TOM‌‌JONES.

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INTRODUCTORY‌‌PREFACES--‌  ‌
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‌It‌‌is‌‌very‌‌interesting‌‌that‌‌even‌‌though‌‌there‌‌were‌‌writers‌‌before‌‌Henry‌‌Fielding‌‌  
experimenting‌‌with‌‌the‌‌novel‌‌form,‌‌Tom‌‌Jones‌‌perhaps‌‌was‌‌the‌‌very‌‌first‌‌novel‌‌which‌‌  
constitutes‌‌an‌‌extended‌‌body‌‌of‌‌work‌‌in‌‌English‌‌where‌‌the‌‌author‌‌attempts‌‌to‌‌define‌‌  
and‌‌discuss‌‌the‌‌novel‌‌as‌‌a‌‌literary‌‌genre,previously‌‌no‌‌other‌‌writer‌‌had‌‌actually‌‌  
attempted‌‌to‌‌theorize‌‌or‌‌conceptualise‌‌in‌‌precise‌‌terms‌‌about‌‌the‌‌various‌‌  
evolutionary‌‌discourses‌‌that‌‌was‌‌shaping‌‌a‌‌new‌‌genre‌‌of‌‌writing‌‌but‌‌Fielding‌‌does‌‌so,‌‌  
which‌‌is‌‌why‌‌this‌‌novel‌‌Tom‌‌Jones‌‌is‌‌particularly‌‌important‌‌in‌‌the‌‌course‌‌of‌‌our‌‌  
discussion,‌‌Tom‌‌Jones‌‌is‌‌merely‌‌a‌‌fictional‌‌piece‌‌of‌‌work‌‌but‌‌it‌‌also‌‌proposes‌‌certain‌‌  
precepts‌‌of‌‌the‌‌realistic‌‌novel‌‌as‌‌it‌‌was‌‌being‌‌initially‌‌formulated‌‌by‌‌writers‌‌like‌‌
 
Fielding‌‌and‌‌his‌‌contemporaries‌‌during‌‌the‌‌17th‌‌and‌‌18th‌‌centuries.‌  ‌
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BOOK‌‌1.‌  ‌
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‌In‌‌the‌‌intro‌‌to‌‌Book1‌‌,You‌‌will‌‌find‌‌that‌‌Fielding‌‌begins‌‌by‌‌comparing‌‌the‌‌novelist‌‌to‌‌  
the‌‌keeper‌‌or‌‌the‌‌owner‌‌of‌‌an‌‌eating‌‌house‌‌and‌‌the‌‌content‌‌of‌‌the‌‌substance‌‌to‌‌a‌‌bill‌‌  
of‌‌fare,just‌‌like‌‌a‌‌honest‌‌host‌‌who‌‌first‌‌provide‌‌the‌‌menu‌‌,according‌‌to‌‌Fielding‌‌an‌‌  
author‌‌should‌‌inform‌‌the‌‌readers‌‌what‌‌they‌‌may‌‌expect‌‌from‌‌the‌‌novel.‌‌Provision‌‌of‌‌  
the‌‌novel‌‌that‌‌is‌‌the‌‌scope‌‌of‌‌a‌‌novel,‌‌in‌‌other‌‌words‌ ‌includes‌‌the‌‌great‌‌and‌‌universal‌ 
dish‌‌of‌‌human‌‌nature‌‌this‌‌is‌‌what‌‌he‌‌specifically‌‌mentions‌‌and‌‌this‌‌is‌‌what‌ ‌Fielding‌‌  
finds‌‌as‌‌the‌‌most‌‌extensive‌‌subject‌‌in‌‌the‌‌world‌‌however‌‌also‌‌the‌‌true‌‌portrayal‌‌of‌‌  
human‌‌nature‌‌depends‌‌on‌‌the‌‌genius‌‌of‌‌the‌‌author‌‌just‌‌as‌‌the‌‌preparation‌‌of‌‌a‌‌dish‌ 
depends‌‌on‌‌the‌‌genius‌‌of‌‌the‌‌cook,‌‌so‌‌this‌‌is‌‌what‌‌Fielding‌‌writes‌‌in‌‌Tom‌‌Jones.’‌‌we‌‌  
shall‌‌represent‌‌human‌‌nature‌‌at‌‌first‌‌to‌‌the‌‌keen‌‌appetite‌‌of‌‌a‌‌reader‌‌and‌‌that‌‌more‌  ‌
plain‌‌and‌‌simple‌‌manner‌‌in‌‌which‌‌it‌‌is‌‌found‌‌in‌‌the‌‌country‌‌and‌‌shall‌‌hereafter‌‌hash‌‌  
and‌‌drag‌‌out‌‌it‌‌with‌‌all‌‌the‌‌high‌‌French‌‌and‌‌Italian‌‌seasoning‌‌of‌‌a‌‌fiction‌‌and‌‌wise‌‌with‌‌  
quotes‌‌and‌‌cities‌‌effort‌‌by‌‌this‌‌means‌‌we‌‌doubt‌‌not‌‌but‌‌reader‌‌may‌‌be‌‌rendered‌‌  
desirous‌‌to‌‌read‌‌on‌‌forever”‌‌so‌‌the‌‌material‌‌or‌‌the‌‌source‌‌or‌‌the‌‌substance‌‌of‌‌his‌‌  
work‌‌would‌‌be‌‌human‌‌nature‌‌the‌‌realistic‌‌portrayal‌‌of‌‌human‌‌nature‌‌as‌‌he‌‌observe‌‌in‌‌  
contemporary‌‌society‌‌around‌‌him‌‌but‌‌that‌‌would‌‌obviously‌‌be‌‌given‌‌a‌‌different‌‌kind‌‌  
of‌‌aesthetic‌‌appeal‌‌all‌‌together‌‌in‌‌order‌‌to‌‌rouse‌‌the‌‌literary‌‌interest‌‌of‌‌his‌‌readers‌‌  
and‌‌also‌‌in‌‌grain‌‌within‌‌them‌‌some‌‌sense‌‌of‌‌moral‌‌message‌‌being‌‌the‌ ‌humanist‌‌that‌‌  
he‌‌is,‌‌this‌‌is‌‌the‌‌serious‌‌intent‌‌that‌‌he‌‌also‌‌wishes‌‌to‌‌fulfill,‌‌through‌‌his‌‌work‌‌of‌‌
 
fiction.‌  ‌
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BOOK‌‌2.‌  ‌
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 ‌ his‌‌time‌‌H.F‌‌deals‌‌with‌‌his‌‌own‌‌treatment‌‌of‌‌time‌‌in‌‌the‌‌novel‌‌now‌‌both‌‌time‌‌and‌‌
T  
space‌‌are‌‌two‌‌very‌‌important‌‌parameters‌‌that‌‌occupy‌‌very‌‌significant‌‌part‌‌in‌‌any‌‌work‌‌  
of‌‌art‌‌especially‌‌in‌‌an‌‌elaborate‌‌canvas‌‌like‌‌the‌‌novel‌‌form,‌‌the‌‌way‌‌in‌‌which‌‌time‌‌and‌‌  
space‌‌is‌‌treated‌‌attributes‌‌a‌‌lot‌‌to‌‌the‌‌quality‌‌of‌‌the‌‌novel,‌‌initially‌‌you‌‌see‌‌time‌‌and‌‌  
space‌‌is‌‌treated‌‌in‌‌a‌‌very‌‌traditional‌‌manner‌‌in‌‌the‌‌early‌‌realistic‌‌novels,‌ ‌events‌‌occur‌‌  
chronologically‌‌and‌‌Uni‌‌linearly‌‌overtime‌‌starting‌‌from‌‌a‌‌point‌‌and‌‌ending‌‌and‌‌  
culminating‌‌up‌‌to‌‌a‌‌certain‌‌point‌‌and‌‌there‌‌is‌‌a‌‌full‌‌circle‌‌being‌‌drawn,‌‌a‌‌lot‌‌of‌‌special‌‌  
territories‌‌are‌‌being‌‌reversed‌‌in‌‌between‌‌in‌‌the‌‌course‌‌of‌‌the‌‌protagonist‌‌experiences‌‌  
and‌‌Journeys‌‌and‌‌then‌‌there‌‌is‌‌a‌‌formulaic‌‌return‌‌to‌‌the‌‌initial‌‌point‌‌of‌‌departure,‌‌  
everything‌‌is‌‌very‌‌neatly‌‌and‌‌organizedly‌‌unfolded‌‌but‌‌it‌‌is‌‌only‌‌during‌‌the‌‌modernist‌‌  
times‌‌along‌‌with‌‌various‌‌experimental‌‌and‌‌revolutionary‌‌concepts‌‌of‌‌the‌‌relative‌‌  
nature‌‌of‌‌both‌‌time‌‌and‌‌space‌‌as‌‌categories‌‌that‌‌you‌‌have‌‌various‌‌other‌‌techniques‌‌  
coming‌‌in‌‌that‌‌disrupts‌‌the‌‌chronological‌‌flow,‌‌but‌‌that‌‌does‌‌not‌‌really‌‌happen‌‌in‌‌the‌‌  
case‌‌of‌‌the‌‌realist‌‌novel,‌‌in‌‌realist‌‌novel‌ ‌time‌‌and‌‌space‌‌is‌‌treated‌‌in‌‌a‌‌very‌‌traditional‌‌  
and‌‌conventional‌‌manner,‌‌Fielding‌‌in‌‌particular‌‌tell‌‌his‌‌readers‌‌that‌‌this‌‌work‌‌that‌‌is‌‌  
Tom‌‌Jones‌‌is‌‌purposefully‌‌term‌‌the‌‌history‌‌but‌‌it‌‌is‌‌also‌‌a‌‌history‌‌in‌‌a‌‌special‌‌sense‌‌“ ‌‌
it‌‌is‌ ‌a‌‌life‌‌nor‌‌an‌‌apology‌‌for‌‌a‌‌life‌ ‌but‌‌it‌‌is‌‌a‌‌history‌‌which‌‌records‌‌events‌‌of‌‌
 
significance”‌‌so‌‌here‌‌events‌‌have‌‌been‌‌penned‌‌down‌‌in‌‌a‌‌chronological‌‌manner‌ ‌not‌‌  
merely‌‌only‌‌for‌‌their‌‌own‌‌sake‌‌and‌‌not‌‌merely‌‌for‌‌giving‌‌a‌‌sort‌‌of‌‌justification‌‌for‌‌the‌‌  
outcome‌‌of‌‌particular‌‌events‌‌but‌‌rather‌‌to‌‌give‌‌the‌‌readers‌‌and‌‌overall‌‌view‌‌of‌‌certain‌‌  
significant‌‌events‌‌which‌‌have‌‌happened‌‌and‌‌which‌‌have‌‌indelibly‌‌left‌‌a‌‌great‌‌impact‌‌  
upon‌‌human‌‌history‌‌and‌‌in‌‌general‌‌upon‌‌the‌‌history‌‌of‌‌human‌‌society,‌‌here‌‌in‌‌again‌‌  
lies‌‌the‌‌moral‌‌significance‌‌of‌‌Tom‌‌Jones‌‌as‌‌a‌‌novel‌‌,as‌‌a‌‌work‌‌of‌‌art‌‌includes‌‌the‌‌end‌‌  
of‌‌this‌‌prefatory‌‌beginning‌‌Fielding‌‌also‌‌provides‌‌another‌‌important‌‌clue‌‌through‌‌the‌‌  
structure‌‌of‌‌the‌‌novel‌‌where‌‌he‌‌Projects‌‌himself‌‌as‌‌an‌‌innovator‌‌in‌‌English‌‌fiction‌‌“ ‌‌
My‌‌readers‌‌then‌‌is‌‌not‌‌to‌‌be‌‌surprised‌‌if‌‌any‌‌course‌‌of‌‌this‌‌work‌‌here‌‌shall‌‌find‌‌some‌‌  
chapters‌‌very‌‌short‌‌and‌‌others‌‌together‌‌as‌‌long‌‌as‌‌for‌‌I‌‌am‌‌in‌‌reality‌‌the‌‌founder‌‌of‌‌a ‌‌
new‌‌province‌‌of‌‌writing‌‌so‌‌I‌‌am‌‌at‌‌liberty‌‌to‌‌make‌‌what‌‌laws‌‌I‌‌pleased‌‌there‌‌in‌‌and‌‌  
these‌‌laws‌‌my‌‌readers‌‌whom‌‌I‌‌consider‌‌my‌‌subject‌‌are‌‌bound‌‌to‌‌believe‌‌in‌‌and‌‌obey”‌‌  
so‌‌there‌‌is‌‌almost‌‌an‌‌emphatic,‌‌egotistical‌‌authority‌‌being‌‌projected‌‌here,‌‌through‌‌the‌‌  
voice‌‌of‌‌an‌‌omniscient‌‌narrator‌‌who‌‌is‌‌also‌‌a‌‌writer‌‌,‌‌so‌‌this‌‌writer‌‌come‌‌narrator‌‌  
Persona‌‌through‌‌his‌‌authorial‌‌intense‌‌attempts‌‌to‌‌give‌‌us‌‌an‌‌idea‌‌that‌‌even‌‌though‌‌he‌‌  
will‌‌be‌‌dealing‌‌with‌‌the‌‌laws‌‌of‌‌time‌‌in‌‌a‌‌very‌‌traditional‌‌manner‌‌that‌‌is‌‌not‌‌disrupting‌‌  
the‌‌chronological‌‌flow‌‌of‌‌incidents‌‌yet‌‌he‌‌still‌‌has‌‌the‌‌liberty‌‌to‌‌experiment‌ ‌certain‌‌  
aspects‌‌of‌ ‌curtailing‌‌to‌‌which‌‌events‌‌are‌‌to‌‌be‌‌treated‌‌more‌‌elaborately‌‌and‌‌which‌‌  
events‌‌are‌‌to‌‌be‌‌truncated‌‌because‌‌of‌‌their‌‌less‌‌degree‌‌of‌‌significance.‌‌So‌‌being‌‌an‌‌  
innovator‌‌that‌‌he‌‌calls‌‌himself‌‌to‌‌be‌‌and‌‌being‌‌the‌‌founder‌‌of‌‌a‌‌new‌‌province‌‌of‌‌  
writing‌‌that‌‌he‌‌proclaims‌‌himself‌‌to‌‌be‌‌himself‌‌to‌‌be,‌‌he‌‌is‌‌as‌‌liberty‌‌and‌‌he‌‌has‌‌this‌‌  
artist‌‌licence‌‌to‌‌experiment‌‌with‌‌time‌‌to‌‌a‌‌certain‌‌extent‌‌but‌‌of‌‌course‌‌not‌‌really‌‌  
disrupt‌‌the‌‌flow‌‌of‌‌narrative‌‌time‌‌.In‌‌very‌‌neat‌‌chronological‌‌manner‌‌the‌‌narrative‌  ‌
begins‌‌atb‌‌TJ’s‌‌par‌‌evolves‌‌over‌‌the‌‌years‌‌as‌‌he‌‌also‌‌grows‌‌up‌‌and‌‌ends‌‌at‌‌his‌‌Point‌‌  
of‌‌youth‌‌young‌‌adult‌‌where‌‌is‌‌mature‌‌enough‌‌to‌‌repent‌‌for‌‌all‌‌of‌‌his‌‌digressions‌‌and‌‌  
restored‌‌Back‌‌To‌‌Life‌‌of‌‌vitality‌‌and‌‌stability‌‌Even‌‌though‌‌there‌‌are‌‌certain‌‌events‌‌  
which‌‌are‌‌omitted‌‌or‌‌given‌‌less‌‌amount‌‌to‌‌its‌‌importance‌‌according‌‌to‌‌the‌‌author‌‌  
events‌‌which‌‌he‌‌deems‌‌fit‌‌for‌‌more‌‌elaborate‌‌treatment‌‌because‌‌of‌‌their‌‌model‌‌  
significance‌‌have‌‌been‌‌deliberated‌‌upon‌ ‌extravagantly‌‌. ‌ ‌
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BOOK-3‌  ‌
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Here‌‌Fielding‌‌reiterated‌‌that‌‌During‌‌the‌‌course‌‌of‌‌the‌‌novel‌‌large‌‌spaces‌‌of‌‌time‌‌will‌‌  
be‌‌passed‌‌over‌‌if‌‌during‌‌such‌‌periods‌ ‌“‌‌nothing‌‌happened‌‌worthy‌‌of‌‌being‌‌recorded‌‌  
in‌‌a‌‌chronicle‌‌of‌‌this‌‌kind‌‌”‌‌so‌‌even‌‌though‌‌this‌‌is‌‌a‌‌work‌‌of‌‌prose‌‌work‌‌of‌‌fiction‌‌it‌‌is‌‌  
also‌‌of‌‌epic‌ ‌dimensions‌‌according‌‌to‌‌Henry‌‌Fielding‌‌because‌‌he‌‌himself‌‌terms‌‌the‌‌  
novel‌‌as‌‌a‌‌comic‌‌Epic‌‌and‌‌prose‌‌notwithstanding‌‌the‌‌subversive‌‌intent‌‌on‌‌the‌‌part‌‌of‌‌  
the‌‌realistic‌‌novelist‌‌there‌‌is‌‌also‌‌a‌‌degree‌‌of‌‌magnanimity‌‌that‌‌you‌‌wishes‌‌to‌‌render‌‌  
to‌‌his‌‌work‌‌of‌‌art‌‌and‌‌the‌‌reason‌‌why‌‌he‌‌wants‌‌to‌‌categorise‌‌his‌‌Novel‌‌as‌‌the‌‌history‌‌  
and‌‌the‌‌chronicle‌‌essentially‌‌brings‌‌us‌‌back‌‌to‌‌this‌‌idea‌‌of‌‌feelings‌‌Humanism‌‌so‌‌he‌‌  
is‌‌not‌‌merely‌‌here‌‌to‌‌provide‌‌his‌‌readers‌‌a‌‌piece‌‌of‌‌sensational‌‌trashy‌ ‌literature‌‌to‌‌  
entertain‌‌them‌‌momentarily,‌ ‌he‌‌also‌‌wishes‌‌to‌‌enlighten‌ ‌them‌‌through‌‌certain‌‌  
aspects‌‌of‌‌moral‌‌significance‌‌that‌‌he‌‌wishes‌‌to‌‌delineate‌‌through‌‌TJ’s‌‌life‌‌and‌‌the‌‌  
changes‌‌that‌‌occur‌‌over‌‌time,‌‌so‌‌even‌‌though‌‌there‌‌might‌‌be‌‌certain‌‌ometences‌‌in‌‌the‌‌  
history‌ ‌of‌‌Tom‌‌Jones’s‌‌life‌‌because‌‌of‌‌their‌‌lesser‌‌degree‌ ‌of‌‌importance‌‌in‌‌keeping‌‌  
with‌‌this‌‌larger‌‌outline‌‌of‌‌plan‌‌of‌‌Fielding’s‌‌moralist‌‌vision‌‌yet‌‌the‌‌other‌‌events‌‌which‌‌  
have‌‌been‌‌recorded‌‌with‌‌utmost‌‌care‌‌should‌‌be‌‌given‌‌its‌‌due‌‌attention‌‌on‌‌the‌‌part‌‌of‌‌  
the‌‌readers‌‌and‌‌Fielding‌‌says‌‌in‌‌omitting‌‌all‌‌of‌‌these‌‌Lesser‌‌important‌‌events‌‌authors‌‌  
should‌‌prevent‌‌them‌‌,‌‌authors‌‌should‌‌prevent‌‌themselves‌‌from‌‌reading‌‌without‌‌profit‌‌  
or‌‌pleasure‌‌instead‌‌the‌‌author‌‌should‌‌allow‌‌The‌‌Reader‌‌if‌‌he‌‌so‌‌desires‌ ‌to‌‌fill‌‌the‌‌  
vacant‌‌space‌‌in‌‌a‌‌novel‌‌with‌‌his‌‌own‌‌conjectures‌‌and‌‌meaning.‌‌So‌‌again‌‌what‌‌he‌‌wine‌‌  
for‌‌is‌ ‌not‌‌merely‌‌a‌‌very‌‌passive‌‌reception‌‌on‌‌the‌‌part‌‌of‌‌his‌‌readers‌‌but‌‌more‌‌of‌‌an‌‌  
active‌‌participation‌‌in‌‌the‌‌derivation‌‌of‌‌meaning‌‌so‌‌we‌‌can‌‌understand‌‌that‌‌what‌‌  
feeling‌‌is‌‌doing‌‌in‌‌his‌‌literary‌‌criticism‌‌is‌‌not‌‌merely‌‌chalking‌‌down‌‌or‌‌penning‌‌down‌‌  
the‌‌roles‌‌of‌‌the‌‌writer‌‌but‌‌also‌‌the‌‌roles‌‌of‌‌The‌‌Reader‌‌and‌‌the‌‌ways‌‌in‌‌which‌‌a‌‌work‌‌  
of‌‌fiction‌‌should‌‌be‌‌approached.‌‌So‌‌it‌‌is‌‌not‌‌merely‌‌something‌‌which‌ ‌would‌‌be‌‌  
handed‌‌down‌‌to‌‌us,‌‌will‌‌be‌‌taken‌‌as‌‌face‌‌value‌‌but‌‌the‌‌interpretative‌‌quality‌‌of‌‌certain‌  ‌
portions‌‌of‌‌the‌‌text‌‌according‌‌to‌‌fielding‌‌should‌‌also‌‌be‌‌taken‌‌as‌‌a‌‌serious‌‌matter‌‌of‌‌  
concern‌‌so‌‌the‌‌readerly‌‌function‌‌of‌‌hear‌‌is‌‌being‌‌redefined‌‌is‌‌being‌ ‌revolutionized‌‌  
again‌‌it‌‌is‌‌also‌‌the‌‌part‌‌of‌‌the‌‌readers‌‌to‌‌derive‌‌meaning‌‌in‌‌certain‌‌places‌‌where‌‌the‌‌  
author‌‌deliberately‌‌ellipses‌‌direct‌‌narrativizing‌ ‌and‌‌direct‌‌statement‌‌of‌‌facts‌‌or‌‌the‌‌  
author‌‌deliberately‌‌wishes‌‌to‌‌gloss‌‌over‌‌certain‌‌events,‌‌So‌‌it‌‌is‌‌in‌‌these‌‌hiatuses‌‌that‌‌  
remain‌‌within‌‌the‌‌text‌‌that‌‌the‌‌active‌‌imagination‌‌of‌‌the‌‌readers‌‌should‌‌also‌‌play‌‌a ‌‌
part‌‌and‌‌that‌‌again‌‌is‌‌a‌‌very‌‌important‌‌for‌‌proposition‌‌in‌‌the‌‌course‌‌of‌‌the‌‌literary‌‌  
history‌‌of‌‌the‌‌novel‌‌. ‌ ‌
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BOOK-4‌  ‌
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He‌‌asserts‌‌that‌‌the‌‌truth‌‌is‌‌the‌‌Hallmark‌‌of‌‌history‌‌in‌‌the‌‌book‌‌and‌‌this‌‌is‌‌what‌‌ 
distinguishes‌‌this‌‌book‌‌from‌‌a‌‌romance‌‌and‌‌he‌‌present‌‌the‌‌case‌‌of‌‌the‌‌heroine‌‌  
Sophia,‌‌if‌‌the‌‌heroine‌‌is‌‌to‌‌be‌‌introduced‌‌and‌‌the‌‌readers‌‌are‌‌to‌‌be‌‌prepared‌‌to‌‌see‌ 
the‌‌entrance‌‌of‌‌the‌‌lovely‌‌lady‌‌Sophia,‌‌he‌‌says‌‌“‌‌we‌‌have‌‌to‌‌prepare‌‌the‌‌mind‌‌of‌‌The‌‌  
Reader‌‌for‌‌her‌‌reception‌‌by‌‌filling‌‌it‌‌with‌‌the‌‌very‌‌pleasing‌‌image‌‌we‌‌can‌‌draw‌‌from‌‌  
the‌‌face‌‌of‌‌nature‌‌and‌‌we‌‌will‌‌find‌‌that‌‌before‌‌Sofia‌‌is‌‌introduced‌‌into‌‌the‌‌text‌‌there‌‌is‌‌
 
an‌‌elaborately‌‌description‌‌of‌‌her‌‌nature‌‌of‌‌her‌‌charms‌‌of‌‌her‌‌glory,‌‌of‌‌her‌‌beauty‌‌,of‌‌  
her‌‌grace,‌‌of‌‌her‌‌virtues‌‌and‌‌so‌‌on‌‌and‌‌so‌‌forth‌‌in‌‌a‌‌very‌‌Petrarchan‌‌manner‌‌and‌‌in‌‌  
order‌‌to‌‌explain‌‌this‌‌fielding‌‌further‌‌refers‌‌to‌‌the‌‌current‌‌theatrical‌‌practices‌‌following‌‌  
which‌‌a‌‌hero‌‌may‌‌be‌‌introduced‌‌by‌‌the‌‌blowing‌‌of‌‌trump's‌‌trumpets‌‌and‌‌other‌‌legal‌‌  
summons‌‌and‌‌the‌‌entrance‌‌of‌‌lovers‌‌would‌‌also‌‌be‌‌supported‌‌by‌‌soft‌‌and‌‌pleasing‌‌  
music.‌‌So‌‌since‌‌drama‌‌was‌‌a‌‌very‌‌popular‌‌form‌‌of‌‌art‌‌during‌‌the‌‌Restoration‌‌times,‌‌  
Restoration‌‌theatre‌‌despite‌‌being‌‌notorious‌‌for‌‌its‌‌sentimentalism‌‌and‌‌excessive‌‌  
sensationalism‌‌at‌‌certain‌‌times‌‌was‌‌nevertheless‌‌a‌‌very‌‌important‌‌literary‌‌pursuit‌‌and‌‌  
indulgence‌‌on‌‌the‌‌part‌‌of‌‌the‌‌theatre‌‌going‌‌public.So‌‌in‌‌keeping‌‌with‌‌all‌‌of‌‌those‌‌  
traditions‌‌of‌‌restoration‌‌drama‌‌fielding‌‌seems‌‌to‌‌be‌‌borrowing‌‌certain‌‌trends‌‌of‌‌  
presenting‌‌the‌‌protagonists‌‌of‌‌his‌‌book.‌‌Now‌‌you‌‌might‌‌find‌‌certain‌‌paradoxes‌‌in‌‌his‌‌  
ideas‌‌over‌‌here,‌‌on‌‌the‌‌one‌‌hand‌‌he‌‌talks‌‌about‌‌truth‌‌as‌‌the‌‌Hallmark‌‌of‌‌history‌‌so‌‌he‌‌  
very‌‌emphatically‌‌foregrounds‌‌his‌‌work‌‌within‌‌contemporary‌‌realism,‌‌he‌‌wants‌‌to‌‌  
strictly‌‌distinguish‌‌it‌‌from‌‌the‌‌Romance‌‌but‌‌again‌‌the‌‌way‌‌in‌‌which‌‌he‌‌incorporate‌‌  
certain‌‌Trends‌‌from‌‌Restoration‌‌theatre‌‌is‌‌also‌ ‌at‌‌times‌‌it‌‌might‌‌appear‌‌to‌‌be‌‌  
extremely‌‌artificial‌‌on‌‌the‌‌part‌‌of‌‌writer‌‌because‌‌they‌‌were‌‌also‌‌highly‌‌influenced‌‌by‌‌  
the‌‌tenets‌‌of‌‌the‌‌romances‌‌that‌‌were‌‌prevalent‌‌during‌‌the‌‌time.‌‌So‌‌what‌‌do‌‌we‌‌need‌‌to‌‌  
understand‌‌over‌‌here‌‌is‌‌that‌‌fielding‌‌was‌‌probably‌‌trying‌‌to‌‌attain‌‌a‌‌sort‌‌of‌‌  
reconciliation‌‌between‌‌these‌‌varying‌‌degrees‌‌of‌‌artistic‌‌thoughts,‌‌romance‌‌on‌‌the‌‌one‌‌  
hand‌‌extravagance‌‌and‌‌elaboration‌‌on‌‌the‌‌one‌‌hand‌‌and‌‌pertinent‌‌truth‌‌and‌‌realism‌‌  
on‌‌the‌‌other‌‌hand‌‌and‌‌this‌‌probably‌‌can‌‌only‌‌be‌‌possible‌‌within‌‌the‌‌parameters‌‌of‌‌  
work‌‌like‌‌the‌‌novel‌‌form,‌‌a‌‌newly‌‌emerging‌‌fictional‌‌form‌‌of‌‌art‌‌which‌‌also‌‌was‌‌very‌‌  
much‌‌grounded‌‌in‌‌the‌‌reality‌‌of‌‌the‌‌times.‌  ‌
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BOOK-5‌  ‌
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Here,‌‌Fieldings‌‌provides‌‌an‌‌excellent‌‌analysis‌‌of‌‌the‌‌function‌‌of‌‌a‌‌critic‌‌and‌‌the‌‌  
function‌‌of‌‌contrast‌‌in‌‌a‌‌work‌‌of‌‌art,‌‌Fielding‌‌actually‌‌shows‌‌little‌‌admiration‌ ‌for‌‌the‌‌  
critics‌‌of‌‌his‌‌time,irrespective‌‌of‌‌the‌‌criticism‌‌every‌‌work‌‌of‌‌art‌‌is‌‌a‌‌law‌‌unto‌‌itself‌‌and‌‌  
is‌‌centred‌‌on‌‌its‌‌own‌‌organic‌‌growth‌‌and‌‌Fielding‌‌boldly‌‌even‌‌asks‌‌this‌‌again‌‌from‌‌  
the‌‌text”‌‌who‌‌are‌‌the‌‌critics‌‌and‌‌whence‌ ‌did‌‌they‌‌derive‌‌their‌‌authority‌‌and‌‌finally‌‌he‌‌  
argues‌‌that‌‌critics‌‌are‌‌mainly‌ ‌of‌‌shallow‌‌capacity,‌‌who‌‌mistook‌‌mere‌‌form‌‌for‌‌  
substance‌‌and‌‌that‌‌“‌‌time‌‌and‌‌ignorance‌‌the‌‌two‌‌great‌‌supporters‌‌of‌‌imposture‌‌have‌‌  
lent‌‌the‌‌dubious‌‌authority‌‌to‌‌the‌‌critics”‌‌so‌‌literary‌‌criticism‌‌is‌‌a‌‌very‌‌annoying‌‌aspect‌‌  
of‌‌concern‌‌for‌‌Fielding‌‌especially‌‌so‌‌because‌‌he‌‌was‌‌experimenting‌‌with‌‌a‌‌new‌‌form‌‌  
of‌‌writing‌‌that‌‌was‌‌susceptible‌‌to‌‌negative‌‌criticism‌‌for‌‌very‌‌obvious‌‌reasons‌‌and‌‌this‌‌  
idea‌‌of‌‌contrast‌‌is‌‌very‌‌much‌‌latent‌‌within‌‌his‌‌work‌‌as‌‌I‌‌said‌‌realise‌ ‌versus‌‌Romance.‌‌  
The‌‌form‌‌of‌‌the‌‌comedy‌‌versus‌‌the‌‌Epic‌‌that‌‌he‌‌wishes‌‌to‌‌sustain‌‌within‌‌the‌‌  
dimensions‌‌of‌‌prose‌‌in‌‌his‌‌Novel‌‌,all‌‌of‌‌the‌‌various‌‌aspects‌‌of‌‌history‌‌and‌‌  
chronological‌‌time‌‌and‌‌artistic‌‌Liberties‌ ‌that‌‌he‌‌wishes‌‌to‌‌undertake‌‌in‌‌the‌‌course‌‌of‌‌  
his‌‌dealing‌‌with‌‌the‌‌narrator,‌‌so‌‌all‌‌of‌‌these‌‌binaries,‌‌all‌‌of‌‌this‌‌contrasts‌‌according‌‌to‌‌  
him‌‌contribute‌‌to‌‌the‌‌organic‌‌growth‌‌of‌‌this‌‌new‌‌form‌ ‌of‌‌the‌‌work‌‌of‌‌art‌‌and‌‌without‌‌  
this‌‌organic‌‌or‌‌spontaneous‌‌growth‌‌this‌‌connected‌‌balanced‌‌growth,‌‌any‌‌work‌‌of‌‌art‌‌  
would‌‌undoubtedly‌‌appeared‌‌to‌‌be‌‌very‌‌stilted‌‌and‌‌superficial‌‌and‌‌fielding‌‌had‌‌a‌‌great‌‌  
aversion‌‌to‌‌any‌‌kind‌‌of‌‌superstition‌‌because‌‌his‌‌motive‌‌was‌‌to‌‌propound‌‌a‌‌very‌‌  
realistically‌‌palpable‌‌form‌‌of‌‌Art‌‌for‌‌his‌‌readers.‌‌And‌‌according‌‌to‌‌him‌‌critics‌‌who‌‌  
would‌‌condescend‌‌against‌‌his‌‌work‌‌of‌‌art‌‌would‌‌be‌‌men‌‌of‌‌Shallow‌‌capacities‌‌  
because‌‌they‌‌lack‌‌the‌‌substance‌‌and‌‌the‌‌depth‌‌to‌‌understand‌‌this‌‌organic‌‌wholeness‌‌  
that‌‌he‌‌was‌‌trying‌‌to‌‌sustain‌‌and‌‌arrived‌‌at‌‌through‌‌the‌‌reconciliation‌‌of‌‌these‌‌various‌‌  
contrasts‌‌within‌‌his‌‌novel,‌‌and‌‌the‌‌technicalities‌‌of‌‌his‌‌work‌‌of‌‌art‌‌is‌‌something‌‌that‌‌  
he‌‌wishes‌‌the‌‌readers‌‌and‌‌the‌‌critics‌‌to‌‌focus‌‌more‌‌on‌‌rather‌‌than‌‌merely‌‌the‌‌content‌‌  
or‌‌the‌‌substance‌‌that‌‌is‌‌the‌‌life‌‌or‌‌the‌‌actual‌‌story‌‌of‌‌Tom‌‌Jones‌‌it‌‌is‌‌not‌‌the‌‌story‌‌of‌‌
 
Tom‌‌Jones‌‌here‌‌which‌‌is‌‌important‌‌but‌‌rather‌‌the‌‌larger‌‌message‌‌or‌‌the‌‌larger‌‌idea‌‌of‌‌  
Humanism‌‌that‌‌arises‌‌out‌‌of‌‌it‌‌which‌‌again‌‌needs‌‌to‌‌be‌‌brought‌‌out‌‌through‌‌these‌‌  
various‌‌novel‌‌technicalities‌‌that‌‌he‌‌was‌‌experimenting‌‌with,‌‌so‌‌whatever‌‌authority‌‌  
that‌‌the‌‌critics‌‌had‌‌in‌‌condescending‌‌or‌‌attacking‌‌his‌‌form‌‌of‌‌art‌‌as‌‌preposterous‌ ‌or‌‌  
rather‌‌lacking‌‌any‌‌sense‌‌of‌‌ingenuity‌‌would‌‌obviously‌‌be‌‌nothing‌‌more‌‌than‌‌Shallow‌‌  
pedantry‌‌on‌‌their‌‌part‌‌according‌‌to‌‌Henry‌‌Fielding.‌  ‌
 ‌
BOOK‌‌6 ‌ ‌
 ‌
There‌‌are‌‌many‌‌philosophers‌‌who‌‌have‌‌arrived‌‌at‌‌the‌‌discovery‌‌that‌‌there‌‌is‌‌no‌‌such‌‌  
thing‌‌as‌‌love‌‌and‌‌perhaps‌‌they‌‌have‌‌come‌‌to‌‌this‌‌Conclusion‌ ‌“‌‌by‌‌searching‌‌  
rummaging‌‌and‌‌examining‌‌into‌‌a‌‌nasty‌‌place,‌‌the‌‌nastiest‌‌of‌‌all‌‌places‌‌a‌‌bad‌‌mind‌‌  
and‌‌fielding‌‌asks‌‌these‌‌philosophers‌‌to‌‌accept‌‌that‌‌and‌‌in‌‌the‌‌heart‌‌of‌‌every‌‌human‌‌  
being‌‌there‌‌is‌‌a‌‌benevolent‌‌this‌‌disposition‌‌which‌‌gratifies‌‌itself‌‌by‌‌contributing‌‌to‌‌the‌‌  
happiness‌‌of‌‌others‌‌and‌‌that‌‌in‌‌this‌‌activity‌‌lies‌‌exquisite‌‌delight‌‌.‌‌So‌‌here,‌‌love‌‌is‌‌not‌‌  
merely‌‌treated‌‌as‌‌Shallow‌‌sensationalism‌‌that‌‌a‌‌bounded‌‌in‌‌the‌‌romances‌‌,‌‌the‌‌cheap‌‌  
popular‌‌romances‌‌of‌‌his‌‌time‌‌which‌‌off‌‌course‌‌reeked‌‌of‌‌bad‌‌taste‌‌and‌‌of‌‌a‌‌Shallow‌‌  
mental‌‌capacities‌‌of‌‌a‌‌many‌‌humans‌‌of‌‌his‌‌time‌‌and‌‌probably‌‌the‌‌dubious‌‌reputation‌‌  
of‌‌these‌‌romances‌‌contributed‌‌to‌‌this‌‌idea‌‌within‌‌many‌‌important‌‌philosophers‌‌and‌‌  
critics‌‌of‌‌the‌‌day‌‌that‌‌love‌‌was‌‌not‌‌merely‌‌a‌‌serious‌‌matter‌‌of‌‌concern‌‌and‌‌that‌‌there‌‌  
was‌‌no‌‌thing‌‌as‌‌love,‌‌love‌‌itself‌‌was‌‌a‌‌very‌‌dubious‌‌concept‌‌but‌‌then‌‌according‌‌to‌‌  
Fielding‌‌love‌‌should‌‌be‌‌looked‌‌at‌‌within‌‌the‌‌larger‌‌capacity‌‌of‌‌human‌‌philanthropy,‌‌so‌‌  
we‌‌can‌‌understand‌‌it‌‌is‌‌from‌‌his‌‌stance‌‌as‌‌a‌‌liberal‌‌Humanist‌‌and‌‌humanitarian‌‌artist‌‌  
who‌‌wishes‌‌to‌‌bring‌‌about‌‌some‌‌sort‌‌of‌‌enlightenment‌‌within‌‌the‌‌minds‌‌of‌‌his‌‌  
readers,‌‌some‌‌sort‌‌of‌‌perhaps‌‌transformation‌‌in‌‌the‌‌supposedly‌‌untouched‌‌minds‌‌of‌‌  
his‌‌readers‌‌that‌‌this‌‌concept‌‌of‌‌love‌‌is‌‌emerging‌‌and‌‌love‌‌plays‌‌a‌‌crucial‌‌role‌‌within‌‌  
Henry‌‌Fielding’s‌‌philosophical‌‌design‌‌because‌‌it‌‌is‌‌the‌‌love‌‌of‌‌Sofia‌‌for‌‌Tom‌‌that‌‌  
ultimately‌‌redeems‌‌him‌‌from‌‌this‌‌life‌‌of‌‌transgression.Tom‌‌is‌‌a‌‌wreck‌‌he‌‌has‌‌a‌‌series‌‌  
of‌‌various‌‌affairs‌‌with‌‌women‌‌from‌‌various‌‌age‌‌groups‌‌from‌‌various‌‌social‌‌and‌‌  
occupational‌‌backgrounds‌‌and‌‌he‌‌himself‌‌is‌‌perhaps‌‌at‌‌a‌‌loss‌‌on‌‌certain‌‌occasions‌‌  
when‌‌he‌‌can‌‌feel‌‌the‌‌absence‌‌of‌‌Genuine‌‌love‌‌and‌‌human‌‌affection‌‌within‌‌his‌‌life,‌‌so‌‌  
even‌‌though‌‌Tom‌‌is‌‌susceptible‌‌to‌‌all‌‌of‌‌these‌‌negative‌‌influences‌‌around‌‌him‌‌,‌‌he‌‌  
has‌‌a‌‌very‌‌generous‌‌disposition‌‌himself‌‌which‌‌is‌‌latent‌‌within‌‌his‌‌heart‌‌and‌‌it‌‌is‌‌  
through‌‌this‌‌glory‌‌or‌‌rather‌‌the‌‌virtue‌‌of‌‌this‌‌general‌‌disposition‌‌that‌‌he‌‌is‌‌able‌‌to‌‌  
connect‌‌with‌‌Sofia‌‌Western‌‌who‌‌is‌‌perhaps‌‌the‌‌epitome‌‌of‌‌virtue‌‌and‌‌Grace‌‌and‌‌love‌‌  
within‌‌this‌‌noble.‌‌Sofia‌‌is‌‌presented‌‌to‌‌us‌‌as‌‌a‌‌perfect‌‌consort‌‌to‌‌Tom‌‌Jones‌‌even‌‌  
thoughTom‌‌Jones‌‌has‌‌undergone‌‌severe‌‌trials‌‌in‌‌his‌‌life‌‌which‌‌might‌‌on‌‌certain‌‌  
occasion‌‌lead‌‌us‌ ‌as‌‌readers‌‌to‌‌come‌‌to‌‌the‌‌conclusion‌‌that‌‌he‌‌is‌‌a‌‌morally‌‌dubious‌‌  
character‌‌but‌‌he‌‌is‌‌not,‌‌it‌‌is‌‌love‌‌which‌‌finally‌‌brings‌‌about‌‌a‌‌resolution‌‌of‌‌all‌‌of‌‌the‌‌  
crisis‌‌that‌‌evolve‌‌and‌‌it‌‌is‌‌love‌‌which‌‌brings‌‌about‌‌a‌‌redemption‌‌within‌‌T.J’s‌‌life‌‌by‌‌  
not‌‌only‌‌reuniting‌‌him‌‌with‌‌Sophia‌‌but‌‌also‌‌bringing‌‌about‌‌a‌‌favourable‌‌Restoration‌‌of‌‌  
balance‌‌in‌‌the‌‌end‌‌to‌‌his‌‌life.‌  ‌
 ‌
 ‌
BOOK-7‌  ‌
 ‌
Fielding‌‌observes‌‌here‌‌that‌‌the‌‌world‌‌has‌‌often‌‌been‌‌compared‌‌to‌‌the‌‌theatre‌‌and‌‌  
human‌‌life‌‌to‌‌a‌‌great‌‌drama‌‌and‌‌there‌‌might‌‌be‌‌echos‌‌of‌‌Shakespeare‌‌within‌‌this‌‌and‌‌  
it‌‌is‌‌easy‌‌to‌‌account‌‌for‌‌this‌‌when‌‌we‌‌reflect‌‌that‌‌it‌‌is‌‌nothing‌‌but‌‌representation‌‌or‌‌  
imitation‌‌of‌‌what‌‌really‌‌exists‌‌in‌‌life,‌‌sometimes‌‌imitation‌‌is‌‌well‌‌done‌‌when‌‌that‌‌they‌‌  
are‌‌confused‌‌with‌‌the‌‌real‌‌thing‌‌and‌‌human‌‌being‌‌May‌‌live‌‌out‌‌his‌‌life‌‌by‌‌  
impersonating‌‌a‌‌dramatic‌‌character‌‌so‌‌Fielding‌‌says‌‌that‌‌a‌‌single‌‌bad‌‌act‌‌in‌‌life‌‌no‌‌  
more‌‌mix‌‌a‌‌villain‌‌in‌‌real‌‌life‌‌than‌‌a‌‌single‌‌bad‌‌part‌‌on‌‌stage,‌‌so‌‌perhaps‌‌Shakespeare‌‌  
there‌‌were‌‌some‌‌influences‌‌of‌‌Shakespeare‌‌upon‌‌fieldings‌‌artist‌‌equation‌‌we‌‌don't‌‌  
know‌‌for‌‌sure‌‌even‌‌I‌‌don't‌‌know‌‌for‌‌sure‌‌and‌‌I‌‌perhaps‌‌need‌‌to‌‌get‌‌back‌‌to‌‌this‌‌but‌‌the‌‌  
way‌‌in‌‌which‌‌he‌‌talks‌‌about‌‌the‌‌concept‌‌of‌‌love‌‌and‌‌the‌‌concept‌‌of‌‌human‌‌life‌‌as‌‌  
theatre‌‌and‌‌this‌‌drama‌‌is‌‌something‌‌that‌‌gives‌‌us‌‌a‌‌deeper‌‌understanding‌‌of‌‌fieldings‌‌  
on‌‌visions‌‌and‌‌observances‌‌on‌‌human‌‌nature‌‌so‌‌fielding‌‌is‌‌not‌‌really‌‌a‌‌very‌‌strict‌‌  
critic‌‌he‌‌is‌‌not‌‌a‌‌preacher‌‌who‌‌would‌‌chastise‌‌his‌‌characters‌‌if‌‌they‌‌would‌‌stray‌‌from‌‌  
the‌‌path‌‌of‌‌virtue‌‌rather‌‌most‌‌of‌‌his‌‌characters‌‌have‌‌humans‌‌flaws‌‌within‌‌themselves‌‌  
which‌‌leads‌‌them‌‌to‌‌commit‌‌various‌‌acts‌‌of‌‌transgressions‌‌and‌‌it‌‌is‌‌through‌‌their‌‌  
actual‌‌nature‌‌It‌‌is‌‌according‌‌to‌‌the‌‌actual‌‌nature‌‌that‌‌they‌‌are‌‌actually‌‌,‌‌they‌‌are‌‌
 
ultimately‌‌mitted‌‌out‌‌Nemesis‌‌,‌‌For‌‌example‌‌Blifil‌‌who‌‌appears‌ ‌to‌‌be‌‌a‌‌very‌‌favorable‌‌  
and‌‌the‌‌favourite‌‌person‌‌within‌‌the‌‌alworthy‌‌household‌‌ultimate‌‌mitted‌‌out‌‌a‌‌very‌‌  
different‌‌outcome‌‌and‌‌unfavorable‌‌outcome‌‌in‌‌the‌‌end,‌‌it‌‌does‌‌not‌‌get‌‌married‌‌to‌‌  
Sofia‌‌,he‌‌is‌‌also‌‌dis‌‌inherited‌‌from‌‌the‌‌allworthy‌‌fortune‌‌and‌‌Tom‌‌despite‌‌all‌‌of‌‌the‌‌  
transgression‌‌in‌‌his‌‌life‌‌is‌‌ultimately‌‌given‌‌a‌‌life‌‌of‌‌stability‌‌and‌‌security‌‌because‌‌he‌‌is‌‌  
innately‌‌good,‌‌similarly‌‌with‌‌other‌‌characters‌‌we‌‌also‌‌see‌‌a‌‌similar‌‌pattern‌‌recurring‌‌  
though‌‌within‌‌Henry‌‌Fielding‌‌vision‌‌,human‌‌beings‌‌are‌‌doing‌‌nothing‌‌but‌‌playing‌‌out‌‌  
certain‌‌role‌‌which‌‌had‌‌been‌‌handed‌‌down‌‌to‌‌them‌‌by‌‌faith‌‌,destiny‌‌by‌‌eminent‌‌will‌‌  
whatever‌‌you‌‌want‌‌call‌‌them,‌‌so‌‌we‌‌are‌‌performing‌‌on‌‌parts‌‌impersonating‌‌certain‌‌  
dramatic‌‌characters‌‌in‌‌The‌‌this‌‌theatre‌‌of‌‌life‌‌and‌‌therefore‌‌we‌‌cannot‌‌really‌‌  
categorize‌‌a‌ ‌person‌‌as‌‌good‌‌or‌‌bad‌‌depending‌‌on‌‌certain‌‌acts‌‌which‌‌they‌‌perform‌‌at‌‌  
various‌‌instances‌‌of‌‌time,‌‌so‌‌according‌‌to‌‌fielding‌‌Shallow‌‌judgements‌‌and‌‌  
evaluations‌‌based‌‌on‌‌external‌‌events‌‌should‌‌be‌‌obviously‌‌discarded‌‌in‌‌favour‌‌of‌‌a ‌‌
subtler,‌‌deeper‌‌and‌‌more‌‌nuanced‌‌understanding‌‌of‌‌the‌‌actual‌‌nature‌‌of‌‌human‌‌  
character‌‌that‌‌lies‌‌Beneath‌‌the‌‌veneer‌‌of‌‌mere‌‌appearances‌‌and‌‌outside‌‌pretenses‌‌.so‌‌  
what‌‌he‌‌is‌‌actually‌‌wine‌‌here‌‌for‌‌is‌‌an‌‌internal‌‌exploration‌‌of‌‌his‌‌characters‌‌rather‌‌  
than‌‌merely‌‌focusing‌‌upon‌‌the‌‌external‌‌events‌‌that‌‌it‌‌is‌‌the‌‌external‌‌events‌‌which‌‌do‌‌  
not‌‌matter‌‌here,‌‌they‌‌are‌‌merely‌‌put‌‌there‌‌within‌‌his‌‌narrative‌‌or‌‌within‌‌human‌‌life‌‌in‌‌  
general‌‌as‌‌props‌‌which‌‌have‌‌to‌‌be‌‌utilised‌‌in‌‌order‌‌to‌‌act‌‌out‌‌our‌‌parts‌‌but‌‌the‌‌way‌‌in‌‌  
which‌‌the‌‌human‌‌mind‌‌or‌‌human‌‌nature‌‌is‌‌developed‌‌in‌‌the‌‌course‌‌of‌‌these‌‌incidents‌‌  
or‌‌is‌‌impacted‌‌during‌‌the‌‌course‌‌of‌‌these‌‌incidents‌‌is‌‌what‌‌matters‌‌to‌‌fielding.‌  ‌
 ‌
 ‌
BOOK-8‌  ‌
 ‌
‌Fielding‌‌starts‌‌his‌‌discussion‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Marvelous‌‌versus‌‌The‌‌real‌‌infection‌‌and‌ ‌that‌‌is‌‌ 
another‌‌important‌‌tennet,.‌‌according‌‌to‌‌him‌‌every‌‌writer‌‌should‌‌be‌‌within‌‌the‌‌bounds‌‌  
of‌‌possibility‌‌in‌‌his‌‌own‌‌writing‌‌,the‌‌general‌‌principle‌‌however‌‌is‌‌that‌‌man‌‌is‌‌the‌‌
 
highest‌‌subject‌‌but‌‌we‌‌should‌‌be‌‌careful‌‌enough‌‌not‌‌to‌‌exceed‌‌the‌‌capacity‌‌of‌‌the‌‌  
agents‌‌that‌‌we‌‌describe‌‌and‌‌actions‌‌should‌‌not‌‌be‌‌only‌‌keeping‌‌with‌‌the‌‌compass‌‌of‌‌  
human‌‌nature‌‌but‌‌they‌‌must‌‌also‌‌be‌‌consistent‌‌with‌‌the‌‌character‌‌of‌‌the‌‌performer‌‌. ‌‌
So,‌‌according‌‌to‌‌fielding‌‌modern‌‌comedy‌‌writers‌‌are‌‌to‌‌be‌‌blamed‌‌only‌‌for‌‌this‌‌reason‌‌  
because‌‌their‌‌heroes‌‌are‌‌to‌‌be‌‌presented‌‌as‌‌notorious‌‌rogues‌‌for‌‌four‌‌acts‌‌and‌‌in‌‌the‌‌  
fifth‌‌suddenly‌‌become‌‌the‌‌worthy‌‌and‌ ‌respectable‌‌gentleman,‌‌so‌‌if‌‌the‌‌writers‌‌strictly‌‌  
observed‌‌the‌‌rules‌‌of‌‌probability‌‌and‌‌possibility‌‌then‌‌only‌‌is‌‌he‌‌entitled‌‌to‌‌some‌‌faith‌‌  
from‌‌its‌‌readers‌‌and‌‌that‌‌is‌‌exactly‌‌what‌‌happens‌‌in‌‌the‌‌case‌‌of‌‌Tom‌‌Jones.‌‌He‌‌is‌‌not‌‌  
a‌‌roguish‌‌character‌‌who‌‌would‌‌keeps‌‌on‌‌performing‌‌one‌‌act‌‌of‌‌digression‌‌on‌‌to‌‌the‌‌  
other‌‌and‌‌suddenly‌‌become‌‌a‌‌gentle‌‌man,‌‌it‌‌is‌‌shown‌‌to‌‌us‌‌from‌‌the‌‌very‌‌beginning‌‌  
that‌‌he‌‌has‌‌capacity‌‌for‌‌good‌‌and‌‌that‌‌he‌‌is‌‌perhaps‌‌a‌‌very‌‌good‌‌human‌‌being‌‌at‌‌  
heart‌‌perhaps‌‌even‌‌better‌‌than‌‌Blifil‌‌and‌‌supposedly‌‌other‌‌Nobler‌ ‌characters‌‌belong‌‌  
to‌‌the‌‌allworthy‌‌household‌‌and‌‌who‌‌receive‌‌better‌‌benefits‌‌and‌‌much‌‌more‌‌  
advantages‌‌than‌‌him,‌‌even‌‌though‌‌Tom‌‌is‌‌involved‌‌in‌‌various‌‌scrapes‌‌no‌‌way‌‌we‌‌see‌‌  
him‌‌actually‌‌taking‌‌advantage‌‌of‌‌any‌‌situation‌‌or‌‌any‌‌person‌‌rather‌‌it‌‌is‌‌Tom‌‌who‌‌is‌‌  
often‌‌exploited‌‌at‌‌the‌‌hands‌‌of‌‌others‌‌and‌‌the‌‌genial‌‌disposition‌‌that‌‌is‌‌within‌‌Tom‌‌  
Jones‌‌extends‌‌not‌‌only‌‌to‌‌the‌‌human‌‌company‌‌around‌‌him‌‌but‌‌to‌‌the‌‌natural‌‌world‌‌as‌‌  
well‌‌because‌‌he‌ ‌is‌‌a‌‌lover‌‌of‌‌animals‌‌as‌‌well‌‌as‌‌we‌‌see‌‌in‌‌his‌‌early‌‌chapters‌‌when‌‌he‌‌  
is‌‌actually‌‌residing‌ ‌within‌‌the‌‌allworthy‌‌household‌‌,‌‌so‌‌it‌‌is‌‌not‌‌that‌‌all‌‌of‌‌a‌‌sudden‌‌a ‌‌
touch‌‌stone‌‌appears‌‌in‌‌the‌‌form‌‌of‌‌Sophia‌‌Western‌‌and‌‌he‌‌is‌‌magically‌‌transformed‌‌  
into‌‌this‌‌gentleman‌‌courteous‌‌human‌‌being‌‌it‌‌is‌‌not‌‌that,‌‌keeping‌‌with‌‌the‌‌rules‌‌of‌‌  
plausibility‌‌and‌‌probability‌‌Henry‌‌Fielding‌ ‌sort‌‌of‌‌progressively‌‌work‌‌with‌‌the‌‌  
development‌‌of‌‌Tom's‌‌character‌‌from‌‌a‌‌starting‌‌point‌‌towards‌‌throughout‌‌the‌‌course‌‌  
of‌‌various‌‌incidents‌‌where‌‌various‌‌aspects‌‌of‌‌his‌‌nature‌‌are‌‌revealed‌‌and‌‌ultimately‌‌  
give‌‌him‌‌the‌‌opportunity‌‌for‌‌redemption‌‌where‌‌the‌‌awareness‌‌and‌‌the‌‌consciousness‌‌  
of‌‌Tom‌‌Jones‌‌is‌‌still‌‌very‌‌much‌‌functioning‌‌so‌‌Tom‌‌Jones‌‌is‌‌conscious‌‌of‌‌the‌‌fact‌‌  
that‌‌he‌‌has‌‌committed‌‌many‌‌mistakes‌‌and‌‌unforgivable‌‌guilts‌‌perhaps‌‌which‌‌would‌‌  
not‌‌be‌‌overlooked‌‌by‌‌the‌‌people‌‌around‌‌him‌‌and‌‌yet‌‌he‌‌also‌‌has‌‌this‌‌capacity‌‌within‌‌  
him‌‌to‌‌be‌‌forgiven‌‌by‌‌the‌‌others.‌‌So‌‌it‌‌is‌‌very‌‌probable‌‌and‌‌plausible‌‌that‌‌Tom‌‌Jones‌‌  
is‌‌given‌‌this‌‌scope‌‌for‌‌repentance‌‌and‌‌the‌‌end‌‌and‌‌for‌‌a‌‌better‌‌life‌‌situation,‌‌so‌‌this‌‌is‌‌  
where‌‌he‌‌radically‌‌departs‌‌from‌‌the‌‌comedy‌‌writers‌‌of‌‌The‌‌Restoration‌‌theatre‌‌who‌‌  
very‌‌unbelievably‌‌and‌‌perhaps‌‌very‌‌incredulously‌‌depicted‌‌certain‌‌events‌‌and‌‌certain‌‌  
changes‌‌in‌‌their‌‌Dramas‌‌that‌‌would‌‌not‌‌be‌‌easily‌‌digestible‌‌to‌‌the‌‌contemporary‌‌  
theatre‌‌going‌‌audience‌‌so‌‌that‌‌would‌‌not‌‌be‌‌a‌‌problem‌‌faced‌‌by‌‌his‌‌own‌‌readers‌‌  
when‌‌they‌‌would‌‌encounter‌‌the‌‌history‌‌of‌‌Tom‌‌Jones‌‌as‌‌he‌‌has‌‌portrayed.‌  ‌
 ‌
 ‌