Henry Fielding ‘s Tom jones as Realistic Novel.

            Henry Fielding ‘s Tom jones as

              Realistic Novel.

v   Introduction:

  Henry Fielding was a novelist and dramatist of 1728 to 54 centuries. His is genre is satire and picaresque. He was well known for his rich early humour and satirical prowess and as the author of the novel ‘ tom jones ‘Tom jones is satirical as well as realistic novel. In this novel vitality ,hilarity and char, reflects both the comic vision of life. Henry fielding main concerns society. So, to show socitey realism is best medium of henry.  Before we take in to consideration how writer uses realism in his novel, I am defining realism through some definition.

Realism or Realistic :

 ‘An inclination towards literal truth and    pragmatism ‘         ‘The representation in art or literature of objects, actions , or social conditions as they actually are, without idealization or presentation in abstract form.’

 ‘Interest in or concern for the actual or react as distinguished from the abstract, speculative etc.’

·       Realism in tom jones :

 Tom is the protagonist of the novel. The Novel starts with the protagonist and ends with the protagonist. the title and name of protagonist ‘ Tom ‘ is common

Name. it shows that he is from middle class and his birth place was not mention,so we can say that he is iligal child. it can be happen in real world.Novel is about how tom engage in to different affairs and his struggle. the novel shows evill side of the society.the novel was innovaton in its clear description and characterization, which offered more authentic representation of the people and situation than the text of that time so we can say that novel is reflection of Henry’s time. the purpose of the novelist is to present human nature to the reader, is expertly managed by him. those who criticize the novel are as blind to the realities of human behavior as they are to  great literature.

Henry fielding wanted tom jons to be a realistic hero-a man with appetities, strength, failings and felings whose translation in to virtue took time and struggle rather than being accepted as fact.

Tom as a unheroic hero :

Tom is the hero and protagonist of novel. His name ´Tom’ Suggest that he is a comman person.so obviously we can say that this novel as well as tom’s character is “ True to life “

Whatever novelist portrayed it may be happen in real world. Talking about tom’s character as a realistic hero we can say that :a bastard raised by the phillantrophic all worthy.he is illegimate son of bridget all worthy tom and even though he does not know that tom is really his nephew, he treats him as he were his own.tom is a realistic hero, he is imperfect and “ mortal “ hero. With the help of his character fielding gives voice to his philosophy of virtue. his affairs with molly seargrin, mr,waters, and lady bellaston should reflect badly on his character. It shows novelist doesn’t potrayed as ideal on but real one. Rather keeping with the romantic genre, fielding seems to admire. Tom ‘s adherence to the principles of gallantry which requires that a man return the interest of women. Tom is lustful guy and his motives are vicious. He is pretender also so, it shows the guys of the present time.tom also  treats women with atmost respect.tom uses his charm to please the people and especially womens. so, his handsome face and speech win the love and affection through out countryside.

 Tom’s actions constantly indicates the impulsive nature of youth and stem from a carpe diem philosophy.his desire for unrestrained ex-prssion of his feelings, immediate gratification of his needs , and immeditat corrective corrective action for the injustice he sees- all these reflects the spontaneity and idealism typically present now rather than on analysis. thus while he is madly in love with Sophia, he can spontaneously go to bed with molly seagrim, mrs. Waters or lady bellaston.there is no contradiction in these actions since he is concerned with the eternally present now rather than with an unrealized and unplanned future.his plan of action never extends beyond a day or two and, even when he decides that the solution to his problem is to go to sea or join the army, he can just easily changed the plan in moment.            

                                  

Ø Reality presents in human nature

Writer explains human nature:through which he doesnot intended to make any judgements on human natures but instead wants to present it to dish would be offered on a menu. Fielding did not want to creat a necessarily moral text that ignored the truth of how people are.he belived human nature has capacity for good and evill , AND WANTED TO EXPLORE THOSE CONtradictions . further, it is important to note that fielding was not advocating or merely presenting their actions as steps on the root of greater wisdom. Indeed each of them major characters already mentioned undergoes a learning process, and redemption is offered to anyone who seeks it. Molly seagrim is a passionate and by having his child. Tom laugh’s when he discovers. She is having an affair with square, and when he learns he is not the father of her child. Molly finally settles withpartridge at the end of the novel, and so end up with some one to love and support her.

                 Mrs waters, or jenny jones, is accused of being tom’s mother, after which time she leaves the area an ultimately end uo living unmarried with captain waters. She is not only carries on a further affair with northerton, but also quickly strikes up dalliance with tom. However, she does have a capacity for honesty and gratitude, and so we are to be happy when she finally settles into a legal marriage with parson supple.

        Lady bellaston, the demireo, preys on younger men and has an unsavory reputation about the town.tom makes numerious impetuous decisions and moral errors in the course of the story, but he also exhibits many positive qualities which balance out his vices. Fielding’s perpose behind this is development of his character, tom in particular, is illustrated by a comment from the dedication :

   “I belive, it is much easier to make good   men wise ,than to make bad men good “

In other words we can say that with the help of tom’s character writer expresses his belief that even good men falter, but from folly, not necessarily from evil.

·       Hypocrsy  reflects realism :

  All the weaknesses of mankind, fielding viewed hypocrisy as the most pernicious and damaging. When referring to master blifil in book 3, the narrator makes a thoughtful observation on the meanace of his duplicatious ways :

                     “A treacherous friend is the most dangerous enemy….both religion and virtue have received more real discredit from hypocrites, than the wittiest profligates or infidels could ever cast upon them “

               The novel seeks to helight hypocrisy across the social spectrum through the lens of humor.goody seagrim condemns molly for falling pregnant, yet it is revealed that she gave birth within a week of her own marriage. Further, we discover later that she “shared in the profits of iniquity with her daughter” after molly is viciously attacked in the church yard after attending church in a fine dress. they are driven by envy, but disguise it in moral tones to

 To justify their ire. Fielding also explores the double standereds of the medical profession. Doctors frequently misdiagnose condition as fatal – it happens to tom, allworthy and mr. Fitzpatrick- in order to increase their earnings. The most ridiculous of this situations occurs when captain blifil is found dead of an apoplexy. Two physicians have been called , but the patient is already dead. the physicians then both attend on mrs. Blifil : “ the case of the lady was in the other extreme from that of her husband; for, as he was past all the assistance of  physic, so in reality she required none”

 The arrangement suits both parties, however, as the physicians are earning a fee, and mrs.blifil is seen to be mourning her husband with the appropriate level of gref.

Squir western changes his attitude to tom depending upon how he perceives the young man’s circumstances. initially,tom is a great friend of the squire, and his frequently welcomed in the western household.as a young man, tom’s valiant efforts to save sophia’s bird endear him to the squire, who proclaims :

              I shall love the boy…the longest day I have to live ’’

However, this sentiment soon changes when he discovers that Sophia’s love for tom is an obstacle towards her making a profitable match with blifil.the squire roundly condemns tom and resolves to keep them apart.he keeps this resolves to keep them apart.he keeps this resolves until tom’s parentage-and therefore his rightful inheritance- is revealed. The  squire is then keen for the wedding between tom and Sophia to happen immediately, and crudely suggest that a grand child should be born nine months to the day. Overall, the man professes true sentiment but is driven solely by greed in the development of his opinion.

 Fielding illustrate the dangers of double standards through even the best of characters. Allworthy resolves to favor blifil not because he is not favored by others.

·       Conclusion

             While we summing up we can say that tom jones is the realistic in nature. Because the subject and characters are real. So we sympathies with particular situation and familiar with the them.

                      Thank you………………..