Tom Jones

Tom Jones, the hero of this novel is an illegitimate child and the foster son of Squire Allworthy. Squire Allworthy regards him as jenny Jones`s son. He has a well-formed handsome personality. Fielding invests him with Adonis and the strength of Hercules. He is robust young man , a tireless walker, a fearless rider and a boxer in strength and agility almost a match for a professional.

In the story of this novel we came to see that Tom is a foundling who is being brought up under the nourishment of Allworthy and his sister Bridget . However, it sometimes appears as if Bridget prefers the foundling even to her own son. It is both astonishing and praise-worthy that in spite of son unfavorable circumstances, Tom grows up into a very healthy young man, free from any mental complexes and retains the innate goodness of heart.

Tom quite a mischievous lad has Black George, the gamekeeper, among his friends. The two are together involved
in a poaching incident on a neighboring estate belonging to the Squire Western. Tom lies to Allworthy that he alone was involved in the poaching incident .But he lies to save Black George, not himself Tom, in order to save Black George takes the blame upon himself and helps his family in many ways.

Tom gets interested in two women.Black George`s daughter Molly and Squire Western`s daughter Sophia. A series of incidents bring Tom and Sophia together and they fall in love with each other.But this puts Tom in a dilemma .Molly is found to be pregnant and Tom ascribes to himself the responsibility for her pregnancy. Secondly being a penniless bastard, he know, he cannot be acceptable to Squire Western who insists on a prudential marriage for his daughter.

Now, Tom and Sophia are both on the road separately of course , Tom desirous of joining the army, run into company of recruits and volunteers to join them but offended y a baloney jest by Ensign Northerton at the expense of mater. Sophia picks a quarrel with him and gets wounded.The very next morning he saves Mrs. Waters from being strangled by Ensign Northerton. He conducts Mrs. Waters to the Upton Inn.

The Upton Inn is the center of some gripping drama.Tom Jones is seduced by Mrs. Waters. Sophia accidentally reaching the same Inn quickly discovers Tom`s involvement with Mrs. waters and departs without meeting him.In London, Tom takes lodgings with Mrs. Miller. Her daughter Nancy , pregnant, is threatened with a rejection by her lover Nightingale.Tom prevails upon Nightingale to marry Nancy and save Mrs. Miller`s family from utter disaster.

In the last phase of the novel, Lady Bellaston plays a very crucial role. Sophia bring the real object of Tom`s attention, Lady Bellaston with the purpose of getting her out of way, persuades Lord Fellamar to rape her so that in her disgrace eh might be force him as her husband. Sophia is fortunately rescued by the timely arrival of Squire Western who take her in his own custody.

At the end of the novel Jenny Jones gives out the secret of Tom`s true parentage, he is the illegitimate son of Bridget . Though Sophia was indifferent in the beginning , the pleading`s of Mrs. Miller, Squire Allworthy and Squire Western who had turned a staunch supporter of Tom, softened her little. The wedding was soon celebrated and Tom and Sophia lived happily ever after.