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Book 16, Chapter 7
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
Meanwhile, Lord Fellamar continues to lust after Sophia no matter how much Mr. Western tries to prohibit him from seeing Sophia. He goes to see Lady Bellaston the afternoon after he attempted to rape Sophia. Lord Fellamar confesses all about his supposed love, but Lady Bellaston urges him to be patient, saying that Mr. Western will come around to him eventually. Lord Fellamar allows Lady Bellaston to plead his case on his behalf.
Lord Fellamar represents how beneath the supposedly sophisticated exterior of the wealthy upper class in England, there were more primal and violent tendencies. He was reluctant to join Lady Bellaston’s scheme at first, but now, like Mr. Blifil, he wants Sophia all the more because she has been denied to him.
Active
Themes
Lady Bellaston goes to talk with Mrs. Western, who is excited to learn that the wealthy Lord Fellamar is interested in Sophia, since she of course dislikes Tom. Lady Bellaston says that she can prove Tom isn’t serious about Sophia because she has her a letter of marriage proposal from Tom in his own handwriting. In truth, Lady Bellaston cares little about Sophia either way and just wants revenge on Tom.
Active
Themes
