Character Analysis Of Tom Jones

Oftentimes one’s perception of character is skewed by stereotypes associated with class and monetary standing; these stereotypes, however, rarely have any basis in reality. Such is the case with Squire Allworthy and Mrs. Deborah Wilkins in Henry Fielding’s Tom Jones. In this novel, Fielding utilizes the juxtaposition of cruel, compassionless, and insulting diction with generous and righteous diction – as well as the juxtaposition of the narrator’s mockingly sarcastic tone with the narrator’s admiring tone – to highlight the contrast between the respective characterizations of Mr. Allworthy and Mrs. Wilkins. This reversal of stereotypes urges readers to question social prejudices typically associated with class and wealth, as well as recognize

Squire Allworthy is referred to and described by the narrator admiringly and even heroically; the narrator takes care to portray his positive qualities, and thereby characterizes him as a good-natured and generous individual despite the immensity of his wealth. He is shown by the narrator to pray “on his knees” every night before bed, “a custom which he never broke through on any account.” Even as a squire, Allworthy immediately submits to the higher power of his god; although many believe that the uppermost classes are too uppity and hubristic to recognize any power besides their own, Allworthy gladly submits to his superiors without hesitance, thereby defying social expectations and stereotypes. Similarly, the narrator’s choice of bitter, mockingly sarcastic tone in reference to Mrs. Deborah Wilkins serves to characterize her as just as vain, pretentious, and compassionless as her society would typically perceive the extremely wealthy to be. The narrator’s utilization of bitter, derogatory sarcasm portrays Wilkins as having “spent many minutes in adjusting her hair” instead of hurriedly rushing to her master’s urgent aid “out of respect to him,” This dig suggests and obsessive preoccupation with outward appearance, etiquette, and vanity unusual for members of a social standing as low as Mrs. Wilkins’, and suggest that predefined judgments of