FREE ESSAY ON TOM JONES

TOM JONES

Tom Jones, by Henry Fielding is a novel that is identical to a soap opera. This book deals
with everything from treachery to lust to deceit. He writes about a man and woman's love
for one another and that nothing can stand in their way. Class separates them and they
will not let that stop them. "Acquired a discretion and prudence very uncommon in one of
his lively parts." This is a quote from Squire Allworthy to Tom. 
I believe that Fielding's purpose in writing this novel was purely to entertain. He also
added stabs at the class society in medieval England. He wrote this novel to inspire hope
in the people of his time. He wanted them to go for their dreams and never to give up
hope. But most of all this was for entertainment. Humans like to see lives that are in
more turmoil than their own. This is why we have soap operas on television today.
He achieves this by using characters that seem to be imaginable. He puts these characters
in amazing situations. When the reader believes that they have something pinned he puts
in another twist that sends your senses spiraling. A specific instance in the novel is
when the reader finds out that Mrs. Waters is actually Jenny Jones who is Tom's mother.
He sleeps with Mrs. Waters not knowing this. Fielding does not unveil this secret until
the end of the novel. 
The major problem in the book is simple. There is a deceitful man named Blifil. He and
Tom are going after the same woman, Sophia Western. Blifil is a kaniving person and
besmirches the reputation of Tom. He makes up lies that hurt Tom's chances with Sophia.
Tom is also a bastard and Sophia's father does not want her to marry a bastard. But he
does want her to marry Blifil because he is in line to inherit a large estate. After
arguments and many other incidences the truth is revealed. Everyone finds out that Tom is
the good one and Blifil is the bad one. Tom also gets the girl. 
Henry Fielding was born on April 22, 1707, at Sharpham Park in Somersetshire to
well-situated, upper-class parents. His mother was the grand daughter of Sir Henry gold,
Baron of the Exchequer, and his father, Edmund, fought against the forces of Louis XIV
under the Duke of Marlborough, who eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant general.
Fielding was home school as was Tom Jones in the novel. A clerk-man from the University
of Leyden educated him. And he began not as a novelist, but as a playwright. His first
play was, Love in Several Masques. It was written and performed in 1728, he was still
quite young. During the next ten years he wrote eight more long plays and over fifteen
short plays which he called Farces. Arthur Murphy wrote the first biography of Fielding
in 1762. "For though it must be acknowledged that in the whole collection there are few
plays likely to make any considerable figure on the stage hereafter, yet they are worthy
of being preserved, being the works of a genius, who in his wildest and most inaccurate
productions, yet occasionally displays the talents of a master." In 1737 he began to
study law at Middle Court. He was admitted to the bar in 1740. In the remaining fourteen
years of his life he published four novels. He also wrote a BI-weekly newspaper called
the Covent Garden Journal. In 1748 he was named Justice of the Peace for the Westminster
district of London and in 1749 for all of Middlesex County. He was a proponent of social
reform. He spent the last five years of his life in and out of courts and parliament. In
1753 he published "Proposal for Making an Effectual Provision for the Poor." In April
1754 he was forced to resign his position as magistrate and move to Portugal. He later
died in October of 1754. 
I believe that the specific theme of this novel to to never give up. That if a person has
a dream and eventhough others tell them they can not reach it that they should still
reach. If your goal is the top and you just miss than are you not above the top?
Plot- Some of the major actions in the story are:
In the beginning with Jenny Jones giving birth to Tom Jones. This is were Fielding's main
character starts. Then as we learn about Blifil and Tom. There are many conflicts between
these two that are important. The fights that these two had, especially the last fight
were Tom is kicked out of the house which starts much of the turmoil between characters.
Many of the twists and turns of the relationship between Sophia and Tom are cuttial to
the story. 
Squire Allworthy - A wealthy and wise landowner, magistrate, and philanthropist living in
Somersetshire, England
Bridget Allworthy - The matronly sister of Squire Allworthy. She has little but her
wealth. We learn that she is Tom's real mother.
Deborah Wilkins - The waiting-woman to Bridget and a self-styled maid of the squire's
house and has a deep moral upbringing. 
Tom Jones - The hero of the novel, he is the illegitimate son of Bridget. All worthy
adops Tom and, even though he does not know that Tom is really his nephew, he treats Tom
like a son.
Jenny Jones - She is a servant to the schoolmaster, Mr. Partridge. She is accused of
being Tom's mother. Tom has an affair with her at Upton Inn. She changes her name to Mrs.
Waters.
Mr. Partridge - He is the schoolmaster. His is falsely accused of being Tom's father and
is bannished. He also takes another name, Little Benjamin. 
Captain Blifil - A hipocrate who is only interested in money and wealth, who takes
advantage of Allworthy's generosity. 
Master Blifil - He is the son of Bridget and Captain Blifil. He wants to get all of
Allworthy's estate.
Mr. Thwackum - He is a tutor brought in to teach Blifil and Tom. He love to disipline
with the whip. 
Mr. Square - Also responsible for educating Blifil and Tom.
Squire Western - Allworthy's neighbor. He loves three things, to hunt, the bottle
(alcohol), and his daughter.
Sophia Western - She is lovely and intelegent. She is loved by tome and he want to marry
her. 
Mrs. Western - She is stubborn and pretentious. She is the sister to Squire Western. She
has no husband or children so she puts all of her efforts into Sophia.