Comic Epic Prose Joseph Andrews

Q: Discuss the novel Joseph Andrews as a comic epic prose ?
Fielding himself termed “Joseph Andrews” as a ‘comic epic poem in prose’ in the “Preface to
Joseph Andrews”. Fielding claimed that he was founding a new genre of writing but this was not
entirely accurate. There was a long tradition of such writing before him, though it was not
completely developed or established. According to Aristotle, Homer had produced a ‘comic epic
in verse, but again according to Aristotle verse is not the only criterion for poetry. Fielding has
only combined the ideal of ‘comic epic’ and the ‘prose epic’ to produce what he termed as
‘comic epic poem in prose’.
An epic is a story of “a conspicuous man who falls from prosperity to adversity because of his
some error of judgment i.e. Hamartia. His death is, however, not essential. But his fall arises a
sense of pity and fear in us”. It also has heroic style and bombastic language. And a comic epic is
just reverse to it in most of its prerequisites except a few. A heroic epic has a conspicuous hero,
grand theme, a continuous action, a journey to underworld, wars, digressions, discovery, high
seriousness, a high moral lesson and bombastic diction in it and in “Joseph Andrews” there is an
ordinary hero, a journey from one place to another place, mock-wars, digressions, discovery,
humor, a high moral and a bombastic diction in it. So, it can be termed as a ‘comic epic poem in
prose’.
Unlike a heroic epic, the hero of “Joseph Andrews” is an ordinary boy. He is a foot-man of Lady
Booby who has fallen in love with him. But Joseph is very innocent and virtuous. Therefore, he
leaves the service of the Lady and goes to meet his beloved Fanny. On the way he has to face
many hardships.
Though the action of the novel is not as great as the action of an epic yet it is enough to term the
novel a comic epic. Joseph sets out from London to Somersetshire to see Fanny. On the way,
Joseph crosses many roads, highways, country sides, stays at many inns and meets many people;
all this constitute a big action.
Through the journey of Joseph, Fielding satirizes the society of the day and ridicules them. The
corrupt and hypocritical clergy, Parson Trilluber and Parson Barnabas, individual like Lady
Booby and Mrs. Slipslop, the Squire of Fools and the Squire of False Promises have been
satirized. The element of wars is very important in an epic and it is no exception in “Joseph
Andrews”. We see a war took place in an inn where Joseph was insulted by the host. Parson
Adams was annoyed and challenged the host. There started the first war between both the
parties. Soon Mrs. Slipslop and landlady also joined in the battle.Also Parson Adam is shown as
a forgetful man in the novel and when he forgets his house at the inn it creates a great scene of
humour. There are many other epical elements in the novel to call it a comic epic. Another epic
convention is the use of digression. There are two three digressions in “Joseph Andrews” which
includes the story of leonora, horatio and beller mine .This story revolves around the love
triangle. Second digression is about the story of Mr Willson. The third digression is about the
story of Leonard and Paul told by the Parson Adam’s son.
Grandthemes which is an important element in epic is also presented in this novel. The two
major grandthemes in this novel are chastity and morality.
Sudden change of fortune also makes this novel a comic epic prose. As we know that in the end
of the novel all the identities are revealed which also shows that Joseph is the son of Mr Willson
and now there is now marriage between Fanny Good which whicl clearly depicts that the sudden
change of fortune is happened.
High seriousness is an important element in epic. But in “Joseph Andrews” there is a great deal
of comedy and humour, because it is a comic epic novel. But behind this comedy, there lies a
serious purpose of reformation. We have a gamut of vain and hypocritical characters in Parson
Trilluber, Parson Barnabas, passengers in the stage-coach, Mr. Tow-wouse, Mrs. Slipslop, Peter
Pounce and the various Squires. The surgeon and the lawyer and the magistrate are also some
other example of hypocrisy and vanity. Each of these characters provides a great deal of humour
and amusement under a serious purpose. Every epic has a moral lesson in it and this is no
exception with a comic epic. Fielding’s views on morality are practical, full of common sense
and tolerance, liberal, flexible and more realistic. These are devoid of prudish and rigid codes.
Fielding wanted to tear the veil of vanity and hypocrisy. The use of grand, bombastic and
elevated language is an important element in an epic. It has heroic diction. But in “Joseph
Andres” we see that Fielding has used prose for poetry because it brings us close to the real and
actual life and it is much more suitable for Fielding’s purpose of dealing with human nature.
However, his use of prose is very good, up to the mark and apt for his novel. So, we can
conclude that the theory of the ‘comic epic poem in prose’ as described by Fielding in the
preface of “Joseph Andrews” manifests itself in the novel. Fielding has assimilate the rules and
adapted them to his way of writing so well that we are not consciously aware of the formal
principles which give unity to his materials.
According to Thornbury, “Joseph Andrews” by Fielding is: “An art which conceals art, but is the
art of a conscious artist.” It is true that in “Joseph Andrews”, the scale is not as large as one can
except in an epic, though it has all other elements of a ‘comic epic in prose’, as claimed by
Fielding.

Comic Epic Prose Joseph Andrews

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Comic Epic Prose Joseph Andrews

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Comic Epic Prose Joseph Andrews

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Q: Discuss the novel Joseph Andrews as a comic epic prose ?

You might also like