by Henry Fielding

Overview

Published in 1749, Henry Fielding’s “Tom Jones” is considered one of the first English novels and a masterpiece of 18th-century literature. The full title, “The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling,” tells the story of an abandoned child’s journey from birth to marriage, combining adventure, romance, and sharp social commentary.

Main Characters

Tom Jones - The protagonist, a foundling (abandoned child) raised by the benevolent Squire Allworthy. Tom is good-hearted but impulsive, prone to romantic entanglements and moral lapses.

Sophia Western - Tom’s true love, daughter of the neighboring Squire Western. She’s intelligent, spirited, and determined to marry for love rather than family convenience.

Squire Allworthy - Tom’s adoptive father figure, a wealthy landowner who represents moral virtue and justice.

Blifil - Allworthy’s nephew and Tom’s rival, who appears virtuous but is actually calculating and malicious.

Squire Western - Sophia’s father, a crude country squire obsessed with hunting and determined to marry his daughter to Blifil for financial reasons.

Plot Summary

Part I: Childhood and Youth

The novel opens when Squire Allworthy discovers baby Tom in his bed, apparently abandoned. Despite scandal, Allworthy raises Tom alongside his nephew Blifil. The boys receive the same education, but their characters develop differently. Tom grows into a generous, passionate young man who’s beloved by servants and tenants but frequently in trouble for his impulsive behavior. Blifil appears studious and pious but secretly plots against Tom.

Tom falls in love with Sophia Western, daughter of the neighboring squire. Their love is mutual, but Sophia’s father wants her to marry the seemingly respectable Blifil. Meanwhile, Tom has an affair with Molly Seagrim, a local peasant girl, which creates further complications.

Part II: Exile and Adventure

Blifil successfully turns Allworthy against Tom by revealing his various indiscretions and painting them in the worst possible light. Allworthy, convinced that Tom is irredeemably corrupt, banishes him from the estate. Tom sets out into the world penniless, beginning a picaresque journey across 18th-century England.

During his travels, Tom encounters a colorful cast of characters including highwaymen, innkeepers, soldiers, and fellow travelers. He has various romantic entanglements, most notably with Mrs. Waters (later revealed to be Jenny Jones, whom many believe to be his mother, creating a scandal). He also becomes involved with Lady Bellaston, a wealthy London widow who becomes his patron and lover.

Meanwhile, Sophia flees her father’s house to escape the forced marriage to Blifil and travels to London, where she hopes to find refuge with a relative.

Part III: London and Resolution

In London, Tom’s life becomes increasingly complicated. He’s supported by Lady Bellaston but pursued by her jealous rivals and her nephew, who challenges him to a duel. Tom wounds his opponent and is imprisoned, seemingly facing execution.

The novel’s climax reveals a series of dramatic discoveries. Jenny Jones reveals that she is not Tom’s mother - she had merely been caring for him. Tom’s real parentage is uncovered: he is actually the son of Allworthy’s deceased sister Bridget and a young man she secretly married. This makes Tom Allworthy’s nephew and a legitimate heir, not a bastard foundling.

Blifil’s schemes are also exposed. His apparent virtue masked a calculating nature, and his lies about Tom are revealed. Allworthy realizes he has misjudged both young men completely.

Themes and Significance

Nature vs. Nurture - Fielding explores whether virtue is innate or learned. Tom, despite his illegitimate birth and lack of formal moral education, proves naturally good-hearted, while Blifil, raised with every advantage, turns out corrupt.

Social Class and Morality - The novel critiques the assumption that birth determines worth. Tom, believed to be baseborn, demonstrates more natural nobility than his “betters.”

Appearance vs. Reality - Throughout the novel, characters are not what they seem. Tom appears dissolute but is fundamentally good; Blifil appears virtuous but is actually villainous.

Forgiveness and Redemption - The novel ultimately argues for the possibility of moral growth and the power of forgiveness.

Literary Innovation

“Tom Jones” was revolutionary in its narrative technique. Fielding employed an omniscient narrator who directly addresses readers, commenting on the action and characters. This created a new kind of relationship between author, story, and reader. The novel’s structure is carefully crafted, with 18 books divided into three equal parts representing Tom’s youth, journey, and maturation.

Conclusion

The novel ends with Tom’s redemption and integration into society. He marries Sophia, inherits a portion of Allworthy’s estate, and settles into the role of a country gentleman. Fielding suggests that Tom’s trials have matured him, tempering his natural goodness with wisdom and self-control. The foundling has found not just his parentage, but his place in the world.

“Tom Jones” remains a landmark of English literature, praised for its robust characterization, moral complexity, and Fielding’s innovative narrative voice that helped establish the novel as a serious literary form.