# IV explained — The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

> Chapter companion for The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding.

## What happens

Mr. Allworthy reveals the foundling child to his sister, Miss Bridget, who surprises everyone by taking the good-natured side and agreeing to care for the infant, though she bitterly condemns the unknown mother. A plan is set to discover the mother through inquiry among the servants and parish. The chapter also includes a lengthy, picturesque description of Allworthy's estate and a philosophical reflection on his benevolence.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy vs. True Virtue

Miss Bridget's public severity toward vice contrasts with her private compliance and her harsh condemnation of the mother, highlighting the gap between professed virtue and genuine compassion.

### Benevolence and Generosity

Mr. Allworthy's decision to take in and raise the foundling child exemplifies his benevolent character, and the narrator explicitly praises him as 'a human being replete with benevolence.'

## Character check-ins

### Squire Allworthy

Reveals the foundling to his sister, resolves to raise the child as his own, and walks forth on his terrace contemplating benevolence.

### Mrs. Bridget

Initially silent with surprise, she supports her brother's charity toward the infant but harshly condemns the unknown mother with a torrent of abusive epithets.

### Mrs. Deborah Wilkins

Expected Miss Bridget to react with bitterness; she acquits the female servants and is tasked with inquiring among the parish to find the mother.

## Key lines

> Miss Bridget had always expressed so great a regard for what the ladies are pleased to call virtue, and had herself maintained such a severity of character, that it was expected, especially by Wilkins, that she would have vented much bitterness on this occasion, and would have voted for sending the child, as a kind of noxious animal, immediately out of the house; but, on the contrary, she rather took the good-natured side of the question, intimated some compassion for the helpless little creature, and commended her brother's charity in what he had done.

Everyone, especially Mrs. Wilkins, expected Miss Bridget to react harshly because she always claimed to value virtue so strictly. Instead, she showed compassion for the baby and praised her brother's kindness.

_Reveals the gap between Miss Bridget's professed virtue and her actual behavior._

> However, what she withheld from the infant, she bestowed with the utmost profuseness on the poor unknown mother, whom she called an impudent slut, a wanton hussy, an audacious harlot, a wicked jade, a vile strumpet, with every other appellation with which the tongue of virtue never fails to lash those who bring a disgrace on the sex.

Though she was kind to the child, she viciously insulted the unknown mother, using every abusive term that self-righteous people use against women who shame their gender.

_Highlights the hypocrisy of Miss Bridget's moral posturing._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_history_of_tom_jones_a_foundling_se/chapters/iv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_history_of_tom_jones_a_foundling_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_history_of_tom_jones_a_foundling_se/chapters