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Book 11, Chapter 5
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Virtue vs. Vice
Marriage, Romance, and Economics
Appearance vs. Reality
Coming of Age
Storytelling, Literature, and Structure
Summary
Analysis
Mrs. Fitzpatrick’s story is briefly interrupted as the landlord comes up to her and Sophia to make sure they’re comfortable. The landlord still talks to Sophia as Jenny Cameron, referencing people waiting to meet her. Sophia misunderstands him and fears that he is talking about Mr. Western catching up with her. She begs the landlord not to reveal her whereabouts, and he agrees. Just then, Mrs. Honour comes in repeating a rumor about 10,000 French troops on the way and wailing that they’ll all be killed. Because the landlord believes Sophia is Jenny Cameron (an ally of the French), he tries to reassure everyone that the French mean no harm. Mrs. Fitzpatrick continues her story.
Many of the French supported the Jacobite rising of 1745, since it challenged the traditional ruling order in England, a longtime rival of France, but the rumors that several characters repeat about 10,000 French troops invading England had no basis in reality. That rumors like those of the 10,000 troops could spread shows how even in the more rational times of the Age of Enlightenment, false rumors and superstition persisted.
Active
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