Satire and Types

(Representatives)
in
Joseph Andrews
 Satire

Satire is a type of literary or dramatic work

that uses sarcasm, wit and irony to ridicule
and expose the flaws of mankind, often in an
attempt to reform society.
 Features of Satire
u  It intends to arouse ridicule, contempt, or disgust at the
abuses and weaknesses of man and his institution.

u  Its aim is to correct the malpractices of society by

inspiring laughter with a combination of criticism and wit.

u  Its mood may be light and playful or it may be malicious

and mischievous.

u  In literary art, the satirical mood appears in many forms –

prose, verse, or drama.
 Henry Fielding’s Contribution
u  Henry Fielding used satire during this period to point out the
shortcomings of society through ridiculing accepted
standards of thought, exposing Britain’s flaws and chastising
the hypocrisy of the time.

u  Laughter is not only for entertainment, but as Fielding says it is

functional.

u  Fielding creates general types rather than particular

individuals. He describes, not men but manners. This is
illustrated in Book III, Chapter 1, “I describe not men, but
manners; not an individual, but a species”. They reflect the
important themes the novel tackles, such as vanity, hypocrisy,
affectation, materialism, corruption and charity.
What does the novel satirize/criticize?
Ø  The 18th century

Ø  The novel exposed the superficial follies and moral

corruption of  society during the neoclassical period in
Britain.  

Ø  Underneath the enlightenment ideals of rationality, order

and knowledge, the 18th century society embraced an
obsession with “decorum” (=a sense of propriety), a
façade of established traditions and vanities, as well as
an innate sense of moral and political supremacy.
 Types / Representatives

u  Fielding's portrayal of the English social life is reinforced

by the large canvas of representatives selected from
every facets of society.

u  The study of different characters/types enabled Fielding

to explore all the unpleasant aspects of life of his time.

u  Fielding’s characters are flat; they are types, rather than

individuals. They are depicted by an emphasis on a
single characteristic. Ex: sensuality sums up Lady Booby
and greediness sums up Mrs. Tow-wouse.
 Types / Representatives

u  Portraying people as types enables Fielding to include

them more easily in his comic version; their eccentricities
help the reader criticize and laugh at them.

u  Such types are universal. Their universality lies in the fact

that they contain lasting reality.
 Everyday People
Fielding presents everyday people in his novel  Joseph
Andrews.

Joseph Andrews exhibits virtuous traits such as honesty,

wisdom, piety, male chastity and unselfishness.

BUT HE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT

The ways of the world

 Joseph Andrews
u  Being a social moralist, Fielding advocates morality through his
representation of Joseph Andrews, putting him in stark contrast to
the 18th century society.

u  Joseph is a man of virtue, chastity and fidelity. He battles/fights for

his chastity despite temptation. He rejects the advances of Lady
Booby and Mrs. Slipslop, which resulted in being falsely accused of
being immoral and losing his job. So, his virtue is seen as a flaw,
rather than a merit.

u  Pamela and Parson Adams teachings enable Joseph to withstand

all the temptations of riches and beauty. (Refer to Lady Booby’s
attempts of seducing Joseph)
 Women / Female Figures
Women of all classes were depicted as snobbish and
passionate to some extent.

The sensuality of women is reflected at its best through the

representatives like Lady Booby, Mrs. Slipslop and Betty.

HOWEVER
The virtuous version of women is portrayed in Pamela and
Fanny Goodwill.
 Women / Female Figures

VIRTUE VICE
Pamela Lady Booby
Fanny Goodwill Mrs. Slipslop
Betty, the Chambermaid
Mrs. Tow-wouse
 Pamela

u  Pamela is the epitome of virtue in the novel, as regarded

by Joseph.

u  Joseph’s letters to his sister, Pamela, are of great

significance as they help the reader delve deep into
Joseph’s psyche and expose his inner self and agonies.
(Refer pages 27, 40 & 51).
EPISTOLARY NOVEL
(Novels that contains letters)
 Fanny Goodwill
u  Fanny is a representative of goodness and natural
gentility.

u  Fanny and Joseph conform to Parson Adams teachings.

Both Pamela and Fanny Goodwill are manifestations of

female chastity.
 Lady Booby and Mrs. Slipslop

They both represent the themes of:

u  Affectation
u  Vanity
u  Hypocrisy
u  Sensuality / Lust
 Lady Booby
u  Lady Booby is the mere definition of infidelity, lust and
sensuality.

u  Fielding’s satire of hypocrisy is manifested in Lady

Booby’s mourning of her husband.

u  Fielding shows the manipulation and abuse of higher

social class power in Lady Booby’s attempts with
Joseph.

u  Being inflamed with lust, Lady Booby is blinded by her

vanity. She couldn’t bare being rejected.
 Mrs. Slipslop
u  Read the description of Mrs. Slipslop. Her filth is reflected on
her appearance. (p.28)

u  She believes that she is a learned woman, though she is not.

(Irony)

u  Her morality is shaped by her desire for Joseph. Fielding

portrayed her as “hungry tigress who long has traversed the
woods in fruitless search sees within the reach of her claws a
lamb . . . which cannot escape her jaws.” (Fielding 30)
 Mrs. Slipslop

u  She has a scheming personality, reflected in her false

accusations of Joseph.

u  Mrs. Slipslop is angry at Joseph for rejecting her. This is the

reason for spreading untrue rumors about him,
sabotaging his reputation, resulting in him losing his job.
 Betty
u  Betty is of good qualities. She is good-natured,
passionate and compassionate. Her compassion is
depicted in her eagerness to help Joseph after being
injured.

u  Being a chambermaid at an inn, made her “liable to the

solicitations of lovers of all complexions; to the
dangerous addresses of fine gentlemen of the army,
who sometimes are obliged to reside with them a whole
year together; and, above all, are exposed to all the
caresses of footmen, stage-coachmen . . . Kissing,
flattering, bribing” (Fielding 73)
 Betty
u  Fielding’s portrayal of Betty’s sexual relationships sheds light on
how she was victimized. The way Mr. Tow-wouse abuses his
authority over her provides a mirror image of how Lady Booby
wielded her power over Joseph. Abuse of power is one of the
social ills that Fielding managed to portray. Like Joseph, Betty
has been taken advantage of by many different people in her
life.

u  She is caught in bed with Mr. Tow-wouse. (Refer to Mrs. Tow-

wouse’s reaction)

u  Betty’s attempts to embrace Joseph was rejected. He shut

her out of the room and locked the door. As a consequence,
“rage and lust pulled her heart . . . She thought of revenging
his refusal of herself” (Fielding 74).
(VANITY)
 Mrs. Tow-wouse
u  Mrs. Two-wouse represents the theme of common charity
which is opposed to the true meaning of charity.

u  She advocates the idea that “charity starts at home.”

u  She is also a typical example of greed and hypocrisy.

Example:
She changes her attitude towards Joseph Andrews once
she realizes that he could be a gentleman, as Betty
claimed.
Her eyes watered when she saw the piece of gold.
 Other Types

u  The Surgeon
u  Parson Barnabas
u  Mr. Tow-wouse
u  The Robbers
u  The Postilion
u  Facets of society in the “stage-coach scene”
 The Clergyman

u  In the early 18th century, England was notable for its lack
of religious zeal/enthusiasm. Some of the clergy
continued to do good work, but generally there was a
lack of energy in the church.
 The Parsons
Parson Abraham Adams Parson Barnabas
A clergyman who puts his principles of charity A clergyman who is ignorant of religious
into practice. practices.
Ex: He couldn’t explain what forgiveness is to
Joseph.
He is proud of being a teacher of Latin and a He is the mere definition of a hypocrite.
writer of sermons. (Vanity)
He takes people at face value, as he is His main concern is to eat and drink for free.
ignorant of the ways of the world. His naivety,
innocence and simplicity leaves him open to
others’ malice and hypocrisy.
He is the only round character in the novel, a He is more aware of the ways of the world,
fully developed character who reinforces his compared to Parson Adams.
goodness by his humanity. He emerges as an
individual.
He is a man of knowledge, religion and morals.
 Conclusion

u  The novel is filled with types rather than well-developed

characters.

u  These types reflect the important themes the novel

tackles such as hypocrisy, vanity, affectation,
materialism, charity and chastity.