'JOSEPH ANDREWS' | A COMIC EPIC IN PROSE

A writer who introduces new forms of literature or develops the old ones in such a style that makes it new can be regarded as a great and pioneer writer. Henry Fielding, a prominent and dominant novelist of eighteenth century, is one of such writers whose reputation and fame lies in introducing new elements. Henry Fielding is proclaimed to be the writer of a comic epic in prose. Henry Fielding himself says;

 

“This kind of writing, I do not remember to have been hitherto attempted by any writer in our language.”

 

But this statement cannot be regarded as a perfect truth or exact and accurate statement. The idea of a comic epic in prose was not at all new. Henry Fielding was the writer of Tom Jones, Amelia, Shamela and Joseph Andrews. But he took much delight. in being known as a first writer who had attempted something new. Aristotle says that Homer had written comic epics. The comic epics bore same relation to comedy as the serious epics like ‘Odyssey’ and ‘Iliad’ bore to tragedy.

A piece of literary work which contains fable, action, characters, feelings, sentiments and diction may be known as a comic epic in prose.

Henry Fielding combined his ideas of Comic Epic and Epic Prose and in this way, he became able to create a new genre namely comic epic in prose. This form was not at all new. This tradition had been continuing for a long long time. The writers of the olden times were also well acquainted with the tradition. Before discussing Joseph Andrews as a Comic Epic in Prose, it is necessary that the difference between comic epic prose and purely fanciful French romances and between comic epic prose and serious romance should be clarified. In this way, we will be able to make a matured conclusion.

There is a great difference between comic epic and a serious Romance. The characters, actions, fables, sentiments and diction of comic epic are light, humorous and ridiculous whereas all these of a serious Romance are serious grave and solemn. The characters of a comic epic are inferior to those of a serious Romance.

The difference between a comic epic and a burlesque is also quite obvious. The burlesque describes events, incidents and characters of an imaginary world and the motive behind is to create a humorous and ridiculous situation. The comic epic describes events, incidents, happenings and characters of the real and actual life, and the motive behind is the same.

Comic epic is also different from purely fanciful French Romances. The French Romances exhibit the characters which are not likely to exist in the real world. Whereas in case of comic epic, Fielding says he has selected his characters from actual and real life. But this can easily mislead us to think that it is a historical work. But the difference between historical works and comic epic prose is that a historical work presents characters from actual life, which really had happened in this world whereas this is not the case with comic epic prose. Joseph Andrews is often noticed as a comic epic in prose and even its writer also claims it to be so. We have explained its difference from some other terms. Let us examine it in the light of above explanation.

A comic epic must include hero's long journey from some where to any other place. This is found in, Joseph Andrews. Joseph has to go from countryside to London and again from London to countryside. During this course, the hero of the novel undergoes a number of severe pains just like the tradition of a comic epic.

The plot of Joseph Andrews has a striking resemblance with the plot of ‘Odyssey’. In ‘Odyssey’, the hero displeases his master and is dismissed by him. In ‘Joseph Andrews’, the hero gets his mistress displeased and is expelled out of the house. Joseph Andrews may be regarded as comic epic in prose. Joseph Andrews has elements of mock epic. When Fielding describes the scene of fight between the Parson and the hounds, the scene is described in a serious epic tone with light touches. Fielding has used satire and irony to create humour and to ridicule the follies, vices, absurdities and imperfections of the people of 18th century. Fielding has introduced funny and comic characters and has described them on an epic level. Parson Barnabas, Parson Trulliber, the lawyer, the surgeon, Mr. & Mrs. Tow-Wouse and many other characters who make it comic, humorous and ridiculous. Fielding has also employed the formula of discovery. A problem is created about the parentage of Fanny and Joseph: Joseph is recognized as, Mr. Wilson's son by the mark of strawberry on his chest. This masterly use of formula of discovery is also according to the tradition of epic. The stories of Leonara and Mr. Wilson, which are regarded as digressions, are also helpful in enhancing the epic effect. Henry Fielding's masterpiece "Joseph Andrews" should be regarded a combination of different devices and different forms of literature. It contains the elements of picaresque novel. It has the elements of comic epic in prose also. Fielding has made the fullest use of his wit in fusing the different elements with one another.

The scope and range or the outlook of Joseph Andrews is not as wide as we expect from an epic, however it should be readily granted and unhesitatingly admitted that it has certain features of a comic epic in prose. It has followed the tradition of mock epic. The comic epic bears the same relation to comedy as the serious epic bears to tragedy.