The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling · Chapter
I explained
The author introduces his work using a metaphor of a bill of fare at a public ordinary, explaining that he will serve up 'Human Nature' as his subject, dressed in various styles from plain country fare to the seasoned affectations of courts
What happens
The author introduces his work using a metaphor of a bill of fare at a public ordinary, explaining that he will serve up 'Human Nature' as his subject, dressed in various styles from plain country fare to the seasoned affectations of courts and cities.
Key passages
“An author ought to consider himself, not as a gentleman who gives a private or eleemosynary treat, but rather as one who keeps a public ordinary, at which all persons are welcome for their money.”
An author should see himself not as a host providing a free feast, but as an innkeeper serving paying customers.
Fielding establishes his relationship with the reader as a commercial transaction, setting expectations for critical engagement.
“The provision, then, which we have here made is no other than Human Nature.”
The subject of this work is simply human nature.
Fielding announces the central subject of his novel.
“True wit is nature to advantage dressed; What oft was thought, but ne'er so well expressed.”
True cleverness is nature presented in an appealing way, expressing common ideas with uncommon skill.
Fielding quotes Pope to emphasize the importance of style over subject matter.