How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
Mr Western having finished his holla, and taken a little breath, began to lament, in very pathetic terms, the unfortunate condition of men, who are, says he, "always whipt in by the humours of some d—n'd b— or other. I think I was hard run enough by your mother for one man; but after giving her a dodge, here's another b— follows me upon the foil; but curse my jacket if I will be run down in this manner by any o'um." (7.4.1)
We want to stop for a second to talk about the appearance of Tom Jones as a book. More specifically, what's going on with these strategic dashes in Squire Western's speeches? The "d—n'd b—" parts? Obviously, these dashes are like bleeps on live TV: they fill in for a swear word that we know is there, but that the author cannot print out without getting into trouble. He is swearing at his reader, while still maintaining the appearance that he isn't. So here's our question: What function do these bleeped-out swear words play in Tom Jones? And who are those dashes truly protecting, if anybody?
Quote #5
The new soldiers were now produced before the officer, who having examined the six-feet man, he being first produced, came next to survey Jones: at the first sight of whom, the lieutenant could not help showing some surprize; for besides that he was very well dressed, and was naturally genteel, he had a remarkable air of dignity in his look, which is rarely seen among the vulgar, and is indeed not inseparably annexed to the features of their superiors. (7.11.16)
Fielding is equally willing to make fun of working class people and rich people: consider his mockery of both the Seagrim family and the foolish Westerns. Still, a lot of his physical descriptions use pretty class-based language. Here, the lieutenant of Tom's new army company is surprised at Tom's "naturally genteel" appearance, which is "rarely seen among the vulgar." It is because of Tom's refined looks that the lieutenant invites him to dine with the officers. So, what exactly is a "naturally genteel" face? Or a "vulgar" one, for that matter? What do you think Fielding means by these kinds of descriptions?
Quote #6
"Very little indeed," answered the [Man of the Hill]: "those who travel in order to acquaint themselves with the different manners of men might spare themselves much pains by going to a carnival at Venice; for there they will see at once all which they can discover in the several courts of Europe. The same hypocrisy, the same fraud; in short, the same follies and vices dressed in different habits. In Spain, these are equipped with much gravity; and in Italy, with vast splendor. In France, a knave is dressed like a fop; and in the northern countries, like a sloven. But human nature is everywhere the same, everywhere the object of detestation and scorn. (8.15.2)
Okay, so the Man of the Hill has a grim view of the human species. We can't blame him! But besides demonstrating the Man of the Hill's deep pessimism and hatred for, well, us, he also states that, wherever you go, despite their appearances, people are the same. So as long as you describe real human nature in one place, you are describing it in all places. The Man on the Hill is basically giving us him grim rendition of "It's a Small World After All."