51 pages • 1 hour read
Henry FieldingThe History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews and of His Friend Mr. Abraham Adams
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1742A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book 3, Chapters 1-13Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Book 3, Chapter 1 Summary: “Matter prefatory in praise of biography”
The narrator explains the difference between histories, biographies, and novels. The story of Joseph Andrews describes types of people, which the narrator calls “manners” (132). The narrator uses this style of storytelling to comment on the nature of humanity. He acknowledges that not everyone can be classified as one type of person or another, and that people are a complex combination of types.
Book 3, Chapter 2 Summary: “A night scene, wherein several wonderful adventures befel Adams and his fellow-travellers”
Joseph, Fanny, and Adams begin their journey late in the day. Darkness falls after a few miles, and Fanny asks to stop and rest. Adam’s sees a light in the distance and hears men talking about murder. Joseph and Fanny fearfully clasp one another and say they will be glad to die in one another’s arms, while Adams says he would prefer not to die at all. They run away, and in the darkness Adams falls and rolls down a hill. Joseph carries Fanny down the hill, and the narrator advises female readers to choose a strong man who is able carry them.
They keep walking and soon come to a house, where they are invited inside to rest. There is a knock at the door, and the group finds out that the “murders” they overheard were sheep stealers who had been talking about killing sheep rather than people. Adams converses with their host about literature, and it’s clear that Adams truly loves literature while others use it to measure one’s status. At first the host doubts Adams’s status as a parson, but their discussion about literature and philosophy convinces him that Adams is a gentleman and man of the cloth. Joseph and Fanny rest while Adams stays up to hear the host’s life story.
Book 3, Chapter 3 Summary: “In which the gentleman relates the history of his life”
The host, named Mr. Wilson, relates the story of his life. He was born into a wealthy family but squandered his fortune in pursuit of becoming a gentleman. Through a series of vain ventures and failed relationships, he ended up in jail because of a debt he could not pay. The day before he was imprisoned, he had been so desperate for money that he sold a lottery ticket he had purchased, which ended up winning a great sum of money. The man who bought the ticket from him died the same day he won the money, and the winnings passed to his daughter. The daughter sent some of the winnings to Mr. Wilson in jail, who used the money to pay off his debts. After being released from prison, he went to thank the daughter, a woman he had known and been attracted to for many years. He expressed his love for her, she revealed that she loved him too, and they were married. They retired to the countryside where they now live. Despite the happy life they now lead, their oldest son was kidnapped years ago and has never been found.
Book 3, Chapter 4 Summary: “A description of Mr. Wilson’s way of living. the tragical adventure of the dog, and other grave matters”
Mr. Wilson wonders who his son became and where he might be, and explains that the son has a distinguishing mark that looks like a strawberry on his chest. Joseph joins Adams and Mr. Wilson for a walk in the garden, and Mr. Wilson shares what a happy life he has with his wife and children. At breakfast it’s clear to see that the family is close-knit and loving. Joseph, Fanny, and Adams leave the house and continue their journey.
Book 3, Chapter 5 Summary: “A disputation on schools held on the road between Mr. Abraham Adams and Joseph; and a discovery not unwelcome to them both”
On the road Joseph and Adams discuss education. Adams believes that the source of Mr. Wilson’s troubles early in life was public education, but Joseph points out that Sir Thomas Booby received a public education and was a great gentleman. Joseph believes that a person’s true nature will not change whether they are in private school or public school. Although they disagree, the men do not argue, and the group rests to enjoy the meal Mrs. Wilson packed for their journey. Adams looks forward to again seeing Mr. Wilson, who promised to visit Adams’s parish in a few weeks.
Book 3, Chapter 6 Summary: “Moral reflections by Joseph Andrews; with the hunting adventure, and Parson Adams’s miraculous escape”
As they rest Joseph muses that love for others brings more honor and respect than acquiring material goods. People are praised for what they do rather than what they own. Despite this truth, most people commend others for their good deeds but don’t do anything good for others to deserve that commendation themselves. A group of hunters with dogs comes by, and the lead hunter makes fun of Adams by pretending he is a rabbit, chasing after Adams as if he is hunting him. The dogs attack Adams, and Joseph defends him by fighting the dogs. When the lead hunter, a squire, sees how beautiful Fanny is, his cruel attitude changes to one of kindness, and he invites the group to dinner.
Book 3, Chapter 7 Summary: “A scene of roasting, very nicely adapted to the present taste and times”
The group arrives at the squire’s house for dinner, and the squire conspires with his friends to get Adams and Joseph drunk so that he can seduce Fanny. During dinner, the squire’s friends play several rude jokes on Adams. Adams finally has enough of their cruelty and leaves with Joseph and Fanny.
Book 3, Chapter 8 Summary: “Which some readers will think too short, and others too long”
Angry that Fanny left, the squire sends his friends to capture her. Joseph, Fanny, and Adams quickly travel to an inn that is seven miles away, and they rest there. The host of the inn seems kind when he allows a man at the bar to borrow money for his tab, saying he looks like “so honest a gentleman” (175). However, once the man leaves the host calls him “a confounded rogue” (175).
Book 3, Chapter 9 Summary: “Containing as surprising and bloody adventures as can be found in this or perhaps any other authentic history”
Shortly before sunrise, the squire’s friends catch up with the trio at the inn. They lie to the host, telling him that Joseph and Adams kidnapped Fanny. Believing them, the host directs the evil men to Fanny’s room, but Fanny has already heard them coming and joined Adams and Joseph in a different room. When the squire’s friends find them, Adams and Joseph fight them to defend Fanny, but the men overpower Adams and Joseph and leave with Fanny. Adams and Joseph are left at the inn tied to the bedposts.
Book 3, Chapter 10 Summary: “A discourse between the poet and the player; of no other use in this history but to divert the reader”
Two of the squire’s friends, a poet and an actor, have a discussion on their way to take Fanny to the squire. They talk about the lack of quality plays being produced, and they disagree about the level of success achieved by a play the poet wrote.
Book 3, Chapter 11 Summary: “Containing the exhortations of Parson Adams to his friend in affliction; calculated for the instruction and improvement of the reader”
Back at the inn, Joseph is in agony over the loss of Fanny. Adams tries to comfort him by reminding him that God is in control and that whatever happens will happen with “Divine permission” (182). He also tells Joseph that they do not know how the situation will end. It may be that no harm will come to Fanny. Either way, Joseph must surrender to God’s providence.
Book 3, Chapter 12 Summary: “More adventures, which we hope will as much please as surprise the reader”
The leader of the squire’s friends, the captain, tells Fanny that it is in her best interests to submit to whatever the squire wants. They pass two travelers on the road, and Fanny pleads for their help. One of the travelers recognizes her; it is none other than Peter Pounce, Lady Booby’s servant. Peter takes the captain prisoner, rescues Fanny, and takes her back to the inn. Fanny and Joseph are reunited, and much joy ensues. When the group is ready to continue their journey, Peter, who is attracted to Fanny, asks her to ride in the chariot with him. However, she refuses to be separated from Joseph. Joseph and Fanny ride horseback while Adams rides in the chariot.
Book 3, Chapter 13 Summary: “A curious dialogue which passed between Mr. Abraham Adams and Mr. Peter Pounce, better worth reading than all the works of Colley Cibber and many others”
Adams and Peter debate the definition of “charity.” Adams believes charity is “a generous disposition to relieve the distressed” (188), while Peter believes people’s problems are mostly imaginary. He thinks that too much money is given to the poor, when people could live off the land and go without clothing. An argument ensues between the two men, and Adams leaves the chariot and walks.
Book 3, Chapters 1-13 Analysis
Book 3 begins with a digression about genre. This story instructs using types of people or “manners” instead of describing specific people. This explanation helps readers know how to interpret and learn from the story. Later, the narrator uses another digression to tell female readers the importance of finding a strong man capable of carrying them. These meta-textual addresses to the reader serve as small lessons and commentaries on the significance of narrative elements.
Adams’s status as a clergyman does not keep him from befriending poor people, such as Joseph and Fanny. He states, “I should be ashamed of my cloth if I thought a poor man, who is honest, below my notice or familiarity” (136). Adams’s love of literature is also explored in these chapters, as evidenced in his sadness over losing his Aeschylus (a reference to a Greek tragedy writer). While others use literature as a bar to measure the superiority of themselves over others, Adams uses literature to learn and expand his knowledge of the world. His only weakness is that he sees himself as “the greatest of all schoolmasters” (160), which is demonstrated when he and Peter Pounce disagree on the meaning of charity and Adams leaves the coach in a huff, offended by Peter’s unwillingness to agree with his teaching. His close friendships with lower-class people and his genuine love for literature reinforces his honest, charitable, and authentic nature, which distinguishes him from other socially refined characters.
Mr. Wilson’s history reinforces the theme of vanity, showing the futility of chasing higher social status and exposing the vanity of those at the top of the social hierarchy. All his pursuits are empty and leave him with nothing. His story contains several examples of situational irony that demonstrate how urban life leads to pursuit of pleasure and eventual ruin, while country life brings “ease, quiet, and love” (155).
Fielding foreshadows that Wilson’s son may providentially return to him through Adams’s dialogue: “God disposes all things for the best; and very probably he may be some great man, or duke, and may, one day or other, revisit you in that capacity” (156). The reader expects to cross paths with Mr. Wilson again since he promises to visit Adams. This foreshadowing sets up the novel’s plot twist regarding Joseph’s family.
Joseph wisdom is displayed in these chapters, and Fielding uses it to provide readers with insight. Joseph muses that a person’s nature defines their character, not external influences. He also recognizes that love for others brings more respect than desire for material goods. As a result, people are regarded for what they do rather than what they own. These ideas contrast with the actions of the novel’s high-class characters, proving that high social status does not necessarily ensure true respect from others.
The fickle nature of human opinion is again exemplified by the host at the inn where Fanny is kidnapped. For example, the host directly tells another guest that he looks honest, but once the guest leaves the host calls him a “confounded rogue” (175). Later, the host readily believes the squire’s friends without evidence or hearing both sides of the story. His weak convictions and fickle favor place innocent Fanny in harm’s way.
While Joseph is beside himself with worry and grief for his dear Fanny, Adams encourages Joseph to accept whatever happens to her, since it will be God’s will. This advice is easy for Adams to deliver but difficult for Joseph to accept. After Peter Pounce coincidentally passes by and recues Fanny, Joseph is overjoyed with the hand of providence and embraces it. These events reveal Adams’s almost reckless faith in God’s providential plan and Joseph’s overwhelming love for Fanny.
Related Titles
By Henry Fielding
