ASSIGNMENT NO: 01

SUBJECT: WORLD ENGLISHES

TOPIC: JOSEPH ANDREW BY HENRY FIELDING

SUBMITTED TO: PROF. SHABIR

SUBMITTED BY: MALAIKA KHAN , MIR KHUSHBAKHT , MIR

FAKHER E ALAM

DATED: 11.07.2024
 TABLE OF CONTENT:

Author’s introduction……………………………………….01
Novel’s introduction…………………………………………02
Themes………………………………………………………03
Characters……………………………………………………04
Plot summary………………………………………………..05
Conclusion……………………………………………………06
References……………………………………………………07
AUTHOR’S INTRODUCTION:

HENRY FIELDING :

In addition to being a playwright and writer during the English Restoration, Henry
Fielding was one of the men who started the Bow Street Runners, London's first police
force. Colonel Edmund Fielding and his spouse Sarah Gould, the daughter of Judge
Henry Gould, welcomed him into the world on April 22, 1707, in Somerset. His
schooling at Eton College included instruction in classical languages and literature. One
of the pioneers of the English novel has been identified as Fielding, along with Samuel
Richardson. Shamela (1741), Fielding's first literary hit, was a satire of Richardson's
Pamela. Fielding was well-known for his satire and humor in his writing, as well as his
preference for creating a diverse cast of characters from a range of socioeconomic
backgrounds. Tom Jones (1749) and Joseph Andrews (1742) were his two best-selling
books. Up to his death on October 8, 1754, he kept writing and publishing.

NOVEL’S INTRODUCTION:

JOSEPH ANDREW BY HENRY FIELDING:

Prepare yourself for a comical journey through 18th century England! "Joseph Andrews"
is a narrative about a kind servant named Joseph who becomes a fugitive after refusing
the romantic approaches of his employer. During his journey, he comes across an inept
clergyman named Abraham Adams, and they join forces to experience a sequence of
unfortunate events characterized by clever conversations, social criticism, and a
substantial amount of mud pies.
THEMES OF THE NOVEL :

The vulnerability and power of goodness:

The concept of goodness was a central focus for both the writers and the moral thinkers
of the eighteenth century. During a time when those in positions of leadership were
often not held responsible for their actions and were prone to corruption, Fielding
appears to have concluded that worldly power was incompatible with moral virtue.
Within his novels, the majority of the squires, magistrates, fashionable individuals, and
small businessmen exhibit either moral ambiguity or engage in predatory behavior. In
contrast, the epitome of charity in his works, Parson Adams, is impoverished and relies
entirely on the support of squires for his income. Fielding demonstrates that Adams's
unwavering virtue, which includes his naive belief in the goodness of others, exposes
him to manipulation by deceitful individuals, as a result of this contrasting opposition.
Despite the novelist's apparent enjoyment in degrading the clergyman, Adams remains
an exceptionally important figure whose physical frailty does not diminish his moral
influence. The reason his innocent and kind-hearted personality cannot counteract the
negative effects of dishonesty and self-interest is that these negative qualities are
widespread. The fact that his admirable beliefs are not practical is not a reflection on
Adams or goodness itself, but rather on the state of the world.
CHARITY AND RELIGION:
Fielding's novels feature numerous clergymen, some of whom are not very admirable.
Through the comparison of the kind-hearted Adams and his more selfish colleagues,
Fielding highlights the difference between merely professing Christian beliefs and
actively practicing genuine Christian charity. Fielding promoted the idea of
demonstrating religious obligation via ordinary human relationships. He believed that a
sense of universal and selfless compassion stems from our social connections and is
demonstrated by acts of kindness towards others. This includes alleviating suffering and
promoting the well-being of humanity. Fielding's religious beliefs prioritize morality and
ethics over theology or forms of worship. Adams asserts to the selfish and ungenerous
Parson Trulliber that anyone lacking charity cannot be considered a Christian.

PROVIDENCE:
While Fielding may doubt the effectiveness of human virtue in a corrupt world, he
remains resolute in ensuring that it is always rewarded. Consequently, when the "good"
characters Adams, Joseph, and Fanny are unable to secure their own happiness,
Fielding takes it upon himself to orchestrate it for them. The writer's position can be
compared to that of God in the real world. Like God, the novelist acts as a providential
planner, diligently rewarding virtue and punishing sin. Fielding's deliberately stylized
storylines and characterizations serve to draw attention to his deliberate authorial
control. The correlation between the storyline and divine intervention does not suggest
that Fielding naively anticipates the constant victory of good over evil in reality. Instead,
as Judith Hawley asserts, it signifies that life is akin to a piece of art, a deliberate
creation resulting from a combination of divine authorship and individual free will.
Fielding's focus on his characters is not intended to promote reliance on a divine author
in readers' daily lives. Instead, it aims to inspire them to transform their lives into an art
by promoting and improving the work of providence. This involves living in accordance
with genuine Christian principles of proactive kindness.
TOWN AND COUNTRY:

Fielding deliberately selected the direction and destination of his hero's travels with
purpose; Joseph's journey from the town to the country serves to depict, as described
by Martin C. Battestin, "a moral pilgrimage from the vanity and corruption of the Great
City to the comparatively genuine and uncomplicated nature of the countryside." Similar
to Mr. Wilson (albeit not to the same extent), Joseph undergoes moral development by
moving away from the city, where vanity and shallow pleasures are prevalent, to the
countryside, where virtuous seclusion and contented family life can be found. Fielding
did not hold any idealistic beliefs about the countryside. The encounters with numerous
malicious individuals that Joseph and Adams had on their journey back home
demonstrate Fielding's belief that human nature remains fundamentally the same
regardless of geographical differences. The individual's assertion in favor of rural living
is based on a practical assessment that suggests that by residing outside of the city,
one can escape the noise, criminal activity, and financial stress, allowing those who
choose it to focus on the fundamental aspects of existence.

Affectation, Vanity, and Hypocrisy:

In Fielding's Preface, he explicitly states that his satire is aimed at the absurd. He
asserts that affectation is the sole origin of true absurdity, and that affectation arises
from either vanity or hypocrisy. Hypocrisy, which involves concealing genuine reasons,
is more perilous than vanity. While a vain person just overestimates their own worth, a
hypocrite feigns to be someone they are not. Mr. Adams exhibits vanity in regards to his
knowledge, sermons, and teaching methods. Although this vanity may sometimes make
him appear foolish, it is often harmless or nearly so. In contrast, Lady Booby and Mrs.
Slipslop feign virtue in order to exploit Joseph, Parson Trulliber feigns moral authority to
maintain control over his parish, Peter Pounce feigns satisfied poverty to take
advantage of the financial weaknesses of other servants, and so on. Fielding opted to
confront both types of affectation, the innocuous and the more harmful, by ridiculing
them, based on the belief that humor is more effective than harsh criticism in motivating
individuals to rectify their imperfections.
Chastity:

Fielding's implications about Joseph and Fanny's ecstatic wedding night indicate his
overall favorable stance on sex. Nevertheless, he does emphasize the importance of
individuals' sexual behavior aligning with their obligations to God, one another, and
themselves. The mutual attraction between Joseph and Fanny is devoid of any immoral
or manipulative intentions. They showcase the purity of their love by eagerly embracing
a lifelong commitment and adhering to the Anglican protocols governing marriage,
which necessitate them to postpone the long-awaited event they have been anticipating
for years. While Fielding may have a favorable opinion of Joseph and Fanny, he does
not regard them with much seriousness. Specifically, Joseph's commitment to male
chastity seems out of place considering the prevailing sexual double-standard. Fielding,
on the other hand, finds humor in this contradiction, especially when the protagonist is
in London. According to Martin C. Battestin, even militant chastity is much better than
the loveless and predatory sexuality of Lady Booby and others like her. Joseph's
extreme chastity, although amusing, serves as a healthy contrast to the fashionable
desires and schemes of high society.

CLASS AND BIRTH:

Joseph Andrews explores the theme of social hierarchy and the impact of one's social
status, but Fielding's primary focus lies in the negative consequences that might arise
from class distinctions, such as corruption and pretentiousness. He naturally
disapproves of individuals who excessively value their social status and use it to
demean or take advantage of those of lower social standing. Mrs. Grave-airs, who looks
down on Joseph, and Beau Didapper, who believes he has the right to sexually exploit
Fanny due to his social position, are prime examples of such vices. Fielding did not view
class privileges as inherently wicked; instead, he appeared to feel that certain
individuals are deserving of social superiority while others are not. The author's
portrayal of class distinction is apparent in his utilization of the romance tradition, in
which the storyline revolves around the disclosure of the protagonist's genuine lineage
and heritage, which is of higher social status than previously believed. Fielding's
conservatism lies in his association of high social rank with moral merit. This
perspective does not necessarily embrace the class structure, but rather assumes it as
a given and uses it as a framework to assess human worth.

CHARACTER LIST:

Joseph Andrews: A handsome young fellow who battles for his virginity throughout the
novel.

Gaffar and Grammar Andrews: Parents of Pamela and, it is believed, of Joseph.

Mr. Booby: The nephew of Sir Thomas Booby.

Sir Thomas Booby :The deceased husband of Lady Booby.

Lady Booby: A hot-blooded young widow who tries every way possible to seduce
Joseph.

Mrs. Slipslop: A repulsive servant woman who also pursues Joseph.

Peter Pounce:The steward to Lady Booby.

Mr. Abraham Adams: A charitable curate.

Frances (Fanny) Goodwill: A beautiful young country girl; Joseph's beloved.

The Wilsons: The real parents of Joseph Andrews.

Lady Tittle and Lady Tattle: Two gossip.

Plain Tim: A good-hearted host.

Postillion: A generous fellow who offers Joseph an overcoat to cover his nakedness.

Mr. Tow-wouse: A bumbling, good-natured innkeeper.

Mrs. Tow-wouse: The greedy wife of the innkeeper.

Betty: A warm-hearted chambermaid.

Barnabas: A punch-drinking clergyman.

Tom Suckbribe: The constable.

Leonora: A silly young girl who loses two lovers because of her vacillations.
Horatio: A suitor who has no money but much love for Leonora.

Bellarmine: A suitor who has little love for Leonora but who hopes to inherit her father's
fortune.

Lindamira: A gossip.

Mrs. Grave-airs: A prude.

 PLOT SUMMARY:

Joseph Andrews, an attractive and youthful servant in the residence of Sir Thomas
Booby, has captured the amorous attention of his employer's spouse, Lady Booby.
Additionally, Mr. Abraham Adams, the parson of the parish, has taken note of him and
desires to foster Joseph's moral and intellectual development. Prior to commencing
Joseph's Latin training, the Boobys leave the country for London, accompanied by
Joseph.

Joseph becomes associated with a group of fashionable footmen in London, but despite
the immoral behavior of his peers and the advances of the sexually suggestive Lady
Booby, he manages to maintain his moral integrity. Following approximately one year,
Sir Thomas passes away, granting his widow the freedom to make endeavors to seduce
the footman. Joseph does not respond to her romantic suggestions because he is too
innocent to comprehend them. In a letter to his sister Pamela, he expresses his
conviction that a woman of Lady Booby's social status would not be interested in a
simple servant. Joseph soon withstands and rejects another, less discrete effort to
seduce him by Lady Booby's attendant, the middle-aged and repulsive Mrs. Slipslop.

Lady Booby summons Joseph and makes another attempt to seduce him, but fails. Her
anger is provoked by his moral excellence, prompting her to dismiss him once more
with the intention of terminating his employment. Afterward, she experiences intense
torment and uncertainty on whether to keep Joseph or not. However, in the end, Joseph
is given his payment and dismissed by the stingy steward, Peter Pounce. The
ex-footman is actually happy to have been fired, as he now perceives his mistress to be
both sexually promiscuous and mentally unstable.

Joseph embarks on a journey to the rural parish of the Boobys, where he will be
reunited with Fanny Goodwill, his childhood sweetheart and current fiancée, who works
as a milkmaid and is unable to read. During his initial outing, he encounters two
individuals who assault, undress, and steal from him, subsequently abandoning him in a
trench with the intention of causing his demise. Shortly, a stage-coach arrives, carrying
deceitful and self-serving people who reluctantly allow Joseph to board only after a
lawyer among them points out that they could be held responsible for Joseph's demise if
they fail to assist him and he perishes. The carriage transports Joseph and the other
passengers to an inn, where the chamber-maid named Betty attends to him and a
Surgeon declares his injuries to be potentially fatal.

On the next day, Joseph challenges the Surgeon's diagnosis and is visited by Mr.
Barnabas, the clergyman, who provides him with poor hospitality from Mrs. Tow-wouse,
the innkeeper's wife. Shortly thereafter, another priest enters at the inn and is revealed
to be Mr. Adams, who is en route to London with the intention of publishing many
volumes of his sermons. Joseph is ecstatic to encounter him, and Adams graciously
feeds his destitute protégé to multiple meals. Adams lacks sufficient funds, and he
subsequently attempts to secure a loan from Mr. Tow-wouse using a collection of his
sermons as collateral. Unfortunately, his efforts are unsuccessful. Mr. Barnabas
promptly informs Adams, upon learning of his occupation as a clergyman, about a
Bookseller who may be willing to act as his representative in the London publishing
industry. The Bookseller is uninterested in promoting sermons, and the unproductive
conversation is abruptly interrupted by a commotion elsewhere in the inn. Betty, the
chambermaid who was rejected by Joseph, has been found in bed with Mr. Tow-wouse.

Mr. Adams obtains a loan from a servant on a passing coach. Just before he and
Joseph are about to separate, he realizes that he has forgotten his sermons at home,
giving him no purpose to travel to London. Adams and Joseph agree to alternate riding
Adams's horse during their journey back home. Despite a challenging beginning, they
make good progress, with Adams traveling in a stage-coach and Joseph riding the
horse. Mr. Adams eagerly listens to a scandalous story of a woman named Leonora
who was abandoned by her lover while traveling in a coach. Later, at the next inn, he
and Joseph engage in a physical altercation with a disrespectful innkeeper and his wife.
Upon leaving the inn, Joseph boards the coach but Adams, in a state of
absent-mindedness, neglects to remember the horse and unintentionally proceeds on
foot.

During his solitary stroll, Adams comes across a Sportsman who is engaged in shooting
partridge and proudly emphasizes the high importance he attaches to courage. Upon
hearing the woman's pleas, the Sportsman hastily departs with his firearm, while Adams
takes it upon himself to rescue the woman from her attacker. The athletic Adams
delivers a severe beating that is so comprehensive that he is concerned he may have
caused the attacker's death. Upon the arrival of a cohort of youthful males, the
perpetrator promptly regains consciousness and proceeds to accuse Adams and the
woman of engaging in theft and physical assault against him. The young men
apprehend Adams and the woman and forcibly transport them to the Justice of the
Peace, with the expectation of receiving a reward for their capture. During their journey,
Mr. Adams and the woman, Fanny Goodwill, realize that they are acquainted with each
other. Fanny is Joseph's beloved and she embarked on a quest to locate him after
learning about his unfortunate brush with the Ruffians.

The Justice of the Peace is displaying negligence and is on the verge of incarcerating
Adams and Fanny without adequately considering their case. However, a bystander
suddenly identifies Adams and provides assurance of his status as a clergyman and a
gentleman. The Justice promptly reconsiders his decision and dismisses the charges
against Adams and Fanny, despite the fact that the attacker has already evaded capture
and will not face consequences. Adams and Fanny will soon leave for the next inn,
anticipating a meeting with Joseph.

Joseph and Fanny experience a joyful reunion at the inn, and Joseph expresses a
desire to marry immediately. However, both Mr. Adams and Fanny favor a more
cautious approach. At dawn, the companions realize that they have an additional
invoice from the inn that they are unable to settle. Consequently, Adams sets out to see
the affluent minister of the local church. Parson Trulliber, who dedicates the most of his
time to caring for his hogs rather than caring for souls, responds unfavorably to Adams's
plea for compassion. Adams comes back to the inn empty-handed, but luckily a
benevolent Pedlar learns about the travelers' difficult situation and lends Adams the
necessary funds.

freestar
After traveling a few more kilometers, the travelers come across a sociable Squire who
initially promises them warm hospitality and the opportunity to use his coach. However,
he then withdraws these offers at the final moment. Adams engages in a conversation
with the innkeeper over this peculiar conduct, during which the innkeeper enlightens him
about the Squire's extensive track record of deceitful commitments.

Continuing their journey after dark, the group of friends come across a collection of
ethereal lights that Mr. Adams initially believes to be apparitions, but are later shown to
be the lanterns used by those who steal sheep. The companions hastily depart from the
location and secure lodgings at the residence of a family known as the Wilsons. Once
the women have gone to bed, Mr. Adams and Joseph stay awake to listen to Mr. Wilson
recount his life story, which is essentially a tale of a morally corrupt man's
transformation via the love of a virtuous woman. Wilson also notes that after relocating
from London to the countryside, he and his wife tragically experienced the loss of their
oldest son due to a gipsy kidnapping.
The travelers, who are greatly impressed by the Wilson family and their uncomplicated
rural lifestyle, leave in the morning. While walking, Mr. Adams and Joseph engage in a
conversation on Wilson's history and engage in a dispute regarding the roots of human
virtue and vice. After a while, they pause to have supper, and while they are resting, a
group of hunting hounds discovers them, completely destroys a helpless hare, and then
assaults the sleeping Mr. Adams. Joseph arrives with his cudgel and defends the
parson by defeating the group of hounds. The proprietor of the hounds, a cruel Squire
whom Fielding characterizes as a "Hunter of Men," initially displays anger towards the
harm inflicted upon his canines. However, upon catching sight of the beautiful Fanny, he
promptly alters his intentions and extends an invitation to the group to dine at his
residence.

The Man Hunter and his group of bizarre individuals mock Mr. Adams continuously
during the meal, causing the clergyman to go to the kitchen, bring Joseph and Fanny,
and depart from the residence. The Hunter dispatches his subordinates with explicit
instructions to seize Fanny, whom he has been intending to corrupt from the beginning.
The servants locate the companions at an inn the following morning, and after another
intense conflict, they manage to restrain Adams and Joseph by fastening them to a
bedpost. They then escape with Fanny. Fortunately for Fanny, a contingent of Lady
Booby's attendants happens across her, promptly identifies her as the milkmaid, and
liberates her from her captors. Subsequently, they make their way to the inn where
Adams and Joseph are restrained, and Joseph is given the opportunity to vent his anger
on Fanny's main kidnapper before they resume their journey. Mr. Adams travels in a
carriage with the unpleasant Peter Pounce, who abuses the clergyman to such an
extent that the clergyman decides to leave the carriage and walk alongside Joseph and
Fanny's horse for the final mile of the trip.

The friends eventually return to Lady Booby's parish, and Lady Booby herself comes
shortly afterwards. During Sunday church service, she listens as Mr. Adams publicly
declares the wedding intentions of Joseph and Fanny. Later that day, she calls upon the
person to confront him sternly. She asserts her opposition to the marriage of the young
lovers, citing concerns that they will give rise to a destitute family within the local
community. When Adams declines to assist with Lady Booby's attempts to separate the
lovers, Lady Booby calls in a lawyer named Scout, who fabricates a legal excuse to
prevent the marriage. After two days, Joseph and Fanny are presented to the Justice of
the Peace, who readily agrees to comply with Lady Booby's intentions.

The presence of Lady Booby's nephew, Mr. Booby, and his recently married wife, who
coincidentally is Joseph's sister Pamela, obstructs the ongoing court processes. Mr.
Booby, in order to prevent any distress for his young bride, takes action in the situation
and releases her brother and Fanny. Subsequently, he escorts Joseph to Booby Hall,
while Fanny makes her way to the Adams residence. On the following day, Lady Booby
persuades Mr. Booby to participate in her endeavor to discourage Joseph from marrying
Fanny. Meanwhile, Fanny goes for a stroll near Booby Hall and experiences an attack
by a small man named Beau Didapper; when Beau is unsuccessful in his attempt to
take advantage of Fanny, he assigns the task to a servant and leaves. Thankfully,
Joseph steps in before the servant can make much progress.

Joseph and Fanny reach the Adams residence, where Mr. Adams advises Joseph to
use restraint and reason in his affection for his future spouse. Immediately after Adams
concludes his endorsement of stoical detachment, an individual appears to inform him
that his youngest offspring, Dick, has tragically perished in the river. Mr. Adams, who
was not emotionally distant, cries profusely for his son, who luckily returns to the house
shortly after being saved from the river by the Pedlar who previously rescued the
travelers from one of their inns. Adams expresses joy and gratitude towards the Pedlar,
then continues advising Joseph to steer clear of intense emotional connections. Joseph
endeavors to highlight to Adams his own lack of constancy, although his efforts are
unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, Lady Booby is scheming to use Beau Didapper in order to create a rift
between Joseph and Fanny. She escorts him, accompanied by Mr. Bobby and Pamela,
to the Adams residence, where the Beau tries to touch Fanny inappropriately and
angers Joseph. Upon receiving criticism from the gathered Boobys regarding his
investment of time in the milkmaid, Joseph decides to leave with his fiancée, firmly
declaring that he will sever ties with any those who refuse to accept Fanny.

Joseph, Fanny, the Pedlar, and the Adamses all have dinner together at an alehouse
that evening. At that moment, the Pedlar discloses that he has ascertained that Fanny
is, in reality, the daughter who had been missing for a long time from Mr. and Mrs.
Andrews. This means that she is Joseph's sister and therefore cannot marry him. At
Booby Hall, Lady Booby is delighted to find out that Joseph and Fanny have been
identified as siblings. Subsequently, all individuals convene at the Hall, where Mr. Booby
tells them to maintain composure and refrain from forming opinions until the next day,
when Mr. and Mrs. Andrews are expected to arrive and likely provide clarification.

During the late hours of the night, a series of mischievous activities occur when Beau
Didapper attempts to find Fanny's bed but mistakenly ends up in Mrs. Slipslop's bed
instead. Slipslop cries out for assistance, attracting Mr. Adams, who wrongly assaults
Slipslop while Beau manages to escape. Lady Booby subsequently discovers Adams
and Slipslop in a state of intimacy, but the misunderstanding is quickly resolved and
Adams proceeds back to his chamber. Regrettably, due to a navigational error, he ends
up in Fanny's room, where he remains asleep until daylight. It is then that Joseph
discovers the clergyman and the milkmaid sharing a bed. Following a brief bout of
anger, Joseph reaches the conclusion that Adams merely took a wrong direction during
the night.

After Adams departs, the siblings make a solemn promise that if they are indeed
confirmed as siblings, they will both abstain from any sexual activity indefinitely. Later
that morning, Mr. and Mrs. Andrews arrive, confirming that Fanny is their biological
daughter who was abducted as an infant. However, it is revealed that Joseph is not their
biological son, but rather a changeling baby that was substituted for Fanny. The Pedlar
abruptly recalls the Wilson family, who had previously lost a child with a unique
birthmark on his chest, coincidentally, Joseph too possesses such a distinguishing
birthmark. Fortuitously, Mr. Wilson himself arrives at the entrance of Booby Hall
precisely at that moment, facilitating an immediate reconciliation between father and
son.

All individuals, with the exception of Lady Boby, thereafter travel to Mr. Booby's rural
property. During the journey, Joseph and Fanny discuss and finalize their wedding
plans. Following their wedding, the newly married couple establishes their residence in
close proximity to the Wilson family. Mr. Booby generously gives a significant amount of
money to Fanny, a valuable administrative position to Mr. Adams, and a position as an
excise-man to the Pedlar. Lady Booby resumes her flirtatious lifestyle in London.

CONCLUSION:
Following a series of exciting and risky experiences, Joseph Andrews ultimately
achieves his desired happy ending. After being reunited with his genuine love, Fanny,
the protagonist's faithfulness and moral excellence are acknowledged with matrimony
and a life devoid of the allurements of the aristocracy. Parson Adams also discovers his
own unique form of satisfaction, and it appears that Lady Booby has also progressed.
The tale concludes with a serene tone, commemorating the victory of virtue and the
eternal influence of love and faith.
REFERENCES:

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