Tom Jones
The distinguished country gentleman Allworthy, who lives in
Somersetshire with his unmarried sister Bridget Allworthy, arrives home from a
trip to London to discover a baby boy in is bed. Allworthy undertakes to
uncover the mother and father of this foundling, and finds local woman Jenny
Jones and her tutor, Mr. Partridge, guilty. Allworthy sends Jenny away from the
county, and the poverty-stricken Partridge leaves of his own accord. In spite
of the criticism of the parish, Allworthy decides to bring up the boy. Soon
after, Bridget marries Captain Blifil, a visitor at Allworthy's estate, and
gives birth to a son of her own, named Blifil. Captain Blifil regards Tom Jones
with jealousy, since he wishes his son to inherit all of Allworthy possessions.
While meditating on money matters, Captain Blifil falls dead of an apoplexy.
The narrator skips forward twelve years. Blifil and Tom Jones
have been brought up together, but receive vastly different treatment from the
other members of the household. Allworthy is the only person who shows
consistent affection for Tom. The philosopher Square and the reverend Thwackum,
the boys' tutors, despise Tom and adore Blifil, since Tom is wild and Blifil is
pious. Tom frequently steals apples and ducks to support the family of Black
George, one of Allworthy's servants. Tom tells all of his secrets to Blifil,
who then relates these to Thwackum or Allworthy, thereby getting Tom into
trouble. The people of the parish, hearing of Tom's generosity to Black George,
begin to speak kindly of Tom while condemning Blifil for his sneakiness.
Tom spends much time with Squire Western—Allworthy's
neighbor—since the Squire is impressed by Tom's sportsmanship. Sophia Western,
Squire Western's daughter, falls deeply in love with Tom. Tom has already
bestowed his affection on Molly Seagrim, the poor but feisty daughter of Black
George. When Molly becomes pregnant, Tom prevents Allworthy from sending Molly
to prison by admitting that he has fathered her child. Tom, at first oblivious
to Sophia's charms and beauty, falls deeply in love with her, and begins to
resent his ties to Molly. Yet he remains with Molly out of honor. Tom's
commitment to Molly ends when he discovers that she has been having affairs,
which means Tom is not the father of her child and frees him to confess his
feelings to Sophia.
Allworthy falls gravely ill and summons his family and friends
to be near him. He reads out his will, which states that Blifil will inherit
most of his estate, although Tom is also provided for. Thwackum and Square are
upset that they are each promised only a thousand pounds. Tom experiences great
emotion at Allworthy's illness and barely leaves his bedside. A lawyer named
Dowling arrives and announces the sudden and unexpected death of Bridget
Allworthy. When the doctor announces that Allworthy will not die, Tom rejoices
and gets drunk on both joy and alcohol. Blifil calls Tom a "bastard"
and Tom retaliates by hitting him. Tom, after swearing eternal constancy to
Sophia, encounters Molly by chance and makes love to her.
Mrs. Western, the aunt with whom Sophia spent much of her youth,
comes to stay at her brother's house. She and the Squire fight constantly, but
they unite over Mrs. Western's plan to marry Sophia to Blifil. Mrs. Western
promises not to reveal Sophia's love for Tom as long as Sophia submits to
receiving Blifil as a suitor. Blifil thus begins his courtship of Sophia, and
brags so much about his progress that Allworthy believes that Sophia must love
Blifil. Sophia, however, strongly opposes the proposal, and Squire Western
grows violent with her. Blifil tells Allworthy that Tom is a rascal who
cavorted drunkenly about the house, and Allworthy banishes Tom from the county.
Tom does not want to leave Sophia, but decides that he must follow the
honorable path.
Tom begins to wander about the countryside. In Bristol, he
happens to meet up with Partridge, who becomes his loyal servant. Tom also
rescues a Mrs. Waters from being robbed, and they begin an affair at a local
inn. Sophia, who has run away from Squire Western's estate to avoid marrying
Blifil, stops at this inn and discovers that Tom is having an affair with Mrs.
Waters. She leaves her muff in Tom's bed so that he knows she has been there. When
Tom finds the muff, he frantically sets out in pursuit of Sophia. The Irishman
Fitzpatrick arrives at the inn searching for his wife, and Western arrives
searching for Sophia.
On the way to London, Sophia rides with her cousin Harriet, who
is also Fitzpatrick's wife. In London, Sophia stays with her lady relative Lady
Bellaston. Tom and Partridge arrive in London soon after, and they stay in the
house of Mrs. Miller and her daughters, one of whom is named Nancy. A young
gentleman called Nightingale also inhabits the house, and Tom soon realizes
that he and Nancy are in love. Nancy falls pregnant and Tom convinces
Nightingale to marry her. Lady Bellaston and Tom begin an affair, although Tom
privately, continues to pursue Sophia. When he and Sophia are reconciled, Tom
breaks off the relationship with Lady Bellaston by sending her a marriage
proposal that scares her away. Yet Lady Bellaston is still determined not to
allow Sophia and Tom's love to flourish. She encourages anoter young man, Lord
Fellamar, to rape Sophia.
Soon after, Squire Western, Mrs. Western, Blifil, and Allworthy
arrive in London, and Squire Western locks Sophia in her bedroom. Mr.
Fitzpatrick thinks Tom is his wife's lover and begins a duel with Tom. In
defending himself, Tom stabs Fitzpatrick with the sword and is thrown into
jail. Partridge visits Tom in jail with the ghastly news that Mrs. Waters is
Jenny Jones, Tom's mother. Mrs. Waters meets with Allworthy and explains that
Fitzpatrick is still alive, and has admitted to initiating the duel. She also
tells Allworthy that a lawyer acting on behalf of an unnamed gentleman tried to
persuade her to conspire against Tom. Allworthy realizes that Blifil is this
very gentleman, and he decides never to speak to him again. Tom, however, takes
pity on Blifil and provides him with an annuity.
Mrs. Waters also reveals that Tom's mother was Bridget
Allworthy. Square sends Allworthy a letter explaining that Tom's conduct during
Allworthy's illness was honorable and compassionate. Tom is released from jail
and he and Allworthy are reunited as nephew and uncle. Mrs. Miller explains to
Sophia the reasons for Tom's marriage proposal to Lady Bellaston, and Sophia is
satisfied. Now that Tom is Allworthy's heir, Squire Western eagerly encourages
the marriage between Tom and Sophia. Sophia chastises Tom for his lack of
chastity, but agrees to marry him. They live happily on Western's estate with
two children, and shower everyone around them with kindness and generosity.
