Mr. Partridge/Little Benjamin Character Analysis in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

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 traveling companion where he often provides comic relief due to his superstition and misunderstandings. He’s characterized as less noble than Tom: he regularly encourages Tom to use Sophia’s 100-pound bank note.

Mr. Partridge/Little Benjamin Quotes in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

The The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Partridge/Little Benjamin or refer to Mr. Partridge/Little Benjamin. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

“It is possible,” cries Benjamin, “for it is so: but though it is natural enough for men to hate even the innocent causes of their sufferings, yet I am of a different temper. I have loved you ever since I heard of your behavior to Black George, as I told you; and I am convinced, from this extraordinary meeting, that you are born to make me amends for all I have suffered on that account.

Related Characters: Mr. Partridge/Little Benjamin (speaker), Tom Jones , Mr. Allworthy, Black George

Page Number and Citation: 374

Explanation and Analysis:

“This young fellow, among many other tolerable bad qualities, had one very diabolical. He had a great delight in destroying and ruining the youth of inferior fortune, by drawing them into expenses which they could not afford so well as himself; and the better, and worthier, and soberer any young man was, the greater pleasure and triumph had he in his destruction.”

Related Characters: Man of the Hill (speaker), Tom Jones , Mr. Partridge/Little Benjamin

Page Number and Citation: 398

Explanation and Analysis:

“Lookee, friend,” cries Jones, “the right owner shall certainly have again all that she lost; and as for any farther gratuity, I really cannot give it you at present.”

Related Characters: Tom Jones (speaker), Mr. Partridge/Little Benjamin, Jenny Jones/Mrs. Waters

Related Symbols: Muff, 100-Pound Bank Note

Page Number and Citation: 558

Explanation and Analysis:

He returned the fellow his empty pistol, advised him to think of honester means of relieving his distress, and gave him a couple of guineas for the immediate support of his wife and his family; adding, “he wished he had more for his sake, for the hundred pound that had been mentioned was not his own.”

Related Characters: Tom Jones (speaker), Mr. Partridge/Little Benjamin, Mr. Anderson

Related Symbols: 100-Pound Bank Note

Page Number and Citation: 599

Explanation and Analysis:

Mr. Partridge/Little Benjamin Character Timeline in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

The timeline below shows where the character Mr. Partridge/Little Benjamin appears in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...likely to have been the child’s mother. Jenny Jones is a servant of the local schoolmaster, and Mrs. Wilkins is secretly jealous of how Jenny has picked up skills like being... (full context)

Stepping back in time to when she lived with the schoolmaster as a servant, Jenny eventually comes to know many of the lessons better than her... (full context)

Marriage, Romance, and Economics Theme Icon

When Jenny still lives with the Partridges, after a certain point, Mrs. Partridge becomes suspicious of how attentively Mr. Partridge teaches Jenny.... (full context)

Mrs. Partridge, who is still jealous of Jenny, asks others in town for news about where Jenny... (full context)

News spreads in town quickly of Mr. Partridge beating Mrs. Partridge, although everyone blames the argument on a different reason. Mrs. Wilkins overhears... (full context)

Mr. Allworthy goes to see Mr. Partridge and Mrs. Partridge, with Mrs. Wilkins accompanying him as the accuser. Mr. Partridge maintains his... (full context)

...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.... (full context)

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... (full context)

Captain Blifil had hoped that the scandal with Mr. Partridge would make Allworthy throw Tom out of his house, but Allworthy only continues to love... (full context)

...her to have something prepared. In the meantime, he goes to see a barber named Little Benjamin . Little Benjamin is jovial while he works, and Tom invites him to have a... (full context)

After Tom’s dinner, Little Benjamin and Tom sit down to have wine together. Little Benjamin tells Tom about how he’s... (full context)

...ignoring the surgeon’s advice, so he inquires around about other nearby surgeons. He learns that Little Benjamin also acts as a surgeon. Little Benjamin says he didn’t reveal this sooner because he... (full context)

...Little Benjamin about his past. Little Benjamin asks Tom if he ever heard of Mr. Partridge, the man accused of being Tom’s father. He then reveals that, in fact, Little Benjamin... (full context)

Partridge is a superstitious man who joins Tom partly because he thinks a dream he had... (full context)

Storytelling, Literature, and Structure Theme Icon

Tom and Partridge travel to Gloucester, and along the way, nothing interesting happens. They find a public house... (full context)

...to have tea with him. Tom, insulted, decides to pay his bill and leave, over Partridge’s objections (full context)

Tom and Partridge leave Gloucester at 5, just as dusk is beginning to fall. Without a guide, they... (full context)

When Partridge learns that Tom supports King George, he decides that supporting Tom is more important than... (full context)

Tom notices a hill and wants to climb it to get a better view. Partridge fears that the tops of hills are melancholy places that just make you cold, but... (full context)

All of a sudden, Tom and Partridge’s conversation with the old woman is interrupted by a voice telling someone to give up... (full context)

When Partridge sees the old man, however, who has a long white beard, Partridge becomes superstitious again... (full context)

Partridge interrupts to ask if maybe the man the Man of the Hill stole from was... (full context)

...gamble at the tavern, the piles of money disappear over the course of the night. Partridge interrupts the story to suggest that perhaps “evil spirits” took away the money. (full context)

...of the broom. The landlord joins the fight too, and Tom seems outnumbered, until suddenly Partridge swoops in and grabs the landlady’s broomstick. (full context)

...commotion and runs down the stairs, joining the melee. This seems to give Tom and Partridge the advantage until Susan, a fearsome maid at the inn, joins in on the other... (full context)

Tom and Mrs. Waters go upstairs together while Partridge, the landlord, the landlady, the sergeant, and others all drink together by the kitchen fire.... (full context)

Just then, Partridge comes into the kitchen, having been awakened by a screech-owl that he thinks is a... (full context)

...inn as them, and Sophia is overjoyed. But when Mrs. Honour goes to fetch Tom, Partridge informs her that Tom is “in bed with a wench.” A furious Mrs. Honour goes... (full context)

...wake up and come to the kitchen. Everyone drinks a toast to King George, except Partridge, who is willing to follow Tom into battle on George’s behalf but is not willing... (full context)

...there is no proof that Tom stole Sophia, there is proof he took the muff. Partridge speaks in Tom’s defense, saying Partridge himself found the muff first. Finally, Susan admits that... (full context)

Going back to Tom, he and Partridge leave the inn at Upton shortly after Mr. Western does. Partridge thinks that Tom would... (full context)

Partridge has agreed not to bring up the subject of home again, so he instead returns... (full context)

As Tom and Partridge continue along the road, they come to a crossroads and meet a beggar-man. He wants... (full context)

The beggar-man agrees to take Tom and Partridge to where he found Sophia’s pocket-book. The beggar is a little confused about how important... (full context)

Tom and Partridge travel quickly and with little conversation. They reach another crossroads. Suddenly, they hear a drum,... (full context)

...master himself runs out to hit Merry Andrew, who is part of his company. Meanwhile, Partridge convinces Tom to stay until morning, so that they can find someone to ask about... (full context)

Partridge has dinner in the inn’s kitchen, where he exaggerates Tom’s status to anyone who talks... (full context)

Merry Andrew takes Tom to the place where they saw Sophia. Tom and Partridge follow Sophia’s most likely route, but soon, they have to take shelter from a harsh... (full context)

...guide. However, the boy senses that he’s valuable to Tom and charges a high price. Partridge has to trick the boy into agreeing using alcohol. Tom, Partridge, and their guide set... (full context)

Tom and Partridge think they’re riding toward Coventry, but their guide doesn’t know the way, and they end... (full context)

Tom and Partridge spot a light in the distance that further stokes Partridge’s superstitions. Tom is in favor... (full context)

Tom and Partridge make their way to a barn that is the source of the light. Tom asks... (full context)

In the barn, Tom and Partridge take part in the festivities. One of the women asks to tell Partridge’s fortune, then... (full context)

Tom and Partridge leave the barn when it’s light out and continue toward Coventry. Their detour means it... (full context)

Partridge tries to convince Tom to start using the money from Sophia’s pocketbook, but Tom resists... (full context)

Around dusk, as Tom and Partridge are headed to London, a gentleman on a shabby horse comes up to them and... (full context)

...protests that he is desperate—this is his first robbery, and the pistol isn’t even loaded. Partridge wants to kill the highwayman, but Tom shows mercy after determining the pistol really is... (full context)

...upright life. The highwayman weeps, or at least pretends to, and gives Tom his word. Partridge doesn’t approve of Tom’s decision, believing theft should be severely punished, but Tom reminds him... (full context)

Tom and Partridge have never been to London, and this makes it difficult for them to track down... (full context)

...Mrs. Fitzpatrick from seeing Tom anymore. Tom goes back to the lodgings he shares with Partridge, with a widow in town that he learned about from Allworthy. Her name is Mrs.... (full context)

...use Sophia’s 100-pound bank note. He eventually has to borrow some change from a reluctant Partridge in order to pay his way to go meet Mr. Nightingale for the masquerade. (full context)

Tom goes home to sleep for a few hours, then summons Partridge, asking him to make change from a 50-pound note. The narrator explains that Lady Bellaston... (full context)

...to take him to Sophia. Since Lady Bellaston is reluctant to say anything, Tom has Partridge look around for information, speaking to Lady Bellaston’s servants. (full context)

...This surprises Tom, who wasn’t aware he was guilty of such a thing. He blames Partridge for spreading rumors while trying to find Sophia’s whereabouts. Sophia begins to forgive Tom when... (full context)

Just then, Partridge announces that Mrs. Honour has come to see Tom. Tom tells Lady Bellaston to quickly... (full context)

...Allworthy and of how Mr. Anderson was a highwayman. He figures out at once that Partridge must have revealed this and calls for Partridge. Tom is furious, but Partridge gives such... (full context)

Just as Partridge leaves, Mr. Nightingale comes to visit Tom. Tom explains that he thinks the reason why... (full context)

...better of him. He sleeps in late until a commotion wakes him up. He calls Partridge, who explains that Mrs. Miller just found out that Nancy is pregnant. Everyone blames Mr.... (full context)

...He promises to try to fix things, including reinstating Mrs. Honour as maid. Just then, Partridge rushes in bearing news that Lady Bellaston is approaching. He has Mrs. Honour hide behind... (full context)

While Tom is congratulating himself for turning down Mrs. Hunt, Partridge suddenly comes in with news that he’s located where Mr. Western took Sophia. Apparently, Black... (full context)

...letter, Tom is invited to go to the play-house with Mrs. Miller, Betsey, and Mr. Partridge. They watch Hamlet, which Tom relates back to his own life. Tom is surprised how... (full context)

Mrs. Miller and Mr. Nightingale go to visit Tom while he’s in prison. Partridge comes with news that, while Mr. Fitzpatrick is still expected to die, he yet lives.... (full context)

Tom spends 24 hours alone until Partridge comes back to see him. Nightingale comes not long after and asks to speak with... (full context)

At prison, Partridge again walks in on Tom while he’s contemplating melancholy matters. He asks about Mrs. Waters... (full context)

Tom’s thoughts are interrupted when Black George arrives at the prison with a message. Partridge warns him that Tom is upset about a matter where Black George probably can’t help... (full context)

Allworthy wants to visit Tom in prison. But Partridge takes Mrs. Miller aside and explains how Tom had sex with Mrs. Waters. They realize... (full context)

Allworthy tells Partridge that he surely must be Tom’s father and asks why he continues to pose as... (full context)

Partridge explains to Allworthy the whole affair with Tom and Mrs. Waters, which shocks Allworthy. Just... (full context)

Mrs. Waters tells Allworthy that Partridge in fact was not Tom’s father. It turns out Tom’s father was actually a young... (full context)

Meanwhile, Partridge is overjoyed to hear about all the positive things happening to Tom. He believes that... (full context)

...caught stealing the 500 pounds, and Tom gives the 500 pounds to Black George’s family. Partridge receives money from Tom to start a new school, and there is talk of him... (full context)

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

Mr. Partridge/Little Benjamin Character Analysis

Mr. Partridge/Little Benjamin Quotes in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

Book 8, Chapter 6 Quotes

Book 9, Chapter 2 Quotes

Book 12, Chapter 4 Quotes

Book 12, Chapter 14 Quotes

Mr. Partridge/Little Benjamin Character Timeline in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling