We left off last week with the promise to meet
the intended Heroine of this Work, a Lady with whom we ourselves are greatly in Love, and with whom many of our Readers will probably be in Love too before we part
Before we meet her, we open Book IV with a little commentary on the Arts, how Heroes and Heroines are depicted and the like as a way to show us the excellency of this Heroine—Miss Sophia Western. Fielding goes on and on for pages about her—an introduction to her character, a description of her and all the wonderful things about her.
Then he recounts a story about young Tom, Sophia and Master Blifil. Blifil acts like a conniving bully, Tom does the right thing and Sophia suffers from the former’s antics and is comforted by the latter. I’m going to go out on a limb and say this is the beginning of a trend.
I enjoyed the introduction to Sophia and am looking forward to getting to know her better. I really don’t have much else to say about this week’s installment.
Bookstooge
Well, as long as Sophia doesn’t get tied down on any railroad tracks and have to be rescued by Tom while Blifil stands by twirling his mustache 😉
HCNewton
Pretty sure that’s not going to happen (Fielding is too in love with her to let ir). But yeah, with you on that
Bookstooge
I’m not sure how old they were in the little scene you talked about, but I imagined a pint sized Snidely Whiplash twirly his little boy mustache 😀