FIELDING AS THE FATHER OF ENGLISH NOVEL
Richardson, Fielding, Smollet and Stern are known as
the four wheels of the novel. Among them Fielding's contribution to English
novel is noteworthy. It is true that even before Fielding, Bunyan, Defoe and
Richardson had written novels.
But none deserve to be called the father of
English novel. It is Fielding who gave a definite form and proper shape to the
English novel. He formulated the theory of novel writing. He made invaluable
contributions to the development of plot construction and the art of
characterisation. He made the novel an effective weapon of social criticism. He
tried to advocate a healthy philosophy of life. He imbued his writings with a
very solemn purpose. On these grounds Sir Walter Scott rightly calls him the
father of English novel.
Plot: Plot before Fielding did not hold much importance.
But Fielding revolutionised the concept of plot construction. He employs very
coherent and organic plots. He conducts them with utmost skill. The plot of
'Tom Jones' is one of the three best plots ever planned.
It is a closely-knit
organic plot. In short, his plots are thoroughly architectonic. Thus a well
organised plot is one of the main contributions of Fielding.
Comic Epic in Prose: Another contribution of Fielding is his
concept of novel as a comic epic in prose. He formulated the theory of novel in
his prefaces of Joseph Andrews and Tom Jones. He introduced characters of great
variety. He depicted their lives in all its authenticity.
Characterisation: Fielding is the creator of the novel of
character. He breathed life into his characters. He peopled the novel with a
great crowd of lively and interesting characters. They are compounded of both
good and evil elements. Like Shakespeare he portrays all kind of human
characters as real human beings.
Realism: Fielding is the first realist of the English novel.
Common life is the material of his novels. He brings the whole world, as we see
it. He reproduced reality faithfully and accurately. He presents a complete and
comprehensive picture of the contemporary society. His realism is epical in its
range. Thus Fielding is the founder of modern realistic novel.
Humour: Fielding
employed all types of humour in his novels. In Joseph Andrews it is farcical,
in Tom Jones ironical and in Jonathan Wild satirical. His humour is exuberant,
spontaneous, tolerant and genial. He lashes out his satire at affectation,
vanity, pedantry, hypocrisy and vice. But he is always human and humane. Irony
is a great weapon of his satire. All the great humorists are influenced by
Fielding.
Other Reasons: Fielding is champion in so many other respects. His
great contribution is the localisation of the scene. He gives graphic details
of Tom's journey to London on the highways. His novels are thoroughly English.
His dialogues are lively as well as natural. He was superb craftsman. His art
of narration is praiseworthy. He brought a healthy moral vision. He is tolerant
of natural human weaknesses but he does not tolerate hypocrisy. He advances a
very sound moral philosophy.
Thus
Fielding's contribution is noteworthy. He gave to the novel a great scope. Due
to his great contributions, Scott called him 'the father of English novel'.
About Fielding's contribution Allen says, 'The form the novel took in England
for more than a hundred years had its origin in Fielding, and in this respect,
Smollett, Scott, Dickens, Thackeray and Meredith all wrote in his shadow'.
About the author:
Dr. Hareshwar Roy,
Professor of English at Govt. P.G. College, Satna, Madhya Pradesh, obtained his
bachelor and master degrees in English from Patna University Patna, Bihar. He
completed his Ph.D. from A.P.S. University Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. His ‘The
Diasporic Articulation in the Novels of M.G. Vassanji’ is an incisive book that
makes an in-depth study of the novels of M.G. Vassanji who is one of the best
known literary members of Indian Diaspora.
His research papers (more than 40)
have been widely published in reputed literary journals. Currently he is
teaching English Literature in Govt. Autonomous P.G. College Satna, Madhya
Pradesh. He has attended a number of seminars and conferences. His area of
interest is the writing of the writers of Indian diaspora.
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