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Unit 6: Joseph Andrews: Picaresque Novel, Its Application and Characterization

In a part of the book 1 and the middle two Books where the picaresque motif is followed, Notes
Fielding brings his major characters in contact with different strata of society- country squires,
divines and philosophers, lawyers and surgeons, landladies, beggars and highway men and
exposes the contemporary social evils as well as human follies and foibles of a more general
nature.
Finally, the rambling or destructive narrative of Joseph Andrews also enforces the picaresque
motif of the novel. Fielding employs here a very lose plot, for his purpose is the depiction of
the society and the plot is not given much importance.

Fielding is considered to be the pioneer of the realistic novel in England. Defoe’s novels,
apparently grounded in reality, are romantic in spirit. In fact, Fielding based all his novels on
actual experience. In “Joseph Andrews”, Fielding presents a very realistic picture of the life
th
of the English countryside in the first half of the 18 century. The first thing that strikes us
about the society is its extra- ordinary callousness, even downright cruelty. Most of the members
are selfish, insensible and hard- hearted. The stage-coach episode where Joseph, half killed
and stripped naked by robbers, is reluctantly rescued by the passengers in the stage coach, but
receives no sympathy or comfort from any except the poor position, full brings out this callous
temper. The surgeon refuses to leave his bed to attend Joseph just because he has no means
of paying HIS FEE. Mrs. Tow-Wouse forbids her husband to lend him a shirt. Parson Trulliber
can’t afford even 14 shillings to assist Parson Adams; on the contrary, he accuses him of being
a vagabond. Lawyer Scout is of the opinion that there are far too many poor and those we
would ought to have an Act to hang or transport half of them.”
The novel also depicts the wide gulf that seems to separate the high people from the low
people. The distinction between these two groups is quite rigid. Lady Booby refers to her
country neighbors as brutes. She grossly insults Adams on his insistence on publishing the
banns of marriage.

Task What is a picaresque novel?

These high class people show utter disregard of the rights and interests of the poor people.
For example, Lady Booby is not concerned whether or not servants get their wages in time.

6.2 Joseph Andrews: Characterization

Joseph Andrews
Joseph Andrews is a handsome and virtuous young footman whom Lady Booby attempts to
corrupt. He is a protege of Mr. Adams and the devoted but chaste lover of Fanny Goodwill.
His adventures in journeying from the Booby household in London back to the countryside,
where he plans to marry Fanny, provide the main plot of the novel.

Mr. Abraham Adams
Mr. Abraham Adams is a benevolent, absent-minded, impecunious, and somewhat vain curate
in Lady Booby’s country parish. He notices and cultivates Joseph’s intelligence and moral
earnestness from early on, and he supports Joseph’s determination to marry Fanny. His journey
back to the countryside coincides with Joseph’s for much of the way, and the vibrancy of his
simple good nature makes him a rival of Joseph for the title of protagonist.

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