Ancient Art of Characterization Representing the Modern

Fielding’s art of characterization is unique and superb in English literature. Al the characters of Fielding are the phantoms of his experience and observation not the phantoms of his mind. According to Hazlet, “Joseph Andrews is the novel of characters and adventures.”

Actually it is written to introduce different types of characters to the readers with their original traits, habits, natures and manners. But Fielding characters are universal like Shakespeare’s and Chaucer’s Critics agree that Fielding’s characters represent 18^th century as the characters of Chaucer represent the whole 14^th century in literature.

Fielding’s characters are life-like; Adam is misguided, Joseph is robbed, Lady Booby is a sexy cat, Mr. Two-Wouse is ill-mannered, Squire of False promise and deceives Adam, Joseph and Fanny in the novel are shown sexy. Mrs. Slipslop wanted to be fucked by Joseph like Lady Booby. But both fail in their mission. But Lady Booby and Mrs. Slipslop both have sexual passions to Joseph.

That is why; she invites Joseph in her room for a glass of wine and opens her breast for Joseph sitting on the bed. Parson Trulliber is a vital character after Parson Adam who teaches Joseph about religion. On the other hand, Parson Barnabas is typical character who is more expert in drinking than performing his religious duties. The Doctor who declares Joseph wounded knows nothing about medicines. All these are common characters of our age.

Fielding has a deep study of the characters of his age and the characteristics he describes in the novel are universal and may be seen in every age. Here Lord Macaulay says, “Fielding’s Joseph is the novel of words and deeds that never support each other.”

In the novel, Parson Adam, Mrs. Slipslop, Fanny, and Joseph all are prominent characters but replete with natural trends and age created trends. Fielding’s main aim in the novel is to show human being’s defects and his essential goodness. But Parson Adam, Tom John, Captain Booth these are more complex characters for the readers and critics, such types of characters we may see in our age.

Actually, Fielding is successful in showing contrast between the appearance and reality in the real sense. As we see Adam teaches Joseph to have patience in difficult time because it is from God; but hearing the news of his son has drowned he starts weeping at the same time for getting what he was teaching just before minutes. It is natural for human being to do so in difficult time. It is reality to weep over death but it is artificiality to preach morality without practicality.

On the other hand Mrs. Slipslop  and Lady Booby both are praised by the critics due to their lust for Joseph. Both want to make Joseph happy. Their passions are natural not artificial. Their wish to enjoy sex physically is more than natural. Actually Fielding has ridiculed their vanity and hierocracy throughout novel.

As we see that when all people asleep he send Beau Didapper to ravish Fanny through tricking but mistakenly he enters Mrs. Slipslop’s room and climbs her bed considering her Fanny but she receives him happily considering him Joseph but the case is entirely apposite.

To sum up, in the real sense it the war of Waterloo in which lust and chastity are fighting on the field of passions. In the broader sense, Richardson’s concept of chastity is poor while on the other hand Fielding’s concept of chastity is strong. If men can defend their chastity likewise women can defend their chastity in practical field. Both have power to defend chastity by birth.

In the novel the emphasis is given on the typicality of human characters. All types of characters are seen in the novel with their real traits, wishes and intentions. All the characters are based on personal experience and observation. The main trait of Fielding like Shakespeare and Dickens does not essentially change he is involved in events without being involved in them. Fielding comic characters are lifelike like Shakespeare and Dickens.