Study Guide
Tom Jones Book 18, Chapter 2
By Henry Fielding
Advertisement - Guide continues below
Book 18, Chapter 2
Containing a Very Tragical Accident
- Partridge arrives to visit Tom, looking pale and sick.
- Tom asks him what is the matter.
- Partridge informs him: the woman who was just visiting Tom? "Mrs. Waters"?
- She is, in point of fact—Jenny Jones, Tom's mother.
- So Tom realizes that he has committed incest with his own mother.
- (That's—pretty shocking, actually. Echoes of the Oedipus Complex, anybody?)
- Tom (as you might expect) is horrified, and starts feeling guilty right away.
- Partridge goes to look for Mrs. Waters but doesn't find her.
- But Tom receives a letter from Mrs. Waters saying that she has just discovered something about Tom, and they have to talk.
- She tells him not to freak out until they next meet.
- She promises him in writing that Mr. Fitzpatrick is better, so at least Tom isn't guilty of murder.
- Both Partridge and Tom read this letter and take it as confirmation that Mrs. Waters = Jenny Jones = Tom's mom.
- Black George arrives at the prison.
- Black George reports that there has been a big argument among the Westerns, and that Mrs. Western has left swearing that she will never speak to Squire Western again.
- Squire Western has also promised Sophia that he will never lock her up again. (How nice of him.)
- The narrator jumps in to explain why the Westerns have been fighting:
- Mrs. Western tries again to force Squire Western to marry Sophia to Lord Fellamar.
- Squire Western refuses, and the two siblings fight so violently that Mrs. Western storms out.
- She totally forgets to show her brother Sophia's letter from Tom, which is lucky for Sophia.
- Once Mrs. Western leaves, Sophia starts trash-talking her aunt to Squire Western.
- Sophia has never sided with her father against Mrs. Western before.
- He is so pleased to hear her turning against her aunt that he promises never to lock her up again.
- Sophia swears that she will never marry a man without Squire Western's consent.
- So Squire Western is very happy with her.
Tom Jones Book 18, Chapter 2 Study Group
Ask questions, get answers, and discuss with others.
Tired of ads?
Join today and never see them again.
More on Tom Jones
Navigation
- Introduction
-
Summary
- Book 1, Chapter 1
- Book 1, Chapter 2
- Book 1, Chapter 3
- Book 1, Chapter 4
- Book 1, Chapter 5
- Book 1, Chapter 6
- Book 1, Chapter 7
- Book 1, Chapter 8
- Book 1, Chapter 9
- Book 1, Chapter 10
- Book 1, Chapter 11
- Book 1, Chapter 12
- Book 1, Chapter 13
- Book 2, Chapter 1
- Book 2, Chapter 2
- Book 2, Chapter 3
- Book 2, Chapter 4
- Book 2, Chapter 5
- Book 2, Chapter 6
- Book 2, Chapter 7
- Book 2, Chapter 8
- Book 2, Chapter 9
- Book 3, Chapter 1
- Book 3, Chapter 2
- Book 3, Chapter 3
- Book 3, Chapter 4
- Book 3, Chapter 5
- Book 3, Chapter 6
- Book 3, Chapter 7
- Book 3, Chapter 8
- Book 3, Chapter 9
- Book 3, Chapter 10
- Book 4, Chapter 1
- Book 4, Chapter 2
- Book 4, Chapter 3
- Book 4, Chapter 4
- Book 4, Chapter 5
- Book 4, Chapter 6
- Book 4, Chapter 7
- Book 4, Chapter 8
- Book 4, Chapter 9
- Book 4, Chapter 10
- Book 4, Chapter 11
- Book 4, Chapter 12
- Book 4, Chapter 13
- Book 4, Chapter 14
- Book 5, Chapter 1
- Book 5, Chapter 2
- Book 5, Chapter 3
- Book 5, Chapter 4
- Book 5, Chapter 5
- Book 5, Chapter 6
- Book 5, Chapter 7
- Book 5, Chapter 8
- Book 5, Chapter 9
- Book 5, Chapter 10
- Book 5, Chapter 11
- Book 5, Chapter 12
- Book 6, Chapter 1
- Book 6, Chapter 2
- Book 6, Chapter 3
- Book 6, Chapter 4
- Book 6, Chapter 5
- Book 6, Chapter 6
- Book 6, Chapter 7
- Book 6, Chapter 8
- Book 6, Chapter 9
- Book 6, Chapter 10
- Book 6, Chapter 11
- Book 6, Chapter 12
- Book 6, Chapter 13
- Book 6, Chapter 14
- Book 7, Chapter 1
- Book 7, Chapter 2
- Book 7, Chapter 3
- Book 7, Chapter 4
- Book 7, Chapter 5
- Book 7, Chapter 6
- Book 7, Chapter 7
- Book 7, Chapter 8
- Book 7, Chapter 9
- Book 7, Chapter 10
- Book 7, Chapter 11
- Book 7, Chapter 12
- Book 7, Chapter 13
- Book 7, Chapter 14
- Book 7, Chapter 15
- Book 8, Chapter 1
- Book 8, Chapter 2
- Book 8, Chapter 3
- Book 8, Chapter 4
- Book 8, Chapter 5
- Book 8, Chapter 6
- Book 8, Chapter 7
- Book 8, Chapter 8
- Book 8, Chapter 9
- Book 8, Chapter 10
- Book 8, Chapter 11
- Book 8, Chapter 12
- Book 8, Chapter 13
- Book 8, Chapter 14
- Book 8, Chapter 15
- Book 9, Chapter 1
- Book 9, Chapter 2
- Book 9, Chapter 3
- Book 9, Chapter 4
- Book 9, Chapter 5
- Book 9, Chapter 6
- Book 9, Chapter 7
- Book 10, Chapter 1
- Book 10, Chapter 2
- Book 10, Chapter 3
- Book 10, Chapter 4
- Book 10, Chapter 5
- Book 10, Chapter 6
- Book 10, Chapter 7
- Book 10, Chapter 8
- Book 10, Chapter 9
- Book 11, Chapter 1
- Book 11, Chapter 2
- Book 11, Chapter 3
- Book 11, Chapter 4
- Book 11, Chapter 5
- Book 11, Chapter 6
- Book 11, Chapter 7
- Book 11, Chapter 8
- Book 11, Chapter 9
- Book 11, Chapter 10
- Book 12, Chapter 1
- Book 12, Chapter 2
- Book 12, Chapter 3
- Book 12, Chapter 4
- Book 12, Chapter 5
- Book 12, Chapter 6
- Book 12, Chapter 7
- Book 12, Chapter 8
- Book 12, Chapter 9
- Book 12, Chapter 10
- Book 12, Chapter 11
- Book 12, Chapter 12
- Book 12, Chapter 13
- Book 12, Chapter 14
- Book 13, Chapter 1
- Book 13, Chapter 2
- Book 13, Chapter 3
- Book 13, Chapter 4
- Book 13, Chapter 5
- Book 13, Chapter 6
- Book 13, Chapter 7
- Book 13, Chapter 8
- Book 13, Chapter 9
- Book 13, Chapter 10
- Book 13, Chapter 11
- Book 13, Chapter 12
- Book 14, Chapter 1
- Book 14, Chapter 2
- Book 14, Chapter 3
- Book 14, Chapter 4
- Book 14, Chapter 5
- Book 14, Chapter 6
- Book 14, Chapter 7
- Book 14, Chapter 8
- Book 14, Chapter 9
- Book 14, Chapter 10
- Book 15, Chapter 1
- Book 15, Chapter 2
- Book 15, Chapter 3
- Book 15, Chapter 4
- Book 15, Chapter 5
- Book 15, Chapter 6
- Book 15, Chapter 7
- Book 15, Chapter 8
- Book 15, Chapter 9
- Book 15, Chapter 10
- Book 15, Chapter 11
- Book 15, Chapter 12
- Book 16, Chapter 1
- Book 16, Chapter 2
- Book 16, Chapter 3
- Book 16, Chapter 4
- Book 16, Chapter 5
- Book 16, Chapter 6
- Book 16, Chapter 7
- Book 16, Chapter 8
- Book 16, Chapter 9
- Book 16, Chapter 10
- Book 17, Chapter 1
- Book 17, Chapter 2
- Book 17, Chapter 3
- Book 17, Chapter 4
- Book 17, Chapter 5
- Book 17, Chapter 6
- Book 17, Chapter 7
- Book 17, Chapter 8
- Book 17, Chapter 9
- Book 18, Chapter 1
- Book 18, Chapter 2
- Book 18, Chapter 3
- Book 18, Chapter 4
- Book 18, Chapter 5
- Book 18, Chapter 6
- Book 18, Chapter 7
- Book 18, Chapter 8
- Book 18, Chapter 9
- Book 18, Chapter 10
- Book 18, Chapter 11
- Book 18, Chapter 12
- Book 18, Chapter 13
- Themes
-
Characters
- Tom Jones
- Squire Thomas Allworthy
- Bridget Allworthy
- The Narrator
- Deborah Wilkins
- Jenny Jones/Mrs. Waters
- Doctor Blifil
- Captain John Blifil
- Benjamin Partridge
- Mr. Blifil
- Mr. Thwackum
- Mr. Square
- Sophia Western
- Squire Western
- Mrs. Western
- Mr. Supple
- Lady Bellaston
- Lord Fellamar
- Harriet Fitzpatrick
- Molly Seagrim
- Honour Blackmore
- Black George, the Gamekeeper
- The Man of the Hill
- Brian Fitzpatrick
- The King of the Gypsies
- Mr. Nightingale
- Analysis
- Quotes
- Premium