Question: Explain and justify the remark that the central theme of Joseph Andrews, as of Don Quixote, is anti-romance.
Or,
How far is it correct to say that Parson Adams is an imitation of Cervantes's Don Quixote? Give reasons in support of your answer.
Answer: Joseph Andrews by Henry Fielding appears as a conscious imitation of the manner of Don Quixote of Cervantes. In the case of Joseph Andrews, the hero Adams like Don is the most unpractical understands. Although some consider Joseph as the hero of Joseph man who imagines much more than he actually observes or understands. Although some consider Joseph the hero of Joseph Andrews, the majority count Parson Adams as the hero of the book. He is an idealistic and unpractical man and like Don Quixote, he too is a comic character. The chief resemblance between Parson Adams and Don Quixote lies in the fact that both men are misfits in this world of stern realities.
Joseph Andrews is a satirical romance in which Fielding makes a parody of the romance of chivalry, which was very popular during his time. In this novel, Fielding deals with the world of comedy, not with the world of romance. Here, the world of romance is ridiculed because Fielding launches his hero, namely Adams, on a journey in the course of which he encounters real and actual human beings in various spheres of life. There are no chivalrous deeds here. It is the day-to-day life, which provides the substance for the comedy in Fielding's novel. Just as Don Quixote was idealistic in his notions, so Adams is idealistic in thinking that, there is no evil in other people. It is this idealistic approach to life and the want of practical sense, which creates a series of embarrassing and comic situations for Adams.
Adams becomes a comic character mainly because of his want for worldly wisdom. As far as practical sense is concerned, he is no better than a child is. Fielding himself says that Adams was entirely ignorant of the ways of the world, like an infant. His character is marked by extreme simplicity so that he does not suspect the existence of any malice or envy in human nature. It is this want of practical sense that leads Adams into certain comic situations. Besides, he suffers from faulty forgetfulness and this too is responsible for his ridiculous manner. His head is stuffed with scholarly matters like the works of Homer or Aeschylus and therefore fails to perceive ordinary things. In fact, his character reminds us of Hazlitt's essay, on the ignorance of the learned. Such manner is also evident in Don Quixote who acts almost like a buffoon.
As is already indicated, Joseph Andrews is an anti-romantic novel that does not contain any chivalrous deeds and achievements. This novel is realistic to the core in spite of its overstatement of the facts. We have in this novel a satirical and yet realistic account of the behaviour of hypocritical clergymen, the behaviour of greedy surgeons and false lawyers, the behaviour of unjust and incompetent magistrates or justices and the behaviour of lustful squires, sensual ladies and maids. To some extent, Fielding has surely exaggerated the weaknesses and shortcomings of these persons but he does so in order to produce the right satirical effects. The portrayals of all these persons are realistic at the core, in spite of the elements of hyperbole in them.
Finally, we can say that the influence of Cervantes on Fielding is apparent in the characterization of Parson Adams, who is no doubt. an English counterpart to the Spanish Don. The journey of Adams which is very similar to Don is a typical mission of the author through the world of experience. Here, both Adams and Don are the comic presentation in the novel although they try to be romantic. Therefore, it is not surprising in the circumstances that some critics have called Fielding the English Cervantes.
0 মন্তব্যসমূহ