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

Tom Jones is a lively novel. It’s a life long experience of a

character related integrally with that of its writer and 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 class society. The majority of characters 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 with virtues like courage, generosity and benevolence.
While on the other hand, it points out vices in form of maligning,
hypocrisy and injustice. No doubt these all traits existed in the
English society at the time when this novel was written. 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
experience, one that gives us insight into the human
nature, tolerance of its weaknesses and large platitude of
its strength.”
(William
Hazlitt)

Tom Jones presents society as it was. It does not

exaggerate in any angle of literary possibility of exaggeration. If a
character has more virtuous characteristics, it reflects him in the
form of elderly gentlemen Squire Allworthy. If a character 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 lovely lady Sophia cannot be exception from realistic
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
novel. Exploitation of social norms, ones own integrity,
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 novels, particularly Tom Jones, are characterized by

social satire, overflowing realism, fresh and altruistic moral
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
succeeded in putting morality, religion, social status, politics,
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 state support. Reformation; when virtue wins over 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 of Tom Jones dared to expose negative qualities in a
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

virtues of every human being. Fielding preaches through the
character of Tom Jones that nobility of heart matters more than
nobility of birth. To this point Tom Jones offers an ostensible
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 dishonest, selfish, evil, and even hideous, such as 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
against Tom many times; Bridget Blifil, who bears Tom 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
nobility of heart has moral superiority. This was a common
perception of the aristocrats of that age who considered midgets
as of low character. Fielding had disillusioned them very
intelligently and presented the gist of his age in bold words.

Conclusion

Tom Jones serves as a guiding light towards understanding

human nature, particularly in 18th 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.