Henry Fielding is a famous 18th century British writer who became famous as one of the founders of a realistic novel. The author’s most famous work is The Story of Tom Jones, the Foundling. We will talk about this novel in our article.
About the book
The novel was first published in 1749 and became the most famous work that Henry Fielding wrote. He has a pronounced social orientation, but without sharp criticism. The author sympathizes with the humiliated destitute poor, wants to facilitate their unenviable fate. He is not touched by them, in which one could notice a certain insincerity. Therefore, there is no embellishment of the appearance of the poor. The aristocrat also did not escape Fielding's attention. He does not stand on ceremony with them, portraying their cunning, deceit and greed.
Nevertheless, the book is written very easily and vibrantly. It is impossible to read without a smile. The author does not try to exaggerate and turn his creation into a tragedy. His desire is to portray life as he sees it.
Henry Fielding. The Story of Tom Jones, Foundling: Summary
Squire Alverty lives with his sister Bridget. Once they throw a baby on the doorstep. They decide to leave the boy and give the name Tom. But Alverti does not stop searching for the parents of a foundling. Soon there is a mother - Jenny Jones, she confesses everything, and she is deported from the village. Then the father is discovered - the school teacher Partridge, who also turns out to be deported.
Bridget soon marries and gives birth to a son, Blyfil. He and Tom are raised together and become friends. Although the boys are completely different characters. Blyfil is always restrained, diligently studies and does not break the rules. While Tom is his exact opposite.
Tom is friends with the daughter of their neighbor, a wealthy squire, Sophie.
Watchman Family
Not only mischief is different Tom Jones. Henry Fielding endowed his hero with responsiveness. The boy visits the family of a poor beggar who dies of hunger, and gives all his money. Tom falls in love with Molly, the caretaker's daughter. The girl takes courtship, and soon everyone will find out about her pregnancy.
The news immediately spreads around. Sophia Western also finds out about this - the girl has long been in love with Tom, so the news leads her into despair. Tom himself, who for a long time perceived her as a friend, only now begins to notice the beauty of the girl. Gradually, the young man falls in love with Sofia.
However, Tom should now marry Molly. But the situation changes dramatically when a young man finds a future bride in the arms of another man. It turns out that Molly is not carrying his child.
Alverti's Disease and Secret Love
Henry Fielding portrays the protagonist with great love and sets him apart from the rest. So, when Alverti begins to hurt, all the household, even Blyfil, think only of the inheritance. Everyone except Tom, who sincerely worries about the old man. Soon news comes of Bridget's death. Alverti is getting better. Tom gets drunk with joy, which causes condemnation of others.
Squire Western, wishing to marry her daughter for Blyfil, agrees with Alverti about this. On the eve of the wedding, Sofia announces that she will not get married. Blyfil’s cunning plan is ripening. He convinces Alverti that Tom got drunk and was glad that he was dying. Squire believes his words and kicks Tom out.
Secretly, Tom writes a letter to Sophia, confessing their love and that now they cannot be happy: he is a beggar and forced to leave Alverty's house.
Let's hit the road
The story of Tom Jones continues. Henry Fielding describes how his character leaves the estate. At the same time, Sofia runs away from home, not wanting to marry the unloved.
On the way, Tom meets Partridge, who convinces the young man that he is not his father, but asks permission to accompany him. Then Tom manages to save Mrs. Waters from the rapist. The field of which a woman easily seduces a young man.
Sophia is in the same hotel with Tom, but when he finds out that he cheated on her, she is furious. The girl leaves the hotel, and then her angry father appears.
In the morning, Tom understands why Sofia escaped. He desperately sets off, hoping to catch up with his beloved.
London
Henry Fielding takes us to the capital of England. Sophia arrives in London and stops at Lady Bellaston, who promises to help her. Tom soon arrives here. With great difficulty, he searches for a lover, but she remains adamant.
Lady Bellaston falls in love with Tom. Wanting to get rid of her harassment, the young man proposes to her. A lady cannot associate her fate with a beggar who is twice her age. Bellaston refuses Tom, but is furious. She tells Fellamar, who is in love with Sofia, that one rogue interferes with their happiness. If you remove it, the girl will agree to marry.
Jail
Again, an unexpected twist in the novel presents Henry Fielding to his readers. Tom's biography is changing dramatically again. On the street, a young man is attacked, he defends himself and injures his opponent. Tom was immediately surrounded by the sailors sent by Fellamar and sent to prison.
Western finds his daughter and locks before the arrival of Blyfil and Alverti, who soon appear. It turns out that Mrs. Waters is the mother of Tom. Alverti calls a woman to her. She says that Tom is the son of a friend of the squire, and his mother is the sister of Alverty Bridget. The truth is revealed about the slander of Blyfil.
Denouement
The novel that Henry Fielding wrote is nearing its end. The story of Tom Jones ends with the fact that the young man is released from prison - the enemy he defeated is alive and does not charge. Alverti repents and apologizes, but the young man does not blame him for anything.
Sophia learns that Tom was not going to marry Bellaston, but simply wanted to get rid of the courtship of the old lady.
Jones comes to Sophia, he intends to again ask her hands. The girl agrees. And when Western finds out that Tom, and not Blyfil, will become the successor of Alverty, he will gladly give his blessing.
The wedding is celebrated in London, after the ceremony, the newlyweds go to the village, where they intend to live away from the city bustle until the end of their days.
Reader Reviews
What impression does Henry Fielding make on readers? The writer's books were taken with great enthusiasm during his lifetime. How do modern readers perceive The Tom Jones Story? Basically, they give the work the highest ratings, noting its reality, charismatic heroes and immersion in the past. The only negative that both supporters and opponents give out is volume. Indeed, a two-volume work is not read quickly. But some find the charm of the work exactly in this - for a long reading time you get used to the characters, they become native. A number of readers find common between Fielding’s novel and the books of J. Austin.
The work is worth reading to those who want to plunge into the 18th century, to feel the spirit of that era. Learn about how Europe then lived, or rather England.