Joseph Andrews is a novel
written by Henry Fielding. This novel was written in the 18th
century which is “the age of enlightenment”. This age called the age of reason
because people started to think, question, and find a reason for everything in
their life. This age was the greatest age in Europe and England in specific,
but, it faced a lot of changes in life in England, and morality, and faced some
criticisms.
"Joseph
Andrews" reflects the
rare force and realism, faults of mankind, morals, and the social ills that
appeared in the 18th century in the British society in a satirical
way. We are confronted with a chameleonic society that frequently changes its
appearance to satisfy personal lusts of various kinds. It depicts human beings
in various shades of vanity, hypocrisy and narcissism. Here, Fielding becomes a
spokesman of his age and seeks to come out strongly against the affected behavior
of the aristocratic society. Fielding's picture of the English social life is
reinforced by the large canvas of representatives selected from every facets of
society.
The
sensuality of women is reflected at its best through the representatives like
Lady Booby, Mrs. Slipslop and Betty. Lady Booby feels greatly attracted by
Joseph's manliness and personality and seeks in vain to evoke his sexual
response to gratify her sensual appetite. Mrs. Slipslop also follows her
mistress' path and tries to win Joseph as a lover. Even Betty, the sympathetic
maid also falls in love with Joseph and seeks in vain to have sexual
gratification from him. All these amorous intentions show a fair picture of the
amoral side of the 18th century society.
The
society that Fielding pictures in Joseph Andrews is extremely inhuman,
indifferent, uncharitable and narcissistic. The insensitive hardness of this
society is clearly exposed in the stagecoach part. The passengers, who are
unwilling to allow Joseph into the coach on various excuses, show up their
selfish and artificial mentality. At that time Joseph was in a pitiable
condition; he was badly wounded and was almost naked. Some passengers show some
sympathy for him but decline to spare him a garment to cover his naked body.
The only person who shows some genuine heartfelt sympathy is the poor coachman,
who offers his own coat to the wretched fellow. This shows the contrast between
the attitude of the rich passengers and that of the poor coachman. Fielding
tries to show us that there is a greater spirit of charity in the poor than in
the rich.
Fielding
also provides some glimpses of the chaotic, greedy, and insincere sides of the
18th century society. For example, the squire who is fond of hunting hares
tries to satisfy his lustful desire for Fanny taking advantages of her poor
condition. Human greed is exposed by the characters of the surgeons and the
clergymen. The surgeons were extremely selfish and money minded. They refused
to treat patients who were unable to pay fees. The clergymen of the time were
the most selfish and materialistic. Justice Frolick, for instance, goes out of
his way to send Joseph and Fanny to prison, only to satisfy a whim of Lady
Booby.
In
Conclusion, Joseph Andrews is a fine social document that represents an
inclusive picture of the 18the century English society. The novel directs its
satire not only against particular individuals but also against the follies and
vices of the entire society.
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