Page 46 - DENG404_FICTION

Fiction Digvijay Pandya, Lovely Professional University

Notes
Unit 4: Joseph Andrews-III:

Detailed Study of the Text

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
4.1 Book III, Chapters I through III
4.1.1 Analysis
4.2 Book III, Chapters IV through VI

4.2.1 Analysis
4.3 Book III, Chapters VII through XIII
4.3.1 Analysis
4.4 Summary

4.5 Keywords
4.6 Review Questions
4.7 Further Readings

Objectives

After studying this unit, you will be able to:
• Explain Joseph Andrews-III, detailed study of the text of Book III, all chapters

• Discuss analysis of Book III all chapters.

Introduction

The three depart the inn by night, and it is not long before Fanny needs to rest. With the party
silent, they overhear approaching voices agree on ‘the murder of any one they meet’ and flee
to a local house. Inviting them in, the owner, Mr Wilson, informs them that the gang of
supposed murderers were in fact sheep-stealers, intent more on the killing of livestock than
of Adams and his friends. The party being settled, Wilson begins the novel’s most lengthy
interpolated tale by recounting his life story; a story which bears a notable resemblance to
Fielding’s own young adulthood.

At the age of 16, Wilson’s father died and left him a modest fortune. Finding himself the
master of his own destiny, he left school and travelled to London where he soon acquainted
himself with the dress, manners and reputation for womanising necessary to consider himself
a ‘beau’. Wilson’s life in the town is a facade: he writes love-letters to himself, obtains his fine
clothes on credit and is concerned more with being seen at the theatre than with watching the
play. After two bad experiences with women, he is financially crippled and, much like Fielding
himself, falls into the company of a group of Deists, freethinkers and gamblers. Finding himself
in debt, he turns to the writing of plays and hack journalism to alleviate his financial burden.
He spends his last few pence on a lottery ticket but, with no reliable income, is soon forced
to exchange it for food. While in jail for his debts, news reaches him that the ticket he gave

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