TOM JONES

Fielding wrote several novels but the most iconic is “Tom Jones” who is also the protagonist of the story. As a foster kid, he was raised by Blifil and throughout the story fell in love with Sophia Western, whose father rejected their relationship. Tom decided to road to London, forgetting the fact that Blifil wanted to marry Sophia for convention, and there he found out his real identity and hence he could marry Sophia. Through characters and events, Henry Fielding gives a realistic portrait of the 18th century England and presents a satirical picture of a corrupt society.

This book reflects the conflict between virtue and vice, exploring the conflicts between women and men, in particular, the destructive nature of the patriarchal values upon women. The physical and psychological confinement can be observed by the female characters and Sophia is an example: she has to face a male-dominated society, in which the female figures are invisible and become insignificant because of the patriarchal values. From this point of view, in the novel, Mr Blifil, whose aim is to marry Sophia for the sake of materialistic reasons, comes to the fore as it can be seen in the quotation:

“He was indeed perfectly well satisfied with his prospect of success; for as to that entire and absolute possession of the heart of his mistress which romantic lovers require, the very idea of it never entered his head. Her fortune and her person were the sole objects of his wishes, of which he made no doubt soon to obtain the absolute property; as Mr Western’s mind was so earnestly bent on the match; and as he well knew the strict obedience which Sophia was always ready to pay to her father’s will […].”