Satire and the clerical portrait in Henry Fielding's Joseph Andrews and Amelia : some considerations

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Type
Academic Exercise
Author
Koh, Jennifer Sze Inn
Supervisor
Hamilton, Christopher
Abstract
This Academic Exercise (AE) aims to examine the clerical portraits in Henry Fielding's novels, Joseph Andrews and Amelio. In the novels, Fielding's alternative and complex conception of how the positive clergymen should be portrayed renders his defence of the order unique and distinct from conventional notions of the ideal clergyman. Working from the well-known premise that satire censures vice and champions virtue, I will explore how Fielding's recommendation of the exemplary clergymen does work in achieving the aims of moral reform, but I will suggest that Fielding, as novelist, may be assuming the responsibility of facilitating moral and social reform instead of the clergyman. The introductory chapter will be a brief discussion and overview of Fielding's works and the historical context of the novel. Chapter Two provides a sketch of the satire on clergymen prevalent and prior to Fielding's novels, followed by Chapter Three which considers the nature of the satirist and novelist as agents of moral and ethical reform. Chapter Four will be the textual analysis of clerical portraits in the novels Joseph Andrews and Amelia, in order to show in the conclusion that Fielding has cleverly compromised the presentation of his positive clerical exemplars, and Fielding stands alone as the true agent of reform.
Date Issued
2001
Call Number
PR3454.J67 Koh
Date Submitted
2001