The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (or simply Tom Jones) is a classic Picaresque novel by Henry Fielding, telling the adventures of the title protagonist, a deeply honorable Handsome Lech. It is full of social Parody both subtle and ham-handed.

It has been adapted as two films (1917 and 1963), a TV miniseries (1997), and in opera form in 1765 and 1907.


 * Adaptation Distillation: Both the 1960s film and the 1990s miniseries are very faithful to the spirit of the novel and to its content to a fairly large extent (more so in the latter). The latter arguably improves on the book in its presentation of Sophia and its decision to pair Partridge and Mrs. Honour
 * Better Than a Bare Bulb: Fielding loves to comment on the tropes he is using.
 * Boisterous Bruiser: Squire Western is a classic example, and played by Brian Blessed no less in the 1990s series.
 * And then there's Hugh Griffith's performance in the film.
 * Bowdlerization: The 1997 miniseries lost some very explicit sex when it was aired in the United States.
 * Breaking the Fourth Wall: The 1963 film was one of the earliest movies for a character to directly address the audience. It actually happens several times, but the scene at the inn is by far the most memorable.
 * Chick Magnet / Chivalrous Pervert / Handsome Lech: Ladies really love Tom Jones, and he usually returns the favors and, being a naturally kind-hearted fella, genuinely cares about them. At different times, he shows traits of all three tropes.
 * Erotic Eating: Used in the scene with Tom and Mrs. Waters and famously filmed in the 1960s version.
 * Heroic Bastard: Tom himself
 * Hollywood Atheist: Inverted with Square who basically chooses atheism as an excuse for wrongdoing (because, you know, atheists are immoral) and admittedly, he reforms at the end with a death bed conversion. On the other hand, he's still always more likable than the Holier Than Thou Thwackum and it's clear that he could have been a perfectly good person following his atheistic philosophy.
 * Incest Is Relative: Tom Jones, you need to be more careful about whom you sleep with...
 * Lemony Narrator: Micheál Mac Liammóir's deadpan delivery in the film.
 * A Man Is Not a Virgin: Except Blifil. As another example of his hypocritical virtue.
 * Meaningful Name: Oh, where to begin...
 * Sophie = Wisdom (our hero is on a quest to...dare I say...acquire Sophie???)
 * Mr. Square = Very severe and sharp edged.
 * Squire Western = Is a pig (yes, this was intentional)
 * Squire Allworthy = Is the kindest, nicest, and actively most-good character in the story.
 * Mr. Thwackum = Need I spell it out?
 * Only a Flesh Wound: In the movie: "Mr Jones, you've broken your arm!" "Indeed madame, but I have another to walk you home."
 * Really Gets Around: Most of the ladies in the novel are not averse to promiscuity.
 * Sadist Teacher: Thwackum.
 * Spiritual Successor: To Fielding's earlier novel Joseph Andrews.