Explore

In Henry Fielding’s novel “Joseph Andrews,” the contrast between city life and country life is
depicted through the experiences of the protagonist, Joseph, and his encounters with various
characters. The city life, represented by London, is portrayed as a place of corruption, hypocrisy,
and moral decay. Fielding uses the city setting to satirize the upper classes, whose superficial
manners and lack of genuine virtue are sharply contrasted with the rural simplicity and honesty
found in the countryside.
The country, on the other hand, is idealized as a pastoral haven, where people live in harmony
with nature and each other. The rural characters, although not without their flaws, are generally
depicted as more sincere and virtuous than their urban counterparts. Fielding employs the
country setting to highlight the natural goodness of people like Parson Adams, who embodies the
rural clergyman’s simplicity, kindness, and moral fortitude.
Fielding’s comparison serves a larger purpose in the novel, as it reflects his views on human
nature and society. By contrasting the vices of the city with the virtues of the country, Fielding
criticizes the artificiality of social conventions and champions the idea that true goodness is
inherent and can flourish in a natural environment. This juxtaposition also allows Fielding to
explore themes of class, morality, and the true meaning of gentility, making the rural-urban
dichotomy a central element in the narrative structure and thematic development of "Joseph
Andrews."12