Fielding's Art of Characterization | 'Joseph Andrews'

 

The painters and writers are artists. They paint life in their own way. The painters make portraits with the use of colours and the writers make portrait with words. In the field of writing, proficiency in the art of characterization is must. In fact, the writers are the most sensitive creatures. They feel everything more than any ordinary person. They observe things minutely and describe vividly in an elaborate style.

The art of characterization means to create character with the help of imagination. The word ‘Imagination’ should not mislead us to think that the characters must be imaginary rather the characters may be real or imaginary. Imagination means that the writers do not copy the living human beings in a literal sense. They create characters and give them suitable appearance, put appropriate words into their mouths and often convey their own ideas and notions through characters. Henry Fielding has generally and frequently been appreciated for his great art of characterization.

Henry Fielding was a great realist writer. He has introduced a variety of characters in ‘Joseph Andrews’. He has exposed follies, vices and absurdities which were prevailing over the eighteenth-century society. The Parsons, the surgeon, landladies, Innkeepers, judges, lawyers, servants, fashionable ladies, squires, corrupt politicians, robbers and almost every character of the society has been described by him in an elaborate convincing and forceful manner.

Henry Fielding does not only describe the physical abilities or outward appearance of the characters, he is also concerned with the description of human nature. That is why, his characters are striking and quite unforgettable. The point worth mentioning is that the outward appearance is also according to the inner nature. Sometimes, we see that the name of a character suggests a number of traits of that very character through which we can easily make an  assessment of that character.

For example, the hero of the novel who has been given the name of Joseph, has to face such temptations as were faced by a Prophet Joseph (A.S). The sexual allurement and temptation is such a forceful thing that can easily entrap any teenager. But Joseph saves his purity and chastity and his name is quite suitable to his character. So, we can say that Fielding might have to contemplate for the selection of names even. Henry Fielding introduced another character namely Mrs. Slipslop whose outward appearance, physical features and inner intentions are equally detestable. The names of Miss Tittle and Miss Tattle are also a result of contemplation. The most important and the most outstanding character in ‘Joseph Andrews’ is Parson Adams.

 

“Although the centre of plot is Joseph Andrews, yet Parson Adams is the centre of interest.”

 

He dominates the story. He plays a role of vital significance in the novel. He is an honest and learned man. Henry Fielding has introduced this character keeping with the model of 'Cervantes'. He has got such a prominent place that;

 

“Joseph Andrews without Parson Adams is a flower without smell.”

 

Parson Adams has been portrayed at with light humorous touches. Fielding does not ridicule him but merely touches him with a sense of humour. He is an unforgettable person. Fielding's reputation rests on the creation of such characters. Parson Adams has been idealized by Fielding but he is not free from innocent vanities. If he had not trivial vanities, he would have become an unreal character. Above all, by telling us about his vanities, Fielding has made it a real picture.

 

“He has not been made a caricature.”

 

It is the great art of characterization of Fielding that compels a critic to remark;

 

“It is a novel of venture, but it is pre-eminently and chiefly the novel character.”

 

It is a matter of fact that Fielding's description of outward appearance and inward thoughts is in accordance with each other.

Joseph Andrews’ virtue is reflected in the attractiveness of his appearance. Fanny becomes a constant source of temptation for almost every man she meets. Parson Adams' words and actions are also in accordance with each other and also suit his personality. He shows good Christian life both by words and actions. He boldly declares;

 

“Though I am a poor person, I will be bold to say, I am an honest man and would not do any ill thing to be made a Bishop”.

 

Parson Adams is a man with a large family of six children and a wife. He loves his children very dearly and begins to mourn when he hears that his son has been drowned. Mr. & Mrs. Adams do not have understanding. Mrs. Adams says bluntly that her husband "takes a pack of nonsense" that the whole Parish is his children. His daughters also have objections to his policies. It means that the members of his family are not his disciples.

To sum up the whole discussion, we can claim unhesitatingly that Fielding has a great sense of art of characterization and he introduces real, dynamic and life-like characters. Some of his characters have become immortal and quite unforgettable.