What did Sophia think of Blifil in Tom Jones ? [British Novel June 2019]

Tom Jones is a novel by Henry Fielding, first published in 1749. The novel follows the adventures of Tom Jones, a young man of uncertain birth who is raised by the wealthy Squire Allworthy. One of the main antagonists in the novel is Blifil, the hypocritical and conniving cousin of Tom Jones. Sophia Western, the daughter of Squire Western and the love interest of Tom Jones, is another important character in the novel.

Blifil is an interesting character in the novel. He is a foil to his uncle Allworthy, whose altruism is almost excessive. Blifil not only acts vilely, but coats his evil with sugary hypocrisy. When Allworthy and Tom confront Blifil with his crimes, Blifil weeps not out of remorse, but rather out of terror. Blifil is generally an unreal character, an abstraction like his uncle. However, we see Blifil alive only at the end of the novel when Jones goes up to Blifil's room and finds him in a situation that moves his pity, although it would have raised a less amiable passion in many beholders.

Sophia, as a woman and obedient daughter, must allow herself to be acted upon. Even though she falls in love with Tom Jones before he falls in love with her, she cannot say anything. Similarly, Sophia puts up little resistance to her father's violence towards her. She is drawn to Tom's gentlemanly ways, though she believes him low-born. Sophia is willful, as she shows when she runs away from the arranged marriage with Master Blifil, but she also wants to make others happy. She hates Mr. Blifil, but her aunt doesn't see this as a problem—it's fashionable in London to hate your husband. Sophia also notes that she would never marry a man her father disapproves of. So shouldn't he do her the same courtesy of not marrying her to a man of whom she disapproves?

In the novel, Blifil thinks the idea of forcing Sophia to marry him against her will is exciting. Not only does he find Sophia more attractive when she is looking at him with hatred, but he also likes the idea of, in some sense, defeating both her and Tom, the man he envies and despises. Squire Western wants Sophia to marry Blifil to gain property from the Allworthy estate. Blifil learns of Sophia's true affection for Tom Jones and is angry. He tells Allworthy that, on the day he almost died, Tom was out drinking, singing, and celebrating his coming death. This leads Tom to be banished.

Sophia has a trio of watchful aunts, played by Shirley Henderson, who are constantly watching her. Being one of her favorite toys and a present from Tom, Sophia is very upset when her father takes her harpsichord away from her. This was also true with her muff. After hearing from Honour that Tom had kissed and held it, it became a prized possession. Sophia risked hurting herself to save it when her father threw it into the fire.

In conclusion, Blifil is a hypocritical and conniving character, who acts vilely and coats his evil with sugary hypocrisy. Sophia is a willful, yet obedient daughter who puts up little resistance to her father's violence. While Sophia hates Mr. Blifil and would never marry a man her father disapproves of, Blifil thinks the idea of forcing Sophia to marry him against her will is exciting. The characters' actions and emotions create a compelling plot in Tom Jones, making it a classic novel in English literature.

[1] "Blifil Blifil, the antagonist of Tom Jones, is a foil to his uncle Allworthy. In contrast to Allworthy, whose altruism is almost excessive, Blifil not only acts vilely, but coats his evil with sugary hypocrisy. When Allworthy and Tom confront Blifil with his crimes, Blifil weeps not out of remorse, but rather out of terror."

URL: https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/tomjones/character/blifil/

[2] "As a woman and obedient daughter, Sophia must allow herself to be acted upon, and even though she falls in love with Tom Jones before he falls in love with her, she cannot, in all decency, say anything. Similarly, Sophia puts up little resistance to her fathers violence toward her."

URL: https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/tomjones/character/sophia-western/

[3] "Blifil, generally, is an unreal character, an abstraction like his uncle. I think we really see Blifil alive, as we really see Allworthy alive, only at the end: Jones went up to Bilfils room, whom he found in a situation which moved his pity, though it would have raised a less amiable passion in many beholders."

URL: https://www.englishliterature.info/2022/08/blifil-villain-character-tom-jones.html

[4] "In fact, Mr. Blifil thinks the idea of forcing Sophia to marry him against her will is exciting. Not only does Mr. Blifil find Sophia more attractive when she is looking at him with hatred, but he also likes the idea of, in some sense, defeating both her and Tom, the man he envies and despises."

URL: https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/tom-jones-book/mr-blifil

[5] "She points out that she hates Mr. Blifil, but Mrs. Western doesnt see this as a problem—its fashionable in London to hate your husband. Sophia also notes (pretty brilliantly, we think) that she would never marry a man her father disapproves of. So shouldnt he do her the same courtesy of not marrying her to a man of whom she disapproves?"

URL: https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/tom-jones-book/sophia-western

[6] "He and Tom eventually battle for Sophias hand, a contest that Blifil seems destined to win. Sophia has a trio of watchful aunts, played by Shirley Henderson ( See How They Run) as the..."

URL: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/specialfeatures/tom-jones-airing-on-masterpiece-on-pbs-april-30-2023/

[7] "Tom Jones : [Drunkenly proceeds to taunt Mr. Thwackum with a mocking song] Sing, Thick Thwackum, thy bounty has flown. You lost all the money you thought that youd own. Blifil : [Angrily] Mr. Jones! This house is in mourning on account of the death of my dear mother. Tom Jones : Forgive me!"

URL: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057590/characters/nm0001831

[8] "Being one of her favourite toys and a present from Tom, she was very upset when it was harshly taken away from her by Blifil. This was also true with her muff. After hearing from Honour that Tom had kissed and held it, it became a prized possession. She risked hurting herself to save it when her father threw it into the fire."

URL: https://blablawriting.net/tom-jones-character-sketches-of-sophia-and-molly-essay

[9] "Sophia is drawn to Toms gentlemanly ways, though she believes him low-born. She is wilfful, as she shows when she runs away from the arranged marriage with Master Blifil, but also wants to make others happy. Squire Western A neigbor of Squire Allworthy, and father of Sophia."

URL: https://www.gradesaver.com/the-history-of-tom-jones-a-foundling/study-guide/character-list

[10] "Squire Western wants Sophia to marry Blifil in order to gain property from the Allworthy estate. Blifil learns of Sophias true affection for Tom Jones and is angry. Blifil tells Allworthy that, on the day he almost died, Tom was out drinking and singing and celebrating his coming death. This leads Tom to be banished."

URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_Tom_Jones,_a_Foundling