How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
O my Sophia! my only love! you cannot hate or despise me more for what happened there than I do myself; but yet do me the justice to think that my heart was never unfaithful to you. That had no share in the folly I was guilty of; it was even then unalterably yours. Though I despaired of possessing you, nay, almost of ever seeing you more, I doated still on your charming idea, and could seriously love no other woman. But if my heart had not been engaged, she, into whose company I accidently fell at that cursed place, was not an object of serious love. Believe me, my angel, I never have seen her from that day to this; and never intend or desire to see her again. (13.11.5)
Tom tries to defend himself to Sophia about sleeping with Mrs. Waters by saying that his heart "was never unfaithful." It was just his pesky body that was getting some action. And actually, this excuse seems to hold some water with Sophia. (And honestly, since their relationship is so undecided and up in the air, maybe it's not fair to expect that Tom be monogamous?) Do you buy Tom's excuse here? Is it possible to be faithful at heart but unfaithful in body?
Quote #8
There is not, indeed, a greater error than that which universally prevails among the vulgar, who, borrowing their opinion from some ignorant satirists, have affixed the character of lewdness to these times. On the contrary, I am convinced there never was less of love intrigue carried on among persons of condition than now. Our present women have been taught by their mothers to fix their thoughts only on ambition and vanity, and to despise the pleasures of love as unworthy their regard; and being afterwards, by the care of such mothers, married without having husbands, they seem pretty well confirmed in the justness of those sentiments; whence they content themselves, for the dull remainder of life, with the pursuit of more innocent, but I am afraid more childish amusements, the bare mention of which would ill suit with the dignity of this history. In my humble opinion, the true characteristic of the present beau monde is rather folly than vice, and the only epithet which it deserves is that of frivolous. (14.1.13)
The narrator thinks it is kind of funny that so many people believe that there is a lot of immoral sex going on these days. In fact, the narrator believes that most upper-class families now train their daughters to believe that personal relationships and marriage should be about what they can get financially speaking. The idea of love matches seems completely out of fashion to the narrator; in fact, upper-class women appear mostly driven by vanity and love of money, rather than physical lust. Do you guys observe a class difference in how this novel portrays sexuality among poor people and among richer people?
Quote #9
Nightingale never once interrupted the narration, though he discovered violent emotions at many parts of it. But when it was concluded, after fetching a deep sigh, he said, "What you tell me, my friend, affects me in the tenderest manner. Sure there never was so cursed an accident as the poor girl's betraying my letter. Her reputation might otherwise have been safe, and the affair might have remained a profound secret; and then the girl might have gone off never the worse; for many such things happen in this town: and if the husband should suspect a little, when it is too late, it will be his wiser conduct to conceal his suspicion both from his wife and the world." (14.7.4)
Mr. Nightingale is usually a fun-loving guy who resembles Tom in his manners. But he has this London-y side of him (London meaning, in the context of Tom Jones, concerned mainly with appearances). When he first hears of Nancy's public shaming over his letter, he doesn't appear to regret knocking her up in the first place. What causes him guilt is that the secret is now out, so she can't go "off never the worse" for her affair. After all, "many such things happen in this town [London]." Mr. Nightingale does seem to love Nancy, but his first thought is for her reputation, and not for her baby or her desperate love for him. This response makes Mr. Nightingale seem kind of lame and unfeeling.