Summary
Chapter I
The narrator distinguishes his genre as that of the "Marvellous" but not
"Incredible." Writers should confine themselves not only to possibility, but to
probability, and should not invoke the aid of "supernatural Agents" as
Homer unfortunately did. "Man" is the highest subject and writing
should not be sullied by the inventions of "Elves and Fairies, and other such
Mummery."
Chapter II
The landlady visits Tom Jones, thinking he is a gentleman, and asks him why
a decent man like himself is spending time with army ruffians. She mentions that
Sophia has "lain" in her house many a time. Enraptured, Tom tells her his
story. He shakes out his purse to indicate the reason he has joined the
army—he has no money. As soon as the landlady perceives this, she snubs
Tom.
Chapter III
In fact, the landlady knows nothing of Sophia, and is only repeating what she
overheard the Lieutenant saying. Tom injures his head in a fight with Broadbrim,
and a surgeon arrives to bleed his head. The landlady warns the surgeon that Tom
has no money with which to pay him for his services, and the doctor leaves in a
rage.
Chapter IV
Refreshed from sleep, Tom rises with an appetite. He manages to win back the
landlady's affection with his sweet-natured temper. A barber by the name of
little Benjamin comes to shave him. Warming to the barber's sense of humor,
Tom invites him to share a drink with him. Freshly dressed and shaven, Tom wins
the love of Nanny, the chambermaid, who is pretty and coy. In Tom's absence,
however, the landlady tells the barber and company a contorted story about Tom's
past. The barber says he has heard that Tom is the son of Allworthy. The
landlady asks why Tom does not then go by his father's name.
Chapter V
The conversation of the previous chapter occurs while Tom eats his dinner.
Eventually the barber arrives to drink with Tom, and tells Tom he has heard from
many people about Tom's kind deeds to Black George. These deeds, says the
barber, have made Tom "beloved by every body." Jones tells the Barber his "whole
History." The narrator warns that a man's recounting of his own story differs
greatly from his enemy's depiction of the same events. The barber desires to
hear the name of Tom's beloved. Tom decides to tell him, since Sophia's name
has already been made public.
Chapter VI
Little Benjamin reveals to Tom that he is in fact the very Partridge with
whom Jenny Jones was reported to have had an affair. Partridge assures Tom,
however, that he is not his father. He has nevertheless loved Tom Jones ever
since he heard about his kind treatment of Black George. He asks Tom to make
amends for the misfortune Tom's existence has caused him. Tom agrees to this,
but admits that he can do nothing at present since he is penniless. Partridge
says that, since he is presently wealthier, he will share everything he has with
Tom. Satisfied with each other's company, Tom and Partridge set off for war
together.
