The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

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Tom Jones

Original Title:	The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
Written by:	Henry Fielding
Central Theme:
Synopsis:
Genre(s):	Picaresque
First published:	February 28, 1749

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (or simply Tom Jones) is a classic Picaresque novel by Henry Fielding, telling the adventures of the title protagonist, a deeply honorable Handsome Lech. It is full of social Parody both subtle and ham-handed.

It has been adapted as two films (1917 and 1963), a TV miniseries (1997), and in opera form in 1765 and 1907.

Tropes used in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling include:

• Adaptation Distillation: Both the 1960s film and the 1990s miniseries are very faithful to the spirit of the novel and to its content to a fairly large extent (more so in the latter). The latter arguably improves on the book in its presentation of Sophia and its decision to pair Partridge and Mrs. Honour
• Better Than a Bare Bulb: Fielding loves to comment on the tropes he is using.
• Boisterous Bruiser: Squire Western is a classic example, and played by Brian Blessed no less in the 1990s series.
  • And then there's Hugh Griffith's performance in the film.
• Bowdlerization: The 1997 miniseries lost some very explicit sex when it was aired in the United States.
• Breaking the Fourth Wall: The 1963 film was one of the earliest movies for a character to directly address the audience. It actually happens several times, but the scene at the inn is by far the most memorable.
• Chick Magnet / Chivalrous Pervert / Handsome Lech: Ladies really love Tom Jones, and he usually returns the favors and, being a naturally kind-hearted fella, genuinely cares about them. At different times, he shows traits of all three tropes.
• Erotic Eating: Used in the scene with Tom and Mrs. Waters and famously filmed in the 1960s version.
• Heroic Bastard: Tom himself
• Hollywood Atheist: Inverted with Square who basically chooses atheism as an excuse for wrongdoing (because, you know, atheists are immoral) and admittedly, he reforms at the end with a death bed conversion. On the other hand, he's still always more likable than the Holier Than Thou Thwackum and it's clear that he could have been a perfectly good person following his atheistic philosophy.
• Incest Is Relative: Tom Jones, you need to be more careful about whom you sleep with...
• Lemony Narrator: Micheál Mac Liammóir's deadpan delivery in the film.
• A Man Is Not a Virgin: Except Blifil. As another example of his hypocritical virtue.
• Meaningful Name: Oh, where to begin...
  • • Sophie = Wisdom (our hero is on a quest to...dare I say...acquire Sophie???)
    • Mr. Square = Very severe and sharp edged.
    • Squire Western = Is a pig (yes, this was intentional)
    • Squire Allworthy = Is the kindest, nicest, and actively most-good character in the story.
    • Mr. Thwackum = Need I spell it out?
• Only a Flesh Wound: In the movie: "Mr Jones, you've broken your arm!" "Indeed madame, but I have another to walk you home."
• Really Gets Around: Most of the ladies in the novel are not averse to promiscuity.
• Sadist Teacher: Thwackum.
• Spiritual Successor: To Fielding's earlier novel Joseph Andrews.