The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling Character Analysis

Tom Jones

Tom Jones is a foundling who Mr. Allworthy adopts. It turns out he is secretly the child of Allworthy’s sister, Bridget, and a student named Mr. Summer. As a young man, Tom falls… read analysis of Tom Jones

Sophia Western

Sophia Western is the daughter of Mr. Western, niece of Mrs. Western, and eventual wife of Tom Jones. She is also a favorite of the narrator, who describes her virtue and… read analysis of Sophia Western

The Narrator

The narrator is a fictional stand-in for author Henry Fielding. He begins each of the novel’s 18 books with a chapter that touches on philosophical issues, sometimes in a mocking tone, rather than focusing on… read analysis of The Narrator

Mr. Allworthy

Mr. Allworthy is a wealthy squire who lives with his sister, Bridget, in Somersetshire, England. His life changes when he discovers the foundling Tom Jones in his bed. Allworthy shows that he is a… read analysis of Mr. Allworthy

Mr. Blifil

Blifil (who is called Master Blifil as a child but grows up into Mr. Blifil) is the son of Bridget and Captain Blifil, and unbeknownst to everyone, he’s secretly Tom’s half-brother. Blifil is… read analysis of Mr. Blifil

Mr. Western

Mr. Western is Sophia’s father and the brother of Mrs. Western. He is frequently drunk and has a violent temper—despite his supposed fondness for Sophia, he locks her up and tries to force… read analysis of Mr. Western

Black George

George Seagrim, known to most as Black George the gamekeeper, is a poor man who befriends Tom and is Molly’s father. Tom’s generosity toward Black George shows his goodness as a character, while Black… read analysis of Black George

Mr. Partridge/Little Benjamin

Mr. Partridge is a schoolmaster who is falsely accused of fathering Tom with Jenny Jones. He subsequently loses his job and becomes a barber, going by Little Benjamin. Later, he joins Tom as a… read analysis of Mr. Partridge/Little Benjamin

Lady Bellaston

Lady Bellaston is a relative of Sophia’s who hosts her when she comes to London. But in spite of her seeming friendliness toward Sophia, she is also conniving, seducing Tom and trying to turn… read analysis of Lady Bellaston

Mr. Thwackum

Mr. Thwackum, a teacher, is the counterpart to Mr. Square. They rarely agree with each other, though they have a lot in common. Both of them hate Tom, whom they teach for Mr.… read analysis of Mr. Thwackum

Mr. Square

The teacher Mr. Square is the counterpart to Mr. Thwackum. They disagree on most matters despite being very similar. They teach Tom and Mr. Blifil, greatly preferring Mr. Blifil. Unlike Thwackum, near the… read analysis of Mr. Square

Mr. Nightingale

Mr. Nightingale is a lodger at Mrs. Miller’s house who becomes a good friend of Tom’s. Despite being romantically involved with Mrs. Miller’s daughter, Nancy, he plans to abandon her to marry… read analysis of Mr. Nightingale

Mrs. Honour

Mrs. Honour is Sophia’s loyal maid. She thinks Tom is handsome and becomes Sophia’s main ally in trying to help her marry Tom and get out of a forced marriage to Mr. Blifil… read analysis of Mrs. Honour

Mrs. Miller

Mrs. Miller is a widow that Allworthy sometimes stays with when he visits London, and she has two daughters, Nancy and Betsey. Tom and Mr. Nightingale both lodge with Mrs. Miller, and Tom wins… read analysis of Mrs. Miller

Mr. Fitzpatrick

Mr. Fitzpatrick is the Irish man who marries Mrs. Fitzpatrick, taking her to Ireland and being unfaithful to her, which in turn motivates her to run away to escape him. He chases after her… read analysis of Mr. Fitzpatrick

Man of the Hill

The Man of the Hill is a man that Tom saves from some ruffians while traveling. He goes on to tell a long story about his life that has some parallels to Tom’s own story… read analysis of Man of the Hill

Mrs. Western

Mrs. Western is Mr. Western’s sister who alternately collaborates with and argues with him in attempts to determine Sophia’s future. Although Mrs. Western often advocates for a gentler approach to Sophia than her… read analysis of Mrs. Western

Minor Characters

Mrs. Fitzpatrick

Mrs. Fitzpatrick is the English wife of the Irish Mr. Fitzpatrick. Her first name is Harriet, and she is the cousin that Sophia stayed with when she was learning how to become a society lady. She runs away from her unfaithful husband and reunites with Sophia in London.

Miss Bridget Allworthy

Bridget Allworthy is the “old maid” sister of Mr. Allworthy who is in fact secretly sexually active, giving birth to Tom after a dalliance with Mr. Summer. She later marries Captain Blifil after she becomes pregnant with Master Blifil.

Molly Seagrim

Molly is one of Black George’s daughters. Tom feels duty-bound to her after the first time they have sex, not realizing that she has not been faithful to him.

Mr. Anderson

Mr. Anderson is a man in poverty who is forced to become an amateur highwayman. Tom foils his attempted robbery. Tom treats him mercifully, and this ends up paying off, as it helps him befriend Mr. Anderson’s relative, Mrs. Miller.

Jenny Jones/Mrs. Waters

Jenny is the suspected mother of Tom, and she lives with the local schoolmaster Mr. Partridge. She later marries Captain Waters but leaves him, running into Tom and having sex with him at an inn in Upton.

Lord Fellamar

Lord Fellamar is a man who becomes obsessed with trying to possess Sophia. Lady Bellaston tries to convince Lord Fellamar to rape Sophia to create a pretext to marry her, but while Lord Fellamar goes along with it at first, he later decides to abandon the plan.

Mr. Summer

Mr. Summer is Tom’s biological father with Bridget. He was living with Allworthy at the time and died at a young age of smallpox.

Mr. Dowling

Mr. Dowling is a lawyer who works for Mr. Allworthy. He plays a role at the end of the novel in revealing that Tom is in fact Bridget’s son.

Mrs. Deborah Wilkins

Mrs. Wilkins is a servant of Allworthy and Bridget who is there when Allworthy discovers Tom.

Lieutenant

Tom meets several soldiers after being cast out by Allworthy, and the lieutenant is their commander. He is about 60 and has been in the army most of his life. His career stalled out because he had sex with the wife of someone responsible for promoting him.

Ensign Northerton

Ensign Northerton is a soldier under the lieutenant who takes a particular dislike to Tom. He insults Sophia, and it leads to a fight that injures Tom’s head, leading Northerton to be imprisoned.

Mr. Nightingale the Elder

Mr. Nightingale the elder is Mr. Nightingale’s father and Uncle Nightingale’s brother. He has a rich woman he wants Mr. Nightingale to marry but ultimately accepts Mr. Nightingale’s marriage to Nancy.

Uncle Nightingale

Uncle Nightingale is Mr. Nightingale the elder’s brother and Mr. Nightingale’s uncle. He pretends to support Mr. Nightingale’s plan to marry Nancy but then tries to stop the marriage.

Nancy

Nancy is the older daughter of Mrs. Miller. She marries Mr. Nightingale.

Captain Blifil

Captain Blifil is an army captain who marries Bridget, hoping to inherit her fortune, but he dies first. He is the father of Mr. Blifil.

Irish Lord

Mrs. Fitzpatrick manages to escape her controlling husband, Mr. Fitzpatrick, by bribing an Irish lord and eventually becoming his mistress.

Mrs. Partridge

Mrs. Partridge is Mr. Partridge’s wife. She kicks him out after suspecting that he fathered Tom with Jenny Jones.

Dr. Blifil

Dr. Blifil is a friend of Allworthy and the brother of Captain Blifil, who helps introduce Captain Blifil to Bridget.

Goody Seagrim

Mrs. Seagrim is Black George’s wife and has several children, including Molly.

Mr. Maclachlan

Mr. Maclachlan is an Irish gentleman who investigates the disturbance at the inn at Upton when Tom is caught in bed with Mrs. Waters.

Mr. Supple

Mr. Supple is a parson who is a friend of Allworthy.

Betsey

Betsey, also sometimes called “Betty,” is the younger daughter of Mrs. Miller.

Will Barnes

According to rumor, Will Barnes was the first man who had sex with Molly, before Tom.

Miss Harris

Miss Harris is the rich but ill-tempered young woman that Mr. Nightingale the elder wants Mr. Nightingale to marry.

Watson

Watson is a friend of the Man of the Hill who encourages him to drink and gamble irresponsibly.

Sentinel

The sentinel is supposed to be watching Northerton while he’s imprisoned, but he gets scared after he sees the injured Tom and thinks he’s a ghost.

Petty-Fogger

A petty-fogger is a small-time lawyer, and one has dinner with Tom and Mr. Dowling at an inn.

Mrs. Hunt

Mrs. Hunt is a wealthy woman who suddenly proposes marriage to Tom. He feels good about himself for rejecting her in favor of Sophia.

Susan

Susan is a maid at the inn at Upton.

Puppet Master

The puppet master puts on a show when Tom and Partridge are in town.

Merry Andrew

Marry Andrew is part of the same troupe as the puppet master.

Tom Edwards

Tom Edwards is a friend of Lady Bellaston’s who plays whist with her.

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling Characters