Mrs. Western Character Analysis in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

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 brother, arguing against locking her in her room, she ultimately tries to force Sophia into a marriage to Mr. Blifil, turning Sophia against her.

Mrs. Western Quotes in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

The The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Western or refer to Mrs. Western. 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:

By means of this wonderful sagacity, Mrs Western had now, as she thought, made a discovery of something in the mind of Sophia. The first hint of this she took from the behaviour of the young lady in the field of battle; and the suspicion which she then conceived, was greatly corroborated by some observations which she had made that evening and the next morning. However, being greatly cautious to avoid being found in a mistake, she carried the secret a whole fortnight in her bosom, giving only some oblique hints, by simpering, winks, nods, and now and then dropping an obscure word, which indeed sufficiently alarmed Sophia, but did not at all affect her brother.

Related Characters: Mrs. Western, Sophia Western, Mr. Blifil, Mr. Western, Tom Jones

Page Number and Citation: 244

Explanation and Analysis:

Mrs. Western Character Timeline in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

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

After Sophia passed out, she, Mr. Western, Mr. Western’s sister ( Mrs. Western ), and Tom head back to Mr. Western’s house for dinner. The next morning at... (full context)

Marriage, Romance, and Economics Theme Icon

Privately, Mrs. Western brings up her concerns about Sophia to Mr. Western. She is certain that Sophia must... (full context)

Mrs. Western says she is sure that Sophia must love Mr. Blifil, since Sophia fainted at seeing... (full context)

Mrs. Western is eager to make a proposal to Allworthy for Sophia to marry Mr. Blifil. Meanwhile,... (full context)

...in his own way. Mr. Western is pleased to receive Mr. Blifil’s response and tells Mrs. Western right away. (full context)

Sophia is reading in her chamber when Mrs. Western comes to deliver the news that a man has agreed to marry her. Sophia is... (full context)

Mrs. Honour overheard the argument between Mrs. Western and Sophia because she went to eavesdrop by the keyhole. After Mrs. Western leaves, Mrs.... (full context)

After Mr. Western left Tom and Sophia alone, he went to find Mrs. Western and explain Sophia’s recent actions. Mrs. Western takes this as evidence that Sophia hasn’t held... (full context)

...now to see Tom with Sophia. Sophia is so frightened by him, she passes out. Mrs. Western and several servants come in to help revive Sophia. Mrs. Western advises Mr. Western to... (full context)

Mrs. Western was away, but she comes back, and Mr. Western explains how Sophia is still locked... (full context)

The morning Tom leaves, Mrs. Western summons Sophia to her apartment. Mrs. Western lays down some ground rules, asking to be... (full context)

Mr. Western overhears Sophia and Mrs. Western ’s conversation and tries to interject. Mrs. Western gets angry, saying that Mr. Western has... (full context)

Mr. Western complains to Sophia about both her mother and Mrs. Western . Although Sophia disagrees with Mrs. Western, she thinks Mr. Western should respect her. She... (full context)

Mr. Western stops Mrs. Western just before she leaves in her coach. The two of them agree to team up... (full context)

Mrs. Western and Mr. Western debate whether or not as a justice of the peace, Mr. Western... (full context)

...revealing that she has herself heard about Sophia, who has visited the inn herself with Mrs. Western in the past. The landlady talks about how lovely Sophia is and how she has... (full context)

Storytelling, Literature, and Structure Theme Icon

...sends a messenger to fetch Mr. Blifil and call him to breakfast with him and Mrs. Western . They send a servant to fetch Sophia, but the servant reports back that there’s... (full context)

...After Sophia leaves, Mrs. Fitzpatrick feels lonely. During this time, her mother and Sophia’s aunt, Mrs. Western , takes an interest in a gentleman named Mr. Fitzpatrick. In public, he always treats... (full context)

...feelings openly to Mrs. Fitzpatrick. Mrs. Fitzpatrick is thrilled to be a proper “rival” to Mrs. Western and is so flattered that she feels like she temporarily goes mad. She elopes with... (full context)

...But when this couple leaves, Mrs. Fitzpatrick feels alone again. She tries to write to Mrs. Western , but she receives no response. (full context)

...discovers where Sophia was. Mrs. Fitzpatrick decides that she should write a letter to tell Mrs. Western about Sophia’s location, and Mrs. Western shares the information with Mr. Western. Mrs. Western tries... (full context)

...a sudden, she hears a loud argument, and one of the voices seems to be Mrs. Western ’s. (full context)

...earlier, Mr. Western is smoking a pipe with Mr. Supple, when all of a sudden Mrs. Western appears. She is pleasant at first, but she slowly becomes outraged when she learns that... (full context)

As soon as Mrs. Western leaves the room, Mr. Western curses her out to Mr. Supple. He says, however, that... (full context)

Mrs. Western returns with Sophia and tells Mr. Western she plans to take Sophia to live with... (full context)

With Sophia now under Mrs. Western ’s care, she is able to get the materials to write a letter. She composes... (full context)

Mrs. Western is reading a lecture to Sophia about how to be a good wife when Mr.... (full context)

Lady Bellaston goes to talk with Mrs. Western , who is excited to learn that the wealthy Lord Fellamar is interested in Sophia,... (full context)

...before, when Mr. Western arrived in town, Mrs. Fitzpatrick went to see Mr. Western and Mrs. Western . She quickly realized how much they both still despised her for eloping with Mr.... (full context)

Mrs. Fitzpatrick figures Mrs. Western will be easiest to win over because Tom is so handsome. She thinks he could... (full context)

Mr. Fitzpatrick receives a letter from Mrs. Western about Mrs. Fitzpatrick’s whereabouts. He is a jealous man, particularly when he hears about Tom.... (full context)

...Fellamar. It soon becomes clear Mr. Western is drunk. According to him, Lady Bellaston and Mrs. Western are all set to just let Sophia marry Lord Fellamar. Allworthy says that Mr. Western... (full context)

The narrator describes Sophia as like a doe being hunted. Mrs. Western comes to her and tells her that she is to marry Lord Fellamar instead of... (full context)

Sophia takes a different approach. She flatters Mrs. Western , saying she heard Mrs. Western refused a proposal from a lord when she was... (full context)

...intended to marry Lady Bellaston. That evening, Sophia is forced to go to dinner with Mrs. Western and join Lady Thomas Hatchet’s drum (card-playing social group). Lord Fellamar is also part of... (full context)

...that everyone around her is now working to try to make her marry Lord Fellamar. Mrs. Western tries to arrange a meeting between Sophia and Lord Fellamar to discuss a union, which... (full context)

...Betty, since Mrs. Honour currently works for Lady Bellaston. Betty is simple and gullible. Earlier, Mrs. Western got Betty to tell her all about the letter from Tom that Sophia was reading.... (full context)

After Lord Fellamar leaves, Mrs. Western confronts Sophia about Tom’s letter. Sophia refuses to show it and argues that she shouldn’t... (full context)

...hear the latest news about Sophia: after the latest big argument between Mr. Western and Mrs. Western , Sophia is now back with Mr. Western, who has pledged not to imprison her... (full context)

...after writing his letter, although Thwackum continues to work. Mrs. Fitzpatrick separates from Mr. Fitzpatrick. Mrs. Western makes peace with Sophia, as does Lady Bellaston. Mr. Nightingale the elder purchases an estate... (full context)

Mrs. Western Character Analysis

Mrs. Western Quotes in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

Book 6, Chapter 2 Quotes

Mrs. Western Character Timeline in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling