TOM JONES AS A PICARESQUE NOVEL
Henry
fielding was a well-known English novelist and dramatist of the 18th
century. His contribution to the development of English novel as a major art
form is significant and unique. He paved the way for the psychological realism
that came after him. He is noted for his rich but crude humour and satire. His novels and plays criticized the
government of the time and often struck a discordant note with contemporary
leaders. It was he who popularized the new genre – picaresque novel in English.
Picaresque
novel has its origin in the early Spanish literature. The term ‘picaresque’ is
derived from the Spanish word ‘picaro’ which means ‘rogue’ or ‘rascal’. Hence,
a picaresque novel is a long tale that depicts the adventures of a rogue who
lives in a corrupt society. It consists
of a series of loosely connected episodes in the manner of journeys. In a picaresque novel, the author generally
uses a first-person narrative. The best known Spanish picaresque novel is Don
Quixote by Cervantes. Daniel Defoe’s Moll Flanders, Thackeray’s
Vanity
Fair and Henry Fielding’s Joseph Andrews and Tom
Jones are some other important picaresque novels.
The
object of the picaresque novel is to take a central figure through a succession
of events, introduce a great number of characters and thus build up a picture
of society. This is exactly the pattern
which the story of Tom Jones follows. Tom Jones makes adventures in Somersetshire,
on the road to London and also in London. He has a number of adventures on the
roads and inside inns. He meets thieves and rogues, rescues damsels in
distress, falls in love, fight duels, gets arrested and imprisoned, gets cheated
by cunning people and helped by apparent scoundrels. He encounters the members of the lowest rungs
of society as well as the high aristocrats. Through these characters and
events, Henry Fielding gives a realistic portrait of the 18th
century England.
In most of the picaresque novels,
the protagonists are invariably orphans and are exposed to dishonour in the
society. They often live as a social outcast and appear as darker characters. They tell their stories from their point of
view. Tom Jones also follows this pattern of the picaresque novel.
Tom Jones, the hero of the novel, is a foundling. He is mysteriously discovered one night in
the bed of the wealthy, virtuous and benevolent Mr.Allworthy. The kind Squire brings him up and educates
him. But Tom incurs the anger of his
benefactor(Squire Allworthy) with the result that he is sent out of his
house. Now begin the travels of Tom
Jones.
Accompanied
by a schoolmaster Mr.Partridge, he sets out for London. Fielding also sends his
heroine, Sophia on adventures along the highway. On the way, Tom meets with a number of
adventures, some of which are amorous in nature. He goes from place to place stopping at
numerous inns on the way. He meets several strange persons like Harriet,
Fitzpatrick, Nancy, Nightingale, Mrs.Miller and Mrs. Waters. On their way to London they meet beggar,
highwaymen and finally fall among gypsies in whose camp they spend a
night. Finally they reach London. But
Tom’s adventures do not come to an end there. He meets Lady Bellaston, a
lustful woman who for some time supports him in London. However, misfortune
follows him and he is imprisoned in London. In this way the story of Tom
Jones is a long string of adventures and escapades.
The
picaresque novel offers criticism of the age whose picture it presents.
Cervantes in his great picaresque novel Don Quixote gives a smashing blow to
the tradition of chivalry. A similar satirical picture of a corrupt society is
presented in Tom Jones. Tom Jones ridicules the folly, vices and weaknesses
of mankind in general.
Thus
Tom
Jones has several traits of the picaresque novel. Yet, in one essential
point it differs greatly from the picaresque tradition. Unlike the picaresque novel Tom
Jones has a coherent and well-knit plot. It further shows a harmony between characters
and incidents.
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