The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling Book 1, Chapter 10 Summary & Analysis

Mr. Allworthy has a reputation for being generous and finds it difficult to say no to people. One guest who sometimes shows up is Dr. Blifil, who was forced to become a doctor by his stubborn father. Miss Bridget likes when Dr. Blifil comes to dinner because he compliments her whenever she gives her thoughts on religion. Dr. Blifil would like to marry Miss Bridget himself, in part because he believes she will inherit Allworthy’s fortune, but he tells her that he suffered an “unfortune accident” 10 years ago—he is married to a woman who is still alive.

Dr. Blifil is clearly an unpleasant character, with the implication being that Allworthy invites him to dinner not because he enjoys his company but because the generous Allworthy finds it difficult to say no to people. Dr. Blifil clearly takes an interest in Bridget, although it’s less clear if he is interested in her as a person or just because of her connection to Allworthy’s estate, which any potential husband of hers would have a connection to as well.

Active Themes

Although Dr. Blifil can’t marry Miss Bridget himself, he offers his brother. Dr. Blifil’s brother was forced by their father to study divinity, but their father died before he was ordained. So, the brother went to join the military instead, becoming Captain Blifil. When Dr. Blifil brings his brother up to Allworthy, however, Allworthy doesn’t think that a military man sounds like the right fit for someone as peaceful as Bridget. Nevertheless, Allworthy allows Dr. Blifil to invite his brother the captain.

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The fact that Captain Blifil went from studying divinity to joining the military suggests that he is not a man of particularly strong principles, willing to follow his father’s wishes while his father is alive, but ready to abandon that course and do the opposite as soon as his father dies. As Allworthy notes, nothing about Captain Blifil’s disposition suggests that he is well-matched for Bridget, but this passage begins to explore how marriages in England were often less about personal compatibility and more about strategic alliances related to inheriting property.

Active Themes

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling: Book 1, Chapter 10 Summary & Analysis