Why was Tom closer to Squire Western than he was to Mr.Alloworthy ? [British Novel June 2019]
In the novel Tom Jones, the character Tom is shown to be closer to Squire Western than to Mr. Allworthy. Squire Western is depicted as a comic figure and a foil for Mr. Allworthy. He is a member of the landed gentry, and has responsibilities as a magistrate, although he often allows himself to be ruled by Mr. Allworthy. His two great loves in life are hunting and Sophia, although it is not clear which he loves more.
Tom's relationship with Squire Western is complicated. He is present when Squire Western asserts that Tom is the father of Molly Seagrims child, and when Tom is found with Molly in the woods. He later travels with Squire Western in the latter's hunt for Sophia. Although Squire Western is fond of Tom, he is often manipulated by Blifil, who wants to keep Tom out of Allworthy's favor and from becoming the squires heir.
Mr. Allworthy, on the other hand, is blind to the evil designs of his nephew Blifil and to Thwackum's insidiousness, which leads him to make mistakes that propel the plot of the novel forward. For example, it is Allworthy who banishes Tom Jones from his county. Although he desires a match between Tom and Sophia, it is more on account of the young lady's character than of her riches.
Squire Western and Mr. Allworthy are very different characters. They have opposing political views, with Squire Western supporting the Catholic faction and the Hanover kings, while Mrs. Western supports the Protestants. However, they are similar in that they are both single and hate marriage.
Squire Western's sister is a city-educated woman who first plots to engage Sophia to Mr. Blifil. Partridge is the teacher who is the supposed father of Jones. He is bumbling and cowardly, and has a loose tongue, but is not Tom's father. Jenny Jones, known as Mrs. Waters later in the book, was the student of Partridge and the supposed mother of Tom.
Squire Western is not without his flaws. For example, when his clerk points out that he cannot legally commit anyone to prison only for ill-breeding, Squire Western is forced to back down from using his office as Justice of the Peace to prosecute Mrs. Honour for being rude to Mrs. Western.
In conclusion, Tom's relationship with Squire Western is closer than with Mr. Allworthy because of the squire's affections for him and his desire to help him, even though he is often manipulated by others. Mr. Allworthy, although he desires a match between Tom and Sophia, is often blind to the actions of those around him, which leads him to make mistakes that drive the plot forward. While Squire Western and Mr. Allworthy are different in many ways, they both play significant roles in the novel's development.
[1] "Squire Western is a comic figure and a foil for Mr. Allworthy. He also is landed gentry and has responsibilities as a magistrate, although he often allows himself to be ruled by Mr. Allworthy. He loves two things in life: Sophia and hunting, but maybe not in that order."
[2] "He is present when Squire Western asserts that Tom is the father of Molly Seagrims child, and when Tom is found with Molly in the woods. He later travels with Squire Western in the latters hunt for Sophia. Northerton Ensign Northerton is an unsavoury and uneducated soldier who attacks Tom in an inn and causes a severe head injury."
[3] "He will do anything to keep Tom out of Allworthys favor and to keep him from becoming the squires heir. He wants to marry Sophia for two reasons: first, because he knows that she and..."
[4] "They are also different in that the squire supports the Catholic faction and is in favor of the Catholics reclaiming the throne while Mrs. Western supports the Hanover kings, distant relations of the Protestants who were for the most part on the throne after Henry VIII. Nonetheless, they are more similar: both are single and hate marriage."
[5] "Squire Westerns city-educated sister, who first plots to engage Sophia to Mr. Blifil. Partridge The teacher who was the supposed father of Jones. A bit bumbling and cowardly (and has a loose tongue), but was not Toms father. Jenny Jones Known as Mrs. Waters later in the book, she was the student of Partridge and the supposed mother of Tom."
[6] "Its only the word of his clerk (who actually knows something about law) that keeps Squire Western from using his office as Justice of the Peace to prosecute Mrs. Honour for being rude to Mrs. Western. As the clerk points out, you cannot legally commit any one to [prison] only for ill-breeding (7.9.3)."
[7] "Tom Jones is the hero or the protagonist of the novel. He is the name character of this novel and plays the most vital role from the beginning to the end. The whole story of this novel revolves around the birth and bringing up of Tom Jones, Tom Jones was a foundling who was discovered one day in the bed of Squire Allworthy."
[8] "Allworthys blindness to the evil designs of his nephew Blifil and to Thwackums insidiousness lead him to make mistakes which propel the plot of the novel forward. For example, it is Allworthy who banishes Tom Jones from his county. Previous section Sophia Western Next section Blifil Test your knowledge Take the Character Analysis Quick Quiz"
[9] "MR. ALLWORTHY was now retired from breakfast with his nephew, well satisfied with the report of the young gentlemans successful visit to Sophia (for he greatly desired the match, more on account of the young ladys character than of her riches), when Mr. Western broke abruptly in upon them, and without any ceremony began as follows:—: 1 ..."
[10] "After all, Squire Allworthy is willing to care for this kid as his own—he even gives the child his own first name, Thomas—even though he believes Tom to be the illegitimate child of Jenny Jones and the schoolmaster, Mr. Partridge. Thats a huge responsibility for anybody to take on."