Tom Jones as Mirror of Its Age

Introduction  This novel was written in 1745 and published in 1749, both in England. It is categorized as Epic Comic Romance. The writer of  this novel, Henry Fielding happens to be the innovator of this genre into English literature. But its not only the peculiarity of its form which makes it popular even after two hundred plus years, rather it’s the content, the grand action which it presents, the moral theme which it contains, variety of realistically presented characters and above all the versatile treatment of the subject undertaken had grant it the status of a masterpiece in English literature. Since the assignment work is especially about how far it depicts the contemporary society, so I begin with analyzing this novel in the relative topic. Tom Jones as Mirror of its age

lively ly nove novel. l. It’s It’s a life life long long expe experi rien ence ce of a Tom Jones Jones is a live charac character ter relate related d integr integrall ally y with with that that of its write writerr and and shared shared wonderfully with its readers. Henry Fielding, the author of  Tom  Jones happens to be one amongst those great writers who did not draw their stories from classical and Christian mythology, epics, history, Bible etc. They took stories from the incidents which were quite commonly occurring in that age. This is indeed the first criteria for a writer to be realistic with the society in order present in his writings what he has witnessed. The best example of such type of writing is Tom Jones. The realism of this novel does not reflect life and manners of aristocracy, but its prime focus is upon middle middle class class societ society. y. The The majori majority ty of charac character ters s in Tom Jones including the Hero Tom belong to the middle class family. Tom  Jones show us not only the pious side of the middle class, but it also exposes corruption amongst them and their attitude towards other classes in the society. On the one hand, Tom Jones bestows them them with with virtue virtues s like like courag courage, e, genero generosit sity y and benevo benevolen lence. ce. While on the other hand, it points out vices in form of maligning, hypocrisy and injustice. No doubt these all traits existed in the Englis English h societ society y at the time when when this this novel novel was written written.. But, But, hardly anyone before Fielding dared to present them as vividly as he did. It is because of this brilliant mode of expression that William Hazlitt said:

Rao Rizwan Sadiq. M.A. English (2009-11) Islamia University of Bahawalpur.

“To read Tom Jones is like going out into the world shedding prejudices, social awkwardness. It is a balanced expe experi rien ence ce,, one one that that give gives s us insi insigh ghtt into into the the huma human n nature, tolerance of its weaknesses and large platitude of  its strength.” (William Hazlitt) presen ents ts soci societ ety y as it was. was. It does does not not Tom Jones Jones pres exaggerate in any angle of literary possibility of exaggeration. If a character has more virtuous characteristics, it reflects him in the form form of elderl elderly y gentle gentlemen men Squir Squire e All Allwo worth rthy. y. If a charac character ter in society is more vicious, Tom Jones presents him in the shape of  Blifil. If a reckless and selfless youngster roams in the society doing favours to people, Tom Jones makes him its Protagonist.   The The love lovely ly lady lady Soph Sophia ia cann cannot ot be exce except ptio ion n from from real realis isti tic c characters in any way. Morally weak persons of the society are presented in the form of Master Blifil who is greedy of wealth, and Bridget western who gets seduced but tries to bury her blunders. Perhaps the most realistic character of the age, Molly, morally weakest of all, belong to poor family, entices youngsters for going into bed with her for few pennies, entraps Tom the hero of the nove novel. l. Expl Exploi oittati ation of soc social ial nor norms, ones nes own own inte integr griity, ty, established institutions of the society and class complexities were all common features of the age which have been quite magnificently reflected into this novel. Fielding’s Fielding’s novels, novels, particula particularly rly Tom Jones character terize ized d by Jones, are charac soci social al sati satire re,, over overfl flow owin ing g real realis ism, m, fres fresh h and and altr altrui uist stic ic mora morall approach, good sense of humour and healthy sentiment. Tom  Jones does not only take reader into the house of a character, but it shows his life on the road as well. Tom Jones is often said to be the portrayal of the urban London life of eighteenth century. He succee succeeded ded in puttin putting g morali morality, ty, religi religion, on, social social status status,, politi politics, cs, education, reformation and culture of English society in just one canvas. Morality; as it was declining day by day. Social status; as it meant everything to people in that age. Education was not yet considered as the ornament of every individual; instead it was imparted to either those who could afford or to those who had some some state state suppor support. t. Reform Reformati ation; on; when when virtue virtue wins wins over over vice. vice. Culture; when every individual and collective trait and behaviour of society is bind together with one force. All these features have

Rao Rizwan Sadiq. M.A. English (2009-11) Islamia University of Bahawalpur.

been marvelously depicted in Tom Jones and they present if not exactly real then quite close to the real picture of the society. Tom Jones, as it seems, to have escaped no aspect of its age. Two most prominent features which are to be kept in consideration while analyzing Tom Jones as mirror of its age are time and place. Fielding has been immensely conscious of both these factors and has very skillfully made both these objects as contributing pieces towards his reflective realism.  The broader view of this novel would take us to a belief that it does not merely reflect the contemporary society or age, but it tends to reflect the very nature of a human being. From this perspective it would be quite obvious to say that Tom Jones is in fact the mirror of human nature. It discloses good and bad nature of a human being. It discusses a subject and a theme which have been prevailing in the age before him but scarcely chosen by anyone for moral restrictions or any other reason. However, the writer writer of  To dared d to expo expose se nega negati tive ve qual qualit itie ies s in a Tom m Jones Jones dare human being regardless of how poor or how rich one may be. In addition, to achieve the purpose of moral teaching and to make the story natural, colorful and dramatic, he employs such skills as authorial intrusion, mock-heroic style, and irony. With authorial intrusion, Fielding engages his readers in the evaluations of moral   judgments. With irony and mock-heroic style, Fielding not only offers himself chances to play with his lively humor, but he also creates chances for his readers to assess the characters. Thus, it is fair to say that the core of  Tom Jones is a parade of human nature which is brilliantly significant in his novel. Tom Jones can also be regarded as reflection of inner vices and virtue virtues s of every every human human being. being. Fieldi Fielding ng preach preaches es throug through h the character of  Tom Jones that nobility of heart matters more than nobili nobility ty of birth. birth. To this this point point To offers an ostensible ostensible Tom m Jones Jones offers example. Before his true birth is revealed, he is a foundling, a bastard, a status of the most ignoble birth. Nonetheless, it is an irrefutable truth that nobility of birth cannot guarantee nobility of  heart. In this novel there are many characters of noble birth who prove prove dis dishon honest est,, selfis selfish, h, evil, evil, and even even hideou hideous, s, such such as Lord Lord Fellamar, who attempts to rape Sophie; Lady Bellaston, who tries to do Tom a great deal of evil after she loses her fancy to him; Master Blifil, the most odious character, who plays false witness agai agains nstt Tom Tom many many time times; s; Brid Bridge gett Blif Blifil il,, who who bear bears s Tom Tom and and

Rao Rizwan Sadiq. M.A. English (2009-11) Islamia University of Bahawalpur.

conceals the fact until her death. On the other hand, there are admirable kind-hearted people who are not high-born, such as Mrs. Nightingale, and Partridge. Obviously, nobility of heart is not associated with class. Fielding basically believes that he who has nobi nobili lity ty of hear heartt has has mora morall su supe peri rior orit ity. y. This This was was a comm common on perception of the aristocrats of that age who considered midgets as of low char charac acte terr. Fiel Fieldi din ng had had disi disilllusi lusion oned ed them hem ver very intelligently and presented the gist of his age in bold words.

Conclusion serves es as a guid guidin ing g ligh lightt towa toward rds s unde unders rsta tand ndin ing g Tom Jone Tom Jones s serv human nature, particularly in 18 th century England. It’s a portrait of its age, people in that age and their attitude towards individual and the society. A keen observation of the wide zones of this novel would reveal to us that Tom Jones is not merely the mirror of its age; rather it is precised history, sociology, theology and philosophy of its age.

Rao Rizwan Sadiq. M.A. English (2009-11) Islamia University of Bahawalpur.