Joseph Andrews as a Picaresque Novel Essay

Joseph Andrews, or The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews and of his Friend Mr. Abraham Adams, was the commencement published full-length clean of the English author and magistrate total heat handle and among the first new(a)s in the English language. Henry Fielding along with Samuel Johnson is considered to be the founder of English raw. Henry Fielding was in fact a satirist and initi all in ally he was kn proclaim for his sarcastic works on the political corruption of his times. His work shows the realistic approach towards portraying the understand of the contemporary ships company. Fieldings first venture into prose fiction was the establish of Samuel Richardsons Pamela and Fielding himself defined his story Joseph Andrews as comic larger-than-life poem in prose. Published in 1742, Joseph Andrews is the story of the adventures of a very(prenominal) chaste, good natured footman Joseph and his dear friend and mentor the idealist rector Adams who is non only an h 1st man besides a man of lawsuit upright.Joseph Andrews was initially written as a parody of Samuel Richardsons Pamela however as the story develops and grows we realize that the story is entering into a nonher musical agency and is naturally followers a different pattern. As the events unfold and the blither effect of the occurrences spans through we feel that the genre the novel is entering into is clean dishonorable. The dishonorable usage belongs to Spain and is derived from the word Picaro meaning rouge or a villain or a rascal. The word picaro started to first appear in Spain with the current meaning in 1545. In 1554 the novella Lazarillo de Tormes is credited with inception the genre and the expression Pic atomic number 18sque novel was coined in 1810. Before freehanded public debates to support whether or non Joseph Andrews is a dishonorable novel, it becomes necessary hither to first get a clear idea as to what a pic arsque novel is and what be the pa radigms and parameters that define a particular style of writing as pic aresque. on that point are some qualities that distinguish the dishonorable novel or narrative form, all or some of which whitethorn be employed for effect by the author. These are A picaresque narrative is usually written in first person as anautobiographical account. The main calibre is often of low contribution or social layer. He or she gets by with wit. There is almost no game. The story is told in a series of loosely connected adventures or episodes. (4)There is little if some(prenominal) disposition development in the main character. unitary time a picaro, always a picaro. His or her circumstances may flip but rarely result in a change of heart. The picaros story is told with a plainness of language or realism. Satire force sometimes be a bountiful element.The behavior of a picaresque hero or heroine stops just short of criminality. Carefree or immoral rascality positions the picaresque hero a s a sympathetic outsider, untouched by the false rules of society. The characters are numerous in payoff and so are the events of the novel. Taking these salient features of a picaresque novel into consideration I will build and finally establish the argument whether Joseph Andrews is a picaresque or not. In the very introduction of novel, Henry Fielding acknowledged his debt to Miguel de Cervantes, a Spanish novelist, poet and playwright whose Don Quixote is the beaver known example of a picaresque novel. As we read the novel we realize as if the author is directly addressing his lector and he is relating the events to us in first person narration.This style of autobiographical writing is kept up(p) throughout the book. Fielding alike presents a different case to his readers at the start of the each part of the book. For example in book I chapter I he defends the practice of writing a biography. He besides highlights the discrepancy between appearance and reality by mocking Colley Cibber who in his autobiography called Fielding a broken wit. Then in Book II chapter I he tells his readers the utilisation of dividing his novel into books and chapters. as healthy in Book III chapter I he reminds his readers of the purpose of his novel and dismisses historians. The realism is quite obvious here which satisfies and fulfills the purpose of the very first property of a picaresque novel.Then comes the second paradigm of a picaresque according to which the main character is usually of low character or low social class and very witty. Mr. Andrews though organism a very moral and chaste person is of course not of low character but definitely belongs to a lower class organism the son of piteous parents and brother of Pamela the chaste maid servant of grass family. AndJoseph is not without wits at all. He is a simple honest person who after understanding the malice of intentions in Mrs. Slipslops and skirt Boobys minds, immediately decides to quit the job and income tax return to Fanny. In the events that follow we alike see that he has got more brains than Mr. Adams who is a dreamy idealist whose doctrine is good begets good and deplorable begets evil. But Joseph, in spite of creation very respectful and pliable towards Parson Adams, neer fully believes in his doctrine and is very a lot able to see through things clearly and judge people in a better way.For example Joseph is able to gauge the character of the squire who makes generous but false promises to people but Parson Adams does not and besides Joseph contradicts parsons idea of private education being better than the public. This shows that though Joseph considers Parson Adams his mentor and values his advice yet he has his own understanding and is not following blindly whatever is glide path his way. Another property of a picaresque hero that Joseph is utterly not having is the rascality. He is facing adventures, he is meeting wicked people, he is also in love wit h a girl but he never indulges in any ill means or shows any relegate of wickedness or rascality in the face of all the hardships that are befalling him. Thus he is untouched by the false rules of the society. A prominent picaresque element of this genre is the gambol of the plot which is very practically obvious in the case of Joseph Andrews plot construction. Looseness of the plot is so dominant that it seems as if the only plot is going haywire and is following a haphazard path as if one is on a roller coaster ride not in terms of speed but in terms of abruptness.The writer starts with one thing and before last it he takes up an entirely new dimension and starts talking somewhat something entirely different and irrelevant. He takes it to an extent that reader loses the account of the events and is go away confused. Sometimes Fielding introduces a character without a rational interpretation of its abrupt stretch at a particular fanny. For example the arrival of Mrs. Sl ipslop at the Dragons inn all of a sudden is quite out of the blue. And sometimes in that location are certain things which the reader is compelled to assume without any rational reasoning. Meeting of Fanny and Joseph is also quite odd and abrupt. Likewise the story of Leonora and Horatio is again something which is utterly irrelevant to the plot and adds to its looseness. Arrival of Mr. Peter Pounce to Booby Hall without her mistress brothel keeper Booby and his appearingat the scene of Fannys abduction is also unjustified.The overflowing list of adventures, brawls, quarrels, irrelevant and unnecessary events, unexplainable occurrences signify the looseness of the plot and its insignifi preservece in connection to the actual story but at the same time they are fulfilling the requirement of the picaresque narrative style. The character development of the pro labelonist Joseph Andrews is somewhat flat. Actually he is shown as a chaste and honest person till the very end of the no vel. There are no sharp turnings and giving ins to the circumstances at any point in the story for Joseph Andrews and this makes his character a stereotyped one. He could keep make at least one mistake and that would have given a real twist to his character as well as to the story. The mistake could have been giving in to the chambermaid Betty at shlep Wouses or may be once to Lady Booby but he is shown to be a chaste one at all times. Thus there is almost no character development in Josephs case and his every next military action is quite easily calculated and predicted by the reader.The only thing that changes nearly him is his being the son of Harriet Hearty and Mr. Wilson and not of Mr. and Mrs. Gaffer which also relieves him of the tag of being Pamelas brother. His chastity and his immoveable love for Fanny are the two strongest sides of his character that are being talked about throughout the novel. In the book I, after giving an account of who Joseph Andrews is and how he became friends with Parson Adams, Joseph Andrews is interpreted to London with Lady Booby. Here we get a glimpse of societys ways and the element of banter and realism sets off. Fieldings plainness of language that is his realism as well as his satirical vein shows its reflection throughout the span of the novel. Fieldings satire is acidulous. Malice, selfishness, vanities, hypocrisies, lack of liberality, all is ridiculed as homophile follies. Different strata of the society are shown through the picaresque mode. The travelers meet hunting squires, mean innkeepers, corrupt landladies, imbibing parson, philosophers, lawyers and surgeons, beggars, peddlers and robbers and rogues. Particular social evils predominate in the day, and follies and foibles of human nature in general are effectively exposed.In case of women, Lady Booby, Mrs. Slipslop, Betty, all these women are shown to have the unbridled lust for the opposite sex. Lady Booby is mourning her dead husband while playin g cards and is quite a happy for having another opportunity to have a new lover. The clergymen are shownto have no moral values sooner they are indulged in the worldly affairs and are crafty and callous. There are abominable and inhuman squires. There is no concept of charity among the higher or so called privileged class. They cannot help a silly fellow who is robbed and stripped-down by the ruffians. A parson cannot help a man of his own fraternity with some shillings. A surgeon shows no sympathy for the poor footman. The in keeper on finding out that Adam is not the real kin of well to do Mr. Tulliber, refuses to give any charity which she was ready to part with earlier when she mistook Adams for being the rich mans real brother.A very cruel realism and satire is shown when Pamela also becomes an accomplice of Mr. B in persuading Joseph to do away with the idea of marrying poor Fanny which is so ironic since Pamela herself belonged to that class to which Fanny belonged and ha d herself succeeded in marrying a person of a higher prospect. A blurry kind of surliness also arises when Fielding tells us of the man talking of courage and fearlessness but he runs away at the mere mention of the danger, and of the Catholic priest who after giving a wholesome lecture on the evils of money ends up in asking for some money from Parson Adams.Poor Adams forgetfulness is both humorous and serves as a reason for new adventures and encounters with new characters. Sometimes this humor is also shown in a slapstick style for example in the head over heels tumbling down of Adams and in the ridiculous fight at the Tow Wouse inn where Mrs. Slipslops also joins in and pulls the hair of the inn keepers wife. Also the mention of Mrs. Slipslops hairy chin and in the middle of the night Adams being half naked and falling on her in a mere confusion and of the new suitor of Fanny, Beau Didapper when he crawls into Mrs. Slipslops bed mistaking her for Fanny is very much humorous. H ere, again Mrs. Slipslop takes advantage of this opportunity to satisfy her ego and yells at the top of her phonation as if she is being raped by Didapper is quite hilarious.Thus pungent satire and to an extent sufficient amount of humor is there to categorize this novel as fulfilling this characteristic feature of a picaresque. This novel is a gallery of characters, another very important feature of a picaresque mode. The travelers meet squires, in keepers and their wives ,landlords and land ladies, gentlemen and gentlewomen, parsons and their wives, ruffians, postillion, horsemen, coachmen, people in theneighborhood, priest, chambermaids, accountant, gamester, player, poet, philosophers, lawyers, justice, surgeon, beggars, peddlers.And to ones surprise, this steady train of characters contributes in these adventures very actively and each one has a part to play which also justifies the looseness of the plot. The hero travels from place to place encountering thieves an ruffians, r escuing damsels in distress, fighting duels, falling in love, being throw in prison, and meeting a vast section of society. The opportunity of representing a large section of society gave the author the power of exploring the follies of the widest possible take to the woods of humanity. By introducing this gamut of good and bad, virtuous and vicious characters Fielding explores and satirizes the discrepancies in the human affectation and pretences.The central journey in the Joseph Andrews is not just for the purpose of wandering as it is in a picaresque. Joseph is not a wanderer. He is on a noble journey homewards and there is a cause and an objective behind this journey that Joseph has taken up. It is the need that has made him set out even in the darkening hours. He is rather compelled to distribute England and go to his beloved due to the circumstances that arose. Yet the whole journey is fabricated in the utter manner of a picaresque narration. It is in the chapter ten of the book one that picaresque element enters the novel when Joseph is shown to set out on his journey in the borrowed coat. From here bring forth his misadventures and finally he is shown to meet and marry his beloved. This picaresque element is hold till the end of the book III in terms of being adventurous.From book IV onwards satire and realism is more prevalent than the adventure. There is a tug of war going on in terms of emotions between Lady Booby and Joseph who does not want to turn over Fanny come what may and lady Booby does not to leave alone Joseph come what may. In this quest, most surprisingly and coincidently, he comes to find oneself his true identity in terms of his real parentage. Interpolated stories and Coincidences are there which make up the fine ingredients of a picaresque novel. In this concluding paragraph, on the basis of above mentioned arguments and textual evidences, I would establish this educational activity that Joseph Andrews is a Picaresque Novel.T here are certain sections where picaresque tradition is not strictly being followed and it seems as if theauthor is subtly prophesy moral values and is hence being didactic. Also, Henry Fielding efficacy himself call it a comic epic poem in prose and whatever the motive behind writing it he may describe, be it anti-Pamelism or whatever, but when we look at it in a broader perspective we can clearly make out that it has the rambling and discursive narrative which enable to it to have all the elements of a picaresque in it and therefore reservation it a Picaresque Novel.