kind and
— Mrs. Fitzpatrick, Book 11, Chapter 4
benevolent disposition, which is
gratified by contributing to the Mrs. Fitzpatrick explains to Sophia how she fell in love with the
rogue Fitzpatrick and wound up eloping with him. She now rues
happiness of others." the day she ever succumbed to his charms. She is an
intelligent woman and believes other women are equally
— Narrator, Book 6, Chapter 1 intelligent and the equal of men; so why is it that women so
often make such bad choices in the men they align themselves
with? She doesn't have an answer to this question.
The narrator discourses about love and makes the distinction
between love and sexual desire. Further he notes that some
people are made happy by loving others from an altruistic and
disinterested distance and take pleasure in doing good for "Your religion ... serves you only for
them. For these people altruism is its own reward.
an excuse for your faults, but is no
incentive to your virtue. Can any
"Philosophy elevates and steels man who is really a Christian
the mind, Christianity softens and abstain from relieving one of his

through this remark that he truly loves Sophia. While he desires

brethren in such a miserable
her and would do anything to have her, he would do nothing to
condition?" hurt her, even if it means he has to lose her.
— Tom Jones, Book 12, Chapter 4

"Upon my honour, madam ... your
Tom Jones criticized Mr. Partridge because Partridge often ladyship injures me. I will never run
criticizes Tom for giving people money. Tom shows
compassion for the beggar who approaches him for money,
away with any man; nor will I ever
and as it turns out he gives Tom Sophia's pocketbook. Tom marry contrary to my father's
wants to know what good Partridge's religion is if he uses it
entirely to make excuses for himself (since Christianity inclinations."
teaches men are sinful) and not to teach him more compassion
for others. — Sophia, Book 15, Chapter 4
Sophia addresses Lady Bellaston, who accuses her of wanting

"I had rather enjoy my own mind to run off with Tom. It is difficult for Bellaston to understand
than the fortune of another man." the motives of either Sophia or Tom because she operates in a
much lower moral realm. Sophia's allegiance to her own honor
and to her father are motivations that do not figure strongly (if
at all) in Lady Bellaston's life.
Tom says this to Mr. Dowling, when they discuss Blifil and he
tells him Blifil is a scoundrel. Blifil might think Tom covets Mr. "Do you fancy yourself capable of
Allworthy's fortune, but this is not the case. He doesn't believe
Mr. Allworthy owes him anything, and he would much rather so entirely persuading me out of
enjoy his own company, poor as he is, than wealth that does
my senses, that I should deliver my
not belong to him.
whole fortune into your power, in
order to enable you to support
"My love is not of that base kind
your pleasure at my expense?"
which seeks its own satisfaction at
the expense of what is most dear — Lady Bellaston, Book 15, Chapter 9
to its object. I would sacrifice

When Bellaston gets the marriage proposal from Tom, it works
everything to the possession of exactly as Nightingale predicted—she is disgusted by it and
my Sophia, but Sophia herself." turns him down. She assumes he is a fortune hunter who thinks
he will enrich himself with her fortune and then take advantage
of her by pursuing his own pleasure. Because she is selfish she
thinks everyone is like her. Moreover, she is an independent
woman and knows that if she marries a man she gives up her
Tom talks to Lady Bellaston at the masquerade, although he freedom, and she is hardly ready to do that—even for Tom. She
doesn't know who she is. She accuses him of wanting to enter is disdainful of marriage and considers it to be a bondage.
into an affair with Sophia and ruin her. He shows Bellaston

Tom Jones Study Guide Symbols 72
Sophia gets a new muff she plans to discard the old one; then
"'Surely,' says that fat a—se b—,
she finds out Tom kissed it so it becomes sacred to her. She
my Lady Bellaston, 'cousin, you wears it on her arm when she is not carrying it around, and she
saves it from the fire when her father gets impatient with her
must be out of your wits to think of
because the muff is getting in the way of her playing the
refusing such an offer.'" harpsichord. Sophia leaves her muff behind for Tom when she
learns of his infidelity with Mrs. Waters. This is both a reminder
of their unspoken commitment and an admonishment to him
— Squire Western, Book 17, Chapter 3
that she might abandon her feelings for him.
Squire Western has some of the funniest lines. He speaks in The muff can also be seen to represent Tom's abiding devotion
dialect, he curses a lot, and he often makes nasty comments to Sophia, despite his liaisons with other women. Even though
about the ladies. He is not good with women and is best out in he takes a while to learn how to show his devotion to her
the woods hunting. He is a comic character and complains through chastity, he knows all along that no woman so fulfills
when he feels bossed around by women. In this quote he his ideal nor stirs up in him such longings as she does. In Book
insults Lady Bellaston and calls her vulgar names. 5, Chapter 4 when Tom realizes the extent of Sophia's
attachment to the muff, it becomes for him too the abiding
symbol of their union.
"Love ... is the child of love only; ...
to love the creature who we are
assured hates us is not in human
Tommy the Bird
nature."
The bird, Tommy, symbolizes Tom's love for Sophia. Tom
— Mr. Allworthy, Book 17, Chapter 3 Jones takes the bird out of its nest and teaches it to sing. He
gives the bird to Sophia as a token, and when Blifil slips off its
string the faithless bird immediately flies up into a tree. Thus
Mr. Allworthy does not understand why Blifil continues to
the bird also represents Tom's tendency to roam and not be
pursue Sophia because he can't imagine the dark motives of
domesticated. Tom risks his life to retrieve the bird for Sophia
his nephew—to get her fortune, first, and to torment her
by climbing into a tree and then falling. His action to retrieve
because she prefers Tom. He has some inkling, however, and
the bird demonstrates his valor but also his willingness to go
admonishes him to look into his heart to discern his motives.
the last mile for Sophia because he loves her even before he
He tells Blifil it is not normal to love someone who clearly hates
knows he does.
and despises you—such a sentiment goes against nature.
l Symbols Money
Money in the novel symbolizes power and status as well as

The Muff reveals the degree to which people are greedy or generous.
Neither Sophia nor Tom has much power or money as the
younger generation, and they must rely on their fathers to
Sophia's muff symbolizes her sexual feelings and passionate provide them with the necessities, including cash. Tom is
love for Tom. A muff was ornamental in the 18th century as extremely generous with money when he gets it and even
well as having the purpose of keeping a person warm. When careless with money to a fault. This is how he loses the £500

Tom Jones Study Guide Themes 73
given to him by Mr. Allworthy. Black George is greedy, and Moreover, Tom's generous heart and good nature get him into
although he becomes much more prosperous because of the trouble with women because he just can't say "no." After Tom
intervention of Tom, he feels no compunction about stealing leaves home he is more and more victimized by his own faults
Tom's money and sending him into the world penniless. Sophia and refusal to change. At the end of the novel, however, he
is also generous with money, and when she loses £100 she admits his own culpability. In jail his first instinct is to rail at
does not spend much time fretting about it. She sends Tom her fortune, but then he says, "Why do I blame Fortune? I am
own money—whatever she has—when she finds out he has myself the cause of all my misery." He begins to develop some
been disowned. Later she sends him back the £100 note he discretion and self-control and even turns down three
returned to her. Lady Bellaston is not very charitable, the women—Mrs. Hunt, Mrs. Waters, and Mrs. Fitzpatrick. By
narrator says, even though she is rich, but she uses her money learning from his experiences Tom is able to gain some degree
to get what she wants from men. She uses money to seduce of prudence and wisdom.
Tom and to keep him in her power. Squire Western threatens
to disinherit his daughter if she does not yield to his command
that she marry Blifil, and he is another example of someone
who uses money to push people around. Moreover, he is Dogma versus Virtue
greedy. Although he has a lot of money already, he tries to
retain cordial relations with his sister mostly because he wants
to inherit her money, and he wants his daughter to marry Blifil While laws and religious rules may be necessary and good,
because he is Mr. Allworthy's heir. they do not guarantee a person will act with true virtue. The
Rev. Thwackum claims to be giving principles of Christianity to
Tom and Blifil, yet he lacks the basic Christian virtues of
humility, love, compassion, mercy, and forgiveness. He hates
m Themes Tom and physically punishes him without mercy, at times
beating him to the point of torture, the narrator says.
Thwackum whips Tom, for example, when he refuses to reveal
From Innocence to Experience the other poacher on Squire Western's land. Thwackum favors
Blifil because he can recite doctrine by heart and often repeats
his teacher's words and phrases. Tom, however, is "deficient in
outward tokens of respect, often forgetting to pull off his hat,
Moving from innocence to experience is perhaps the most or to bow at his master's approach" and does not remember
important theme in the novel. Tom Jones is an innocent who, Thwackum's precepts. Thwackum worships the outer
because of his naiveté and inability to see the forces that are appearance of piety and thinks Tom Jones is bad because he
working against him, ends up being thrown out by his lacks the imitated solemnity exhibited by Blifil.
benefactor and the only father he knows. His carelessness and
lack of prudence lead him to a crisis: he would have done well Thwackum is incapable of seeing the true goodness in his
to learn appearances do matter. Even for a good person who wayward pupil—so clearly evident in his loyalty toward Black
has the best of intentions it is necessary to also appear good George and his attempts to help him feed his family. When Mr.
to others. Tom's honesty is a great virtue, but at the same time Allworthy counsels compassion for Tom, who was acting out of
he needs to learn that sometimes it is necessary to withhold honor in concealing the name of his accomplice, Thwackum
information to protect oneself. Moreover, Tom is unaware of calls Tom a liar. Thwackum shows himself to be a hypocrite
other people's power to do him harm. without real goodness over and over again and is a foil for Mr.
Allworthy's true Christian virtue. Mr. Allworthy's behavior is
According to the critic Martin C. Battestin, Tom Jones lacks guided by the principles of love and compassion, while
prudence, which in the classical sense means moral vision and Thwackum's is guided by the belief that the world is "a sink of
self-discipline. While he loves Sophia and knows she is iniquity" and that a man will suffer hellfire and damnation if he
different from the other women he associates himself with, he does not follow the dogma of the Church of England. Thus his
is too much the slave of his passions to act on that knowledge. actions are not based on benevolent feelings for fellow

Tom Jones Study Guide Suggested Reading 74
creatures but on fear of God and Church. He is incapable of For an 18th-century person sex outside marriage was immoral
acting out of goodness. and exemplified a lack of commitment. And while Fielding
subscribes to these views to some degree, he has an
easygoing attitude toward sex outside of marriage and even
acknowledges women might have as strong a sexual desire as
Appearance versus Reality men. Nonetheless, he demonstrates how illicit sex (not "legally"
sanctioned by the law or religion) is a destructive force and
leads to social chaos. Tom Jones's sexual adventures get him
A strong thread through the novel is how appearances often into more and more serious scrapes until he winds up in jail and
mask reality and that well-practiced hypocrisy can be used to in danger of losing not only Sophia but also his life.
mask the truth. Bridget and Mrs. Wilkins complain that Mr.
Allworthy is taking in a bastard child, who is accused of being
bad simply because of his origin, which he had no control over.
Meanwhile, Bridget is the mother of this child, and she e Suggested Reading
successfully conceals this fact until the day she dies.
Thwackum masquerades as a Christian, yet he exhibits not one Battestin, Martin C., and Ruthe B. Battestin. Henry Fielding: A
Christian virtue. Blifil pretends to be the dutiful, obedient, and Life. New York: Routledge, 1989. Print.
virtuous nephew, yet he continually plots his brother's downfall
Bloom, Harold, ed. Henry Fielding. New York: Chelsea, 1987.
and lies by omission to put the worst light on Tom's actions.
Print.
Square pretends to be a Platonic philosopher, but his ideas are
often nonsensical—and he has built a dogma around his ideas
London, April. "Controlling the Text: Women in Tom Jones."
of "the rule of right" and the "eternal fitness of things." He
Studies in the Novel 19.3 (1987): 323-33. JSTOR. Web. 10 Nov.
pretends to be above the fray of ordinary mortals' concerns
2016.
and often comments on the immoral action of Tom, yet he is
having illicit sex with Molly and sees no harm in it since, in his Palmer, E. Taiwo. "Irony in Tom Jones." Modern Language
mind, Tom has already ruined her. Mr. Allworthy continually Review 66.3 (1971): 497-510. JSTOR. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.
fails to see people's true motivations, and so he winds up
getting the most important things wrong—the worst being that Power, Henry. "Henry Fielding, Richard Bentley, and the
he disowns his beloved adopted son, Tom Jones, because he 'Sagacious Reader' of Tom Jones." Review of English Studies,
pays attention to appearances and cannot see beneath other New Series 61.252 (2010): 749-72. JSTOR. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.
people's lies and hypocrisy.
Love and Desire
Sexual desire is natural, but when it is divorced from love sex

reduces people to the level of animals satisfying their
instinctual appetites. Love, on the other hand, is a noble
emotion. When sexual desire is combined with regard and
admiration for another, the physical act moves to a higher level,
taking on the color of the divine. Such a love between two
people is a creative act, not just in the sense of resulting in new
life (conceiving a baby) but in the fact that they bring out each
other's best qualities and facilitate their ability to fully manifest
themselves in the material world.
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jurisdictions and may not be reproduced or distributed without the express written consent. Contact Course Hero
with respect to reproduction or distribution. This document was downloaded from Coursehero.com on 07-22-2021
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Tom Jones: What's Inside

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Tom Jones

Study Guide by Course Hero

Fielding borrows from the Greek comedic tradition of

k Plot Summary ........................................................................................... 10 TENSE

ABOUT THE TITLE

GENRE Tom Jones as a Prototype

poetry, history, and religious texts, but he created something

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and her cousin stop at an inn, she is mistaken for Jenny

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model upon which Sophia Western is built, and the love

Tom Jones Mr. Blifil

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Foster father/ Father-in-law

Mr. Allworthy Squire Western

Other Major Character

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Full Character List Lady Bellaston

Captain Blifil is a fortune hunter who

Mrs. Western is the vain and silly sister

Mr. Partridge is a schoolteacher who is

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Uncle Nightingale is a beloved uncle of

Mrs. Arabella Hunt is a widow of Ensign Northerton is a scoundrel who

The peer is a rich Irish lord who helps

Betty Seagrim is Molly's sister; she

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the marriage. The young Blifil is to be brought up with little

Mrs. Western, the squire's single sister, comes to visit and

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servant. When Tom recovers, the two of them travel to meet

Bellaston steps up her demands on Tom, and Nightingale, who

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Jones, and he tells Tom he slept with his mother. In an effort to

Mr. Allworthy now visits Sophia to apologize about allowing her

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9. Sophia fights off the rapacious advances of Lord Fellamar.

3. Mr. Allworthy takes ill and Bridget Allworthy dies.

4. Tom Jones is banished from Paradise Hall. Falling Action

8. Tom Jones meets Sophia again and resumes courting her.

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15. Sophia accepts Tom Jones's marriage proposal.

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Mr. Allworthy finds an infant in his bed and decides to

Bridget Allworthy marries Captain Blifil.

Bridget gives birth to a son.

Master Blifil spitefully sets free Sophia's bird, Tommy.

Tom beats Blifil and Thwackum to protect Molly's

Three weeks later

Tom is thrown out of Paradise Hall for bad behavior.

Sophia learns of Tom's liaison with Mrs. Waters and

Sophia runs away with her maid to avoid marrying Blifil.

Tom arrives in London and befriends Mr. Nightingale and

Tom meets Lady Bellaston and begins an affair with her.

Several days later

Tom renews his acquaintance with Sophia.

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Lady Bellaston convinces Lord Fellamar to rape Sophia

Squire Western gets Sophia away from Fellamar and

Lady Bellaston gives Mrs. Western Tom's proposal letter

Tom stabs Mr. Fitzpatrick and is jailed; he receives