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Book 2, 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
Mr. Allworthy goes to see Mr. Partridge and Mrs. Partridge, with Mrs. Wilkins accompanying him as the accuser. Mr. Partridge maintains his innocence, but Mrs. Partridge, who now seems a little reluctant, nevertheless repeats the story she told earlier, saying that Mr. Partridge even confessed to having a child with Jenny. Mr. Partridge says he only confessed because Mrs. Partridge was so insistent and wouldn’t stop otherwise. This causes Mrs. Partridge to again become adamant that Mr. Partridge is guilty.
Mrs. Partridge realizes in this passage that her words earlier have consequences and now Mr. Partridge may face punishment. Her decision to stick to her false story about Partridge fathering a child with Jenny, even though she knows it could lead to serious punishment for Mr. Partridge, shows how concerned Mrs. Partridge is with maintaining her own reputation.
Active
Themes
Allworthy sends for Jenny to get her input. But he later learns from a messenger that Jenny has left town, supposedly with a recruiting officer from the military. Allworthy takes this as evidence that Jenny is sexually promiscuous, and so he hands down judgment against Mr. Partridge, saying he is the father of Tom. As part of the punishment, Allworthy deprives Mr. Partridge of his income. The narrator notes that everyone has overlooked the fact that there was a young man of 18 who also lived in town around when Jenny likely got pregnant.
Although Allworthy has stronger moral convictions than many of the other characters in town, this passage shows how he is nevertheless easily misled by rumors and external appearances. The narrator highlights how Allworthy and the others are misled by making a casual reference to another likely potential father of the child, showing how a crowd mentality can make people ignore other obvious explanations.
Active
Themes
Allworthy eventually comes to regret punishing Mr. Partridge—he won’t pardon him in public but secretly gives back his income, pretending to be an anonymous benefactor. The same neighbors who wanted Mr. Partridge punished now think Allworthy was too harsh. Mrs. Partridge eventually falls ill and dies. Mr. Partridge, feeling like he has nothing left for him in the area, moves away.
Active
Themes
