A baby is thrown into the house of the wealthy squire Allworthy, where he lives with his sister Bridget. Squire, who lost his wife and children a few years ago, decides to raise the child as his own son. Soon he manages to find the mother of the foundling, a poor village woman Jenny Jones.
Allworthy fails to learn from her the name of the boy's father, but since Jenny repents of her act, the squire does not take the case to court, but only expels Jenny from her native places, having previously lent her a large sum. Allworthy continues to search for the child's father. Suspicion
It falls on the village teacher - Partridge, from whom Jenny took Latin lessons for a long time. At Allworthy's insistence, the case is taken to court. The teacher's wife, who has long been jealous of him for Jenny, accuses her husband of all mortal sins, and no one has any doubts that the teacher is the boy's father. Although Partridge himself denies his involvement with Jenny, he is found guilty and Allworthy sends him out of the village.
The squire's sister, Bridget, marries Captain Blifil, and they have a son. Tom Jones, a foundling who has won Allworthy's love, is brought up with young Blifil, but the greedy and envious captain, fearing
That Allworthy's fortune will go to the foundling, hates him, trying by any means to discredit the boy in the eyes of his named father. After some time, the captain dies unexpectedly, and Bridget becomes a widow.
From an early age, Tom does not differ in exemplary behavior. Unlike Blifil - reserved, pious and industrious beyond his years - Tom does not show zeal in his studies and with his pranks constantly worries Allworthy and Bridget. Despite this, everyone in the house loves the foundling for his kindness and responsiveness. Blifil never takes part in Tom's games, he condemns his tricks and does not miss the opportunity to reprimand for inappropriate pastime. But Tom never gets angry with him and sincerely loves Blifil like a brother.
Since childhood, Tom has been friends with Sophia, the daughter of Allworthy's neighbor, the wealthy squire Western. They spend a lot of time together and become inseparable friends. To educate the young men, Allverty invites the theologian Twakoma and the philosopher Square to the house, who make one requirement for their students: they must thoughtlessly cramming their lessons and not have their own opinion. Blifil wins their sympathy from the very first days. But Tom is not interested in repeating common truths after arrogant and arrogant mentors, and he finds other things to do.
Tom spends all his free time in the house of a poor caretaker whose family is dying of starvation. The young man, as far as possible, tries to help the unfortunate, giving them all his pocket money. Upon learning that Tom sold his Bible and the horse given to him by Olverty, and gave the proceeds to the caretaker's family, Blifil and both teachers fall in anger at the young man, considering his act reprehensible, while Olverty is touched by the kindness of his favorite. There is another reason that makes Tom spend so much time in the watchman's family: he is in love with Molly, one of his daughters. The carefree and frivolous girl immediately accepts his courtship, and soon her family finds out that Molly is pregnant. This news instantly spreads throughout the region. Sophia Western, who has long loved Tom, is in despair. He, accustomed to seeing in her only a friend of his childhood games, only now notices how she has blossomed. Unbeknownst to himself, Tom becomes more and more attached to the girl, and over time, this attachment develops into love. Tom is deeply unhappy, because he realizes that he is now obliged to marry Molly. However, things take an unexpected turn: Tom finds Molly in the arms of his teacher, the philosopher Square. After some time, Tom finds out that Molly is pregnant not from him at all, which is why he considers himself free from any obligations to her.
Meanwhile, Squire Allworthy falls seriously ill. Feeling the approach of the end, he gives the last orders regarding the inheritance. Only Tom, passionately loving his named father, is inconsolable, while everyone else, including Blifil, is only concerned about their share in the inheritance. A messenger arrives at the house and brings a message that Bridget Allworthy, who has been absent from the estate for several days, has died suddenly. By the evening of the same day, the squire is feeling better and he is clearly on the mend. Tom is so happy that not even Bridget's death can dampen his joy. Wanting to celebrate the recovery of his named father, he gets drunk, which causes condemnation of those around him.
Squire Western dreams of marrying his daughter to Blifil. This seems to him an extremely profitable business, because Blifil is the heir to most of the Allworthy fortune. And then Blifil manages to convince the squire that Tom rejoiced at his near death and the fact that he would soon become the owner of a considerable fortune. Believing Blifil, the angry squire kicks Tom out of the house.
Tom writes a farewell letter to Sophia, realizing that, despite his ardent love for her, now that he is doomed to wandering and a beggarly life, he has no right to count on her favor and ask for her hand. Tom leaves the estate, intending to become a sailor. Sophia, desperate to beg her father not to marry her to Blifil, who she hates, runs away from home. In a provincial inn, Tom accidentally meets Partridge, the very teacher Allworthy once expelled from his native village, considering him the father of a foundling. Partridge convinces the young man that he suffered innocently, and asks permission to accompany Tom on his wanderings.
Along the way, Tom rescues a woman, a certain Mrs. Waters, from the hands of a rapist. In the city hotel, Mrs. Waters, who immediately liked the handsome Tom, easily seduces him. At this time, Sophia, who is heading to London, hoping to find shelter with an old friend of their family, also stops at the Upton hotel and is happy to learn that Tom is among the guests. However, having heard that he cheated on her, the angry girl, as a sign that she knows everything about the behavior of her lover, leaves her muff in his room and leaves Upton in tears. By a lucky chance, cousin Sophia, Mrs. Fitzpatrick, who fled from her husband, a scoundrel and a debauchee, also stops at the same hotel. She invites Sophia to hide from her pursuers together. In fact, immediately after the departure of the fugitives, Sophia's furious father and Mr. Fitzpatrick arrive at the hotel. In the morning, Tom guesses why Sophia did not want to see him, and in desperation leaves the hotel, hoping to catch up with his beloved and get her forgiveness.
In London, Sophia finds Lady Bellaston. She cordially accepts the girl and, having heard her sad story, promises her help. Tom and Partridge soon also arrive in London. After a long search, Tom manages to get on the trail of his beloved, but her cousin and Lady Bellaston prevent him from meeting Sophia.
In the house where Tom and Partridge rent a room, Mr. Nightingale lives, with whom Tom quickly became friends. Nightingale and Nancy, the daughter of their owner, Mrs. Miller, love each other. Tom learns from a friend that Nancy is pregnant from him. But Nightingale cannot marry her, for he is afraid of his father, who has found a rich bride for him and, wanting to take over the dowry, insists on an immediate wedding. Nightingale submits to fate and secretly moves out from Mrs. Miller, leaving Nancy a letter in which he explains the reasons for his disappearance. Tom learns from Mrs. Miller that her Nancy, who is passionately in love with Nightingale, having received his farewell letter, has already tried to kill herself. Tom goes to the father of his frivolous friend and announces to him that he is already married to Nancy. Nightingale Sr. resigns himself to the inevitable, and Mrs. Miller and her daughter hastily prepare for the wedding. From now on, Nancy and her mother consider Tom their savior.
Meanwhile, Sophia is courted by the wealthy Lord Fellamore. He proposes to her but is rejected. Tom visits Mrs. Fitzpatrick to talk to her about Sophia. Leaving her house, he runs into her husband. The enraged jealous man, who finally got on the trail of the fugitive and found out where she lives, takes the young man for her lover and insults him. Tom is forced to draw his sword, to accept the challenge. As Fitzpatrick falls, pierced by Tom's sword, they are suddenly surrounded by a group of burly fellows. They grab Tom, hand him over to the constable, and he ends up in jail. It turns out that Fellamore sent several sailors and ordered them to recruit Tom to the ship, letting them know that he wanted to get rid of him, and they, having caught Tom during a duel when he wounded his rival, decided to simply hand Tom over to the police.
Sophia's father, Mr. Western, arrives in London. He finds his daughter and announces to her that until Allworthy and Blyfil arrive, the girl will be under house arrest and wait for the wedding. Lady Bellaston, having decided to take revenge on Tom, shows Sophia his letter with a marriage proposal. Soon the girl learns that Tom is accused of murder and is in prison. Allworthy arrives with his nephew and stays with Mrs. Miller. Allworthy is her longtime benefactor, he invariably helped the poor woman when her husband died and she was left without funds with two young children in her arms. Upon learning that Tom is the adopted son of a squire, Mrs. Miller tells him about the nobility of the young man. But Allworthy still believes in the slander, and the praises lavished on Tom do not move him.
Nightingale, Mrs. Miller and Partridge often visit Tom in prison. Soon the same Mrs. Waters comes to him, an accidental relationship with which led to a quarrel with Sophia. After Tom left Upton, Mrs. Waters met Fitzpatrick there, became his mistress, and left with him. Having learned from Fitzpatrick about his recent encounter with Tom, she hastened to visit the unfortunate prisoner. Tom is relieved to know that Fitzpatrick is safe and sound. Partridge, who has also come to visit Tom, informs him that the woman who calls herself Mrs. Waters is actually Jenny Jones, Tom's birth mother. Tom is horrified: he has sinned with his own mother.
Partridge, who never knew how to keep his mouth shut, tells Allworthy about this, and he immediately summons Mrs. Waters to his place. Appearing before her former master and learning from him that Tom is the same baby whom she threw into the squire's house, Jenny finally decides to tell Allworthy about everything she knows. It turns out that neither she nor Partridge were involved in the birth of the child. Tom's father is the son of Alverty's friend, who once lived in the squire's house for a year and died of smallpox, and his mother is none other than the squire's own sister, Bridget.
Fearing her brother's condemnation, Bridget hid from him that she had given birth to a child, and for a large reward she persuaded Jenny to throw the boy into their house. Olworthy's old servant, having heard that the squire had learned the whole truth, confesses to the master that Bridget, on her deathbed, revealed her secret to him and wrote a letter to her brother, which he handed to Mr. Blyfil, for Allworthy was unconscious at that moment. Only now Alworthy realizes the treachery of Blifil, who, wanting to take over the state of the squire, hid from him that he and Tom are brothers.
Allworthy, having learned the whole truth about his nephew, sincerely repents of everything that happened. Since Fitzpatrick has not filed any charges against Tom, he is released from prison. Allworthy apologizes to Tom, but noble Tom does not blame the squire for anything. Nightingale tells Sophia that Tom was not going to marry Lady Bellaston, because it was he, Nightingale, who persuaded Tom to write her the letter that she saw. Tom comes to Sophia and again asks for her hand. Squire Western, learning of Allworthy's intention to make Tom his heir, gladly agrees to their marriage. After the wedding, the lovers leave for the village and live happily away from the bustle of the city.
Mores hominum multorum vidit
Saw the manners of many people
TO THE HONOR GEORGE LITTLETON, ESQ
Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
Sir! Despite the fact that my request to preface this dedication with your name has met with constant refusal from you, I will still insist on my right to seek your patronage for this work.
To you, sir, this story owes its existence. Your wish first inspired in me the idea of such an essay. So many years have passed since then that you, perhaps, have forgotten about this circumstance; but your wishes are my command; the impression they left will never be erased from my memory.
Besides, sir, without your assistance this story would never have been completed. Don't be surprised by my words. I'm not going to make you suspect that you're a novelist. I only mean to say that I somewhat owe my existence to you during a large part of the time spent on work - another circumstance that you may need to be reminded of, if you are so forgetful, regarding some of your actions; these deeds, I hope, I will always remember better than you.
Finally, I am indebted to you for the fact that my story appears in its present form. If this work, as some were pleased to note, contains a more vivid image of a truly benevolent soul than those that are found in literature, then who among those who know you, which of your close acquaintances, may doubt where this goodwill "is written? The world, I think, will not flatter me with the assumption that I borrowed it from myself. This does not upset me: who will refuse to admit that the two faces that served me as a model, in other words, the two best and most worthy people in the world, are my close and devoted friends? I could be satisfied with that, but my vanity wants to add to them a third one - the most excellent and most noble, not only in his rank, but in all his social and personal qualities. But at this moment, when gratitude bursts from my chest to the Duke of Bedford for his princely graces, you will forgive me if I remind you that you were the first to recommend me to the attention of my benefactor.
And what objections can you have to doing me the honor I wanted? After all, you have praised the book so passionately that you will read your name without shame before the initiation. Indeed, sir, if the book itself does not make you blush for your praise, then you cannot, should not be ashamed of what I am writing here. I am not at all obliged to renounce my right to your intercession and patronage because you praised my book, for although I recognize the many favors you have done me, I do not include this praise among them; in it, I am convinced, friendship plays almost no role, because it can neither influence your judgment nor shake your impartiality. An enemy will win praise from you at any time if he deserves it, but a friend who has made a mistake can, at the most, count on your silence or even on kind indulgence if he is subjected to too severe attacks.
In short, sir, I suspect that the real reason for your refusal to comply with my request is a dislike of public praise. I noticed that, like my other two friends, you are very reluctant to hear the slightest mention of your virtues; that, as one great poet says about people like you (he rightly could say this about all three), you are used to
Do good in secret, ashamed of publicity.
If people of this type are even more ashamed of praise than others of censure, then how just must be your fear of entrusting your name to my pen! After all, how terrified another would be if attacked by a writer who received from him as many insults as I received favors from you!
And does not the fear of blame increase in proportion to the extent of the offense of which we recognize ourselves as guilty? If, for example, our whole life has constantly provided material for satire, then how can we not tremble when we fall into the hands of an irritated satirist! How just, sir, will your fear of me seem, when applied to your modesty and your aversion to panegyrics!
And yet you ought to have rewarded my ambition, if only because I would always prefer the gratification of your desires to the indulgence of my own.
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Southeast Asian countries
The Palestinian problem and Israel
Arab countries and Islamic fundamentalism
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Reads in 10-15 minutes
original - 33-34 hours
A baby is thrown into the house of the wealthy squire Allworthy, where he lives with his sister Bridget. The squire, who lost his wife and children a few years ago, decides to raise the child as his own son. Soon he manages to find the mother of the foundling, a poor village woman, Jenny Jones. Allworthy fails to learn from her the name of the boy's father, but since Jenny repents of her act, the squire does not take the case to court, but only expels Jenny from her native places, having previously lent her a large sum. Allworthy continues to search for the father of the child. His suspicion falls on the village teacher Partridge, from whom Jenny took Latin lessons for a long time. At Allworthy's insistence, the case is taken to court. The teacher's wife, who has long been jealous of him for Jenny, accuses her husband of all mortal sins, and no one has any doubts that the teacher is the boy's father. Although Partridge himself denies his involvement with Jenny, he is found guilty and Allworthy sends him out of the village.
The squire's sister, Bridget, marries Captain Blifil, and they have a son. Tom Jones, a foundling who has won Olworthy's love, is brought up with young Blifil, but the greedy and envious captain, fearing that Allworthy's fortune will pass to the foundling, hates him, trying by any means to discredit the boy in the eyes of his named father. After some time, the captain dies unexpectedly, and Bridget becomes a widow. From an early age, Tom does not differ in exemplary behavior. Unlike Blifil - reserved, pious and diligent beyond his years - Tom does not show zeal in his studies and with his pranks constantly worries Allworthy and Bridget. Despite this, everyone in the house loves the foundling for his kindness and responsiveness. Blifil never takes part in Tom's games, but condemns his tricks and does not miss the opportunity to reprimand for inappropriate pastime. But Tom never gets angry with him and sincerely loves Blifil like a brother.
Since childhood, Tom has been friends with Sophia, the daughter of Allworthy's neighbor, the wealthy squire Western. They spend a lot of time together and become inseparable friends.
To educate the young men, Allverty invites the theologian Twakoma and the philosopher Square to the house, who make one requirement for their students: they must thoughtlessly cramming their lessons and not have their own opinion. Blifil wins their sympathy from the very first days, as he diligently memorizes all their instructions. But Tom is not interested in repeating common truths after arrogant and arrogant mentors, and he finds other things to do.
Tom spends all his free time in the house of a poor caretaker whose family is dying of starvation. The young man, as far as possible, tries to help the unfortunate, giving them all his pocket money. Upon learning that Tom sold his Bible and the horse given to him by Olverty, and gave the proceeds to the caretaker's family, Blifil and both teachers fall in anger at the young man, considering his act reprehensible, while Olverty is touched by the kindness of his favorite. There is another reason that makes Tom spend so much time in the watchman's family: he is in love with Molly, one of his daughters. The carefree and frivolous girl immediately accepts his courtship, and soon her family finds out that Molly is pregnant. This news instantly spreads throughout the region. Sophia Western, who has long loved Tom, is in despair. He, accustomed to seeing in her only a friend of his childhood games, only now notices how she has blossomed. Unbeknownst to himself, Tom becomes more and more attached to the girl, and over time, this attachment develops into love. Tom is deeply unhappy, because he realizes that he is now obliged to marry Molly. However, things take an unexpected turn: Tom finds Molly in the arms of his teacher, the philosopher Square. After some time, Tom finds out that Molly is pregnant not from him at all, which is why he considers himself free from any obligations to her.
Meanwhile, Squire Allworthy falls seriously ill. Feeling the approach of the end, he gives the last orders regarding the inheritance. Only Tom, passionately loving his named father, is inconsolable, while everyone else, including Blifil, is only concerned about their share in the inheritance. A messenger arrives at the house and brings a message that Bridget Allworthy, who has been absent from the estate for several days, has died suddenly. By the evening of the same day, the squire is feeling better and is clearly on the mend. Tom is so happy that not even Bridget's death can dampen his joy. Wanting to celebrate the recovery of his named father, he gets drunk, which causes condemnation of those around him.
Squire Western dreams of marrying his daughter to Blifil. This seems to him an extremely profitable business, since Blifil is the heir to most of the Allworthy fortune. Not even interested in the opinion of the daughter. Western is in a hurry to get consent to the marriage from Allworthy. The wedding day has already been appointed, but Sophia, unexpectedly for her father, announces to him that she will never become Blifil's wife. An angry father locks her in a room, hoping that she will come to her senses.
At this time, Blifil, who secretly hated Tom since childhood, because he was afraid that most of the inheritance would go to the foundling, an insidious plan matures. Thickening his colors, he tells the squire about Tom's unworthy behavior on the very day when Allworthy was on the verge of death. Since all the servants witnessed the wild fun of drunken Tom, Blifil manages to convince the squire that Tom rejoiced at his imminent death and that he would soon become the owner of a considerable fortune. Believing Blifil, the angry squire kicks Tom out of the house.
Tom writes a farewell letter to Sophia, realizing that, despite his ardent love for her, now that he is doomed to wandering and a beggarly life, he has no right to count on her location and ask for her hand. Tom leaves the estate, intending to become a sailor. Sophia, desperate to beg her father not to marry her to Blifil, who she hates, runs away from home.
In a provincial inn, Tom accidentally meets Partridge, the very teacher Allworthy once expelled from his village, considering him the father of a foundling. Partridge convinces the young man that he suffered innocently, and asks permission to accompany Tom on his wanderings.
On the way to the city of Upton, Tom saves a woman, a certain Mrs. Waters, from the hands of a rapist. In the city hotel, Mrs. Waters, who immediately liked the handsome Tom, easily seduces him.
At this time, Sophia, who is heading to London, hoping to find shelter with an old friend of their family, also stops at the Upton hotel and is happy to learn that Tom is among the guests. However, having heard that he cheated on her, the angry girl, as a sign that she knows everything about the behavior of her lover, leaves her muff in his room and leaves Upton in tears. By a lucky chance, Sophia's cousin, Mrs. Fitzpatrick, who ran away from her husband, a scoundrel and a debauchee, also stops at the same hotel. She invites Sophia to hide from her pursuers together. In fact, immediately after the departure of the fugitives, Sophia's furious father and Mr. Fitzpatrick arrive at the hotel.
In the morning, Tom guesses why Sophia did not want to see him, and in desperation leaves the hotel, hoping to catch up with his beloved and get her forgiveness.
In London, Sophia finds Lady Bellaston. She cordially accepts the girl and, having heard her sad story, promises her help.
Tom and Partridge soon also arrive in London. After a long search, Tom manages to get on the trail of his beloved, but her cousin and Lady Bellaston prevent him from meeting Sophia. Lady Bellaston has her own reasons: despite the fact that she is suitable for Tom's mother, she falls passionately in love with him and tries to seduce the young man. Tom guesses what the lady wants from him, but nevertheless he does not refuse to meet with her and even accepts money and gifts from her, because he has no choice: firstly, he hopes to find out where Sophia is, and secondly he has no means of subsistence. However, in his relationship with Lady Bellaston, Tom manages to keep his distance. Finally, Tom accidentally meets his beloved, but she, having listened to assurances of eternal love and fidelity, rejects Tom, because she cannot forgive him for betrayal. Tom is desperate.
In the house where Tom and Partridge rent a room, Mr. Nightingale lives, with whom Tom immediately became friends. Nightingale and Nancy, the daughter of their owner, Mrs. Miller, love each other. Tom learns from a friend that Nancy is pregnant from him. But Nightingale cannot marry her, for he is afraid of his father, who has found a rich bride for him and, wanting to take over the dowry, insists on an immediate wedding. Nightingale submits to fate and secretly moves out from Mrs. Miller, leaving Nancy a letter in which he explains to her the reasons for his disappearance. Tom learns from Mrs. Miller that her Nancy, who passionately loves Nightingale, having received his farewell letter, has already tried to kill herself. Tom goes to the father of his frivolous friend and announces to him that he is already married to Nancy. Nightingale Sr. resigns himself to the inevitable, and Mrs. Miller and her daughter hastily prepare for the wedding. From now on, Nancy and her mother consider Tom their savior.
Lady Bellaston, who is madly in love with Tom, constantly demands dates from him. Realizing how much he owes her. Tom can't refuse her. But her harassment soon becomes unbearable to him. The foundling offers a cunning plan to a friend: he must write her a letter with a marriage proposal. Since Lady Bellaston takes into account the opinion of the world and does not dare to marry a man who is half her age, she will be forced to refuse Tom, and he, taking advantage of this, will have the right to terminate all relations with her. The plan succeeds, but the angry lady decides to take revenge on Tom.
Sophia, who still lives in her house, is looked after by the wealthy Lord Fellamar. He proposes to her but is rejected. The insidious Lady Bellaston explains to the lord that the girl is in love with a beggar rogue; if the lord manages to get rid of the rival, Sophia's heart will be free.
Tom visits Mrs. Fitzpatrick to talk to her about Sophia. Leaving her house, he runs into her husband. The enraged jealous man, who finally hit the trail of the fugitive and found out where she lives, takes the young man for her lover and insults him. Tom is forced to draw his sword and accept the challenge. When Fitzpatrick falls, pierced by Tom's sword, they are suddenly surrounded by a group of burly fellows. They grab Tom, hand him over to the constable, and he ends up in jail. It turns out that Fellamar sent several sailors and ordered them to recruit Tom to the ship, letting them know that he wanted to get rid of him, and they, having caught Tom during a duel when he wounded his rival, decided to simply hand Tom over to the police.
Sophia's father, Mr. Western, arrives in London. He finds his daughter and announces to her that until Allworthy and Blyfil arrive, the girl will be under house arrest and wait for the wedding. Lady Bellaston, having decided to take revenge on Tom, shows Sophia his letter with a marriage proposal. Soon the girl learns that Tom is accused of murder and is in prison. Allworthy arrives with his nephew and stays with Mrs. Miller. Allworthy is her longtime benefactor, he invariably helped the poor woman when her husband died and she was left without funds with two young children in her arms. Upon learning that Tom is the adopted son of a squire, Mrs. Miller tells him about the nobility of the young man. But Allworthy still believes in the slander, and the praises lavished on Tom do not move him.
Nightingale, Mrs. Miller and Partridge often visit Tom in prison. Soon the same Mrs. Waters comes to him, an accidental relationship with which led to a quarrel with Sophia. After Tom left Elton, Mrs. Waters met Fitzpatrick there, became his mistress, and left with him. Having learned from Fitzpatrick about his recent encounter with Tom, she hastened to visit the unfortunate prisoner. Tom is relieved to learn that Fitzpatrick is safe and sound. Partridge, who has also come to visit Tom, informs him that the woman who calls herself Mrs. Waters is actually Jenny Jones, Tom's birth mother. Tom is horrified: he has sinned with his own mother. Partridge, who never knew how to keep his mouth shut, tells Allworthy about this, and he immediately summons Mrs. Waters to his place. Appearing before her former master and learning from him that Tom is the same baby whom she threw into the squire's house, Jenny finally decides to tell Allworthy about everything she knows. It turns out that neither she nor Partridge were involved in the birth of the child. Tom's father is the son of Alverty's friend, who once lived in the squire's house for a year and died of smallpox, and his mother is none other than the squire's own sister, Bridget. Fearing her brother's condemnation, Bridget hid from him that she had given birth to a child, and for a large reward she persuaded Jenny to throw the boy into their house. Olworthy's old servant, having heard that the squire had learned the whole truth, confesses to the master that Bridget, on her deathbed, revealed her secret to him and wrote a letter to her brother, which he handed to Mr. Blyfil, for Allworthy was unconscious at that moment. Only now Alworthy realizes the treachery of Blifil, who, wanting to take over the state of the squire, hid from him that he and Tom are brothers. Soon Allworthy receives a letter from the boy's former teacher, the philosopher Square. In it, he informs the squire that he is dying and considers it his duty to tell him the whole truth. Square, who never loved Tom, sincerely repents: he knew that Blifil slandered Tom, but instead of exposing Blifil, he chose to remain silent. Allworthy learns that Tom alone was inconsolable when the squire was between life and death, and the reason for such immoderate joy of the young man was precisely the recovery of his named father.
Allworthy, having learned the whole truth about his nephew, sincerely repents of everything that happened, and curses the ungrateful Blifil. Since Fitzpatrick has not filed any charges against Tom, he is released from prison. Allworthy apologizes to Tom, but noble Tom does not blame the squire for anything.
Nightingale tells Sophia that Tom was not going to marry Lady Bellaston, because it was he, Nightingale, who persuaded Tom to write her the letter that she saw. Tom comes to Sophia and again asks for her hand. Squire Western, having learned of Allworthy's intention to make Tom his heir, gladly gives his consent to their marriage. After the wedding, lovers leave for the village and live happily away from the bustle of the city.
When Fielding died in 1754, friends realized that there was no portrait left of him. And then David Garrick and William Hogarth made amends. The great actor posed as Fielding for the great artist. Thus appeared the only image of the great novelist available to us.
What in it is really from Fielding, and what is from the later idea of him? Hard to say. But, most likely, the portrait is reliable. Friends remembered him like that - cheerful, friendly, cheerful, with laughing eyes. Yes, the portrait is authentic. And all the more amazing.
It is customary to portray satirists and humorists as gloomy people. The view is by no means groundless - they really are often like that. This could be expected from Fielding sooner than from others: his life was not easy. But, as Fielding's relative Lady Mary Wortley Montagu remarked, “no one knew how to enjoy life as he did; no one had so little reason for this.”
And yet, maybe there was a reason for this - the most compelling of all possible? After all, no matter how difficult life turned out to be for Fielding, he managed to subjugate it to himself and embody it in the greatest comic epic. It was the joy of a winner. But the victory was not easy, it cost its own life, and it was won under unfavorable conditions.
Henry Fielding was born on April 22, 1707 in the family of Major Edmund Fielding, who made a quick military career: two years before his death, he received the rank of lieutenant general, extremely significant at that time. Nobody denied the Fieldings in generosity either. They were akin to the Earls of Denbigh, who claimed kinship with the Habsburgs. Later studies, however, have refuted these claims. It turned out that the Earls of Denbigh were from peasants even at the time when the Habsburgs made their way to the imperial throne, plowed the land and milked the cows. But the London secular society of the eighteenth century was bound in this respect by a kind of mutual guarantee and preferred not to go into details of the origin of this or that family. In addition, the Fieldings claimed in those days for the smallest thing: how many people descended, according to their words, directly from William the Conqueror! In a word, the family is noble, occupying a prominent position, known to everyone.
On closer examination, things were not so good. The Fieldings' own funds were small, and the general's salary, generally speaking very good (for what Edmund Fielding received a month, a family in the province could live for five years), was not enough. General Tyl was married for the second time, he had twelve souls of children, and the expenses of secular gentlemen were incommensurable with the expenses of people who did not belong to "society". Another thing was also difficult: Henry was the object of contention between his father and maternal grandmother, arguing about under whose guardianship the boy should be, and suing because of the inheritance. He himself was obviously better at his grandmother's. Once he even ran away to wei.
In 1726, Fielding graduated from the aristocratic Eton School, where he received a deep knowledge of Greek and Latin, which later served him a lot in his studies of literature and philosophy, and two years later appeared in London with the comedy Love in Various Masks. The play was played in one of the two leading theaters in London, which did not cost Fielding much effort, but did not bring much success either. The young playwright, apparently, was not too upset. He was smart enough not to consider himself a complete writer, and he had long-term plans. By this time, his father assigned him an annual allowance, which, as the writer later said, "had the right to pay anyone who wanted to." At first, however, money came in, and Fielding went to Leiden to study at the Faculty of Philology, which was considered the best in Europe. A year and a half later, however, he was left without funds and returned to England.
Now Fielding finally (or so it seemed to him) chose his occupation. He decided to become a playwright. The first experience was continued in the play "The Goldfinch from the Temple" (1730), which told about a rogue student who sent home huge bills for candles, ink, pens, which terrified parents - a child can get sick from such hard work! In the same year, the comedy "The Judge in the Trap" appeared (this play was staged on the Soviet stage) - an example of a rather bold social satire. Success increased. And although Fielding correctly guessed the talent of a comedian in himself, he did not immediately understand in what specific form he would be able to create his stage masterpieces. The question was decided by the great success of his two new plays.
The three plays by Fielding mentioned earlier were written in the comedy of manners genre. New - in the farce genre. One of them, which immediately put Fielding among the leading playwrights, was called “The Author's Farce” (1730). But the really big event was the second - "The Tragedy of Tragedies, or the Life and Death of the Great Thumb Boy" (1731). The action took place at the court of King Arthur, where the great hero Thumb defeated enemies, fell in love with giantesses and princesses, but in the end died, eaten by a red cow. The audience laughed their heads off, but not only for the skillfully designed plot and not even for the numerous hints of modernity. The fact is that Fielding composed almost half of his comedy from quotes from other people's tragedies. The spectators, who had laughed before at Fielding's Thumb, later came to the performance of some modern tragedy and felt with horror that they were drawn to respond in the same exact way to the most tragic tirades of the most tragic heroes ... The eighteenth century in England was a century comedies, not tragedies, but he could not admit it to himself. Fielding helped him with this.
Jonathan Swift said later that he laughed only twice in his life and one of them - at the presentation of Fielding's "Boy with a Thumb". The great satirist could not help but see how close the young playwright was to him. The Fielding parody was akin to the parodies that Swift and his friends Gay, Pop and Arbuthnot produced on behalf of a certain Martin Scriblerus (i.e. Martin Pisaki). The fact that the matter was not limited to purely literary parody there is evidenced by a rather convincing fact - it was in the depths of this artistic controversy that the idea of Gulliver's Travels was born. So now Fielding (and he defiantly adopted the pseudonym "Martin Scriblerus Secundus", that is, the Second Martin Pisak) encroached on more than literary authorities. His play was directed against the so-called "heroic tragedy" - the tragedy of the Baroque persuasion that developed in England in the 17th century. But at the same time, Fielding took particular pleasure in mocking the concept of a "great man." Boy-with-finger Great! The very name served to ridicule the monarchs and conquerors extolled by official historiography.
Social and political criticism in Fielding's plays, as it is easy to see, was growing. Life provided wonderful material for this.
Nineteen years before Fielding's birth, the long period of the English bourgeois revolution came to an end. The "Great Revolt" of the 40s of the 17th century and the dictatorship of Oliver Cromwell ended with the restoration of the Stuart dynasty and their new expulsion in 1688. England now lived in class peace, achieved as a result of a compromise between the new nobility and the bourgeoisie. This state of reconciliation was interrupted only by new attempts to restore the Stuarts, in general, doomed to failure in advance. England, however, did not know the mass popular movements of Fielding's time.
In this bourgeois and already bourgeois self-complacent England, the satirist had something to do. England was proud that she had got rid of political tyranny, but Fielding once remarked (and did not tire of showing this in his works) that poverty imposed no less fetters on people than tyranny. And has the tyranny of custom and the tyranny of the landowners and, in general, of all those in power disappeared? Much has been said about the happiness of the English by this time. Fielding set out to find out what lies behind these words. He brings Don Quixote to England, so that, together with the Knight of the Sad Image, he looks at the English order with a distant look and is horrified by English monsters - squires, mayors, innkeepers (“Don Quixote in England”), attends elections with the audience, or rather, a rehearsal of a comedy called "Elections" ("Pasquin"), reviews the moral, social and cultural "values" of the century in the comedy "Historical Calendar for 1736".
A baby is thrown into the house of the wealthy squire Allworthy, where he lives with his sister Bridget. The squire, who lost his wife and children a few years ago, decides to raise the child as his own son. Soon he manages to find the mother of the foundling, a poor village woman, Jenny Jones. Allworthy fails to learn from her the name of the boy's father, but since Jenny repents of her act, the squire does not take the case to court, but only expels Jenny from her native places, having previously lent her a large sum. Allworthy continues to search for the father of the child. His suspicion falls on the village teacher Partridge, from whom Jenny took Latin lessons for a long time. At Allworthy's insistence, the case is taken to court. The teacher's wife, who has long been jealous of him for Jenny, accuses her husband of all mortal sins, and no one has any doubts that the teacher is the boy's father. Although Partridge himself denies his involvement with Jenny, he is found guilty and Allworthy sends him out of the village.
The squire's sister, Bridget, marries Captain Blifil, and they have a son. Tom Jones, a foundling who has won Olworthy's love, is brought up with young Blifil, but the greedy and envious captain, fearing that Allworthy's fortune will pass to the foundling, hates him, trying by any means to discredit the boy in the eyes of his named father. After some time, the captain dies unexpectedly, and Bridget becomes a widow. From an early age, Tom does not differ in exemplary behavior. Unlike Blifil - reserved, pious and diligent beyond his years - Tom does not show zeal in his studies and with his pranks constantly worries Allworthy and Bridget. Despite this, everyone in the house loves the foundling for his kindness and responsiveness. Blifil never takes part in Tom's games, but condemns his tricks and does not miss the opportunity to reprimand for inappropriate pastime. But Tom never gets angry with him and sincerely loves Blifil like a brother.
Since childhood, Tom has been friends with Sophia, the daughter of Allworthy's neighbor, the wealthy squire Western. They spend a lot of time together and become inseparable friends.
To educate the young men, Allverty invites the theologian Twakoma and the philosopher Square to the house, who make one requirement for their students: they must thoughtlessly cramming their lessons and not have their own opinion. Blifil wins their sympathy from the very first days, as he diligently memorizes all their instructions. But Tom is not interested in repeating common truths after arrogant and arrogant mentors, and he finds other things to do.
Tom spends all his free time in the house of a poor caretaker whose family is dying of starvation. The young man, as far as possible, tries to help the unfortunate, giving them all his pocket money. Upon learning that Tom sold his Bible and the horse given to him by Olverty, and gave the proceeds to the caretaker's family, Blifil and both teachers fall in anger at the young man, considering his act reprehensible, while Olverty is touched by the kindness of his favorite. There is another reason that makes Tom spend so much time in the watchman's family: he is in love with Molly, one of his daughters. The carefree and frivolous girl immediately accepts his courtship, and soon her family finds out that Molly is pregnant. This news instantly spreads throughout the region. Sophia Western, who has long loved Tom, is in despair. He, accustomed to seeing in her only a friend of his childhood games, only now notices how she has blossomed. Unbeknownst to himself, Tom becomes more and more attached to the girl, and over time, this attachment develops into love. Tom is deeply unhappy, because he realizes that he is now obliged to marry Molly. However, things take an unexpected turn: Tom finds Molly in the arms of his teacher, the philosopher Square. After some time, Tom finds out that Molly is pregnant not from him at all, which is why he considers himself free from any obligations to her.
Meanwhile, Squire Allworthy falls seriously ill. Feeling the approach of the end, he gives the last orders regarding the inheritance. Only Tom, passionately loving his named father, is inconsolable, while everyone else, including Blifil, is only concerned about their share in the inheritance. A messenger arrives at the house and brings a message that Bridget Allworthy, who has been absent from the estate for several days, has died suddenly. By the evening of the same day, the squire is feeling better and is clearly on the mend. Tom is so happy that not even Bridget's death can dampen his joy. Wanting to celebrate the recovery of his named father, he gets drunk, which causes condemnation of those around him.
Squire Western dreams of marrying his daughter to Blifil. This seems to him an extremely profitable business, since Blifil is the heir to most of the Allworthy fortune. Not even interested in the opinion of the daughter. Western is in a hurry to get consent to the marriage from Allworthy. The wedding day has already been appointed, but Sophia, unexpectedly for her father, announces to him that she will never become Blifil's wife. An angry father locks her in a room, hoping that she will come to her senses.
At this time, Blifil, who secretly hated Tom since childhood, because he was afraid that most of the inheritance would go to the foundling, an insidious plan matures. Thickening his colors, he tells the squire about Tom's unworthy behavior on the very day when Allworthy was on the verge of death. Since all the servants witnessed the wild fun of drunken Tom, Blifil manages to convince the squire that Tom rejoiced at his imminent death and that he would soon become the owner of a considerable fortune. Believing Blifil, the angry squire kicks Tom out of the house.
Tom writes a farewell letter to Sophia, realizing that, despite his ardent love for her, now that he is doomed to wandering and a beggarly life, he has no right to count on her location and ask for her hand. Tom leaves the estate, intending to become a sailor. Sophia, desperate to beg her father not to marry her to Blifil, who she hates, runs away from home.
In a provincial inn, Tom accidentally meets Partridge, the very teacher Allworthy once expelled from his village, considering him the father of a foundling. Partridge convinces the young man that he suffered innocently, and asks permission to accompany Tom on his wanderings.
On the way to the city of Upton, Tom saves a woman, a certain Mrs. Waters, from the hands of a rapist. In the city hotel, Mrs. Waters, who immediately liked the handsome Tom, easily seduces him.
At this time, Sophia, who is heading to London, hoping to find shelter with an old friend of their family, also stops at the Upton hotel and is happy to learn that Tom is among the guests. However, having heard that he cheated on her, the angry girl, as a sign that she knows everything about the behavior of her lover, leaves her muff in his room and leaves Upton in tears. By a lucky chance, Sophia's cousin, Mrs. Fitzpatrick, who ran away from her husband, a scoundrel and a debauchee, also stops at the same hotel. She invites Sophia to hide from her pursuers together. In fact, immediately after the departure of the fugitives, Sophia's furious father and Mr. Fitzpatrick arrive at the hotel.
In the morning, Tom guesses why Sophia did not want to see him, and in desperation leaves the hotel, hoping to catch up with his beloved and get her forgiveness.
In London, Sophia finds Lady Bellaston. She cordially accepts the girl and, having heard her sad story, promises her help.
Tom and Partridge soon also arrive in London. After a long search, Tom manages to get on the trail of his beloved, but her cousin and Lady Bellaston prevent him from meeting Sophia. Lady Bellaston has her own reasons: despite the fact that she is suitable for Tom's mother, she falls passionately in love with him and tries to seduce the young man. Tom guesses what the lady wants from him, but nevertheless he does not refuse to meet with her and even accepts money and gifts from her, because he has no choice: firstly, he hopes to find out where Sophia is, and secondly he has no means of subsistence. However, in his relationship with Lady Bellaston, Tom manages to keep his distance. Finally, Tom accidentally meets his beloved, but she, having listened to assurances of eternal love and fidelity, rejects Tom, because she cannot forgive him for betrayal. Tom is desperate.
In the house where Tom and Partridge rent a room, Mr. Nightingale lives, with whom Tom immediately became friends. Nightingale and Nancy, the daughter of their owner, Mrs. Miller, love each other. Tom learns from a friend that Nancy is pregnant from him. But Nightingale cannot marry her, for he is afraid of his father, who has found a rich bride for him and, wanting to take over the dowry, insists on an immediate wedding. Nightingale submits to fate and secretly moves out from Mrs. Miller, leaving Nancy a letter in which he explains to her the reasons for his disappearance. Tom learns from Mrs. Miller that her Nancy, who passionately loves Nightingale, having received his farewell letter, has already tried to kill herself. Tom goes to the father of his frivolous friend and announces to him that he is already married to Nancy. Nightingale Sr. resigns himself to the inevitable, and Mrs. Miller and her daughter hastily prepare for the wedding. From now on, Nancy and her mother consider Tom their savior.
Lady Bellaston, who is madly in love with Tom, constantly demands dates from him. Realizing how much he owes her. Tom can't refuse her. But her harassment soon becomes unbearable to him. The foundling offers a cunning plan to a friend: he must write her a letter with a marriage proposal. Since Lady Bellaston takes into account the opinion of the world and does not dare to marry a man who is half her age, she will be forced to refuse Tom, and he, taking advantage of this, will have the right to terminate all relations with her. The plan succeeds, but the angry lady decides to take revenge on Tom.
Sophia, who still lives in her house, is looked after by the wealthy Lord Fellamar. He proposes to her but is rejected. The insidious Lady Bellaston explains to the lord that the girl is in love with a beggar rogue; if the lord manages to get rid of the rival, Sophia's heart will be free.
Tom visits Mrs. Fitzpatrick to talk to her about Sophia. Leaving her house, he runs into her husband. The enraged jealous man, who finally hit the trail of the fugitive and found out where she lives, takes the young man for her lover and insults him. Tom is forced to draw his sword and accept the challenge. When Fitzpatrick falls, pierced by Tom's sword, they are suddenly surrounded by a group of burly fellows. They grab Tom, hand him over to the constable, and he ends up in jail. It turns out that Fellamar sent several sailors and ordered them to recruit Tom to the ship, letting them know that he wanted to get rid of him, and they, having caught Tom during a duel when he wounded his rival, decided to simply hand Tom over to the police.
Sophia's father, Mr. Western, arrives in London. He finds his daughter and announces to her that until Allworthy and Blyfil arrive, the girl will be under house arrest and wait for the wedding. Lady Bellaston, having decided to take revenge on Tom, shows Sophia his letter with a marriage proposal. Soon the girl learns that Tom is accused of murder and is in prison. Allworthy arrives with his nephew and stays with Mrs. Miller. Allworthy is her longtime benefactor, he invariably helped the poor woman when her husband died and she was left without funds with two young children in her arms. Upon learning that Tom is the adopted son of a squire, Mrs. Miller tells him about the nobility of the young man. But Allworthy still believes in the slander, and the praises lavished on Tom do not move him.
Nightingale, Mrs. Miller and Partridge often visit Tom in prison. Soon the same Mrs. Waters comes to him, an accidental relationship with which led to a quarrel with Sophia. After Tom left Elton, Mrs. Waters met Fitzpatrick there, became his mistress, and left with him. Having learned from Fitzpatrick about his recent encounter with Tom, she hastened to visit the unfortunate prisoner. Tom is relieved to learn that Fitzpatrick is safe and sound. Partridge, who has also come to visit Tom, informs him that the woman who calls herself Mrs. Waters is actually Jenny Jones, Tom's birth mother. Tom is horrified: he has sinned with his own mother. Partridge, who never knew how to keep his mouth shut, tells Allworthy about this, and he immediately summons Mrs. Waters to his place. Appearing before her former master and learning from him that Tom is the same baby whom she threw into the squire's house, Jenny finally decides to tell Allworthy about everything she knows. It turns out that neither she nor Partridge were involved in the birth of the child. Tom's father is the son of Alverty's friend, who once lived in the squire's house for a year and died of smallpox, and his mother is none other than the squire's own sister, Bridget. Fearing her brother's condemnation, Bridget hid from him that she had given birth to a child, and for a large reward she persuaded Jenny to throw the boy into their house. Olworthy's old servant, having heard that the squire had learned the whole truth, confesses to the master that Bridget, on her deathbed, revealed her secret to him and wrote a letter to her brother, which he handed to Mr. Blyfil, for Allworthy was unconscious at that moment. Only now Alworthy realizes the treachery of Blifil, who, wanting to take over the state of the squire, hid from him that he and Tom are brothers. Soon Allworthy receives a letter from the boy's former teacher, the philosopher Square. In it, he informs the squire that he is dying and considers it his duty to tell him the whole truth. Square, who never loved Tom, sincerely repents: he knew that Blifil slandered Tom, but instead of exposing Blifil, he chose to remain silent. Allworthy learns that Tom alone was inconsolable when the squire was between life and death, and the reason for such immoderate joy of the young man was precisely the recovery of his named father.
Allworthy, having learned the whole truth about his nephew, sincerely repents of everything that happened, and curses the ungrateful Blifil. Since Fitzpatrick has not filed any charges against Tom, he is released from prison. Allworthy apologizes to Tom, but noble Tom does not blame the squire for anything.
Nightingale tells Sophia that Tom was not going to marry Lady Bellaston, because it was he, Nightingale, who persuaded Tom to write her the letter that she saw. Tom comes to Sophia and again asks for her hand. Squire Western, having learned of Allworthy's intention to make Tom his heir, gladly gives his consent to their marriage. After the wedding, lovers leave for the village and live happily away from the bustle of the city.
retold
