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TheGenderingofDivinityinTomJones BETTY RIZZO ThemachineryofTomJones,consistingofwhatappeartotheunenlightenedtobethecomicanticsofFortunebutarerecognizedbythe enlightenedasthewell-orderedifslowlyevolvingadjudicationsof Providence,isusefuldialectically,expressingandrepresenting,asitdoes, illusionandreality,actualandidealjustice,badandgoodgovernment,false andtruephilosophyandtheology,and—theaspectIwanttoconsiderhere— raisingthequestionofthenaturalattributesofbothmenandwomenandthe properrelationshipofthegendersaccordingtoFielding.1 FortuneandProvidencearegenderdifferentiated:whilethesilly, capricious,andinconstantFortunedeviatesfromthepatriarchalnormin everyway,Providencerepresentsthatnorm.IfthefecklessFortuneis "she,"whatthenistheresponsibleProvidence?Fortuneisalways"she"; Providence,undesignatedbypronoun,representseveryvaluethatistradi- tionallyreliableandmasculine,isaprojectionaswellasinstrumentofthe paternalisticGod,isjust,temperate,rational,benevolent,allgood,all knowing,allwise,andallproviding.ProvidenceisthehandofGod,divine powerasmanifestedonearth.Fortuneisdelusorypoweranddeformed other.LiketheHolySpiritthatcausesMarytoconceive,Providenceisessentiallyifnotdesignatedlymale .Finally—apointtobemorethoroughly exploredbelow—thedynamicsofthenoveldemandthatbothexemplaryand non-exemplarycharactersbehelduptogender-differentiatedmodels,the malestotheprovidentialmodelonly,whilethefemaleshavetomeetthe standardsoftheprovidentialmodelradicallyadaptedbythesuperimposition ofwhatIhaveherecalledtheHalifaxprescription,therequirementthat womenalsobemodest,submissive,non-judgmental,andsilent.Thatis, 259 260/RIZZO theprovidentialmodelistoomasculine,tooempowered,tobeappropriate forawomanuntiladaptedbytheadditionofspecialstrictures. Withoutdeformitytherewouldbenocomedy,asFieldingknew,and FortunepresideslustilyovertheunstablecomicworldofTomJones.Hers isoneofthemostthoroughcharacterizationsinthebook;butshecanbe summedupaslackingallofthevirtuesinherentinProvidence:sheis unjust,deceptive,intemperate,irrational,sometimesincontinentlykind,but frequentlymalevolent.Sheistheprinciplenotofevil—thedevilisan importantpresenceinthebook—butofaccidentanddisorder.Sheisarash andrecklessagent.Shecanberuthlessinherministrations:sheassiststhe wretchednessofthatmiserablecouplethePartridgesby"puttingafinalend to"thewife2andrendersCaptainBlifilonceagainagreeabletohiswifeby killinghim(1:108).Sheiscapriciousandperverse,"fearingshehadacted outofCharacter"whenincliningtoolongtothesameside,"especiallyasit wastherightSide,"andhastilyturningabout(1:181),changingthe advantagefromTomtoBlifilinafight(1:254),customarilyreversingthe faceofaffairs(2:703).Whetherunfairlyfondandkindorunfairlyharshand cruel,sheisalwaysunfair,inconsistent,nevermoralorrational:Fortuna numquamperpetuoestbona(2:676). Fieldingdistinguishesotherparticulareffectsofherlightcharacter, frequentlyunderscoring,howeverironically,hermalice(1:109,248;2:642) andhercruelty(1:256).Sheisimmoderate,seldomdoingthingsbyhalves: "thereisnoEndtoherFreakswheneversheisdisposedtogratifyor displease"(1:258).Sheis"atenderParent,andoftendothmoreforher favouriteOffspringthaneithertheydeserveorwish"(1:67).Sheis capricious,customarilydivertingherselfwith"twoorthreeFrolicks"before makinganyfinaldispositionofmatters(1:358).She"lovestoplayTricks withthoseGentlemenwhoputthemselvesentirelyunderherConduct" (2:550).Sheisacoquetteandtease,toyingwithhersubjects,leadingthem toexpecthappiness,thendisappointingthematthelastmoment:"These kindofhair-breadthMissingsofHappinesslookliketheInsultsofFortune, whomaybeconsideredasthusplayingTrickswithus,andwantonly divertingherselfatourExpence"(2:691).Shefavorstheunworthyand "seldomgreatlyrelishessuchSparksas...Tom,perhapsbecausetheydo notpaymoreardentAddressestoher"(1:170).Butirrational,ruledby capriceandimpulse,shecansuddenlytakepity(1:479;2:622)andnowand then"showsCompassioninherwantonestTricks"(2:622).When "apprehensivelestJonesshouldsinkundertheWeightofhisAdversity,and thatshemightthusloseanyfutureOpportunityoftormentinghim,"or perhapsreallyabating"somewhatofherSeveritytowardshim,"shealittle relaxesherpersecution(2:892),ifonlytoprolonghergame. Sheisarespecterofpersons,distinguishingwidelybetween"those Persons[ofthelowerorders]whoaretobecorrectedfortheirFaults,and thosewhoarenot"(1:192).Apparentlyitisshewhoarrangesthatwhile MollySeagrim,JennyJones,andPartridgearecalledtoaccountfor GenderingofDivinity/261 producingchildrenoutofwedlock(orseemingto),BridgetAllworthyescapesdetectionandcensure;whileMollyandMrs.Watersaredenigrated fortheirpromiscuity,BridgetAllworthy,HarrietFitzpatrick,andLady Bellastoncanindulgeastheylike;andwhileBlackGeorgemaynotpoach andshootapartridge,PartridgeisfairgameforBridget.Shecarefullysegre- gatesthehabitationsoftherichinthe"RegionsoftheGreat"fromthoseof thevulgar(2:689).Onecanneitherearnnorpredictthebestowalofher favorsnorunderherswayenjoythedignityofparticipationinone'sown fate.Sheisthemanifestationoffemaleasopposedtomalegovernment. Fortune,whomtheimprovident,thosewhoaregovernedbychance,are condemnedtofollow,isinsolent,punitive,power-mad,licentious,and immoderate. Inpre-Christiantimesshehadabetterreputation.Originallythe powerfulgoddessFortuna,sheoperatedfromaprincipleoffairness,moving prizesaround,distributingandredistributingthegoodthingsofthisworld.3 InHorace'sodetoher,fateprecedesherinherprogressandHopeandFaith attendher(Odes,1.35).Hernameforanunattractiveficklenessofcharacter istheendowmentoftheChristianera.Fieldingmayhavegivenher notoriouslyunstablecharacterafinalfillipbymodellingitonthecharacters ofthegreattyrant-termagantsoftheRestorationstage,likeNourmahalin Dryden'sAurenge-Zebe.SheislikeDelariviereManley'sportraitofthe DuchessofCleveland:"HilariawasQuerilous,Fierce,Loquacious,exces- sivelyfond,orinfamouslyrude....TheExtreamsofProdigalityand Covetousness;ofLoveandHatred;ofDotageandAversion,werejoyn'd togetherinHilaria'sSoul."4Fortuneisanunreconstructedpagan,atypeof thewomanwho,suspectedofhavinggreatanddangerouspowersuncon- trollablebymen,representsforthemtheanarchicprinciple.And,though Fieldingalmostinvariablyconvertsheranticsintocomedy,itissometimes evidentthatheregardsseriouslythemoraldisorderandinconsistencywhich sherepresents.Shecanbesafelycomiconlywhensheisrecognizedtobe, inFielding'sownversionofthedivinecomedy,andprobablyunbeknownst toherself,securelyunderthedirectionandcontroloftherationalandmoral Providence.5 Onrareoccasionsthehistory'snarratorsuggeststhatafterallsheisnot autonomous,oncehesitatingasto"whetheritwasthatFortunerelented,or whetheritwasnolongerinherPowertodisappoint"Tom(2:689).Once helightlycallsherdivinityintoquestion(2:770-71),andonceheis"very farfrombelievinginanysuchHeathenGoddess[asNemesis],orfrom encouraginganySuperstition"andbeseechessomephilosophertofindout therealcauseofsuddentransitionsfromgoodtobadfortune(1:86).Forthe enlightened,then,Fortuneisnotreallysubstantial.Sheisanillusion,an instrumentofbenevolentProvidence,asTommustlearnattheclimaxof hiseducation:"ButwhydoIblameFortune?IammyselftheCauseofall myMisery.AllthedreadfulMischiefswhichhavebefallenmearethe ConsequencesonlyofmyownFollyandVice."6OnceTomhasabandoned 262/rizzo thefecklesspathofFortuneandrecognizedtheorderlyandmoralplanof Providence,hecanlookforwardtoearninghisownjustdesertsandthusof collaborating,tosomeextentatleast,inthedirectingofhislifecourse.To doso,hemustforsaketheinconsistent,irrational,andimmoralfemale principleandcommithimselftoProvidence,theidealpatriarch,superior, worthyofreposedpower,just,andcarefulofcharges. IfFortunerepresentsalltheworstaspectsoftheunenlightenedfolkwho roilthesurfaceofthenovel'scomicuniverse,thereappearstobea differenceaccordingtogenderinthemannerinwhichthecomicandsatiric effectsofthecharacters'failingsareelicited,andthedifferencepertainseven thoughFieldingelicitshiscomiceffectsintwodiscreteways.Adistinction betweencomedyandsatireinFielding'snovelsmaybedrawn.Strictly applied,Fielding'sowndefinitionofthecomedieintheprefacetoJoseph Andrewsexcludessomeofwhatstrikesusasfunnyinthebook.Comedy, hetellsus,dependsupontheexposureofvanityandhypocrisy,for"as VanityputsusonaffectingfalseCharacters,inordertopurchaseApplause; soHypocrisysetsusonanEndeavourtoavoidCensurebyconcealingour VicesunderanAppearanceoftheiroppositeVirtues."ForFieldingvanity andhypocrisyaretheonlyhumanfailingsatwhichwemayproperlylaugh, forneitherhumiliationnorwickednessarefunny.Andinhisbookshetests thereaderinregardtothisdefinition—inTomJonestopplingSophiafrom herhorseandexposinghertothegrinsoftheonlookers—whoare,we realize,mistakeninfindinghumorinthesituation(2:574).Emblematically comic,however,isthesuddendroppingofthecurtaintoexposethe philosopherSquareinMollySeagrim'sclosetinanexcretoryposture "amongotherfemaleUtensils"(1:229). Fielding's"comedy"isthereforesatiricinnature,involvingtheexposure ofthegapbetweenthesatiricnormoridealtowhichthecharacterspretend toconformandtheiractualfailingsortruenatures.Butsomeofthemore falliblecharactersareneithervainnorhypocritical,butinsteadunashamedly whattheyare:Mrs.Partridge,thelandladyatUpton,thewillingmaid Graceatthealehouse,theMerryAndrewandthepuppetmaster,for instance—andyettheyfallfarbeneaththenormalreadyestablishedinthe bookbythevirtuesoftheexemplaryfiguresaswellasbythepretensions oftheothers.Intheircase,asinthecaseofthecharactersawareenoughof theirdeparturefromthenormtopretendtobebetterthantheyare,the identicalnormsareinvokedandinbothcasesthereadermustdotheworkof discerningthegapbetweenthecharacters'realnaturesandthesatiricnorms. Whatarethesenorms,acceptedbymostintheworldofTomJones,and fromwhichmostofthecharactersfallfarshort?Ithinktherearetwoquite differentnormsinoperation,foronthecomicplaneofthenovel,theplane whichinappearanceisgovernedbyFortuneandwhichisinhabited principallybypeoplewhorecognizeonlyhergovernance,maleandfemale charactersoftenarehelduptodifferentideals,andsatireisproducedbythe mannerinwhichtheyfailtoliveuptotwoverydifferentmodels.Whilein GenderingofDivinityI263 theworldofTomJonesbothmenandwomenaremadecomicbecauseoftheirsimilaritiestoFortune,men,supposedtobebothrationaland responsible,arehelduponlytotheprovidentialmodel,whilewomenare confronted,asindeedtheywereinlife,withtwooftenconflictingor contradictorymodelstowhichtoconform:theprovidentialmodelandwhat canherebecalledtheHalifaxprescription.AngelaSmallwood'sconclu- sionsthatFieldingbelievedwomennotinferiorbynaturebutbyeducation, thatmoralidealsshouldbethesameforbothsexes,seemvalid.7Thusfar hegrantswomenamostimportantequality.ButasFielding'sapologist, Smallwoodoverstateshercaseinfailingtorecognizehisapprovalofthe instructionstowomenofGeorgeSavile,LordHalifax,inhisTheLady's New-Year'sGift:Or,AdvicetoaDaughter(1688).AsSmallwoodnotes, Halifaxrecommendstowomenthequalitiesofmodesty,discretion,silence, submissiveness,andgentleness.8Thisimportantmodelforwomenalso livesinTomJones,providingmuchofthesatirichumorproducedbythe femalecharacters.CertainlyFieldingexploitedthesituationthatprescribed anadditionalidealmodelforwomen.Thecomedyorsatirederivedfromthe gapbetweentheassumedattributesofmenandtheiractualcharactersrests ontheircomparisontoProvidence,whosecharacteristicsrepresentthepatri- archalideal.Thewomen,however,drawmuchoftheircomiccharacterfrom displayingtheoppositeofthequalitiesprescribedforwomenbyLord Halifax:theyoutdothemeninimmodesty,indiscretion,volubilityand noisiness,overbearingness,androughness.Comicwomenthuscontrast sharplywithboththeprovidentialmodelandtheHalifaxprescription,comic menwiththeattributesofProvidenceonly. ButdespitethepresenceofProvidenceasanorm,mostcharactersofboth gendersfollowFortune.Withouthavingconsideredeverysupernumerary whocrossesthestage,Ihaveidentifiedapproximatelythirty-fourmenand twenty-threewomenwhoplaypartssufficientlysignicanttomakefeasible ananalysisoftheirvirtuesandfailings.Forbothsexes,amongthosewho followFortunetwoclassescanbedistinguished.Oneclassincludesthose whofailinmoralresponsibilityandsufferfromperversionsofreasononly, schemersandliarswhousetheirreasoningpowersforselfishanddevious ends.Thesearetypicallyworkingorprofessionalpeople,broughtonstage intheirprofessionalcapacities,whousetheirprofessionalexpertiseto furtherambition,greed,orspite.Asecondclassincludesthose(usually morefullydeveloped)characterswhoalsoexhibitreasonovercomeby passionortotalirrationality,violence,andsexualmisconduct.Thefallible malecharactersofthebookarecomparativelyevenlydividedbetweenthese twoclasses,nineteenandfifteen,withthebalancetiltedtowardthefirst group,butofthefemalecharactersonlytwoconfinethemselvesto perversionsofthereason,whilesixteenindulgeinsexualirregularityand violence.Inotherwords,iftherewereoneprovidentialnormonlyforboth genders,womeninthebookarefallingfromitdifferentlyfrommen,andare 264/rizzo fallingfromitinawaythataccentuatestheirdistancefromtheHalifax norm. Whiletherearevalidsocio-historicalreasonsforthepredominanceinthe bookofmenoverwomenandthedifferenceindistributionoftheirfailings, theeffectisalsoclearandimportant.True,oftheworkingandprofessional peopleinthebook,thedoctors,lawyers,clerics,andmenofbusinessare male,andFieldingishereimportantlyemployedinillustratingthemethods bywhichmembersoftheprofessionsimposeuponothers.Thesergeant whoattemptstosellaswordtoTomfortwentyguineaswhileheimagines himoutofhissenses(1:386)andthesentinelwhoforabribelets Northertonescape(1:388-90)fallintothesamecategory.Whenhecan, Fieldingmakesthesamepointwiththefemalekeepersoftheinnsandwith servantsofbothgenders.Themaleprofessionalsincludethethreedoctors whoattendAllworthy,Tom,andFitzpatrick,allofwhomoverstatethe dangeroftheirpatientsinordertoprotectandenhancetheirown reputations;9thelawyersDowlingandthepettifoggerattheBellInn (1:432-33),whoconsistentlydeceiveandcheat;thelandlordatMeriden, knownas"averysagaciousFellow,"whoconcludesthatSophiaisthe Pretender'smistress,JennyCameron(2:576-78);andthetwosenior Nightingales,bothofwhomconsideryoungNightingale'smarriagea businessventurewithoutregardtothecompatibilityofthepartnersorthe honorofeither(2:773-74,778-80).Tothemmaybeaddedtheeldertwo calculatingBlifils;Thwackum;thosetwocorruptersoftheManoftheHill, SirGeorgeGreshamandMr.Watson(1:453-55,462-79);thegypsywho attemptstosellhiswife(2:669-71);and,itisprobablyfairtosay,those misguidednovelistsSamuelRichardsonandTobiasSmollett—atotalby thesecalculationsofeighteen.Bycontrast,onlytwowomencharacters seemtofitthiscategory—both,notcoincidentally,workingwomen: DeborahWilkins10andthelandladyatCambridgewhohasstrippedher familyinbehalfofonefavoritedaughter(1:408-14).Thesatireproducedby thesecharactersisaresultoftheirfalling-awayfromrightreason;butthe effectofthenumericaldistributionistosuggestthatthenormformen...

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