The publication of Joseph Andrews by Henry Fielding marks the beginning of comic epic poem in prose in English literature which Henry Fielding terms a new genera in his novel.
This is not only a novel but an image that describes the vanity and hypocrisy of English society during the 18th Century. Joseph Andrews is a comic epic poem in prose which involves verity of characters who describe the complete actions of the novel in a ridiculous manner, satirical and ironical lines that deal with the cunning nature of hypocrites and elites. Henry Fielding himself says, “There’s the purpose of reformation behind this comedy,” and the mere lesson that he wanted to teach was to tear the veil of vanity hypocrisy.
Fielding satirises mockingly so as to bring perfection and true concept of morality. It was published in 1742 which is the masterpiece in English literature since it is the only novel with real characters exaggerating on the days of English culture and their traditions that how corrupt and vain they were in their daily lives. This is the story of an ordinary boy who faces several hardships, adventures and multiple sexual attempts which deny the fact of his character and virginity. He works in Lady Booby’s house for a small amount but he faces several challenges because of the corrupt culture of elite families. He skips from all those attempts and succeeds maintaining his dignity which expresses his simplicity, truthfulness and honesty. He loves a girl who also faces a lot of challenges to meet Joseph Andrews throughout the novel. Andrews’s character can never be replaced by any of the people and therefore Fielding satires on English people and this is the only reason in making the tone of this novel more interesting as he describes each character mockingly.
An epic poem is a long narrative poem consisting of heroic deeds which are significant to the culture and the writer whose real expressions deal with exactness of hypocrites. In fact, Fielding defines the correct guess of virtue, chastity, love and honesty for which he chooses the living picture of the corrupt land as the satire in order to ridicule the follies and spread the awareness. This novel is favoured for containing vanity, hypocrisy and affectation; it is true in the sense for describing the vulnerability and power of goodness and providence, it marks the original mindset of religion, including the classes and birth also the pest of the society.
An epic poem is a long narrative consisting of heroic deeds which are significant to the culture and the writer whose real expressions deal with exactness of hypocrites. In fact, Fielding defines the correct guess of virtue, chastity, love and honesty for which he chooses the living picture of the corrupt land as satire in order to ridicule the follies and spread awareness
Additionally, this is a comic epic poem in prose which Fielding describes in his Preface because it involves variety of characters that are comic. Fielding’s portrayal of the characters brought the soul in the novel so as to make it the best because of social norms, classes and individuals’ behaviours that were the following phenomena of 18th Century in English communities. The novel also shows the true concept of Christianity within the journey of Andrews and his friend Abraham who is the symbol of true Christianity because of his good nature and sympathy towards the people Fielding describes him as, “Adam is the Christian hero, the representative of nature and charity, which form the heart of morality.”
However it is to true to exclaim that Joseph Andrews is a real novel, a satirical novel which is not only a parody to Richardson’s Pamela, but the true representative of the era where had no charity on the poor, working and labour class. Henry Fielding preaches humanity and morality which was however missing within the people like Lady Booby, Mrs Slipslop and other major characters of the novel who despite being vain were also hypocrite. It would be correct to consider the writer a man with actual name of life who exactly puts the light in portrayal of his characters and therefore his art of characterization emerges with ultimate picture of the setting in England. This is only Fielding who realistically and consciously imitates the men in their nature, the minds according to their professions and the ideas with their limitations.
In short, it was the gloomy sign of injustice, ignorance and ethical values which Henry Fielding’s novel reforms for the imitation of the manners for which this book stands in its highest rank in achieving the comical awards. The ultimate truth which lies in Fielding’s writing is his ideas on morality because what he preaches is humanity and affectation since he belonged to an aristocratic family which probably leads his interest in laws and classical learning. History includes the features of interesting formulas of Fielding’s concept on justice and law for which he removes the egoism of nature which is indulged in darkness and paves the ways for success. Honestly, I enjoyed a lot reading this novel because it proved the real purpose of life which does not only lie within the wishes and desires of one individual, but in fact, helping and loving others which define the real character of the men and true concept of morality.
Joseph Andrews or The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews and of his Friend Mr Abraham Adams, was the first published full-length novel of the English author Fielding and indeed among the first novels in the English language. Published in 1742 and defined by Fielding as a “comic epic poem in prose”, it’s the story of a good-natured footman’s adventures on the road home from London with his friend and mentor, the absent-minded parson Abraham Adams.
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