The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
by Henry Fielding

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling: Book 4, Chapter 9 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Molly puts on her old rags again. Her sisters call her arrogant for wearing Sophia’s dress to church. Goody Seagrim (the gamekeeper’s wife) accuses Molly of being a “whore,” which would prevent her from taking the offer to work as Sophia’s servant. Molly replies that Goody Seagrim herself married quickly, due to a pregnancy, but Goody Seagrim sees nothing wrong with that, believing she did so to turn herself into an honest woman. Goody Seagrim stops, however, when Molly says she has a “gentleman” who will provide for her and gives her mother some money that Tom gave her before he left.
Goody Seagrim sees herself as morally superior to her daughter Molly because after she accidentally got pregnant, she married quickly to make things appear legitimate. From a Christian standpoint, both women committed fornication (sex before marriage), but Goody Seagrim’s choice to get married afterward is more socially acceptable, showing how social respectability is often more important than morality to these characters.
Active Themes
Marriage, Romance, and Economics Theme Icon
Goody Seagrim changes her mind and starts calling Sophia condescending for offering Molly a job. She thinks Black George was wrong to even listen to the offer. Black George gets uncharacteristically angry and beats Goody Seagrim with a small switch, quieting the whole family. At last, they decide that Goody Seagrim should work as Sophia’s servant, in the hopes of eventually passing on the job to her eldest daughter Betty instead of Molly.
Active Themes
Virtue vs. Vice Theme Icon
Appearance vs. Reality Theme Icon