Henry Fielding, "The Story of Tom Jones": book description, content and reviews

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Henry Fielding is a famous British writer of the 18th century, who became famous as one of the founders of the 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. It has a pronounced social orientation, but without harsh criticism. The author sympathizes with the humiliated destitute poor, wants to alleviate 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 beggars. The aristocrat also does not escape Fielding's attention. He does not stand on ceremony with them, depicting their deceit, deceit and greed.

Nevertheless, the book is written very easily and lively. It is impossible to read without smiling. The author does not try to exaggerate and turn his creation into a tragedy. His ambition is to portray life as he sees it.

Henry Fielding. "The Story of Tom Jones, the Foundling": Summary

Squire Allworthy lives with his sister Bridget. One day, a baby is thrown on their doorstep. They decide to keep the boy and give the name Tom. But Allworthy does not stop searching for the foundling's parents. Soon there is a mother - Jenny Jones, she confesses everything, and she is expelled from the village. Then the father is also found - the school teacher Partridge, who also turns out to be expelled.

Bridget soon marries and gives birth to a son, Blifil. She and Tom are brought up together and become friends. Although the boys are not at all similar in character. Blifil is always reserved, studies hard and doesn't break the rules. Whereas Tom is the complete opposite.

Tom is friends with the daughter of their neighbor, a we althy squire, Sophie.

The watchman's family

Tom Jones is not only mischievous. Henry Fielding endowed his hero with responsiveness. The boy visits the family of a beggar caretaker, who is dying of hunger, and gives all his money. Tom falls in love with Molly, the caretaker's daughter. The girl accepts courtship, and soon everyone will know about her pregnancy.

The news immediately spreads around the district. Sophia Western also finds out about this - the girl has long been in love with Tom, so the news leads her to despair. Tom himself, who for a long time perceived her as a friend, is only now beginning to notice the beauty of the girl. Gradually, the young man falls in love with Sofia.

But now Tom has to marry Molly. But the situation changes dramatically when a young man finds his future bride in the arms of another man. It turns out that Molly is not carrying his child.

DiseaseAllworthy and secret love

Henry Fielding portrays the main character with great love and sets him apart from the rest. So, when Allworthy starts to get sick, all the household, even Blifil, think only about the inheritance. Everyone except Tom, who sincerely worries about the old man. Soon news of Bridget's death arrives. Allworthy is getting better. Tom gets drunk in joy, which causes condemnation of others.

Squire Western, wishing to give his daughter to Blifil, agrees on this with Allworthy. On the eve of the wedding, Sofia announces that she will not marry. Blifil has a cunning plan. He convinces Allworthy that Tom got drunk and was glad that he was dying. The Squire believes his words and kicks Tom out.

Secretly, Tom writes a letter to Sophia, confessing his love and that now they cannot be happy: he is a beggar and forced to leave the Allworthy house.

On 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 hands of the rapist. A field of which a woman easily seduces a young man.

Sofya ends up in the same hotel with Tom, but after learning that he cheated on her, she becomes furious. The girl leaves the hotel, and her angry father immediately appears.

In the morning, Tom understands why Sofia ran away. In desperation he goes toway, hoping to catch up with the beloved.

London

Henry Fielding takes us to the capital of England. Sophia arrives in London and stays with Lady Bellaston, who promises to help her. Tom arrives shortly. With great difficulty, he searches for his beloved, 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 connect her fate with a beggar who is half her age. Bellaston refuses Tom, but becomes furious. She informs Fellamar, who is in love with Sophia, that a rogue is hindering their happiness. If it is removed, the girl will agree to marry.

Prison

Again, an unexpected twist in the novel presents its readers with Henry Fielding. Tom's biography is changing dramatically again. On the street, a young man is attacked, he defends himself and wounds his opponent. Tom is immediately surrounded by sailors sent by Fellamar and handed over to prison.

Western finds his daughter and locks her up until Blifil and Allworthy arrive, who soon show up. It turns out that Mrs. Waters is Tom's birth mother. Allworthy calls the woman to him. She says that Tom is the son of a friend of the squire, and his mother is Olworthy's sister Bridget. The truth about Blifil's slander is also revealed.

Decoupling

The novel written by Henry Fielding is coming to an end. The story of Tom Jones ends with the release of the young man from prison - the enemy defeated by him is alive and does not charge. Allworthy repents and asks for forgiveness, 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 advances of the old lady.

Jones comes to Sophia, he intends to ask her again. The girl agrees. And when Western finds out that Tom, not Blifil, will become Allworthy's heir, he gladly gives his blessing.

The wedding is celebrated in London, after the ceremony the newlyweds go to the village, where they intend to live until the end of their days away from the bustle of the city.

Reviews from readers

What impression does Henry Fielding make on readers? The writer's books during his lifetime were perceived with great enthusiasm. How do modern readers perceive "The Story of Tom Jones"? Basically, they give the work the highest ratings, noting its reality, charismatic characters and immersion in the past. The only negative that both supporters and opponents highlight is volume. Indeed, a two-volume work is not read quickly. But some find the charm of the work in this - after a long time of reading you have time to get used to the characters, they become family. A number of readers find something in common between Fielding's novel and J. Austin's books.

The work is worth reading for those who want to immerse themselves in the 18th century, feel the spirit of that era. Learn about how Europe lived then, or rather England.