Tom Jones
Author:
Henry Fielding
Year of
Publication: 28 February 1749
Type of
Work: Picaresque Novel
Age:
Augustan age or Age of Augustus.
The History of Tom Jones, a
foundling often known simply as Tom Jones, is a comic novel by the English
Playwright and novelist Henry Fielding. The novel is a picaresque novel. First
published on 28 February 1749. The novel, totaling 346, 747 words, is divided
into 19 smaller books. Tom Jones is a foundling discovered on the property of a
very kind, wealthy landowner, squire Allworthy, in Somerset in grows into a
vigorous (energetic, powerful) and lusty (strong, hearty), yet honest and kind,
hearted, youth. He develops affection for his neighbor’s daughter, Sophia
western on one hand, their love reflects the romantic comedy genre that was
popular in 18th century Britain. However, Tom’s status as a bastard
causes Sophia’s father and Allworthy to oppose their love, this criticism of
class friction (roughness) in society acted as a biting social commentary. The inclusion of prostitution and sexual
promiscuity in the plot was also original for its time, and the foundation for
criticism of the book’s “lowness”
Fielding Leletlessly (uncompromisingly)
satirized in the novel, the hypocrisy and vanity of most of his supporting
cast. He shows that the lusty rascal Tom is, in fact, a noticeably better human
being than the vicious (cruel) pretenders who surround him and scheme (plan)
against him while camouflaged (masked) in a thin veneer (layer) of artificial
virtue.
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