Questions about Henry Fielding's Joseph Andrews and Shamela

.....along, how are you reacting to "Joseph Andrews," on its own?

I enjoyed reading "Joseph Andrews" for several reasons. For one, the language is challenging but I appreciate reading the text. Second, I find the content of Joseph Andrews interesting, as it lends insight into the historical and social context of the work. Most importantly, I appreciate the humor in the text, which is more overt and obvious than I expected. Right from the opening chapter, the author uses humor and satire when speaking of "male chastity." Throughout Joseph Andrews, there is sexual innuendo and symbolism as with Andrews's "office" being to "perform the part the ancients assigned to the God Priapus," as well as the use of the funny name "booby." The author cleverly juxtaposes the sexual imagery with the theme of modesty and chastity. Yet sexual innuendo is not the author's only comedic trope. He also uses clever literary devices, such as reversing the nickname for Joseph, saying that he was called "Joey, but "we shall hereafter" call him Joseph (p. 24). With Joseph's Christian identity and his betrothed as Goodwill, names carry much symbolism for the author. I also like that the author allows the narrator to continually speak directly to the reader, using first person narration. This creates a familiar tone.

2. What do you make of Fielding's presentation of Joseph's virtue of chastity?

First, I found it ironic that it was the male character Joseph that is the one committed to chastity. Fielding turns gender norms completely on their heads, because typically women are expected to actively preserve their chastity before marriage, or at least pretend to if they are of a high social status. Yet when Betty also offers herself to Joseph, it is clear that female sexuality transcends social class status. Likewise, it is amusing that Miss Booby works so hard to seduce Joseph, and that he resists. It could be that he is turned off to a sexually aggressive woman, and it is also possible that the author is simply showing that women had the power to be in control of their own sexuality, contrary to common beliefs about gender norms in the 18th century. Joseph is portrayed in a paradoxical light. On the one hand, he is obviously attractive given the fact that women from multiple walks of life are unable to resist him and throw themselves at him. On the other hand, his chastity seems contrived, as if in real life there could never be a Joseph. As I read the text, I wonder more about the author's use of satire, and whether he is using Joseph to actually mock female chastity in the 18th century, as well as mocking the notion that a man could ever save himself for one woman before they married. I believe that the author might be making fun of Christian morals.

3. What did you think of Fielding's appropriation of and characterization of Pamela and her husband Mr. Boody in "Joseph Andrews"?

In some ways, I view Fielding's characterization of Pamela as being a comment on social class and power, and how persons in positions of power can and do exploit persons in lower positions, like Joseph. Mrs. Booby has a sense of entitlement. She feels that Joseph should be devoted to her, attracted to her, and to love her simply because she wants him to. When she realizes that he is committed fully to Fanny, she cannot help but to become angry and jealous: she has been usurped by a woman from a lower social class. She meddles in the relationship between Joseph and Fanny, which is the author's way of noting that people in power can manipulate the lives of subordinate people.

Works Cited

Fielding, Henry. Joseph Andrews.