Love That Boy

Tom Jones is a satisfying read. The book is a journey into the world of 18th Century life as chaotic and filled with dichotomies as any modern day tale. Tom is a flawed hero, to say the least, and it is Fielding’s willingness to place the entire burden of this story on the shoulders of such an imperfect character that makes his journey the more enjoyable. Tom goes through his life with a flawed reputation and one that, for the most part, he has earned. Yet, for all of his misconduct, the reader is hard pressed not to root for Tom. I, myself, love a bad boy. A good guy in bad boy clothing; this is what I declared my husband to be after a month of dating. Ten years later this combination still charms me. This is also the way I would describe Tom Jones. He is not out to hurt anyone and in fact operates from a strong moral point of view, but he does have an element of ‘bad boy’ that is often the result of impulse control. What saves him is that, even in the midst of these undesirable actions, he is brave and generous and willing to risk his own well being in order to be sure that what is right prevails. I believe that ultimately Tom and Sophia find happiness together. Together they have a perfect balance of impulse and propriety. Tom Jones is a crisp spring breeze that wakes you up from a lazy afternoon and reminds the reader of all the unexpected adventures that make up life.