Why did Squire Allworthy banish Tom Jones from his house?
PremiumWhy did Squire Allworthy banish Tom Jones from his house?
Squire Allworthy, a prominent character in Henry Fielding's (1707-1754) novel "Tom Jones" (1749), makes the consequential decision to banish the titular protagonist from his house. This inquiry aims to uncover the reasons behind Squire Allworthy's choice and shed light on the circumstances that led to Tom Jones's exile.
Infatuation with Molly: Tom Jones developed a strong attraction towards Molly, a servant in the house. The squire believed that Tom's desire for Molly would lead him astray and distract him from his responsibilities.
The Reputation of Being a Womanizer: Tom had a reputation for being a womanizer, someone who pursued romantic relationships with multiple women. Mr. Allworthy feared that Tom's behavior would bring dishonor to the family and ruin their respectable standing in society. So, the narrator says that:
IrresponsIt is much easier to make good men wise, than to make bad men good.