Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Joseph Andrews, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Hypocrisy
Lust vs. Chastity
Social Class
Religion and Charity
Summary
Analysis
Inspired by Mr. Wilson’s gift, Joseph Andrews reflects on the concept of charity. He believes most people praise charity without actually contributing anything. Fanny asks if all great men are bad, but Joseph replies there are a couple exceptions. Abraham Adams would have had a lot to say on the subject, but he is asleep.
Although Joseph Andrews often gives off the impression that he’s very naïve, here he shows a surprising awareness of how the world works, arguably understanding charity better than even the parson Adams.
Themes
As Joseph Andrews and Fanny rest, they see a hare come out of the woods. Fanny wants to hug the creature, but it’s being chased by hunting hounds, and the hounds tear it apart while Fanny watches. The hare is close to the sleeping Abraham Adams, and the hounds start also tearing some of his cassock and his wig.
The death of the hare represents how weak, innocent creatures get taken advantage of. Many men on the roads try to attack Fanny while she’s alone, which could be part of the reason why she feels so much sympathy toward the hare.
Themes
The narrator calls on the muses for help describing the actions of Joseph Andrews in the next part of the story. Joseph sees Abraham Adams in danger and grabs a cudgel. He scares off one hound, then ruthlessly attacks several others that lunge at him. A squire who owns the hounds and some of the squire’s companions come up after the battle, and the squire asks why Joseph is hitting all those dogs. Joseph says they attacked his friend.
The narrator’s description of this scene recalls how the narrator of an ancient Greek or Latin epic poem might describe a grand battle, but the grand battle is just Joseph whacking some dogs with a stick. While the mismatch between the epic tone and the mundane actions is funny, it also gives some dignity to Joseph’s attempts to protect his friends.
Themes
The squire hesitates to criticize Joseph Andrews because he is still holding his cudgel. He and his companions notice Fanny and find her lovely. The squire apologizes to Abraham Adams and invites them all to dinner.
The earlier mauling of the hare foreshadows how this lustful squire sets his eyes on Fanny. Like the hunting dogs, however, the squire is afraid of Joseph’s cudgel.
Themes
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