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The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
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The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding - Group Read (hosted by Debra and Angela)
message 151:
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Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"
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Sep 27, 2021 02:48PM
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I am lagging behind, but I have just completed the section regarding the Partridges and (view spoiler)
Bionic Jean wrote: "Debra's updates are really helping, Lori. Even the chapter titles are self-explanatory, but the summaries are great :)"Thanks, Jean.
Book 5 Chapters BOOK V — CONTAINING A PORTION OF TIME SOMEWHAT LONGER THAN HALF A YEAR.
Chapter i — Of the SERIOUS in writing, and for what purpose it is introduced.
Chapter ii — In which Mr Jones receives many friendly visits during his confinement; with some fine touches of the passion of love, scarce visible to the naked eye.
Chapter iii — Which all who have no heart will think to contain much ado about nothing.
Chapter iv — A little chapter, in which is contained a little incident.
Chapter v — A very long chapter, containing a very great incident.
Chapter vi — By comparing which with the former, the reader may possibly correct some abuse which he hath formerly been guilty of in the application of the word love.
Chapter vii — In which Mr Allworthy appears on a sick-bed.
Chapter viii — Containing matter rather natural than pleasing.
Chapter ix — Which, among other things, may serve as a comment on that saying of Aeschines, that "drunkenness shows the mind of a man, as a mirrour reflects his person."
Chapter x — Showing the truth of many observations of Ovid, and of other more grave writers, who have proved beyond contradiction, that wine is often the forerunner of incontinency.
Chapter xi — In which a simile in Mr Pope's period of a mile introduces as bloody a battle as can possibly be fought without the assistance of steel or cold iron.
Chapter xii — In which is seen a more moving spectacle than all the blood in the bodies of Thwackum and Blifil, and of twenty other such, is capable of producing.
Characters in Book 5 Tom Jones
Mr Allworthy
Thwackum
Square
Betty. Molly's older sister (the eldest sister)
Will Barnes. The first seducer of Molly.
Mrs Honour
Mr Western
Mrs Blifil
Mrs Wilkins. Servant at Allsworthy's house.
The physician. Who attended Mr. Allsworthy.
Mrs Western. Sophia's aunt.
Book 5 Summary Tom Jones recovers at Mr. Western' s house. Tom and Sophia's love grows. Sophia wears the muff that Tom kissed around her arm.
Tom goes to Molly's house to offer her money, so he can get free of her and be with Sophia. But when he gets to the house he discovers that Molly has been entertaining Square in her bed. Later, Tom finds out that Molly was with Will Barnes before him and the baby is probably this other mans.
Mr. Allsworthy thinks he is going to die. So he summons the family and servants to his bedside and tells them what they will receive upon his death. Blifil will get most of the estate. Tom gets an annuity, which he is happy with. The servants, including Thwackum and Square, will get a bit of money, which none of the them are happy about. But Mr. Allsworthy does not die. Instead Mrs. Blifil dies, quite unexpectedly.
Tom is so happy that Allsworthy is okay that he gets drunk...happy, happy drunk. Blifil is upset because his mother died and this should be a sober time.
Tom goes for a stroll, he is drunk, happy and thinking about Sophia, when Molly comes along. So, Tom decides to have sex with Molly. (My gosh, Tom!!) Blifil and Thwackum discover Tom, Molly is hiding. Thwackum demands to know who Tom is with but Tom won't tell. A fight breaks out, Blifil and Thwackum vs. Tom. Mr. Western comes upon them. Sees that it is two against one, so he joins Tom. Sophia and her aunt, Mrs. Western, arrive at the fight. So, Sophia discovers that Tom has been with another woman. (It is unclear to me if she knows it is Molly.)
Bionic Jean wrote: "How's everyone getting on?"Oh My, it is hard for me to get excited to pick up the book and often when I do I get sleepy!!! I'm TRYING, but it is a painfully slow process. I a only on chapter IV of book IV at this point, but reading some of the comments I see that things pick up. Onward.
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That is not so far behind, Chris. It is picking up for me, or I am getting used to it. I don't think it is ever going to just flow along, but I do like it.
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Bionic Jean wrote: "Updated links."Thanks, Jean.
I plan on posting Book 6 info on Monday or Tuesday.
A tidbit of information:Tom Jones was one of the earliest English novels.
When Tom Jones was published in 1749, novels were only beginning to be recognized as a legitimate literary form that followed and developed alongside the popular drama genre. Strictly speaking, the first English novel was Pamela: or Virtue Rewarded, which was published by Samuel Richardson in 1740. But Richardson presented his stories as moral treatises, a method that Fielding rejected. Furthermore, while Richardson only concentrated "minute attention upon only one or two figures," Fielding was perhaps the first English writer to fill his novels with a cast of "vividly-presented" characters. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, "It may almost be said that until the publication of Tom Jones no novel with a real plot had been conceived in English."
Fielding was not modest about his role in the birth of the novel, declaring, "I am, in reality, the founder of a new province of writing, so I am at liberty to make what laws I please therein."
(Found on Course Hero)
(Jean mentioned some of this in message 38)
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Another tidbit:The character Sophia Western was inspired by Fielding's wife.
Fielding's beloved wife, Charlotte, died of a fever in 1744, five years before the publication of Tom Jones. He deeply mourned her and modeled the character Sophia Western on her. In Tom Jones, he wrote that Sophia "most of all ... resembled one whose image never can depart from my breast, and whom, if thou dost remember, thou hast then, my friend, an adequate idea of Sophia."
(Found on Course Hero)
Interesting that Fielding would have considered himself the first English novelist, since Defoe had published Robinson Crusoe and Moll Flanders in the 1720's. Of course, the style is different and Fielding is certainly among the first and instrumental in developing the genre.
It looks like both Fielding and Defoe were both considered among the first English novelists. But, maybe, Fielding was more of a braggart. Thanks for the info, Sara. I read the bit of information I found and thought, "Wow! Tom Jones was the first novel." ...now I know.
Edit: Now that I am thinking about it, there must have been other English novels published between 1720 and 1749. So why is Tom Jones listed as one of the first.
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(by the way Debra - you might want to edit your dates ... it's not in the 20th century)
Bionic Jean wrote: "Perhaps because it was first published as a novel - not as a serial? Or because it's so highly structured, and organised into chapters? I don't know, but it does seem to be stated as "among the ear..."Oh my gosh! I am on it, Jean. lol
Hi friends, I am back in the U.S. from Egypt in Chicago visiting family until Saturday. The internet in Egypt was spotty so I couldn't download books to my Kindle, boooo!! I finally got them now that I am back in the states so I am here begging your indulgence to let me know where we are in Tom Jones? I left off at book 2 chp.4. I should be able to catch up pretty quickly. missed you guys!!!
Welcome back, Angela. We are up to book 6. Also, Jean has provided helpful links to the summaries and more in message #2.Egypt, wow!
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How marvelous to have seen Egypt! Welcome back. I am also playing catch-up, Angela, but as always, the thread is so well organized it is easy to keep your place.
Book 6 Chapters BOOK VI — CONTAINING ABOUT THREE WEEKS.
Chapter i — Of love.
Chapter ii — The character of Mrs Western. Her great learning and knowledge of the world, and an instance of the deep penetration which she derived from those advantages.
Chapter iii — Containing two defiances to the critics.
Chapter iv — Containing sundry curious matters.
Chapter v — In which is related what passed between Sophia and her aunt.
Chapter vi — Containing a dialogue between Sophia and Mrs Honour, which may a little relieve those tender affections which the foregoing scene may have raised in the mind of a good-natured reader.
Chapter vii — A picture of formal courtship in miniature, as it always ought to be drawn, and a scene of a tenderer kind painted at full length.
Chapter viii — The meeting between Jones and Sophia.
Chapter ix — Being of a much more tempestuous kind than the former.
Chapter x — In which Mr Western visits Mr Allworthy.
Chapter xi — A short chapter; but which contains sufficient matter to affect the good-natured reader.
Chapter xii — Containing love-letters, &c.
Chapter xiii — The behaviour of Sophia on the present occasion; which none of her sex will blame, who are capable of behaving in the same manner. And the discussion of a knotty point in the court of conscience.
Chapter xiv — A short chapter, containing a short dialogue between Squire Western and his sister.
Characters in Book 6 Mrs. Western
Mr. Western
Jones
Sophia
Mr. Allsworthy
Blifil
Mrs Honour
parson Supple
Thwackum
Black George
Book 6 Summary Mrs. Western (Sophia's aunt) mistakenly thinks Sophia is in love with Blifil and tells Mr. Western. Who then arranges a marriage between Sophia and Blifil...without a word to Sophie. Blifil agrees to the marriage because of the money, he has no love for Sophia. It comes out that Sophia loves Tom and does not want to marry Blifil. Mr. Western is outraged that Sophia is in love with a bastard who is poor and threatens to throw her out. Mrs. Western tries to reason with Sophia telling her to marry for money. Mr. Western simply locks Sophia in her room.
Blifil is most unhappy that he is losing Sophia to Jones. So he tells lies and half truths about Jones to Mr. Allsworthy. (I cannot figure out why Allsworthy is so blind as to what is going on here.) Allsworthy throws Jones out but does give him 500 pounds to help him start a new life. Jones loses the money in his fit of dispair. Black George finds the money and steals it. Then he pretends to help Jones look for it.
Jones writes a letter to Sophia, telling her to forget about him. He thinks this is for the best. He sends this before receiving Sophia's letter saying she will only marry Jones. Sophia sends money to Jones. Black George takes the money to Jones, but only because he is afraid of being caught if he keeps it. (We see a dark side of the old gamekeeper.)
I have a general question--why is Mrs. Western not Miss Western? She is Squire Western's sister, and presumably has never been married or she would have a different surname. I know that female housekeepers and maybe lady's maids get the title Mrs. regardless of marital status, but I didn't think that applied to ladies in general, even those of a certain age :)
Jane wrote: "I have a general question--why is Mrs. Western not Miss Western? She is Squire Western's sister, and presumably has never been married or she would have a different surname. I know that female hous..."I don't think it has anything to do with marital status. I think it was because she was an older, wealthy woman who had business dealings. Just the way they did it back then.
Oh, here is a link to some info about the use of Mrs. The title of the article is When 'Mistress' Meant 'Mrs.' and 'Miss' Meant 'Prostitute'.https://newrepublic.com/article/11943...
Debra Digs wrote: "Oh, here is a link to some info about the use of Mrs. The title of the article is When 'Mistress' Meant 'Mrs.' and 'Miss' Meant 'Prostitute'.https://newrepublic.com/article/11943...-..."
Thanks, that was helpful.
Jane wrote: "Debra Digs wrote: "Oh, here is a link to some info about the use of Mrs. The title of the article is When 'Mistress' Meant 'Mrs.' and 'Miss' Meant 'Prostitute'.https://newrepublic.com/article/119..."
You are welcome :)
fantastic article, Debra. Thank you.
Sara wrote: "fantastic article, Debra. Thank you.":)
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Edit - sorry - I've just seen it was answered already!
I am a little behind, I am also reading Little Dorrit and Doctor Wortle's school and I had a hectic period at work.I am finishing book 4. I must say I have been very surprised by the dialogue between Mr. Western and the parson about Molly's pregnancy: they speak about it openly in front of Sophia and I was also surprised by their language, it was totally unexpected. I thought that people were not allowed to speak about the facts of life in front of girls, but perhaps this came later, with the Victorian Age?
I am also surprised that Tom's beahavior is in the end accepted, also by Sophia, and I wonder what will be of the baby.
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It was Queen Victoria herself who we remember for instilling family values, and we tend to forget what social behaviour was accepted before her. A small example is dress. The females in this novel would wear very low and revealing necklines, but Queen Victoria led the fashion, and they were soon raised to a more decorous level, and muted or darker colours as appropriate.
Interestingly, this has another side, as wealthy 18th century women had a lot more power than they did in the 19th century, eg. they could stand in Parliament, or have children by several men (as long as they provided an heir). But Queen Victoria valued family above all, and a woman's duty to her husband, and insisted on what became to be known as "Victorian values". And they lasted a good long time - at least outwardly - although the Victorian Age was also an age of huge hypocrisy.
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But if you google his name and the book, you can see what I mean. Some are hilarious!
Daniela wrote: "I am a little behind, I am also reading Little Dorrit and Doctor Wortle's school and I had a hectic period at work.I am finishing book 4. I must say I have been very surprised by the dialogue betw..."
Daniela, I did wonder about speaking of pregnancy openly. But just brushed it off. Tom's behavior and everyone accepting it really surprised me. And, good gosh, they were going to send Molly to jail...not Tom.
Bionic Jean wrote: "Hi Daniela - this freedom of speech and questions of morality is why I put the caution at the beginning. 18th century novels are sometimes very bawdy indeed, and if you're used to Victorian proprie..."Jean, thank you for this information. It explains a lot about the behavior in this book.
Also, thanks for the info on the cartoonist.
I am running late with Book 7. Will have info posted late tomorrow. And will also do Books 8 and 9 this week so we don't get behind. Then all will be ready for Angela to take over for the second half.
Mod
I'll put the links in place as we go, as usual.
Book 7 Chapters BOOK VII — CONTAINING THREE DAYS.
Chapter i — A comparison between the world and the stage.
Chapter ii — Containing a conversation which Mr Jones had with himself.
Chapter iii — Containing several dialogues.
Chapter iv — A picture of a country gentlewoman taken from the life.
Chapter v — The generous behaviour of Sophia towards her aunt.
Chapter vi — Containing great variety of matter.
Chapter vii — A strange resolution of Sophia, and a more strange stratagem of Mrs Honour.
Chapter viii — Containing scenes of altercation, of no very uncommon kind.
Chapter ix — The wise demeanour of Mr Western in the character of a magistrate. A hint to justices of peace, concerning the necessary qualifications of a clerk; with extraordinary instances of paternal madness and filial affection.
Chapter x — Containing several matters, natural enough perhaps, but low.
Chapter xi — The adventure of a company of soldiers.
Chapter xii — The adventure of a company of officers.
Chapter xiii — Containing the great address of the landlady, the great learning of a surgeon, and the solid skill in casuistry of the worthy lieutenant.
Chapter xiv — A most dreadful chapter indeed; and which few readers ought to venture upon in an evening, especially when alone.
Chapter xv — The conclusion of the foregoing adventure.
Book 7 Characters Jones
W. Blifil
Mrs. Western
Sophia
Mr. Western
Mrs. Honour
Mr. Allsworthy
Parson Supple
Mrs. Western's maid
Broadbrim. Quaker
Robin. Landlord
The guide
Soldiers
The Sergeant
The Lieutenant
Ensign Northerton
Ensign Adderly
French lieutenant
Surgeon
Landlady
The Centinel
Book 7 Summary Blifil writes a terrible letter to Tom telling him to leave the country. Tom heads to Bristol to go to sea.
Mr. Western is determined to wed Sophia to Blifil against her will. Blifil lies about the love between himself and and Sophia in order to move forward with the wedding. Western arranges a wedding for the next day. Sophia cries into her muff. Sophia and Honour plan an escape to London.
On the way to Bristol, Tom's guide gets them lost but won't admit it. A Quaker gives them directions then tells Tom about how his daughter who married against his his wishes and so, will not be getting any money. Tom is upset by this story and throws the Quaker out. Then, Tom mets some soldiers and decides to join them. He tells them of Sophia. Ensign Northerton puts Sophia down, calling her a tramp. Tom takes great offence. Which results in Northernton hitting hitting Tom over the head with a bottle. Many think Tom is going to die, but, of course, he does not. Northernton is locked up. Tom goes to kill Northernton with a sword. He has not washed up or put on a clean shirt. There is blood on him and his head is bandaged and he is pale. He looks looks like some type of dreadful ghost straight out of the graveyard. (I wonder if Dickens thought of this scene when he wrote A Christmas Carol.) This site of Tom, who the Centinel thought was dead, greatly scares the Centinel. Tom goes back to his room because he was unable to find Northernton who escaped with help from the landlady. (Thank goodness. I would hate to see Tom actually kill someone.) The Lieutenant goes on his way while Tom stays in bed to rest and recover.
A Tidbit:Fielding helped found London's first police force.
Crime was a big problem in 18th-century London, the streets rife with pickpockets, drunkards, and other petty criminals. But there was no official police force until the 1750s, only ineffective and disconnected systems of watchmen operating in different parts of the city. In 1751 Fielding—who was also a judge—founded London's first professional police force, unofficially nicknamed the Bow Street Runners (Fielding's office was on Bow Street).
(Found on Course Hero)
Some of my favorite quotes from Book 7: "The clock had now struck twelve...
...It is not easy to conceive a much more tremendous figure than he now exhibited. He had on, as we have said, a light-coloured coat, covered with streams of blood. His face, which missed that very blood, as well as twenty ounces more drawn from him by the surgeon, was pallid. Round his head was a quantity of bandage, not unlike a turban. In the right hand he carried a sword, and in the left a candle. So that the bloody Banquo was not worthy to be compared to him. In fact, I believe a more dreadful apparition was never raised in a church-yard, nor in the imagiimagination of any good people met in a winter evening over a Christmas fire in Somersetshire."
"" I am a dead man, that's all, I am a dead man, I can't recover it, I have seen him." "What hast thou seen, Jack?" says one of the soldiers. "Why, I have seen the young volunteer that was killed yesterday." He then imprecated the most heavy curses on himself, if he had not seen the volunteer, all over blood, vomiting fire out of his mouth and nostrils, pass by him into the chamber where Ensign Northerton was, and then seizing the ensign by the throat, fly away with him in a clap of thunder."
This bit of adventure has been my favorite part of the book.
Debra Digs wrote: Daniela, I did wonder about speaking of pregnancy openly. But just brushed it off. Tom's behavior and everyone accepting it really surprised me. And, good gosh, they were going to send Molly to jail...not Tom. Yes, I was also not understanding this bit either. As the prevailing sentiment seemed to be to ship the offending women (Tom's mother & Molly) to jail for their "crimes" but not the men. And yet the conversation seemed to acknowledge sex & unintended pregnancy as normal human behavior. How perceptive!!!
Yes, sex and pregnancy normal behavior, and the women pay. Also, there doesn't seem to be any set law. Just whatever the judge decides.
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