Character Clues

Character Analysis

Actions

Tom Jones builds a lot of strong contrasts between what the characters say they believe and what the characters actually do. So, Mr. Square spends a lot of time preaching about the importance of morality, virtue, and abstinence in leading a decent life. He is a philosopher, and he generally appears to believe that it is good to swear off human desires and emotions. But of course, when Tom discovers Mr. Square hiding in Molly Seagrim's bedroom, we know the truth of his character: he is a huge hypocrite. He may talk the talk about avoiding sex, but he doesn't walk the walk.

Similarly, Mr. Thwackum is always emphasizing his own religious beliefs. But he uses his religion as an excuse to beat up Tom whenever he gets the chance, which doesn't seem very Christian to us. This is definitely a book where actions speak louder than a character's words.

Occupation

All of the doctors in this book are quacks who exaggerate their patients' illnesses to try and make more money. All of the lawyers (see, for example, Mr. Dowling) are liars who are willing to scheme and manipulate on behalf of their employers. All of the innkeepers are judgmental snobs who treat the poor badly (since if you're poor, you might not be able to pay your room bill). And all of the maids and servants in Tom Jones are giant gossips. Yup: occupation says a lot about a character in this novel.

Physical Appearance

Tom and Sophia are both good-looking and good-acting. By contrast, Lady Bellaston is a huge fake. She pretends to want to help Sophia with Tom while secretly she encourages Lord Fellamar to rape and marry her. This character trait of hypocrisy also carries over to Lady Bellaston's looks. The narrator describes her:

[Lady Bellaston] was now entered at least into the autumn of life; though she wore all the gayety of youth both in her dress and manner; nay, she contrived still to maintain the roses in her cheeks; but these, like flowers forced out of season by art, had none of that lively blooming freshness with which nature, at the proper time, bedecks her own productions. (13.9.5)

In other words, Lady Bellaston is getting up there in terms of age, but she uses "art" (in other words, make-up and stylish clothes) to make herself look as though she maintains "the [gaiety] of youth." Lady Bellaston's appearance is as deceptive as her character.

Speech and Dialogue

Fielding often uses funny dialogue to expose the weakness and foolishness of individual characters in their own words. So, for example, Partridge's frequent use of random and clichéd Latin sayings shows that he is puffed-up, arrogant, and a bit foolish. Mrs. Honour's run-on sentences and slang prove that she is a bit silly and flighty. The constant abstract moral arguments between Misters Thwackum and Square demonstrate that the two of them know a lot but understand very little about real, practical ethics.

By contrast, Squire Allworthy's heavy, serious speeches on the subject of good conduct prove that he is, in many ways, the figure who best defines morality in Tom Jones.