Joseph Andrews by Henry Fielding is considered as the first novel of English Literature. It is
described as a “comic – epic poem in prose” by the author himself in the preface to the novel. It was written in 1742 and portrays the realistic eighteenth century English society. While talking about the structure , form and style the author’s words say that “this form is not seen until and not intended before in the language”.
The narration of the novel follows a linear pattern eventhough certain digression or temporary departure is visible in certain chapters. The plot or the organization of events can be categorized into different parts such as Exposition ( initial stage), rising action, conflict / complication, climax, falling action and resolution or denoument. In this novel the protagonist Joseph Andrews was working as a footman for Mr Thomas Booby. This stage can be considered as the exposition of the novel. He was a good footman. Lady Booby had sexual desires in him and he was the talk of the London town. After Booby’s death, Lady Booby tried to show his passions towards him and he refuses. As a result Lady Booby fires him from the job.
Next in the rising action of the novel. He leaves , then hits the road in search for his love Fanny Goodwill. She is at Lady Booby’s country side far away from London. He passes through a maze of storms, ruffians and angry innkeepers. Ruffians attacks and strips his clothesleaving him naked in a ditch. All these events constitutes the rising action of the novel.
By a stroke of luck, Parson Adams turns into Joseph after his fatal injury. Once he heals up they plan to travel Booby country together. They face many problems and they solve. The parson forgets his horse, forgets to pay for his horse and fights with the innkeeper. Thus the conflict arises. They solve the problem and travel . In a way, he saves a woman who was being attacked by a stranger. That girl was Fanny Goodwill. But a group of strangers mistakes the two of them as criminals and submit them before the Justice of Peace. Here the plot reaches the peak of conflicts or climax. But another man identifies Parson Adams and saves them. After this some events occurs which were against Joseph and Fanny. The turning point occurs on the time when it is said that Joseph and Fanny to be siblings.
Lady Booby with the help of the lawyer Scout plans to throw Joseph and Fanny to Bridewell, a notorious prison to seperate them. These actions creates a falling action of the novel. Towards the end of the novel Pamela and her new husband Mr Booby arrives and prevents them from throwing into the Bridewell. The mysterious peddler who Joseph and Parson Adams met in the journey arrives and says that Fanny is actually Joseph’s parent’s daughter and Joseph is the son of Mr Wilson, who also met them in the journey. Thus the confusion settles and Joseph and Fanny finally gets hitched. Thus through this the novel reaches a resolution or denouement.
The work is divided into four books and the books into subsequent chapters. There are sixty four chapters altogether. The narration is linear eventhough there are certain digressions. These deviation from the main plot will not cause any harm to the novel. They were used by henry Fielding to give some examples about human passion and characteristics of the protagonist. The stucture is well organized and explanatory. While analyzing the structure it can be considered as a scientific research work. As a satire, which focuses on the the reality, mockery and the reformations of the society, Joseph Andrews follows this pattern of a research work. As a scientific work researches the reality, the writer experimented with the eighteenth century English society and the results are incorporated as this work. Subsequent tentative titles gives an impression about what is going to find in the following chapters like the title What Happened after Their Journey to London. Like the research is not for the researcher but for the betterment of the society Joseph Andrews also intends reformation of the society. The structure can also be considered as that of classical works which is about the general truths of human nature.
Henry Fielding said the structure a s ” comic – epic poem in prose” in the preface. Thus it possess certain epic like qualities. The division into books and further chapter division resembles epic like structure. Like the fable of epic the fable here is not supernatural but realistic. The action is mild but the fight between ruffians and Joseph and fight of Parson Adams to save Fanny are the actions like those found in epics. In terms of diction and language, allusions and referernces from various languages and use of archaic languages is apparent,like submissiveness of Mrs Trubiller is compared to the example of Sarah, wife of Abraham, Greek language references and references to Homer. In terms of themes also Joseph Andrews resembles epic like reformation of society from the ills of vanity, hypocricy and affectation and presentation of characters from the different classes of society.
The style is simple, explanatory and vivid and there is no artificial use of elevatory language or high vocabulary. Since the work is a satire on Samuel Richardson’s Pamela in which the emphasis of female chastity, in Joseph Andrews the emphasis of male chastity is presented in a humourous way. The vices are presented this humour and not in a didatic language rather it is suggestive. Through the letters to Pamela the novel possess epistolary style also. Joseph’s character is presented as a rougue of low social class as a footman and encounters in a bad world. So in this perspective the novel can also be considered as a picaresque novel. Eventhough Joseph Andrews was written when English novel was in it’s infancy, the well organized and explanatory srtucture and humourous elements makes the novel special.
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