Fielding’s art of characterization in Tom Jones

Characterization is the process by which a writer reveals the personality of the characters. It is an important element in almost every work of fiction or novel. In Tom Jones, Fielding has a very vast canvas on which he paints, with appreciable authority, a representative cross-section of the society of his age. According to Hudson, “Tom Jones is the greatest novel of the eighteenth century. In structure and in richness of characterization, Tom Jones stands unrivalled in the history of English fiction”.

           In this novel, most of the characters represent the complete picture of the art of the English society of Fielding’s time. That is why Fielding is called the master of art of characterization.  

           In Tom Jones, Sophia Western and Squire Allworthy’s characters are rebels revolting against the respectably accepted domestic standards of the society.                                                                                      

           Tom Jones, Fielding’s imperfect and “mortal’’ hero, is the character through whom Fielding gives voice to his philosophy of virtue. In  contrast to the moral philosophy of Fielding’s  contemporaries, Fielding does not suggest that Tom’s  affairs with Molly Seagrim, Mrs. Waters and Lady Bellaston should reflect badly on  character. Rather, keeping with the romantic genre, Fielding seems to admire Tom’s adherence to the principles of Gallantry, which require that a man return the interest the interest of a woman.       

           Tom’s character is constantly showing the philosophy of ‘carpe diem’. Tom shows as if he is only capable of doing at the moment and not what the consequences might be in the future. A perfect example of these impulses is when he, without hesitation, goes to bed with Molly, Mrs Waters, and Lady Bellaston while being deeply in love with Sophia. In this way, Fielding shows us both good and bad sides of his character.

           In Sophia Western, Fielding has created a true heroine. Like Allworthy our sympathies from her.

           Allworthy, as his name implies, is also an allegorical figure of sorts. He has a reputation throughout England because of his benevolent, altruistic behaviour. He is a respected gentleman, “the favourite of both Nature and Fortune’’ and Tom’s guardian. He adopts the little one and brings him up as his own son.

           Allworthy’s gentle care of Tom rouses secret suspicious in the minds of many but truly speaking,

  “This worthy man had never indulged himself in any loose pleasures with women and greatly condemned the vice of incontinence in others.” (Book IV, Ch 2)

Towards the end of the novel, we find him wiping his eyes as he learns of Tom’s presentage and express his happiness at the idea of Tom’s union with Sophia.

           To conclude, we can say that, Tom Jones belongs to that class of novels which aim at presenting by a multitude of characters and a complete picture of human life. So, it would be right to say that Fielding portrays in Tom Jones not men but manners, not individuals but the human species.