According to Fielding, Adams is the very model of Christian charity. What exactly does that mean in Joseph Andrews? Well, we definitely get to see how Adams sticks to his principles and doles out his minimal wealth to anyone who asks. More importantly, we see what a great influence Adams is on everyone around him. Joseph is generous at the start of the book, but that's largely because he grew up with Adams as a dad figure. (Parson Trulliber is probably more characteristic of the average character in Joseph Adams… which means that he's totally unconcerned with anyone else's well-being.)
Hey, it's a tough world out there, but somebody's gotta be the good guy.
Questions About Charity
- Is Adams the most charitable person in the book, or does someone else compete for the title?
- How does Adams envision charity? Does it differ from anyone else's version of it in the book?
- Are the innkeepers, generally speaking, charitable or uncharitable?
Chew on This
Even though Joseph should be looking out for number one, we can't help but applaud his charitable ways.
Everyone in Joseph Andrews bestows some kind of charity on Joseph and his pals, whether intentionally or unintentionally.