Tom Jones
Tom Jones is a great novel by Henry Fielding. It deals with
various aspects of life and various elements of the society of England
prevailing at that time. So it would be absurd to try to out the whole theme of
Tom Jones into a few abstract terms. Fielding deals with a philosophy that a
good man can be guilty of a bad act, but we should not condemn an individual as
bad because is not perfectly good.
The main theme of the novel is the contrast between Tom
Jones's good nature, flawed but eventually corrected by his love for virtuous Sophia
Western, and his half-brother Blifil's hypocrisy. Secondary
themes include several other examples of virtue, hypocrisy and villainy (for
example, that of Mrs. Western and Ensign Northerton), sometimes tempered by
repentance .
Both introductory chapters to each book and interspersed
commentary introduce a long line of further themes. For instance, introductory
chapters dwell extensively on bad writers and critics, quite unrelated to the
plot but apologetic to the author and the novel itself; and authorial
commentary on several characters shows strong opposition to Methodism, calling
it fanatical and heretical, and
implying an association between Methodism and hypocrites such as the younger
Blifil.
According to
Fielding, the best qualification for making a success of life are goodness of
heart, charity rather than any formal theory of virtue, prudence, and a
willingness to learn by experience. Goodness is never to be measured by man’s
actions, but by his mentions.
Prudence and circumspection are necessary
even to the best of men. Fielding says that your inside be never so beautiful,
you must preserve a fair outside also. This must be constantly looked to, or
malice and envy will take care to blacken it so, that the sagacity and goodness
of an Allworthy will not be able to see through it, and to discern the beauties
within.
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