E-C- 104 : THE NEO- CLASSICAL LITERATURETOPIC: PERSONAL AND CULTURAL IDENTITY IN TOM JONESPREPARED BY : AVANI N. DAVEM.A. - SEM – 1ROLL NO: 02DATE: 18/10/'12DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISHMAHARAJA KRISHNAKUMAR SINHJI BHAVNAGAR UNIVERSITY

Introduction of the novel :-o Comic novel by Henry Fieldingo First published in Feb, 1749.o Picaresque Type.o Immediate Best Seller

Impact of tom Jones :-o Wretches it goes against me to touch these misbegotten wretches, whom I don’t look upon as my fellow Creatures. Faugh ! How it stinks ! It doth not smell like a Christian – Deborah Wilkins

Identity of the Character :- o Impulses are good but unstrained.o Representation of human weaknesso His major weakness – easy susceptibility to feminine charm.

Moral Levity:- o He shows that the lusty rascal Tom is, in fact, an infinitely better

human being than the vicious pretenders who surround him and scheme against him while camouflaged in a thin veneer of artificial virtue.

o “Let no man be sorry he has done good, because others have done evil.” - Henry fielding

Life in London :-o Love and scandal are the best

sweeteners of tea.  - Henry fielding o The people were more frivolous than

licentious.o Morally degenerated society.

Women :-o Ugly aspect mentioned o Fallen women accepted to none.o Humiliating status of women

Country life :-o Narrow world – vicious gossip o Prude in Mrs. Deborah Wilkins.

Protagonist :- o The hero overcomes not only all external

plots and obstacles but, most importantly, his own weaknesses of character, to win both love and fortune.

Highway :-o Dangerous highway.o Threatening.

Wealth & splendor of English country side :-o Drinking and Eating too much.o Enjoying life.

Submitted to :

Heena madam &

Dep. Of English m.k.s. B.U