EC - Tom Jones

Weeks after watching Tom Jones I was still unsure of how I could relate this story to a work we read in class. Even though it was set during the same time and in the same place as most of the works we have read during the year, I could not think of a similar theme or work and grew continually frustrated. While re-reading Everyman for the final, the light bulb turned on, and hopefully that will enable me to formulate an intriguing comparison.

This play/movie can be treated as a morality play with very similar themes to Everyman. For reference, I have created a list of the roles that characters in Everyman would be represented by in Tom Jones. Not every characteristic portrayed by an actor in Tom Jones had an accompanying characteristic in Everyman, but if they didn’t, I compared them to a type of character that could conceivably by cast into this kind of play.

• Tom Jones, of course, is Everyman, a poor confused soul who does not know his place in life and may die very soon.
• Squire Alworthy is God, the figure who has adopted the unworthy child but who eventually comes to feel (and rightly so) that the child does not appreciate all that has been given to him, despite God’s efforts to grant mercy.
• Sophie is Discretion. Though Beauty might be the more obvious choice, Discretion is the better characteristic. Discretion carries more redeeming value than Beauty and although it takes him a long time, he finally comes to see the value of Discretion first and foremost. Ultimately, Tom will be better off by choosing her.
• Molly is Lust. Plain and simple, by pursuing her, Tom will be putting carnal pleasure above everything else, as she has nothing to offer but sultry sexuality.
• Mr. Square is Knowledge, whom Tom is affected by, even if he does not actively pursue learning. I have no explanation for the love affair between Lust and Knowledge in Tom Jones but hopefully this can be overlooked.
• Mr. Thwackum is Good Deeds: While Thwackum’s idea of Good Deeds is a strict adherence to scripture, Tom has a different philosophy of how he can truly be good and honorable, unconventional though they may be.
• Squire Western is fellowship. As Tom has no actual friends per se, it logically follows that Western is the next best choice because as long as he is happy with Tom, Tom is free to socialize with who he wishes, free from persecution or attack.
• Mr. Blifil is Strength. Although he his far from powerful by conventional definitions, nearly every character in the play is enthralled by him and only through an equal strength of will can Tom hope to overcome this dangerous rival.

The play follows a linear storyline, similar to that in morality plays in which the lead character can make the right choice or the right choice and is influenced along his path by characteristics that are both helpful and harmful. Being tempted by Lust and not adhering to the guidance of Knowledge and Good Deeds will anger God, but in the end, Tom finds enough inner Strength to overcome his adversaries and chooses Discretion, which saves his from an unfortunate end.

Even if this seems a little farfetched, there are undeniable traits of Tom Jones linking it to morality. Despite Tom’s shameless flirtation he always treats the ladies with the utmost courtesy and respect. He seems to want what is best for each of them. He visits Molly at home to court her at her request and saves Sophie from her runaway horse at his own peril. And although I won’t deny that he enjoys their company, I make the argument that respect, not lust drives his fornications. He respects each woman too much to turn her down, not wishing to disappoint and reject her. With the exception of Sophie, Tom never initiates flirtation, only returning it and letting the women lead him down the path that they desire.