"Cliff Notes - Tom Jones" - читать интересную книгу автора (Cliff Notes)

As you can see, Tom Jones has been interpreted in many ways.
It is up to you to determine who the real Tom is. Your
evaluation of the book will rest to a considerable degree on
your interpretation of the title character.

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TOM JONES: SQUIRE ALLWORTHY

A wealthy landowner, Squire Allworthy finds Tom Jones and
raises him as his own son. Generous and kind, Squire Allworthy
often represents an idealized image of fatherhood. A kindly
man, he can also seem stern and even rather arbitrary. ("Though
Mr. Allworthy had the utmost sweetness and benevolence in his
smiles, he had great terror in his frowns.") As his name
implies, he serves as a God-like image, resembling for some
readers the God of the Old Testament.

He contrasts with the rash Squire Western in his moderation,
urbanity, and wisdom. He also contrasts with the sophisticated
but cynical Mrs. Western and Lady Bellaston in his warmth and
kindness. Yet for a God-like figure, he seems to some readers
very unaware or blind. For example, he doesn't understand
Blifil's motives for marrying Sophia--he even believes Blifil
has a passionate, erotic desire for her. Some critics feel this
blindness is merely a device to serve the plot, while others
feel he thus becomes a more complex character.

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TOM JONES: MASTER BLIFIL

Mrs. Bridget's son and Squire Allworthy's nephew, Master
Blifil is raised with Tom Jones in the Allworthy household and
is the villain of the novel. Prissy and pompous, he seems to
act mainly out of selfishness, greed, and jealousy. He plays up
to his pious mentors, Thwackum and Square, then enlists them in
his plots. He wants to marry Sophia not out of love but out of
a desire for the Western estate. He hides the letter from his
mother to Squire Allworthy that reveals Tom is really her son
and thus Allworthy's nephew and heir. He also lies that Tom was
overjoyed when Allworthy seemed about to die--a lie that causes
Allworthy to banish Tom for a time.

Blifil is indeed villainous. But Blifil's nasty cleverness
makes him his own worst enemy. At the novel's conclusion, his
treachery is discovered and he--not Tom Jones--is the one
banished from the Allworthy estate.

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TOM JONES: SQUIRE WESTERN