Mandatory Morality in Joseph Andrews

In his novel, Joseph Andrews, Henry Fielding implements irony in order satirize the

respective time period and offer social commentary. Irony results when disjunction occurs

between what is expected and what actually happens. The dominant form of irony in Joseph

Andrews is dramatic irony. This implementation of this type of irony in different actions

within the text allows Fielding to offer teachings to his readers. By giving examples of ill-

fated plans and actions in the vain characters of the novel, Fielding encourages the reader

that “virtue can be a successful way of life” (Williams 480). Fielding is not satirizing

specific people, but the actions; “I declare here once for all, I describe not Men, but manners;

not an Individual, but a Species” (Fielding 203). The manners of multiple characters within

the book serve as the respective teachings. Fielding also uses verbal irony to convey

hypocrisy in his vain characters. Different themes are in the text, and it is within these

themes: vulnerability, charity, religion, vanity, chastity, social class, and hypocrisy, where

the satirical elements and allusions can be found.

The entire novel is structured around an ironic statement Fielding makes in the

beginning: "But as it often happens that the best Men are but little known" (Fielding 61).

In this vein, Fielding introduces Parson Adams. Parson Adams's character mainly deals

with the themes of vulnerability, charity, religion, and social class, and his character is also

full of irony. The duty of a clergyman is to provide guidance to his parishioners. He proves

this because “he was an excellent scholar; He was a perfect Master of the Greek and Latin

languages", he was also "entirely ignorant of the ways of this World" (Fielding 65). Parson

Adams's naïveté makes him an endearing, kind character. But it is because of this naïveté

which causes him to be vulnerable and taken advantage of by members of society. He trusted

others