The satire in Henry Fielding’s Joseph Andrews is an acerbic commentary on 18th century English social life, manners, and etiquette, especially the pretensions of the people of the time to morality and virtue.
In the book, we find that behind the veneer of reserved virtue that English women of good society were expected to exhibit, they were constantly in pursuit of amorous excitement. We find multiple women from various strata of English society, Lady Booby, Mrs. Slipslop, and Betty, who brazenly attempt to seduce, in vain, the handsome eponymous protagonist.
Yet, with Fielding, there are no cardboard characters and the picture is never one-sided, unlike the characters in Samuel Richardson’s Pamela. (Incidentally, Fielding depicts Andrews to be the brother of Pamela, from Richardson’s novel!) Every virtuous character is shown to have vices in them, and vice versa.
Parson Adams, a man of the cloth, viewed favorably by all, is also shown to be a vain man – consumed with vanity about his profession, his knowledge, and his teaching abilities. He is also depicted as an extremely selfish and materialistic man. Au contraire, while Betty is generally considered promiscuous, she is also compassionate and generous. Then, we have the humble postilion who takes pity on Andrews’ miserable plight and gladly gives him his coat, even when of the postilion’s well-bred passengers previously refused the request to admit the nearly-frozen, beaten, and robbed Andrews into the coach. Here, Fielding shows that a charitable spirit is not the exclusive preserve of those who have plenty; in fact, the poor, may, sometimes, be more giving than the rich. However, we later find that the same do-gooder postilion is convicted of stealing.
Fielding brutally depicts society’s insincerity through his representation of the judges, who are as dishonest as the parson and the squire. The squire, in fact, attempts to abuse his position by raping Fanny, Andrews’ love interest. Justice Frolick is shown as going out of his way to throw Joseph and Fanny behind bars, only to satisfy Lady Booby’s whim.
In summary, Fielding’s novel paints an expansive picture of 18th century English society, and it directs its satirical diatribe not against convenient straw men that the author wants to vilify, but against the foibles, follies, and vices of an entire society.
In the book, we find that behind the veneer of reserved virtue that English women of good society were expected to exhibit, they were constantly in pursuit of amorous excitement. We find multiple women from various strata of English society, Lady Booby, Mrs. Slipslop, and Betty, who brazenly attempt to seduce, in vain, the handsome eponymous protagonist.
Yet, with Fielding, there are no cardboard characters and the picture is never one-sided, unlike the characters in Samuel Richardson’s Pamela. (Incidentally, Fielding depicts Andrews to be the brother of Pamela, from Richardson’s novel!) Every virtuous character is shown to have vices in them, and vice versa.
Parson Adams, a man of the cloth, viewed favorably by all, is also shown to be a vain man – consumed with vanity about his profession, his knowledge, and his teaching abilities. He is also depicted as an extremely selfish and materialistic man. Au contraire, while Betty is generally considered promiscuous, she is also compassionate and generous. Then, we have the humble postilion who takes pity on Andrews’ miserable plight and gladly gives him his coat, even when of the postilion’s well-bred passengers previously refused the request to admit the nearly-frozen, beaten, and robbed Andrews into the coach. Here, Fielding shows that a charitable spirit is not the exclusive preserve of those who have plenty; in fact, the poor, may, sometimes, be more giving than the rich. However, we later find that the same do-gooder postilion is convicted of stealing.
Fielding brutally depicts society’s insincerity through his representation of the judges, who are as dishonest as the parson and the squire. The squire, in fact, attempts to abuse his position by raping Fanny, Andrews’ love interest. Justice Frolick is shown as going out of his way to throw Joseph and Fanny behind bars, only to satisfy Lady Booby’s whim.
In summary, Fielding’s novel paints an expansive picture of 18th century English society, and it directs its satirical diatribe not against convenient straw men that the author wants to vilify, but against the foibles, follies, and vices of an entire society.
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