Joseph Andrews by Henry Fielding

Themes in Joseph Andrews:

Themes play a vital role in the novel. In fact, it is through the recurrent themes that the unity of a somewhat rambling plot has been achieved. Charity is certainly one of the most conspicuous themes of the novel. Fielding seeks to uphold the Christian ideology through the characterization of Parson Adams, Joseph, and Fanny. The writer seems to preach the importance of charity. Fielding shows that there is a greater spirit of charity in the poor than in the rich when a coachman’s assistant gives his own overcoat to Joseph to cover his nakedness. A number of events happen in the novel upholding the value of charity. Squire Booby appears to be the supreme example of Christian benevolence. He not only serves Joseph and Fanny from imprisonment but also takes necessary measures to have them married. But it is Adams who appears as the most ardent advocate of the spirit of charity. He is not only charitable and generous himself, but also keeps urging other people to develop the spirit of charity. Charity as a theme runs throughout the novel.

There are other themes too. The themes of male chastity and female incontinence are also prominent in the novel. The novel begins with a picture of a lady’s sexuality or sensuality, and a man’s firm resistance to it. It begins with an account of Lady Booby’s growing sexual interest in her footman, her amorous advances to him, and his rejection of them. The theme of male chastity versus female incontinence receives emphasis when Lady Booby’s woman-in-waiting, namely Mrs. Slipslop, behaves towards Joseph in very much the same manner as Lady Booby had done. Towards the end of the novel the theme returns. Lady Booby’s passion for Joseph revives when she returns from London to her country residence. In the novel, in the character of Joseph, Fielding establishes male chastity whereas Lady Booby or Mrs. Slipslop is the embodiment of the passionate, immoral, and dishonest landladies of the 18th century. They represent female incontinence.

Other themes include appearance versus reality, abuse of power, by individuals, classes, and institutions, the inhumanity of individuals and society, vanity, city living versus living in retirement in the country, etc. Throughout the novel, Fielding admired honesty, integrity, simplicity, and charity, believed that virtue is seen in an individual’s actions, but recognized the difficulty of making moral judgments. The author touches on the common theme in eighteenth-century literature of the contrast between city life and country life. Wilson’s story contrasts the useless, aimless, destructive life of London with the idyllic, simple pleasures of living in the country.