Subject:

Novel
By:-

Assignment Title
Plot Construction

Professor Asad
Saib

Of Joseph Andrew

Submitted by
Arshad Khan, Roll
No: 422
Umar Farooq, Roll No:
423
Musnif Ali, Roll No:
424

Government Post Graduate

College Mardan

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PLOT AND STRUCTURE OF JOSEPH ANDREWS BY HENRY

FIELDING

Describe the plot structure of Joseph Andrews.

Joseph Andrews is a novel which has been written by Henry

Fielding. It was written taking in account the Richardsons novel
Pamela which was based upon the chastity of the protagonist
and her fight against odds that were threatening her life of
virtue. Henry wrote this novel at first to ridicule Richardsons
version of female chastity but later on while writing he
emphasized that not only women were to be found chaste, but
male chastity also existed.

Plot and plot structure:

Plot is simply the events that comprise a story. In traditional

storytelling techniques the plot elements, or events, are
outlined in a linear fashion. This is the easiest story for an
audience to follow because it relates the events simply. This
type of story is unified by time. The first event occurred first,
the second occurred second, etc. In standard construction, each
event has cause and effect and the relationship between the
cause and effect are evident.
These events follow the traditional three-act structure. Threeact structure clearly describes exposition, conflict, and
resolution. It is the one of the oldest and most common
storytelling structures.
Exposition:
Exposition sets up the storys trajectory. It provides the
situation and provides the basis for the conflict. The exposition
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must reveal character, provide event background and propel

the central characters toward the conflict.
Conflict:
Conflict is the key ingredient to effective drama. Stories need
conflict to provide momentum. Without conflict, characters
have little reason to do anything and audiences have little
reason to watch. Conflicts may come from external forces
acting on a character, or from a characters own internal
struggle.
Resolution:
Resolution completes the story by providing the finishing
events. Resolutions for a story are varied, but all resolutions
should relate directly to the conflict. It is in the resolution that
most themes are made apparent.

The novel Joseph Andrew is based upon the brother of Pamela,

who is Joseph. The character of Joseph Andrew has been
portrayed as handsome, exceptionally intelligent, a fast learner.
These qualities of him make his personality ever so attractive in
the eyes of females.

The novel starts with an exposition given by Henry Fielding as

to why he is writing this novel. Fielding reinforces his opening
argument and introduces his own work by remarking that it was
by keeping his sister's excellent example of virtue before him
that Joseph Andrews was able to preserve his own purity. The
Plot in the novel is a culmination of actions performed by
various characters in this novel which happen in a sequenced

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manner. The characters are expressed in great length to make

familiar of the habits and the nature of theirs to the reader.
In the second chapter of the book, we are told about the
qualities of Joseph. When he was ten years old, Joseph Andrew
served as bird-keeper and "whipper-in" of the pack of hounds of
Sir Thomas Booby. But due to his sweetness of voice and his
failure to control the pack of hounds, he is assigned work at the
stables. His skillful handling of the horses is brought to the
attention of Sir Thomas who makes him Lady Boobys Footman.
One of his duties was to bear the lady's prayer book to church,
and there his fine singing drew the attention of the curate, Mr.
Abraham Adams which is another important character of the
novel.

Adams is not only an excellent scholar, but a man of good

sense, good parts, and good nature. Adams questions Joseph
and is so impressed by his knowledge; he decides to approach
Lady Booby about teaching the boy Latin. As Lady Booby looks
on Adams as a domestic helper, she refuses Parson Adams
request and takes Joseph to London.
Now the test of Joseph character is brought into readers notice.
Going to London with Lady Booby, Joseph is influenced by the
fashions of the city, and Lady Booby begins to find him more
attractive than ever. Her closeness to Joseph draws many
people gossips of them. The death of Sir Thomas Booby
confines Lady Booby to her house for a period of mourning, but
she soon begins to pursue Joseph.
Now the flashpoint or trigger starts in the novel by the following
events which eventually set out the protagonist on a journey.
Lady Booby Calling Joseph to her bedside, she cunningly tries to
arouse his passions, but fails and gets angry with him. The
head of all servants in the house Mrs. Slipslop also tries the
same thing with Joseph but her attempts are stopped short
when Lady Booby calls her in her room to discuss about Joseph
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Andrew. During their discourse it is decided that Joseph is to be

fired from his job and will have to leave the premises
immediately. Peter Pounce the Steward of the house is
instructed to pay Josephs salary and so Joseph begins his
journey back to the country.
On his way to meet with fanny, Joseph is robbed by two
ruffians, who take away from him all his money and also his
clothes and dump his unconscious body in a ditch. From there a
passing carriage notices him lying in the ditch and after some
haggling between the passengers of the carriage as to what
should be done with Joseph, it is decided in the best course of
action by a lawyer, that they should help Joseph otherwise
according to the law they will be liable for Joseph death as they
didnt help him. From there Joseph is taken to an inn which is
operated by Mr. and Mrs. Tow-house where he is taken care of
by betty (a servant) and a surgeon, who declares that Joseph
chances of recovering seem less and that his last rites should
be read to him by a priest. Here Mr. Barnabus comes to Joseph
and tells him to repent his sins and ask for Gods forgiveness.
Now the long-term supporting role of Parson Adams character is
infused with Joseph. Luckily, Parson Adam is passing by that
place towards London to present his sermons and he stops by
and finds Joseph. After the period of recovery, Joseph and
Parson Adams set out towards their journey to meet fanny. This
is another important element in a novel where the Protagonist
goes on a quest to achieve his goals or things that he plans to
do. A Funny incident take place as Parson Adams accidently
forgets to pay for his horse bill at the stable and Joseph Andrew
is left stranded at the inns stable. Here Parson Adams
travelling on a coach is told about Leonora and Horatio story by
an old lady. However during this time, Joseph is allowed to take
the house and he meets Parson Adams at the next inn, where a
battle ensues between Parson Adams and the host of the inn.
From this point the conflict scenes in the novel start where
things begin to take shape and Adam and Parson Adams set out
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towards Fannys place. After both of them leave the inn, Parson
Adams sets out of foot and races with carriage in which Joseph
is riding. Soon after sometimes he loses track of the carriage
and comes on top of a hill and rests there. There he meets a
sportsman, and a conversation takes place regarding courage
of men. Parson Adams and the sportsman agree on their
notions of courage but upon hearing the cries of a damsel in
distress, sportsman soon apologizes to Parson Adams that he
cant help the lady and they shouldnt interfere with it. But
Parson Adams as courageous and right doer as he is, goes to
help the lady and beats the man senseless who is trying to
have his way with the lady. While Parson Adams is
contemplating that he might have killed the man by landing
hard blows, a group of men come over there. Upon seeing the
men, the guy feigning death rises up quickly and blames Parson
Adams and Fanny of robbing him. They are apprehended by the
group and taken to the justice. The men are happy about the
reward of 80 pounds on capturing robbers. Here for the first
time, both the lady and the Parson recognize each other. Later
someone at the justice place recognizes Parson Adams and
vouches for his credentials of being a clergyman. On releasing
of both Fanny and Parson Adams, they travel to the inn where
Joseph is staying and when both Fanny and Joseph see each
other they are, they are overjoyed and embrace each other.
Now starts the element of surprise in a novel where the
protagonist is faced with obstacles, complications, conflict and
trouble. Joseph wishes to get married but both Mr. Adams and
Fanny prefer a more patient approach. In the morning the
companions discover that they have another inn bill that they
cannot pay, so Adams goes off in search of the wealthy parson
of the parish. Parson Trulliber, who spends most of his time
tending his hogs rather doing clerical duties, reacts badly to
Adamss request for charity. Adams returns to the inn with
nothing to show for his efforts, but fortunately a generous
Pedlar hears of the travelers problem and loans Adams the
money he needs.
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After a couple more miles on the road, the travelers encounter

a gregarious Squire who offers them generous hospitality and
the use of his coach but then retracts these offers at the last
minute. Adams discusses this strange behavior with the
innkeeper, who tells him about the Squires long history of
making false promises.
Walking on after nightfall, the companions encounter a group of
spectral lights that Mr. Adams takes to be ghosts but that turn
out later to be the lanterns of sheep-stealers. The companions
flee the scene and find accommodations at the home of a
family named Wilson. After the women have retired for the
evening, Mr. Adams and Joseph sit up to hear Mr. Wilson tell his
life story, which is about the troublesome life that Mr. Wilson
led which was changed by the love of a good woman. Wilson
also mentions the loss of his elder son, who was abducted by a
gypsy woman.
After leaving Mr. Wilsons place they begin their journey. After a
while, they stop to rest and are attacked by a pack of hunting
dogs. They tear Parson Adams clothes as he sleeps without
knowing what is happening around him. Joseph and his cudgel
come to the parsons defense, laying waste to the pack of
hounds. The owner of the hounds, a sadistic Squire is at first
inclined to be angry about the damage to his dogs, but as soon
as he sees the lovely Fanny he changes his plans and invites
the companions to his house for dinner.
The Squire and his group of friends taunt Mr. Adams throughout
dinner, prompting the parson to fetch Joseph and Fanny from
the kitchen and leave the house. The Hunter sends his servants
after them with orders to abduct Fanny, whom he has been
planning all along to debauch. The servants find the
companions at an inn the next morning, and after another epic
battle they succeed in tying Adams and Joseph to a bedpost
and making off with Fanny. Luckily for Fanny, however, a group
of Lady Boobys servants come along, recognize the milkmaid,
and rescue her from her captors. They then proceed to the inn
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where Adams and Joseph are tied up, and Joseph gets to take
out his frustrations on Fannys abductor before they all set off
again on their journey. The companions finally arrive home in
Lady Boobys parish, and Lady Booby herself arrives shortly
thereafter. At church on Sunday she hears Mr. Adams announce
the wedding plan of Joseph and Fanny, and later in the day she
summons the parson. She claims to oppose the marriage of the
young lovers on the grounds that they will raise a family of
beggars in the parish. When Adams refuses to cooperate with
Lady Boobys efforts to keep the lovers apart, Lady Booby
summons a lawyer named Scout, who conjures up a legal
problem for preventing the marriage. Two days later Joseph and
Fanny are brought before the Justice of the Peace, who is
perfectly willing to carry out whatever Lady Booby plans.

The arrival of Lady Boobys nephew, Mr. Booby, and his new
wife, who happens to be Josephs Sister Pamela, thwarts the
legal proceedings and tries to dissuade Joseph from marrying
Fanny. Here a critical choice is presented to Joseph whether he
should or shouldnt marry Fanny based upon the pressings of
his sister, Pamela. Next day, Fanny taking a walk near Booby
Hall endures an assault by a gentleman named Beau Didapper
but when he fails to have his way with Fanny, he gives the task
to a servant and walks off. Fortunately, Joseph intervenes
before the servant can get very far.
Joseph and Fanny arrive at the Adams home, where Mr. Adams
counsels Joseph to be moderate and rational in his attachment
to his future wife. Just as Adams finishes his recommendation of
detachment, someone arrives to tell him that his youngest son,
Dick, has just drowned in the river. Mr. Adams not acting on his
own preaching of patience cries over the loss of his son, who
miraculously comes running up to the house after been rescued
from drowning by the same Pedlar who earlier saved the
travelers from one of their inns. Adams rejoices and whole
heartedly thanks the Pedlar.
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Meanwhile, Lady Booby is plotting to use Beau Didapper to

come between Joseph and Fanny. She takes him, along with Mr.
Booby and Pamela, to the Adams household, where the Beau
attempts to fondle Fanny and incurs the wrath of Joseph. When
the assembled Boobys suggest to Joseph that he is wasting his
time on the milkmaid, Joseph departs with his betrothed,
vowing to have nothing more to do with any relations who will
not accept Fanny.
Until now the above mentioned plot is full of conflicts, but now
the climax of the story takes place, where things seem to be at
their outmost peril and the resolution of it becomes necessary.
Joseph, Fanny, the Pedlar, and Parson Adam all dine together
at an alehouse that night. There, the Pedlar reveals that he has
discovered that Fanny is in fact the long-lost daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Andrews, which would make her the sister of Joseph
and thereby not eligible to be his wife. Lady Booby rejoices to
learn that Joseph and Fanny have been discovered to be
siblings. Everyone then gathers at the booby Hall, where Mr.
Booby advises everyone to remain calm and withhold judgment
until the next day, when Mr. and Mrs. Andrews will arrive and
presumably will clear things up. During the night various
scenes take place where Beau didapper tries getting into
fannys bed but mistakenly gets into Mrs. Slipslops bed while
Parson Adams comes to Mrs. Slipslops rescue and then
accidently sleeps over in Fannys bedroom.
Joseph and Fanny vow that if they turn out really to be siblings,
they will both remain celibate. Now comes the part where the
reversal of climax takes place, pacifying the problems faced by
the protagonist. Later that morning Mr. and Mrs. Andrews
arrive, and soon it emerges that Fanny is indeed their daughter,
stolen from her cradle and it also emerges that Joseph is not
really their son but the changeling baby they received in place
of Fanny. The Pedlar suddenly thinks of the Wilson family, who
long ago lost a child with a distinctive birth-mark on his chest,
and so it happens that Joseph bears just such a distinctive
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birth-mark. Mr. Wilson himself is luckily coming through the

gate of Booby Hall at that very moment, so the reunion
between father and son takes place on the spot.
The aspect of resolution is now occurring and the story is close
to its ending as Joseph and Fanny are married and other
characters return back to their lives, Pastor Adams is given
back his clerical duties and Lady Booby returns back to London
to her life of flirtations.
Conclusion:
Plot structure is highly important for a good novel. The novels
of 18th century also known as early novels were based on loose
plots where the plots werent systematically described to the
reader. As the novel proceeded into 19th and 20th century, its
plot structure became more cohesive, and started the era of
modern novel. The portrayal of step by step sequences of the
various happenings in a novel intermingled together to make a
single compact well-composed plot. The plot of Joseph Andrews
is made up of various scenes which gives it unity. This
structure marks a great advance from the more basic
sequences of events that can be found in Defoe's novels or
more limited perspective of a single story presented by
Richardson. Fieldings novel contains variety of characters
belonging to all classes, and his extensive depiction of societal
workings constitutes a true, broad picture of the society that
was found in the 18th century.

Wisal Ahmad
Roll No:- 430
Bs English 5th Semester
GPGC MARDAN.

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