Joseph Andrews by Henry Fielding – Plot
Introduction
Joseph Andrews was written by Henry Fielding and published in 1742.
Its complete title is:
The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews and of His Friend Mr. Abraham Adams.
And there is one phrase on the title page that immediately tells us something important about the novel.
Fielding says that the book is:
“Written in Imitation of the Manner of Cervantes.”
Cervantes, of course, is the famous Spanish author of Don Quixote.
So right from the beginning, Fielding is telling us that this is going to be a comic adventure involving unusual characters, journeys, and encounters with society.
Joseph Andrews and Lady Booby
The novel introduces us to Joseph Andrews, a young, handsome and virtuous footman.
Joseph works in the household of Sir Thomas Booby, a wealthy gentleman. After Sir Thomas dies, his wife, Lady Booby, becomes attracted to Joseph.
Lady Booby is socially superior to Joseph. She is wealthy and powerful, while Joseph is merely a servant.
However, Joseph remains faithful to Fanny Goodwill, the young woman he loves, and refuses Lady Booby's advances.
Lady Booby becomes frustrated and angry because Joseph will not give in to her wishes.
Eventually, Joseph is dismissed from his position.
Now Joseph decides to return to the countryside, where he hopes to reunite with Fanny.
And this is where his real adventure begins.
Joseph's Journey
Joseph sets out on his journey home.
But before he can reach his destination, he is attacked by robbers.
They steal his belongings and leave him badly injured.
Joseph is eventually taken to an inn, where he receives assistance.
His journey, however, is only beginning.
He encounters a series of unusual people and situations, and each experience reveals something about the society through which he is travelling.
Soon, Joseph meets the person who becomes his closest companion throughout the rest of the story:
Parson Abraham Adams.
Parson Adams
Parson Adams is a poor country clergyman.
He is intelligent and well educated, but he is also absent-minded, naïve and sometimes extremely impractical.
At the same time, he is genuinely kind and charitable.
When Adams meets Joseph, he becomes concerned about him and decides to accompany him.
From this point, the novel becomes the story of the adventures of Joseph and Parson Adams.
The two travel together and encounter people belonging to different social classes.
Some are generous and kind.
Others are selfish, dishonest or hypocritical.
Because Adams is so trusting and Joseph is so straightforward, their encounters often lead to comic situations.
But beneath the comedy, these incidents reveal the weaknesses and contradictions of society.
Joseph and Fanny
Throughout his journey, Joseph remains devoted to Fanny Goodwill.
Fanny is a young woman of humble social circumstances, but Joseph genuinely loves her and wants to marry her.
Their relationship, however, faces several obstacles.
Lady Booby continues to oppose Joseph's relationship with Fanny.
Joseph and Fanny also have to deal with the social differences and misunderstandings surrounding them.
Their love therefore becomes an important part of the story.
But another, much more serious complication is waiting for them.
The Mystery of Joseph's Birth
As the story progresses, questions begin to arise about Joseph's origins.
Eventually, it appears that Joseph and Fanny may actually be brother and sister.
If this is true, their relationship cannot continue as a romantic one.
This creates a major crisis for the two lovers.
But the mystery surrounding Joseph's birth is eventually investigated, and the truth begins to emerge.
The revelation changes everything.
Joseph is discovered not to be the biological son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrews.
Instead, he is identified as the long-lost son of Mr. Wilson.
This means that Joseph and Fanny are not brother and sister.
The apparent obstacle to their marriage is removed.
Joseph and Fanny
With the truth revealed, Joseph and Fanny are finally able to marry.
Their relationship survives the many difficulties they have faced throughout the novel.
Joseph's journey has therefore taken him from being a young servant in Lady Booby's household to discovering his true family identity and finally being united with Fanny.
The Role of Parson Adams
Alongside Joseph's story, Parson Adams remains an important part of the novel until the end.
His adventures provide much of the novel's comedy.
He frequently finds himself in ridiculous situations because of his innocence and absent-mindedness.
However, beneath the humour, Adams represents genuine goodness.
He is charitable, sympathetic and willing to help others even when he receives nothing in return.
This makes him very different from several characters who appear respectable but behave selfishly.
The Ending
By the end of the novel, the major misunderstandings are resolved.
Joseph's true identity has been discovered.
His relationship with Fanny is restored.
Joseph and Fanny marry, and their love receives a happy resolution.
At the same time, the various adventures of Joseph and Parson Adams have exposed the hypocrisy, selfishness, greed and pretension of many of the people they encounter.
This is why the plot is more than simply a romantic adventure.
Joseph's journey becomes a journey through eighteenth-century society.
At every stage, Fielding introduces us to different people and situations, allowing us to see the contrast between appearance and reality, social status and moral worth, and genuine virtue and hypocrisy.
So, while Joseph Andrews tells the story of a young man's journey and his love for Fanny, it also gives us a comic picture of human nature and society.
And this is what makes the novel much more than a simple love story.
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