The Importance Of Being Good

The panoramic picture Henry Fielding(1707-54)draws in his novels provides a fertile ground for critics to explore.The author’s great interest in morality,for example,has been carefully studied and investigated.Literary critics have long debated about the time-honored virtue of prudence in The History of Tom Jones,a Foundling(1749),but it is still an intriguing issue that can bear the weight of further examination.The theme of prudence can be traced in the details throughout the novel.Although Tom is a generally imprudent figure,his defining quality of natural goodness is what sets him apart from the"prudent"ones in the novel.This MA thesis attempts to find out the reason for Fielding’s general praise for and indulgent description of the mostly imprudent Tom,as well as the author’s ironic representation of the"prudent"roles.In this way,we will know the enormous significance of goodness in the prudence theme.Apart from the Introduction and the Conclusion,the main body of the thesis is divided into three chapters.The Introduction includes a literature review of the topic as well as an overview of this piece of writing.The first chapter deals with the"imperfect prudence"of Tom.Contrary to his stereotypical image,the hero of the novel is indeed reasonably prudent in shielding Black George as well as in contemplating his feelings for Sophia,as is testified in the writings on"prudence"in numerous works from classical antiquity to the eighteenth century and after.At the same time,these brief episodes demonstrate Tom’s great qualities,which informs the reader of Fielding’s insistence on natural goodness as the essential virtue.The second chapter approaches Tom’s imprudent relationship with Molly and Lady Bellaston,and the reason for Fielding’s forgiving tone at these moments.In the first half of the chapter,the writings of philosophers such as Aristotle and Aquinas are particularly useful in explaining Tom’s imprudent behavior.In the second half,the relationship of Tom and Bellaston will be aptly illustrated from the context of social history.Although Tom is stuck in a moral quagmire,the attention is soon shifted to his benevolence.It is apparent again that natural goodness is what Fielding truly commends,though prudence is the necessary counterweight to good nature.The third chapter examines the foil characters of Blifil,Bridget,Lady Bellaston,Mrs.Western and Partridge in their various "prudent" ways,and then probes into the historical context of the novel in search of the social implications thereof.It will be demonstrated that their"prudence" only serves as the antithesis of prudentia(with goodness as its essential attribute).The concluding part points out that the three chapters are unified by the idea of goodness or benevolence.Tom’s prudent moments come from his goodness;his moral lapses are usually forgiven because of his goodness;and the false prudence of many characters is resulted from their lack of goodness.Natural goodness,combined with real prudence,serves as the defining quality of a good man in Fielding’s moral universe.Only when Tom finally acquires"prudence as a concomitant of goodness"can he obtain Sophia and live a happy life.That is to say,the author creates an ideal image of his world where social order and hierarchy reign and therefore conveys a deeper message through the creation and maturation of Tom as the perfect gentleman.