Summary
Chapter I
The narrator expounds on the analogy between world and stage, so often made
in literature. From this, he says, we might applaud those who have been so good
at mimicking the world that we cannot tell the copy from the original. He says,
however, that the audience has always been forgotten in these comparisons. The
narrator predicts how his spectators' reactions to Black George stealing
Tom's five hundred pounds. He says that the people of worst character are the
first to criticize.
Chapter II
Jones is sent his possessions by Allworthy, with an accompanying letter
from Blifil telling him that Allworthy no longer wants to speak to Tom.
Blifil urges Tom to change his lifestyle. Tom laments having to abandon
Sophia, then, having decided to go to sea, hires horses to take him to
Bristol. Here we will leave Tom's story, says the narrator, and return to
Sophia.
Chapter III
Sophia is now released from her prison. She says that her refusal of Blifil is
the only matter on which she will disobey her aunt and her father. She
despises him. This confession makes Mrs. Western even more resolved to marry her
off to Blifil. She asserts that in a marriage, the "Alliance between the
Families is the principal Matter." Western swears at Sophia, causing Mrs.
Western to remind him not to intervene. Western accuses his sister of filling
Sophia's head "with a Pack of Court Notions." He says that she has "made a Whig
of the Girl." Mrs. Western storms out of the house, leaving Sophia concerned and
Squire Western enraged.
Chapter IV
Mr. Western moans to Sophia that men are always mistreated. He claims it was
hard enough with Sophia's mother. Sophia's mother died when Sophia was eleven
years old. She was a faithful wife to Mr. Western, who "returned that Behaviour,
by making what the World calls a good Husband. He very seldom swore at her
(perhaps not above once a Week) and never beat her." Western gets satisfaction
out of complaining of Sophia's late mother since he is envious of the greater
love Sophia bore for her mother than for him.
Chapter V
Sophia refuses to say a word during her father's invective against her mother.
This makes him even angrier. He supposes that she will take her aunt's side too.
Sophia does not want to seem ungrateful to her father, but she must remind him
that her aunt loves him more than any sister loves a brother. He accuses Sophia
of causing his sister such "violent Passions." Sophia encourages him to stop
Mrs. Western from departing, to which Western finally agrees. Sophia rereads
Tom's letter and cries over her muff. Mrs. Honour comforts her by recounting a
list of the most eligible bachelors in the neighborhood, which results in Sophia
angrily dismissing Honour.
Chapter VI
Squire Western and Mrs. Western reunite as they plan the match between Sophia
and Blifil. Blifil visits Sophia but the narrator says that he is going to omit
the details of this scene. Blifil is happy with the courtship, but Western, who
has eavesdropped with his sister on the meeting, is not, and wants the youths to
tie the knot the following day. Blifil agrees with Western, since he was in fact
not satisfied with the meeting. To stop the reader's suspense, the narrator
confides that Blifil is not entirely devoid of Lust and now thinks of Sophia as
"a most delicious Morsel." Moreover, Blifil savors the fact that he has
triumphed over Tom. Allworthy gives his assent and the "Treaty" is closed.
Sophia's actions will soon disrupt the Treaty, however.
