The 1700-1939 Book Club! discussion

This is for the discussion of Tom Jones by Henry Fielding (Book 4-6).

I find Mrs. Western to be an interesting character. On the one hand I cannot help but to dislike her particularly in regards to Sophia and I do think that Fielding does treat her with a certain degree of mockery. But at the same time it seems that she is something of an early feminist some of the ideas she proposes seem to me as if they would have been very unconventional for the time period.

It makes me wonder just what Fielding's opinions stows women were. It seems over all in the book he does not in fact present them in a very flattering light and he does seem to reaffirm the Virgin/Whore ideal. In which all the women in the book are either portrayed as being women of loose virtue and morals, or being these very pious and chaste women.

I agree with your statement, the humor of these women makes it a good read that keeps me focused on their values.