Summary

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Introduction

Tom Jones by Henry Fielding is a classic English novel published in 1749. It is classified as both a picaresque novel and a comic romance. The story unfolds across eighteen books and follows the adventures of Tom Jones, a roguish orphan adopted by a kind and wealthy squire.

Henry Fielding was a prominent English novelist and playwright known for his witty and satirical social commentaries. In his works, he often criticized society's morals by humorously exposing human flaws and mocking the social norms of his era. He does exactly this in Tom Jones, which is why the novel is frequently classified as a moral satire.

Plot Summary

Squire Allworthy, a wealthy and generous widower living with his sister Bridget in Somersetshire, returns home one day to find a baby in his bed. He discovers that the baby's mother is a servant named Jenny Jones, and his father is a man named Partridge, a former teacher. Squire Allworthy names the child Tom Jones and entrusts him to his sister.

Later, Bridget marries a military captain, and they have a son named Blifil. Tom and Blifil grow up together. Tom is intelligent and kind but also mischievous, so his tutors prefer Blifil over him. Blifil seems prim and proper, but he is actually jealous of Tom.

Tom starts courting Molly Seagrim, the daughter of Black George, Tom's gamekeeper. When Molly tells Tom she is pregnant, Tom assumes the child is his and decides to stay with her. However, he soon finds that he is not the father, which causes him to break up with her.

Suddenly, Squire Allworthy falls ill and writes a will, leaving everything to his nephew, Blifil. He wants his family near him, but his sister unexpectedly dies. Tom is devastated and stays by Allworthy's bedside until Allworthy miraculously recovers. Upon seeing his uncle in good health again, Tom celebrates by drinking a lot.

He soon falls in love with Sophia Western, the daughter of a neighboring squire. Sophia loves him too, but her father, Squire Western, insists she marry Blifil. Meanwhile, Blifil falsely tells Allworthy that Tom was drinking to celebrate Allworthy's supposed imminent death, leading Allworthy to banish Tom from the estate.

Tom travels to Bristol and meets Partridge, who confesses he is not Tom's father. Despite this revelation, Partridge grows fond of Tom and the two become close friends. Over time, Tom becomes more generous and heroic. One day, he rescues a woman named Mrs. Waters from robbers, and they begin a romantic relationship.

Shortly after, Sophia escapes her father's estate to avoid marrying Blifil and arrives in Bristol, only to discover Tom's relationship with Mrs. Waters. Believing Tom no longer loves her, Sophia leaves her muff on his bed and stays with the wealthy Lady Bellaston in London. Eager to prove his love for Sophia, Tom decides to go after her.

Upon arriving in London, Tom begins an affair with Lady Bellaston, who schemes to keep him and Sophia apart. Lady Bellaston even persuades a man named Fellamar to seduce Sophia, but Sophia's father rescues her just in time. Tom ends his relationship with Lady Bellaston and hopes Sophia will forgive him.

Lady Bellaston plans to kidnap Tom and send him away, but before she can act, Mr. Fitzpatrick arrives. Fitzpatrick is married to Nancy, Sophia's cousin, and he mistakenly believes that Tom had an affair with his wife. Fitzpatrick challenges Tom to a duel, during which Tom wounds him. This incident results in Tom being imprisoned.

Partridge visits Tom in jail and reveals that Mrs. Waters is actually Jenny Jones, Tom's...

(This entire section contains 744 words.)

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supposed mother. As Tom reflects on this revelation, Mrs. Waters meets with Allworthy and informs him that Mr. Fitzpatrick is alive and has confessed to instigating the duel. Allworthy learns that Blifil orchestrated Tom's imprisonment.

Mrs. Waters reveals that Bridget is Tom's real mother. Allworthy discovers that Blifil has known this all along, so he resents Tom. Blifil wanted Tom out of the way so that he could inherit his uncle's estate and marry Sophia.

The police release Tom from jail, and he reunites with his uncle and Sophia. Allworthy banishes Blifil and makes Tom his heir. When Squire Western hears this, he insists that Sophia marry Tom. Both squires bless their union, and Tom and Sophia marry, eventually having two children and living happily in Somersetshire. They give money to Partridge, who opens a school and marries Molly, Tom's first love.

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