Joseph Andrews: Book 3 Story, Text and Critical Analysis

Dr. Sarwet Rasul

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Review of the Previous Session

• Book 2 has 17 chapters, in the previous session we have covered chapters 10- 17, and have finished that book.

• Headings of chapters• Important happenings in these chapters• Points of Discussion• Important parts of text with reference to themes,

development of characters, plot and structure, Fielding as a moralist, his art of characterization etc.

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Current Session

• We will start Book 3• As Book 3 has 13 chapters, in this session we will

cover all these chapters and finish this book.• Headings of chapters• Important happenings in these chapters• Points of Discussion• Important parts of text with reference to themes,

development of characters, plot and structure, Fielding as a moralist, his art of characterization etc.

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Heading Book 3, Chapter 1

• Matter prefatory in praise of biography.

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Book 3, Chapter 1• Fielding again takes up issues of genre and begins by elevating

biography over history. • Historians are always accurate in reporting circumstantial detail,

but they are careless in their evaluations of persons.• In contrasting biographers with those "romance-writers who

entitle their books "The History of England" . . . etc.," Fielding states that biographers always grasp the human truth, if not the truth of the details of an age or a country. But, while praising biographers, he observes that they copy nature instead of creating their own originals "from the confused heap of matter in their own brains."

• Taking Don Quixote as an example, Fielding claims that there is a timeless quality about such works and applies this principle to Joseph Andrews.

• “I describe Men, not Manners; not an Individual, but a Species.” Fielding’s goal is “not to expose one pitiful Wretch” in real life but “to hold the Glass to thousands,”

• Thus Fielding avoids labeling an individual and, by satirizing timeless human traits, he holds up a mirror to us all.

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Points of Critical Evaluation• In the introduction to Book III, Fielding reinforces his

purpose of this novel. He dismisses historians, who emphasize the trappings of mankind, and "authors of immense romances," who spin out their own fantasies.

• He shares as well as believes in the creative approach similar to that proposed by the poet Imlac in Chapter 10 of Dr. Johnson's Rasselas:

• According to Imlac "The business of a poet is to examine, not the individual, but the species; to remark general properties and large appearances; he does not number the streaks of the tulip, or describe the different shades in the verdure of the forest. He is to exhibit in his portraits of nature such prominent and striking features as recall the original to every mind . . .

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Cont…Points of Critical Evaluation • With the help of this approach Fielding is able to

address his remarks to men of all times.• He also asserts that he has described no more than

he has seen Fielding reclaims what he has already said in the preface that life everywhere furnishes an accurate observer with the ridiculous.

• This placement of purpose right in the middle and reaffirmation confirms Fielding's control of his craft and his mastery as a novelist.

• He describes what he sees, not what he imagines, his glance encompasses earth rather than heaven.

• , earthly people, not gods.

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Heading Book 3, Chapter 2

• A night scene, wherein several wonderful adventures befel Adams and his fellow-travellers.

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Book 3, Chapter 2• The companions continue to walk until nightfall and then sit down

to rest.• Parson Adams notices a light, which he thinks to be a ghost. • When they hear voices “agree[ing] on the Murder of anyone they

met,” Adams brandishes his stick and advances on the menacing lights until Joseph pulls him back and convinces him that they should flee.

• As they run away Mr. Adams falls and rolls down a hill. However, to his good luck this fall does not injure him seriously.

• After taking a long journey through the countryside they finally arrive at a house, where a Man and his Wife offer shelter and refreshments to them.

• Mr. Adams tells the story of his confrontation with the “evil Spirits” or the ghost they saw on the way, but there is an interruption as somebody knocks at the door.

• As the man returns from the door he tells them that Mr. Adams’s murderous ghosts are actually sheep-stealers, two of whom the shepherds have apprehended, and the murder victims are sheep.

• Everyone then settles down before the fire, and the Man asks questions that show his curiosity about the status of the guests.

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Cont… Book 3, Chapter 2• This chapter takes us to the life history and ancestors of

Joseph Andrews. • Mr. Adams clarifies during the conversation that Joseph is not

his footman but his parishioner.• This leads the host to ask Mr. Adams some literary questions

designed to verify whether he is a real clergyman or not. • Adams talks in detail about classics such as on Æschylus

and Homer, finally concluding, “The Heavens open’d, and the Deities all seated on their Thrones. This is Sublime! This is poetry!”

• By this time the host is completely convinced that Mr. Adams is a real clergyman.

• Soon both the women that is the hostess and Fanny go off to bed.

• However, the men plan to sit up all night by the fire. In response to a request by the host, Mr. Adams tells the story of Joseph’s life, then asks him tell the story of his own life.

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Points of Critical Evaluation Art of characterization: A comparison of Adams and

Joseph

This chapter both increases our understanding of Adams and Joseph’s characters. It also introduces us to Mr. Wilson, whose account of his own life contains many of the major themes of the book.

• Adams simplicity and his comic actions together throw light on his comically superstitious but brave response towards the “evil spirits”.

• Without fully understanding what is confronting him in the night, he advances to the attack anyway.

• Joseph in contrast to Adams is more mature in his behaviour.

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Cont… Art of characterization: A comparison of Adams and Joseph

• Contrary to the immediate, sincere, but mistaken responses of Adams we notice that Joseph has a more pragmatic and calculated response.

• A penknife no matter how small is more practical than a prayer and retreat is safer than attack as Joseph suggested and also opted for.

• Adams falls head over heels down a hill, while Joseph walks down it firmly and safely.

• Adams would swim across a river while Joseph quietly suggests walking farther along to a bridge. This show more pragmatic and mature approach on the part of Joseph.

• However, this low comedy on the part of Adams is balanced by Fielding very masterly when he presents Adams' sensitive and inspired discussion of Homer's work. His profound appreciation of Homer’s work is pertinent to the novel Joseph Andrews itself.

• Overall this discussion on classics sheds light on the scholarly and serious aspects of the personality of Adams.

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Cont… Points of Critical Evaluation • Mr. Wilson is introduced into the narrative as was

Fanny, but already his character is filling out some of the main themes of the book.

• We are introduced to him as a "plain kind of man" whose instincts are warm toward the travellers, but who has brains enough to make sure of the facts that lie beneath their appearance.

• We can compare his generosity and sincerity to the charity of Adams.

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Heading Book 3, Chapter 3

• In which the gentleman relates the history of his life.

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Book 3, Chapter 3• Wilson relates his history. • His father died when Wilson was only sixteen, and

claiming his modest inheritance prematurely, Wilson left for London.

• He set out to be a "fine gentleman" and is soon indulging in all the surface vanities related to this kind of life.

• (Let us read a few parts of the relevant text from this chapter)

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Chapter3: Text about Wilson’s StoryTEXT:• The character I was ambitious of attaining was that of a fine gentleman; the

first requisites to which I apprehended were to be supplied by a taylor, a periwig-maker, and some few more tradesmen, who deal in furnishing out the human body. Notwithstanding the lowness of my purse, I found credit with them more easily than I expected, and was soon equipped to my wish. This I own then agreeably surprized me; but I have since learned that it is a maxim among many tradesmen at the polite end of the town to deal as largely as they can, reckon as high as they can, and arrest as soon as they can.

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Cont… Chapter3: Text about Wilson’s StoryTEXT:

The next qualifications, namely, dancing, fencing, riding the great horse, and music, came into my head: but, as they required expense and time, I comforted myself, with regard to dancing, that I had learned a little in my youth......

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Cont … Chapter3: Text about Wilson’s StoryTEXT:

Sir, said the gentleman, I ask your pardon. Well, sir, in this course of life I continued full three years.—“What course of life?” answered Adams; “I do not remember you have mentionedany.”—Your remark is just, said the gentleman, smiling; I should rather have said, in this course of doing nothing. I remember some time afterwards I wrote the journal of one day, which would serve, I believe, as well for any other during the whole time. I will endeavour to repeat it to you. In the morning I arose, took my great stick, and walked out in my green frock, with my hair in papers (a groan from Adams), and sauntered about till ten.

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Cont… Chapter3: Text about Wilson’s StoryTEXT:

Went to the auction; told lady —— she had a dirty face; laughed heartily at some thing captain —— said, I can’t remember what, for I did not very well hear it; whispered lord ——; bowed to the duke of ——; and was going to bid for a snuff-box, but did not, for fear I should have had it.

From 2 to 4, drest myself. A groan.

4 to 6, dined. A groan.

6 to 8, coffee-house.

8 to 9, Drury-lane playhouse.

9 to 10, Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

10 to 12, Drawing-room. A great groan.

At all which places nothing happened worth remark. At which Adams said, with some vehemence, “Sir, this is below the life of an animal, hardly above vegetation: and I am surprized what could lead a man of your sense into it.” What leads us into more follies than you imagine, doctor, answered the gentleman—vanity

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Cont… Summary points of Chapter 3• Gamesters finished off Wilson's fortune and haunted by

debts, he turned to play-writing, but was met by coldness from his friends, refusals from patrons, and a very negative attitude from the theater managers.

• Distressed by all the situation, finally Wilson bought a lottery ticket with some savings from doing translations, but although the ticket won a prize of £3,000 it did nothing to relieve Wilson from his ill-health as well as being arrested for unpaid bills because under the pressure of circumstances he had earlier sold the ticket for bread.

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Cont… Summary points of Chapter 3• Now Wilson was in prison and had abandoned all hope when

he received a most sympathetic letter, enclosing £200, from the daughter and heiress of the man — now deceased — to whom he had sold the lottery ticket.

• It had been since long that Wilson had passion for this lady. • Anyhow, soon they were married. But, Wilson was too honest

in his management of her father's wine trade to make any profit.

• He had learnt lessons about life; and had understood the harms of vanity. Now he had retired to the kind of life and home presently he was living in.

• However, this happiness of Mr. Wilson is not a perfect state as no happiness is unalloyed. Mr. Wilson finishes his life history by relating the loss of his eldest son, stolen many years ago from his door by gypsies.

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Points of Critical Evaluation: Use of Digressions• Although the history or life story of Wilson is complete in

itself and contains a gallery of characters who do not play any other part in Joseph Andrews, it has a great purpose to serve.

• Fielding makes digressions to entertain the reader and to add to the length of his narrative. But, in doing so he never forgets his main purpose. Be it the digression of the story of Leonora that we read earlier, or this story of Wilson these digressions play an important role in contributing towards the central themes of the novel.

• In the Leonora digression, we read of the contrast between affectation, hypocrisy, vanity, and the positivity attached to true values and charity.

• Now in Wilson’s story again Wilson's early concern was with a tailor and some other” tradesmen, who deal in furnishing out the human body.“

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Themes of Affectation and Vanity vs. Simplicity

• The same affectation and vanity we found at the beginning of the novel, when we observed in Lady Booby’s context, that in London the same traits of surface values were prevalent.

• Again here in case of Wilson, it is not until Wilson and his wife have retired to the country that they find true happiness.

• This stresses the same themes of Affectation and vanity vs. Simplicity of country-side life

• It is however, interesting to notice that even Adams is no perfect example; however much he may agree with Wilson that "vanity is the worst of passions," his insistence on the surpassing merit of his own sermon against vanity is a delightful irony which neither the reader nor Mr. Wilson can ignore.

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Points of Critical Evaluation• Development of the character of Adams:• The character of Mr. Adams likewise undergoes a shift of

sorts during the transition between Books II and III, but in his case the change occurs not so much in his personality per se as in Fielding's presentation of it. Whereas previously Fielding has focused on the contrast between Adams and the world, thereby endorsing his innocence over others' affectations, now he begins to measure Adams against other men who are just as virtuous but more prudent, thereby highlighting Adams's weaknesses and vanity. The first of these other virtuous men is of course Joseph; the second is Mr. Wilson.

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Points of Critical Evaluation: Fielding as a Moralist• Wilson's biography presents "the World" and

its reality in the true sense. • As a moralist, Fielding indicates that this moral

degradation of Wilson had its origins in Wilson's "early Introduction into Life, without a Guide," as he had no Parson Adams to mentor him. Religious heterodoxy then compounded this faulty education, with the young Wilson joining a club of freethinking atheists.

• Like many young men, Wilson expected that some day he would make fortune. Resultantly, he even purchased of the lottery ticket.

• His journey from country to town to back to the country-side competes the full circle, emphasizing Fielding’s major themes.

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Heading Book 3, Chapter 4

• A description of Mr Wilson’s way of living. The tragical adventure of the dog, and other grave matters.

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Book 3, Chapter 4• Adams thinks about the possibilities of how

Wilson's lost son could be identified. • In this regard Wilson asserts that he would know

him among ten thousand, as he has a strawberry-shaped birthmark on the left side of his chest.

• Later on Wilson then takes Adams and Joseph outside to show them his garden, where he now spends much of his time, and tells them of his present, peaceful way of life.

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Heading Book 3, Chapter 5

• A disputation on schools held on the road between Mr Abraham Adams and Joseph; and a discovery not unwelcome to them both.

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Book 3, Chapter 5• As the travelers walk along, Mr. Adams and Joseph discuss the first

part of Wilson’s story, which Joseph heard before falling asleep. • Adams considers Wilson’s public school education as the source of

all his youthful unhappiness. • According to him: “Public Schools are the Nurseries of all Vice and

Immorality.” • Even Adams claims that may be Joseph has been able to preserve

his virtue due to the fact that he never attended a public school. • But, Joseph argues that Sir Thomas Booby also attended a public

school and still he became “the finest Gentleman in all the Neighborhood.” No amount or kind of training will alter a person’s basic nature, argues Joseph.

• He further asserts that if a Boy has mischievous and wicked inclination, “no School, tho’ ever so private, will ever make him good; on the contrary, if he be of a righteous Temper, you may trust him to London, or wherever else you please, he will be in no danger of being corrupted.”

• Mr. Adams, plans to repay Mr. Wilson whenever he passes through Adams’s parish within the week.

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Heading Book 3, Chapter 6

• Moral reflections by Joseph Andrews; with the hunting adventure, and parson Adams’s miraculous escape.

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Book 3, Chapter 6• Joseph talks about the virtue of charity, which he says

contributes infinitely more to a man’s honor than does the acquisition of money or fine articles. Here he serves as a mouth piece of Fielding who is a moralist.

• They have long discussions that cover the central themes of the novel such as affectation and vanity.

• Joseph looks up to see Mr. Adams asleep and meets Fanny. • Soon they hear a pack of hounds approaching, and a hare,

the dogs’ quarry, appears beside them. • Fanny wants to catch the hare and protect it, but the hare

does not recognize her and goes on its way. The result is that soon the hounds catch it and tear it “to pieces before Fanny’s face”, who was unable to help it but only pity its fate.

• All this happens very close to where Adams is sleeping so some of the dogs end up attacking the clergyman’s clothes and wig. Mr. Adams awakes and flees before the dogs can taste his flesh.

• The master of these dogs sends the dogs after him. And, Joseph, comes to help.

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Cont … Book 3, Chapter 6• The hounds catch up with Mr. Adams, and Joseph beats them

off one at a time until the master of these dogs who is a Squire calls them off.

• Fielding here emerges as a humour writer as he describes the whole episode in a very masterly way creating a lot of humour for the reader.

• For example he writes: “Thus far the Muse hath with her usual Dignity related this prodigious Battle, a Battle we apprehend never equalled by any Poet, Romance or Life-writer whatever, and having brought it into a Conclusion she ceased; we shall therefore proceed in our ordinary Style with the Continuation of this History.”

• The hunters, who initially enjoyed troubling Joseph and Mr. Adams , now are getting worried about the injuries the hounds received in the combat.

• As Fanny approaches, everybody forgets everything and is mesmerized by the beauty of this young girl.

• Soon it becomes apparent that only two dogs have sustained mortal wounds, so the hunters’ anger subsides and the Hunter of Men (the Squire) invites the travelers to dinner.

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Points of Discussion so far: Mock Epic style of Fielding• Fielding tempers the unpleasantness of the incident, by

presenting it in a humorous or burlesque diction. • The battle with the hounds, in fact, constitutes the

lengthiest application of mock-epic diction in the entire novel.

• It presents a number of conventions of epic combat, including the invocation of the Muse ("who presidest over Biography"), the Homeric epithet ("the Plain, the young, the gay, the brave Joseph Andrews"), the minute description of the hero's weapon ("It was a Cudgel of mighty Strength and wonderful Art," etc.),

• Fielding has also given details of biographies of fallen warriors in a mocking waay such as: "Ringwood the best Hound that ever pursued a Hare, . . . Fairmaid, a Bitch which Mr. John Temple had bred up in his House," etc.”

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Points of Discussion: Fielding’s mastery as a writer• Fielding masterly attempts to present some serious

incident in a humorous way, thus, reducing its severity. • Also Fielding's appropriate use of burlesque diction fits

violent events into a comic frame and reassures the reader that, notwithstanding the shocking depravity on display in this scene, fate would help and chance would prevail to save Adams and Joseph.

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Heading Book 3, Chapter 7

• A scene of roasting, very nicely adapted to the present taste and times.

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Book 3, Chapter 7

• Adams sits down to dinner with the squire. • However, Joseph and Fanny take dinner in the kitchen. • Attrsacted by the beauty of Fanny, the hunter has

planned to get both Adams and Joseph drunk so that he can have a chance to take advantage of Fanny.

• Fielding has given the brief biography of this hunter as well.

• The Hunter’s odd guests perpetrate a number of cruel jests against Mr. Adams, until the clergyman scolds the Hunter for violating the laws of hospitality in failing to protect his guest. The Quack-Doctor is the last to take a shot at Adams, and he does so by giving pompous speeches in mock-approbation of everything that Mr. Adams has said in defense of civility and the clerical state.

• After all these unpleasant things finally Adams manages to dunk the Hunter of Men several times before going to Joseph and Fanny and exiting the house.

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Heading Book 3, Chapter 8

• Which some readers will think too short and others too long.

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Book 3, Chapter 8• The Hunter of Men sends his people to find all three of

them.• Mainly he is interested in Fanny.• But, all three of them reach an inn, where they meet a

Catholic Priest who talks a lot about vanity and claims: “I have a Contempt for nothing so much as for Gold.”

• The Priest then asks Mr. Adams for eighteen pence to pay his reckoning; Adams is happy to do so but when he searches his pockets he comes to know that the Hunter and his friends have stolen the gold piece.

• As the Priest comes to know that he would not be able to pay his bill decides not to stay the night. As far as Adams and his companions are concerned, though they too do not have any money to pay their bill, theydecide to stay the night anyway.

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Heading Book 3, Chapter 9

• Containing as surprizing and bloody adventures as can be found in this or perhaps any other authentic history.

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Book 3, Chapter 9

• The next morning Joseph awakes to hear the servants of the Hunter of Men knocking on the door of the inn and inquiring after “two Men and a young Woman.”

• Joseph suspects them and answers them in no.• But the Host answers in the affirmative. As a result all three

of them have to quickly get ready leave in hurry. • Joseph has a quarrel with them. And one of the servants

strikes Joseph unconscious. The servants take advantage of this development to abduct Fanny and tie Joseph and Mr. Adams to the bedposts.

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Heading Book 3, Chapter 10

• A discourse between the poet and the player; of no other use in this history but to divert the reader.

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Book 3, Chapter 10• While conveying Fanny back to the Hunter of

Men, the Poet and the Player each lavish compliments on each other.

• The whole chapter is about the poet and the player and their conversation.

• Fielding uses them as tools to generate debate on certain issues such as on the respective merits and faults of their fellow artists. Both are angling for compliments.

• Fielding himself calls this digression a dramatic interlude and closes it by the end of the chapter.

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Heading Book 3, Chapter 11

• Containing the exhortations of parson Adams to his friend in affliction; calculated for the instruction and improvement of the reader.

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Book 3, Chapter 11• The full impact of the abduction of Fanny now hits Joseph,

and he gives passionate vent to his grief. This aloso disturbs Parson Adams who is still firmly tied to the other bedpost.

• Joseph despairs over the loss of Fanny. He requests Mr. Adams to lecture him on the reasonable response to grief. And asks him to guide how to be patient and ready for submission.

• To console Joseph, Adams enumerates Fanny’s good qualities and sketches a vision of their happy life together.

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Heading Book 3, Chapter 12

• More adventures, which we hope will as much please as surprize the reader.

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Book 3, Chapter 12• On the way back to the Hunter’s house, the Captain and

Fanny argue about whether the corrupted luxury that awaits her at Hunter’s place is better or not than the life she may have with Joseph in future.

• The Captain then advises Fanny to cooperate with the Hunter, who will treat her better in that case.

• When a horseman approaches, Fanny pleads for help but the Captain tells a false story to convince him that she is not a victim but an adulterous wife. Soon two more horsemen, armed with pistols, approach, and one of them recognizes Fanny.

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Heading Book 3, Chapter 13

• A curious dialogue which passed between• Mr Abraham Adams and Mr Peter Pounce,

better worth reading than all the works of Colley Cibber and many others.

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Book 3, Chapter 13• Mr. Adams and Peter Pounce observe the

landscape.• While Adams appreciates its natural

beauty, Pounce calculates its monetary value. This provides a juxtaposition of ideas.

• They then start talking about charity.• After long discussions, when Peter Pounce

says to Mr. Adams that he is glad to accept “as shabby Fellows as yourself,” Mr. Adams exits the carriage with as much dignity as he can muster, though he forgets his hat, and walks beside Joseph and Fanny towards the Booby estate.

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Points of Discussion so far

• Theme of charity and active virtue• Peter Pounce is as avaricious as ever (for

reference see Book I, Chapter 10). He is even more lustful than before.

• However, Fielding presents his selfishness as his worst evil. Again we notice Fielding as a moralist.

• E are also reminded that charity must be actively pursued. As Adams abruptly exits from the carriage is confirms his belief in active and true virtue.

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Review of Today’s Session

• We started Book 3• As Book 3 has 13 chapters, in this session we have

covered all these chapters and finished this book.• Headings of chapters• Important happenings in these chapters• Points of Discussion• Important parts of text with reference to themes,

development of characters, plot and structure, Fielding as a moralist, his art of characterization etc.

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Reference list of sources• http://www.cliffsnotes.com• www.gradesaver.com• www.enotes.com• www.bartleby.com • www.gutenberg.org• http://www.helium.com• http://www.studymode.com

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Thank you very much!