Fortune,order And Power-on The "Land" In Tom Jones

Henry Fielding(1707-1754)has been an outstanding novelist of the 18 th century English literature and he first targeted the English society as well as the people in the society in his work.In addition,he has been living in a historical period of time which is of essential importance for the development of Britain’s national capital accumulation.Meanwhile,the capital accumulation started with the action with the land,which is known as the “Enclosure Movement” in English history,thus making such a special historical background an important part in Fielding’s works.By reviewing the interpretations of the “Enclosure Movement” of England,the thesis intends to explore such a unique social context reflected by the basic and derivative role of the “land” in Tom Jones.Taking the “land” as the central focus,this thesis aims to study the significant roles of the “land” in national fortune,social orders and individual power to explore Fielding’s attention and reflection of the nation and society as well as his concern about the humanity.In terms of the national fortune,the “land”,as the central element of the “Enclosure Movement”,is the source of national fortune has been described indirectly.Then in the social orders,the “land”,as the basis of the development of the capitalist private ownership,has greatly decided the social orders by establishing new social production relationship and constructing people’s morality.In terms of the individual power,the “land” has become the most important or even the only standard in evaluating one’s social position in people’s lives and it has been a symbol of one’s owning and emphasizing his power.Based on Fielding’s descriptions of the role of the “land” from the three aspects respectively,it is clear that Fielding shows a positive attitude towards the positive changes brought about by the “land” which actually served as a kind of asset.At the same time,Fielding further reveals the essence of humannity,which reflects his criticism of humanity as well as his adherence to morality.