Joseph Andrews Book 4: Text and Critical Analysis (Chapters 11-16)

1. Joseph Andrews Book 4: Text and Critical Analysis (Chapters 11-16) Dr. SarwetRasul

2. Review of the previous session • We started Book 4, that is the last book of the novel Joseph Andrews. • As Book 4 is quite long and has 16 chapters, it was not possible to cover all chapters in one session. So, in this session we covered first ten chapters. (Chapter 1- 10) • Headings of chapters • Important happenings in these chapters • Points of Discussion • Important parts of text with reference to themes, development of characters, plot and structure, Fielding as a moralist, his art of characterization etc.

3. Current Session • In this session we will cover last six chapters of Book 4. (Chapters 11- 16) • Headings of chapters • Important happenings in these chapters • Points of Discussion • Important parts of text with reference to themes, development of characters, plot and structure, Fielding as a moralist, his art of characterization etc. • We would also review the development of characters.

4. Heading Book 4, Chapter 11 • In which the history is continued.

5. Opening Text of Book 4, Chapter 11 Text: • JOSEPH ANDREWS had borne with great uneasiness the impertinence of beau Didapper to Fanny, who had been talking pretty freely to her, and offering her settlements; but the respect to the company had restrained him from interfering whilst the beau confined himself to the use of his tongue only; but the said beau, watching an opportunity whilst the ladies’ eyes were disposed another way, offered a rudeness to her with his hands; which Joseph no sooner perceived than he presented him with so sound a box on the ear, that it conveyed him several paces from where he stood. The ladies immediately screamed out, rose from their chairs; and the beau, as soon as he recovered himself, drew his hanger: which Adams observing, snatched up the lid of a pot in his left hand, and, covering himself with it as with a shield, without any weapon of offence in his other hand, stept in before Joseph, and exposed himself to the enraged beau, who threatened such perdition and destruction, that it frighted the women, who were all got in a huddle together, out of their wits, even to hear his denunciations of vengeance. Joseph was of a different complexion, and begged Adams to let his rival come on; for he had a good cudgel in his hand, and did not fear him. Fanny now fainted into Mrs Adams’s arms, and the whole room was in confusion …

6. Book 4 Chapter 11 • Beau Didapper makes a move on Fanny, which leads to prompt Joseph to box him on the ear. • Thus, a quarrel and a fight between them starts. • This all is finally put to an end by Mr. Booby. • Later on Lady Booby, Mr. Booby, and Pamela Andrews Booby all express their views that Fanny’s virtue is not as such worth defending. They all also comment that Joseph’s marriage to her would bring shame to the family. • Joseph is very much disheartened with all this arguement. He leaves taking Fanny along. As he leaves he swears “he would own no Relation to any one who was an Enemy to her he loved more than all the World.” • After all the visitors have left, Mrs. Adams and their eldest daughter scold the clergyman for advocating for the young couple. • However, suddenly Joseph and Fanny return with the Pedlar. Surprisingly they invite the whole family of Adams to dine with them at a nearby alehouse.

7. TEXT: Mrs. Adams’ Reaction and View Point TEXT:—“No,” says Lady Booby; “nor do you, Mr Adams, act in your proper character by encouraging any such doings; and I am very much surprized you should concern yourself in it. I think your wife and family your properer care.”—“Indeed, madam, your ladyship says very true,” answered Mrs Adams: “he talks a pack of nonsense, • that the whole parish are his children. I am sure I don’t understand what he means by it; it would make some women suspect he had gone astray, but I acquit him of that; I can read Scripture as well as he, and I never found that the parson was obliged to provide for other folks’ children; and besides, he is but a poor curate, and hath little enough, as your ladyship knows, for me and mine.”—“You say very well, Mrs Adams,” quoth the Lady Booby, who had not spoke a word to her before; “you seem to be a very sensible woman; and I assure you, your husband is acting a very foolish part, and opposing his own interest ….

8. Heading Book 4, Chapter 12 • Where the good-natured reader will see something which will give him no great pleasure.

9. Book 4 Chapter 12 • It turns out so that the Pedlar has been researching the Booby family and has discovered that Sir Thomas bought Fanny from a traveling woman when Fanny was three or four years of age. • After the dinner at the alehouse, he offers to reveal to Fanny who her parents are. • He tells a story of having been a drummer with an Irish regiment and coming upon a woman who thereafter lived with him as his mistress. • The woman died of a fever, but on her deathbed she confessed having stolen and sold a child during a time when she was traveling with a band of gypsies. • The buyer was Sir Thomas, and the original parents were a couple named Andrews who lived about thirty miles from the Squire. Everyone reacts strongly to this information; Mr. Adams falls on his knees and gives thanks “that this Discovery had been made before the dreadful Sin of Incest was committed.”

10. Heading Book 4, Chapter 13 • The history, returning to the Lady Booby, gives some account of the terrible conflict in her breast between love and pride; with what happened on the present discovery.

11. Opening Text Chapter 13 TEXT: THE LADY sat down with her company to dinner, but eat nothing. As soon as her cloth was removed she whispered Pamela that she was taken a little ill, and desired her to entertain her husband and beau Didapper. She then went up into her chamber, sent for Slipslop, threw herself on the bed in the agonies of love, rage, and despair; nor could she conceal these boiling passions longer without bursting. Slipslop now approached her bed, and asked how her ladyship did; but, instead of revealing her disorder, as she intended, she entered into a long encomium on the beauty and virtues of Joseph Andrews; ending, at last, with expressing her concern that so much tenderness should be thrown away on so despicable an object as Fanny. Slipslop, well knowing how to humour her mistress’s frenzy, proceeded to repeat, with exaggeration, if possible, all her mistress had said, and concluded with a wish that Joseph had been a gentleman, and that she could see her lady in the arms of such a husband. The lady then started from the bed, and, taking a turn or two across the room, cryed out, with a deep sigh, “Sure he would make any woman happy!”— ……………………………………….

12. TEXT continues: happy!”—“Your ladyship,” says she, “would be the happiest woman in the world with him. A fig for custom and nonsense! What ‘vails what people say? Shall I be afraid of eating sweetmeats because people may say I have a sweet tooth? If I had a mind to marry a man, all the world should not hinder me. Your ladyship hath no parents to tutelar your infections; besides, he is of your ladyship’s family now, and as good a gentleman as any in the country; and why should not a woman follow her mind as well as man? Why should not your ladyship marry the brother as well as your nephew the sister. I am sure, if it was a fragrant crime, I would not persuade your ladyship to it.”—“But, dear Slipslop,” answered the lady, “if I could prevail on myself to commit such a weakness, there is that cursed Fanny in the way, whom the idiot—O how I hate and despise him!”—“She! a little ugly mynx,” cries Slipslop; “leave her to me.

13. Book 4 Chapter 13 • Further happenings in this chapter: • As Slipslop said she would take care of Fanny’s issue so as a solution of the problem she informs Lady Booby of Beau Didapper’s plan to abduct Fanny. Lady Booby dismisses Slipslop with an order to report back when the abduction of Fanny has been executed. • Alone, Lady Booby goes back to talking to herself about her degrading passion for Joseph and the absurdity of his preference for Fanny. Soon, however, Slipslop returns with the news that Joseph and Fanny have been revealed to be siblings. Lady Booby rushes off to tell Pamela, who disbelieves the report because she has never heard that her parents had any children other than herself and Joseph. Lady Booby summons Joseph, Fanny, and the Pedlar to the Hall, where the Pedlar repeats his tale. Mr. Booby persuades everyone to withhold judgment on the story until the next day, when Mr. and Mrs. Andrews will arrive to meet their daughter and son-in-law.

14. Heading Book 4, Chapter 14 • Containing several curious night-adventures, in which Mr Adams fell into many hair-breadth ‘scapes, partly owing to his goodness, and partly to his inadvertency.

15. Book 4 Chapter 14 • Late at night, Beau Didapper goes off in search of the sleeping Fanny and accidentally jumps into bed with Slipslop, who takes the Beau to be Joseph. Once the participants discover their mistakes, Slipslop decides to pretend that Didapper has scandalized her by making this attempt. • Listening the cries of Slipslop, Adams comes to help but in the dark he makes a mistake. • Instead of catching the Didapper, he holds Slipslop. • This provides a chance to Didapper to escape. • When Lady Booby arrives on the scene, she finds them together and naturally misinterprets the situation. • However, soon the misunderstanding is resolved. • Lady Booby laughs and departs.

16. Cont… Book 4 Chapter 14 • Here Mr. Adams’ absent-mindedness creates another situation. While he comes back to his room, he takes a wrong turn, and enters Fanny’s room. • She does not wake up, and does not notice that Adams sleeps on her bed. So, she and the clergymen slept there innocently until morning. • When Joseph enters the room at dawn, both Adams and Fanny awake and are surprised to see each other. Joseph is briefly angry at the clergyman, but Adams explains the events of the night before, and Joseph concludes that Adams simply “turned right instead of left.” He then leads Mr. Adams back to his room.

17. Heading Book 4, Chapter 15 • The arrival of Gaffar and Gammar Andrews, with another person not much expected; and a perfect solution of the difficulties raised by the pedlar.

18. Book 4 Chapter 15 • Joseph returns to Fanny’s room. • They vow that in case they should turn out really to be siblings, they will both remain perpetually celibate. • Mr. and Mrs. Andrews arrive after breakfast, and when Mr. Booby investigates the topic of the stolen child, Mr. Andrews denies that he and his wife ever lost a child in that manner. • Lady Booby calls the Pedlar to repeat his story, however, and it prompts Mrs. Andrews to claim Fanny as her child. Mrs. Andrews then explains to her husband that she bore him a daughter when he was a soldier away in Gibraltar and that the gypsies stole the child and replaced it with a sickly boy, whom she soon named Joseph. • The Pedlar asks Mrs. Andrews whether the boy had a distinctive mark on his chest. She confirms in positive. • At this Joseph unbuttons his coat to show the evidence in the form of a cheery mark on his body.

19. Cont… Book 4 Chapter 15 • When this birthmark is referred to, Mr. Adams begins to remember his conversation with Wilson, but the Pedlar makes the crucial connection, assuring Joseph “that his Parents were Persons of much greater Circumstances than those he had hitherto mistaken for such.” • By a stroke of chance, Wilson also has just arrived at the gates of Booby Hall for his promised visit to the parish. A servant apprises him of the connection that has just been discovered, and Wilson hastens to the room to embrace Joseph as his long-lost son. • Joseph, after things have been explained to him and clarified, falls at the feet of his father and begs his blessing.

20. Heading Book 4, Chapter 16 • Being the last in which this true history is brought to a happy conclusion.

21. TEXT: From Last Chapter (16) • In their way, Joseph informed his father of his intended match with Fanny; to which, though he expressed some reluctance at first, on the eagerness of his son’s instances he consented; saying, if she was so good a creature as she appeared, and he described her, he thought the disadvantages of birth and fortune might be compensated. He however insisted on the match being deferred till he had seen his mother; in which, Joseph perceiving him positive, with great duty obeyed him, to the great delight of parson Adams, who by these means saw an opportunity of fulfilling the Church forms, and marrying his parishioners without a licence. Mr Adams, greatly exulting on this occasion (for such ceremonies were matters of no small moment with him), accidentally gave spurs to his horse, which the generous beast disdaining—for he was of high mettle, and had been used to more expert riders than the gentleman who at present bestrode him, for whose horsemanship he had perhaps some contempt—immediately ran away full speed, and played so many antic tricks that he tumbled the parson from his back; which Joseph perceiving, came to his relief.

22. Book 4 Chapter 16 • Mr. Booby invites everyone to accompany him and Pamela to their country home, since Lady Booby is now too bitter over the loss of Joseph to allow them to stay there or to be entertained. • They all comply, and during the ride Joseph arranges with Wilson that he and Fanny will marry after Mrs. Wilson is with them. Everyone arrives safely, and Saturday night brings Mrs. Wilson. • Soon the happy day arrives, and Fielding describes the wardrobe and wedding arrangements in some detail. Both Joseph and Fanny are extremely happy to be the life companions of each other. • Soon the Wilsons return home with the newlyweds. • Mr. Booby awards Fanny a fortune of £2,000, with which Joseph purchases a small estate near his father’s. • He and Fanny live there happily. • Mr. Booby also awards Mr. Adams a living of £130 per year and makes the Pedlar an excise-man. • Lady Booby soon returns to London, where card games and a young soldier allow her to forget Joseph.

23. Closing Text of the Novel • Mr Booby hath presented Mr Adams with a living of one hundred and thirty pounds a year. He at first refused it, resolving not to quit his parishioners, with whom he had lived so long; but, on recollecting he might keep a curate at this living, he hath been lately inducted into it. The pedlar, besides several handsome presents, both from Mr Wilson and Mr Booby, is, by the latter’s interest, made an exciseman; a trust which he discharges with such justice, that he is greatly beloved in his neighbourhood. As for the Lady Booby, she returned to London in a few days, where a young captain of dragoons, together with eternal parties at cards, soon obliterated the memory of Joseph. Joseph remains blest with his Fanny, whom he doats on with the utmost tenderness, which is all returned on her side. The happiness of this couple is a perpetual fountain of pleasure to their fond parents; and, what is particularly remarkable, he declares he will imitate them in their retirement, nor will be prevailed on by any booksellers, or their authors, to make his appearance in high life.

24. Critical Points of Discussion So Far • Fielding’s great theme of appearance versus reality dominates the last chapters of the novel, obtruding itself in a couple of spectacular plot developments. The climactic sequence in which both Joseph and Fanny turn out to have been involved in separate but linked gypsy-changeling incidents is of course the most consequential deployment of the theme in the entire novel. • Adams remains to be a source of humour in these chapters. • His forgetfulness and absentmindedness leads him to such situations that might have been of serious consequences.

25. THE PLOT: Critical Points of Discussion • Fielding is a master of plot construction. • He keep the suspense and releases as much information as is required at each stage of the plot. • The comedy of appearance and reality reaches its climax with the revelations of the respective origins of Joseph and Fanny; not only do the two lovers turn out to be other than they were thought to be, but in plot terms the main structure is a reversal of perceptions and expectations. • To the former point, it is interesting to re-read the novel in the knowledge of Joseph’s real parentage. If we go back to the text, at the very outset such details as the precise wording of Fielding’s introduction of the hero (“Joseph Andrews . . . was esteemed to be the only son of Gaffar and Gammer Andrews”) show the novelist keeping up the fiction but being careful to say nothing he will have to contradict later.

26. THE PLOT: Critical Points of Discussion • Again romance conventions are followed. • If you remember the chapter where Wilson mentioned the kidnapping of his eldest son and the son’s convenient identifying birthmark, Fielding as a tactful writer creates a situation where Joseph is sleeping, and he does not listen to that part of the story. Otherwise the true identity of Joseph would have been revealed at that stage. Other markers have been present all along; as in fairy tales, a fair complexion is an index of gentility, and betty the chamber-maid once argued for Joseph’s high birth on the basis of his white skin.

27. THE PLOT: Critical Points of Discussion • With respect to the final movement of the plot, the revelation of Fanny’s having been born to Mr. and Mrs. Andrews initially makes it seem that, in addition to battling Lady Booby, the lovers have lost the support of providence . • This tension however, is soon resolved. And, the discovery of Fanny’s parentage leads to the discovery of Joseph’s parentage, and both these discoveries ultimately contribute to the happiness and prosperity of the lovers. • This drastic reversal, which owes much to the plots of such classical dramatists as Mr. Adams’s beloved Æschylus, enhances the impact of the lovers’ eventual bliss by making it seem a stroke of luck.

28. DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTERS Joseph Andrews: • The novel started with Joseph Andrews as a young boy, with a sweet voice so by so that instead of scaring the birds it would attract them as he would perform his first job of scaring off the birds from the fields at Booby family’s place. • However, soon he is shown growing into a young man. • With his shift to London we see a lot of development in his character. • His appearance changes. He is now more fashionable with a better haircut and better dressing. • He learns to play music as well. • He is attractive physically more than ever before. • Lady Booby and Mrs. Slipslop, both, are well aware and attracted to his physical charms. • But, more important is the fact that times prove that his character matches this exterior excellence. • However, Joseph's chief attributes are his self-control, his virtue, and his devotion • The strength of his pure love for Fanny Goodwill enables him to deal plainly, directly, and even violently with the moral and physical weaklings who cross his path. • Joseph is a man of genuine emotion, and it is this which inspires him to the virtuous action which Fielding believed so important. • The question arises is he a knight safeguarding his honour? • Joseph is always ready to do battle for a stranger, but, throughout the novel, Joseph battles most for his chastity and it is this satiric reversal which is the basis of Fielding's "comic epic-poem.“

29. DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTERS Fanny Goodwill: • When Fielding introduces Fanny in the novel, he has devoted a couple of pages to give a detailed description of her physical beauty. • Her chestnut hair, beautiful wide eyes, perfect figure all add to her appearance. Even the blemishes that could have destroyed somebody else’s beauty, do not harm her physical charm. Rather, they add to her personality. Thus, the slightly tanned complexion and even the chicken pox mark on the chin contribute to her attraction. • As with Joseph, Fanny's outward beauty is matched by her inner qualities. • She has sensibility, sweetness, and gentility. • She is the perfect object for Joseph's love, and the way in which she immediately takes to the road in search of Joseph after hearing of his plight, proves that she too equally loves Joseph as does he. • Yet she also possesses a deep sense of modesty; and, in all honesty, one must admit that Fanny is a little too perfect. • Through out the novel we see that she protects her chastity and represents a true Christian girl who believes in moral values. • But part of her charm is in the way Fielding uses her in his comic contrasts. Whether we are seeing Mrs. Slipslop "forgetting" the name of this "impertinent" girl, or Lady Booby being jealous by the mention of Fanny's beauty, the emphasis is on Fielding's satire of hypocrisy for which he uses Fanny as a means.

30. DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTERS Lady Booby: • Lady Booby is a complete opposite of Joseph and Fanny. • Whereas both ff them are representatives of virtue, we find Lady Booby as an incrntion of lust, hypocracy, effectation and .................. • She is a representative of the city life. • She is cunning, clever and self centered. • Throughout the novel, Lady Booby's reason and her passion are at odds; she is clearly the agent of confusion in Fielding's comic plan. Her mental muddle works against the resolution toward which he is drawing his characters, her selfishness denies the love on which this resolution is based, and her concern for her reputation exile her from the novel's happy ending. Yet the energy and vividness with which Lady Booby is portrayed in her turmoils prevent us from seeing her as a supreme villainess.

31. DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTERS Slipslop: • At the beginning of Chapter 5 (Book I), Fielding points out that he often uses Slipslop as a foil to her mistress, Lady Booby. • By making them both fall for Joseph, Fielding can point out the "different operations of this passion of love in the gentle and cultivated mind of Lady Booby, from those which it effected in the less-polished disposition of Mrs. Slipslop." • Slipslop is a foil and also a coarse echo of Lady Booby; she is vain and proud and thus is "a mighty affecter of hard words" toward those whom she considers her inferiors, such as Mrs. Grave-airs and Fanny Goodwill. • Yet there are also crucial differences between Slipslop and her mistress. Slipslop is ridiculous in a warm way. She makes us laugh. • What else do you remember about her?

32. DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTERS Adams: • Adams is a very good man and yet a human being. • He is good natured. • He is sincere. • He is helping. • But ..................... • He is forgetful. • He absent minded. • He is simple to the extent of being foolish. • Also………………….. • He sometimes is unable to act on what he preaches • What is the purpose of Fielding in presenting him?

33. Reference list of sources • http://www.cliffsnotes.com • www.gradesaver.com • www.enotes.com • www.bartleby.com • www.gutenberg.org • http://www.helium.com • http://www.studymode.com

34. Review of the Current Session • In this session we covered last six chapters of Book 4. (Chapters 11- 16) • Headings of chapters • Important happenings in these chapters • Points of Discussion • Important parts of text with reference to themes, development of characters, plot and structure, Fielding as a moralist, his art of characterization etc. • We also reviewed the development of characters.

35. Thank you very much!