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Book 18, 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
It is Mr. Western who’s come to see Allworthy and Mrs. Waters. He is frustrated, saying that Sophia has been playing tricks on him. Allworthy tells Mr. Western he needs to see Mr. Dowling and learns that Dowling is off finishing up some business with Mr. Nightingale the elder. Before Allworthy leaves, however, Mrs. Waters finishes her story, telling how she eventually met Captain Waters, then later Tom at Upton. She assures Allworthy that Tom is a good person, falling on her knees in tears.
Allworthy’s reconciliation with Tom continues as Mrs. Waters, whom Tom once helped when she was the victim of a robbery, also vouches for Tom’s good character. The fact that Tom’s generosity moves her to tears shows how meaningful Tom’s influence on people can be, even though he himself never demands anything in return for his virtuous actions.
Active
Themes
Just then, Mr. Dowling arrives for Allworthy and is surprised to see Mrs. Waters. They discover that Dowling did indeed play a role in trying to pin Mr. Fitzpatrick’s murder on Tom, in particular by speaking to the gang of witnesses. Dowling protests, however, that he was just following the orders of Mr. Blifil, who claimed to be acting with Allworthy’s authority. Dowling begs forgiveness, saying he only did this because he thought Allworthy wanted it.
The narration again reveals Dowling to have been involved in plotting against Tom, though Dowling claims, perhaps truthfully, that he was only trying to do business. Just as the novel is skeptical of surgeons, it also seems to be skeptical of lawyers, presenting Dowling as a man who will do anything for a profit, even if it means potentially ruining the reputation of a just man like Tom.
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Themes
Allworthy asks how Dowling could possibly think he wanted these actions taken against Tom. Dowling admits that he knows Tom is Allworthy’s biological nephew and thought perhaps Allworthy wanted to get rid of him. Dowling says that Bridget actually did write a final letter revealing the secret of Tom’s birth, but Mr. Blifil managed to intercept it before it reached Allworthy. Allworthy tells Dowling to stay silent about all of this for the moment and in particular not to reveal anything to Mr. Blifil.
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Themes
Allworthy goes to see Mrs. Miller and tell her about all the surprising things he’s just learned. He’s realized, with help from Mrs. Waters, that he’s been wrong this whole time about Tom, who is virtuous and is his biological nephew. Mr. Blifil on the other hand, is conniving and heartless, a “wicked viper.” Mrs. Miller is overjoyed, and she and Allworthy are both happy when Mrs. Waters comes to tell them that Tom now seems likely to be released, now that Mr. Fitzpatrick’s condition seems stable.
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Themes
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Allworthy will be glad to have Tom out of prison, but before then, he has to go settle some important business. He has some servants fetch him a chair, and Mr. Blifil hears about this, going down to see if Allworthy needs anything else. Allworthy says he has to depart, but he asks Mr. Blifil if he’d mind producing the letter from Bridget’s deathbed that she intended to send to Allworthy. Mr. Blifil is stunned to hear this.
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