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Book 17, Chapter 3
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
The narrator describes Sophia as like a doe being hunted. Mrs. Western comes to her and tells her that she is to marry Lord Fellamar instead of Mr. Blifil, but Sophia says that there’s little difference between them to her. Mrs. Western says Sophia had better make peace with Lord Fellamar, or else Mrs. Western will just go ahead and let Mr. Western force Sophia to marry Mr. Blifil. Sophia explains that Lord Fellamar tried to assault her, grabbing her left breast so hard it left a mark. Mrs. Western accuses Sophia of lying.
The comparison of Sophia to a doe shows how even her own family members have dehumanized her, turning her into a vulnerable animal. The disagreement between Mrs. Western and Mr. Western reflects their differing values. Whereas Mr. Western sticks with trying to make Sophia marry Mr. Blifil due to his pride and sense of tradition, Mrs. Western puts more emphasis on economic and social matters and is willing to make Sophia marry Lord Fellamar if he presents a better offer than Mr. Blifil.
Active
Themes
Sophia takes a different approach. She flatters Mrs. Western, saying she heard Mrs. Western refused a proposal from a lord when she was younger. Sophia says she’s reluctant to marry Lord Fellamar because she might meet someone even richer. The flattery works, and Sophia is able to delay Mrs. Western’s plan for a while.
Active
Themes
