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HENRY FIELDING. “TOM JONES, THE FOUNDLING” – THE FIRST PANORAMA OF ENGLISH LIFE.

Henry Fielding (1707-1754) was the 1st (after Chaucer) to introduce a panorama of contemporary English life of different layers of society. Tom Jones is a novel which differs from almost all other novels both in the range and the precision of its scale and scheme. Its scenes are extremely varied, and each has its local colour adjusted with perfect propriety (óìåñòíîñòü). Its personages are extremely numerous - a marvelous gallery of characters, aiming at investigation of human nature. Pictures of life are true. The action takes place in the country and in town (London). The novel consists of 18 books, each beginning with an introductory chapter where the author discourses with the reader, in a free and easy manner, on certain moral and psychological themes. The plot of the story is very complicated; its construction is carefully worked out, every detail being significant. Depicting England of the 18th century, Fielding touches upon all spheres of life. We are shown the courts of law, the prison, the church, the homes of people of all classes, inns and highways, even theatre.

Fielding's novel attempts to break down numerous boundaries. In terms of genre, Fielding cannot decide whether his novel is a "philosophical History," a "Romance," or an "epi-comic prosaic poem." Fielding questions the very definition of “novel” (a blend of various styles). Fielding subtly suggests that cataloguing fiction is silly, and that he would rather think of himself as "the founder of a new Province of Writing." Still he defines his work as “prosai-comi-epic writing” and explains the purpose of introductory chapters (to provide contrast with comic parts).

The novel comprises several genres: - a realistic novel – a picture of the 18-th century is presented (though a selective one). - a picaresque (ïëóòîâñêîé) novel – to describe journeys, without a particular aim or destination;- historical novel – episodes of Jacobite Rebellion;- epic – Tom’s and other character’s adventures; - situation comedy; - the comedy of mutual misunderstanding – unexpected discoveries; - epistolary genre – narration is filled with letters (Tom’s, Sophia’s).

This multitude of styles form F’s own style. It’s possible to speak about F’s eclectic style, which is composed of a mosaic of genres and modes of narration. The narrator flits between essays, dramatic dialogues, and letters. The presence of the author is felt through out the novel. He is a moralist, pure and simple. Predominantly – 1st person singular narration, sometimes a Victorian 1st person plural "we." The tone is constantly ironic. The narrator penetrates into the construction of his novel. Ex. he often closes chapters by hinting to the reader what is to follow in the next chapter, or he warns that he is going to omit a scene. F constantly reviews the process of construction. F. didn’t believe in the ability of the reader to read between the lines, so he gave a detailed description of characters and provided his own commentaries. His descriptions aren’t dull because he gives us his own understanding of life, his experience which is considerable and his attitude which is that of a clever man, who knows the ins and outs of society.



F worked out “philosophy of coincidence”= the plot depends much on “the working of chance”.

In another example of broken stereotypes, F's char-s cannot be distinguished by "masculine" or "feminine" traits: in this novel both men and women fight and cry.

F did not aim at writing a novel of social protest. We are made aware of the class system, shown in the novel. The system itself is accepted by F, he protests against snobbery, lack of responsibility among the leaders of society (Allworthies are rare).

The condemnation of the upper class is chiefly comic in terms of telling names: Allworthy (associated with dignity and might) lives in Paradise Hall (lost and regained by Tom); Blifil (we never know his Christian name) reminds of “ill fib (fiction)”; Partrige (accompanies Tom in wanderings, adventures) may be viewed as a “part” of Tom.

The charm of the book lies in the depiction of Tom’s character. He is a full-blooded human. He is neither idealized nor ridiculed. His open, generous and passionate nature leads him into a long series of adventures. He is light-minded and naïve, but kind, honest and unselfish, ready to help anyone who needs his help. His intentions are noble and good, but owing to his simple-heartedness, which is often coupled with bad-luck, he is constantly accused of vice, he is not guilty of. Blifil is opposite to Tom. He is hypocritical, jealous; he tells on Tom and poisons his life. In the end Blifil is punished and Tom-rewarded=the best morality that can ever be.

F. is a writer who managed to give us immortal char-s, because the vice and virtues that he describes in images haven’t vanished from life. He is very modern because he makes us look at ourselves. We become part of his narration: try to see what we would do in this or that situation. This book is full of life, it’s colourful, you can’t but believe it and you can’t but involved in iT.

The epoch of the Enlightenment is characterized by a number of contradictions. It is the fusion of ingenuity (ìàñòåðñòâî) and customs, simplicity and rococo. Enlightenment is the age of reason. In the center is an active subject whose actions change the world around. Reason is the pushing force. The novel of the Enlightenment period is centered round such a hero. In “Tom Jones” we see the forming of the hero which develops from a youth guided by his instincts to a young man guided by reason. Novel as such appears at the turn of the 18th century. This manifested the change in people’s interests. People got interested with the past. Drama has no notion of the past; it is centered round the present. The novel deals with the past, present and future. The book is perfectly balanced and symmetrical. The 1st half of it is rather static. The action never moves from the country. Tom being sent away, the action becomes dynamic. The scenery changes swiftly.

Features of Enlightenment in “T J” correspond to F’s view of the world, which is to a certain extent materialistic, but free. He admires common sense, but respects feelings as well. He believes that human nature is positive and each man has a right to be happy.

F was the 1st writer to introduce a theory of novel. It presupposes: connection with life (in Ch I he states, that the object of his investigation is human nature); grotesques should be avoided (depiction should be natural); the aim of the novelist is to express the essence of the character; all significant moments of a character’s life should be described (different emotions provide a novel with vitality); a novelist should take into consideration the reader and his reaction. “T J” possesses all these features.

Topics: F’s basic concern is the nature of happiness and goodness (which turn out to be inseparable).He investigates such phenomena as tyranny, justice, charity, hypocrisy, ethics, sexual relationships (another feature of Enlightenment). Allworthy may serve as a kind of ideal (spokesman of ethical manners). T J has no tendency to hypocrisy, wears no mask; his handsome face indicates handsome soul. All the other characters are hypocrites to some degree. The author doesn’t idealize people, but believes in the prevalence of good nature, he is optimistic. He lets the good win a victory over the evil at the end of the book. T J, the greatest novel of the 18th century, is in many ways a guide on how to be a gentleman. Neither Squire Allworthy nor Tom is without fault, but both have enough redeeming qualities to become F’s gentleman, and that is the lesson. In F’s own words: “it is much easier to make good men wise, than to make bad men good”.

F gives us immortal characters (because of vices and virtues, that are still alive in us, due to this fact characters look authentic). F tries to reveal the contradictory nature of the world (he uses the technique of contrast: Tom//Blifil).

Tom Jones - imperfect and "mortal" hero, is the character through whom F gives voice to his philosophy of Virtue. In contrast to the moral philosophizing of many of F's contemporaries, F doesn’t suggest that Tom's affairs with women should reflect badly on his character. Rather, keeping with the Romantic genre, F seems to admire Tom's adherence to the principles of Gallantry, which require that a man return the interest of a woman, all of Tom's love affairs, including his relationship with Sophia, his true love, are initiated by the woman in question, which is F's way of excusing Tom from the charge of lustful depravity. Tom also treats women with the utmost respect, obliging their desire to be courted by pretending to be the seducer even when they are seducing him. His behavour is determined by senses; he makes mistakes, that’s why he is natural.

Blifil, the antagonist of Tom Jones. Blifil not only acts meanly, but coats his evil with hypocrisy. When Allworthy and Tom confront Blifil with his crimes, Blifil weeps not out of remorse, but rather out of terror. He does not reform his ways, but merely his religion, his greatest desire is to marry a rich woman. As the static villain, Blifil stands opposite the consistent goodness of Allworthy. F uses Blifil's lack of passion in contrast to Tom's abundance of "animal spirits". The reader does not admire Blifil's chastity (öåëîìóäðèå), since it stems from an excessive interest in Sophia's fortune and in a desire to excel Tom.

F did not aim at writing a novel of social protest. We are made aware of the class system, shown in the novel. The system itself is accepted by F, he protests against snobbery, lack of responsibility among the leaders of society (Allworthies are rare).

The condemnation of the upper class is chiefly comic in terms of telling names: Allworthy (associated with dignity and might) lives in Paradise Hall (lost and regained by Tom); Blifil (we never know his Christian name) reminds of “ill fib (fiction)”; Partrige (accompanies Tom in wanderings, adventures) may be viewed as a “part” of Tom.

We become part of his narration: try to see what we would do in this or that situation. This book is full of life, it’s colourful, you can’t but believe it and you can’t but involved in it.


Date: 2016-01-05; view: 1543


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