The distinguished country gentleman Allworthy, who lives in Somersetshire
with his unmarried sister Bridget Allworthy, arrives home from a trip to
London to discover a baby boy in is bed. Allworthy undertakes to uncover the
mother and father of this foundling, and finds local woman Jenny Jones and
her tutor, Mr. Partridge, guilty. Allworthy sends Jenny away from the
county, and the poverty-stricken Partridge leaves of his own accord. In spite of
the criticism of the parish, Allworthy decides to bring up the boy. Soon after,
Bridget marries Captain Blifil, a visitor at Allworthy's estate, and gives
birth to a son of her own, named Blifil. Captain Blifil regards Tom Jones
with jealousy, since he wishes his son to inherit all of Allworthy possessions.
While meditating on money matters, Captain Blifil falls dead of an apoplexy.
The narrator skips forward twelve years. Blifil and Tom Jones have been
brought up together, but receive vastly different treatment from the other
members of the household. Allworthy is the only person who shows consistent
affection for Tom. The philosopher Square and the reverend Thwackum, the
boys' tutors, despise Tom and adore Blifil, since Tom is wild and Blifil is
pious. Tom frequently steals apples and ducks to support the family of Black
George, one of Allworthy's servants. Tom tells all of his secrets to Blifil,
who then relates these to Thwackum or Allworthy, thereby getting Tom into
trouble. The people of the parish, hearing of Tom's generosity to Black George,
begin to speak kindly of Tom while condemning Blifil for his sneakiness.
Tom spends much time with Squire Western—Allworthy's
neighbor—since the Squire is impressed by Tom's sportsmanship. Sophia
Western, Squire Western's daughter, falls deeply in love with Tom. Tom has
already bestowed his affection on Molly Seagrim, the poor but feisty
daughter of Black George. When Molly becomes pregnant, Tom prevents Allworthy
from sending Molly to prison by admitting that he has fathered her child. Tom,
at first oblivious to Sophia's charms and beauty, falls deeply in love with her,
and begins to resent his ties to Molly. Yet he remains with Molly out of honor.
Tom's commitment to Molly ends when he discovers that she has been having
affairs, which means Tom is not the father of her child and frees him to confess
his feelings to Sophia.
Allworthy falls gravely ill and summons his family and friends to be near him.
He reads out his will, which states that Blifil will inherit most of his estate,
although Tom is also provided for. Thwackum and Square are upset that they are
each promised only a thousand pounds. Tom experiences great emotion at
Allworthy's illness and barely leaves his bedside. A lawyer named Dowling
arrives and announces the sudden and unexpected death of Bridget Allworthy.
When the doctor announces that Allworthy will not die, Tom rejoices and gets
drunk on both joy and alcohol. Blifil calls Tom a "bastard" and Tom retaliates
by hitting him. Tom, after swearing eternal constancy to Sophia, encounters
Molly by chance and makes love to her.
Mrs. Western, the aunt with whom Sophia spent much of her youth, comes to
stay at her brother's house. She and the Squire fight constantly, but they unite
over Mrs. Western's plan to marry Sophia to Blifil. Mrs. Western promises not to
reveal Sophia's love for Tom as long as Sophia submits to receiving Blifil as a
suitor. Blifil thus begins his courtship of Sophia, and brags so much about his
progress that Allworthy believes that Sophia must love Blifil. Sophia, however,
strongly opposes the proposal, and Squire Western grows violent with her. Blifil
tells Allworthy that Tom is a rascal who cavorted drunkenly about the house, and
Allworthy banishes Tom from the county. Tom does not want to leave Sophia, but
decides that he must follow the honorable path.
Tom begins to wander about the countryside. In Bristol, he happens to meet up
with Partridge, who becomes his loyal servant. Tom also rescues a Mrs.
Waters from being robbed, and they begin an affair at a local inn. Sophia, who
has run away from Squire Western's estate to avoid marrying Blifil, stops at
this inn and discovers that Tom is having an affair with Mrs. Waters. She leaves
her muff in Tom's bed so that he knows she has been there. When Tom finds the
muff, he frantically sets out in pursuit of Sophia. The Irishman Fitzpatrick
arrives at the inn searching for his wife, and Western arrives searching for
Sophia.
On the way to London, Sophia rides with her cousin Harriet, who is also
Fitzpatrick's wife. In London, Sophia stays with her lady relative Lady
Bellaston. Tom and Partridge arrive in London soon after, and they stay in the
house of Mrs. Miller and her daughters, one of whom is named Nancy. A
young gentleman called Nightingale also inhabits the house, and Tom soon
realizes that he and Nancy are in love. Nancy falls pregnant and Tom convinces
Nightingale to marry her. Lady Bellaston and Tom begin an affair, although Tom
privately, continues to pursue Sophia. When he and Sophia are reconciled, Tom
breaks off the relationship with Lady Bellaston by sending her a marriage
proposal that scares her away. Yet Lady Bellaston is still determined not to
allow Sophia and Tom's love to flourish. She encourages anoter young man, Lord
Fellamar, to rape Sophia.
Soon after, Squire Western, Mrs. Western, Blifil, and Allworthy arrive in
London, and Squire Western locks Sophia in her bedroom. Mr. Fitzpatrick thinks
Tom is his wife's lover and begins a duel with Tom. In defending himself, Tom
stabs Fitzpatrick with the sword and is thrown into jail. Partridge visits Tom
in jail with the ghastly news that Mrs. Waters is Jenny Jones, Tom's mother.
Mrs. Waters meets with Allworthy and explains that Fitzpatrick is still alive,
and has admitted to initiating the duel. She also tells Allworthy that a lawyer
acting on behalf of an unnamed gentleman tried to persuade her to conspire
against Tom. Allworthy realizes that Blifil is this very gentleman, and he
decides never to speak to him again. Tom, however, takes pity on Blifil and
provides him with an annuity.
Mrs. Waters also reveals that Tom's mother was Bridget Allworthy. Square sends
Allworthy a letter explaining that Tom's conduct during Allworthy's illness was
honorable and compassionate. Tom is released from jail and he and Allworthy are
reunited as nephew and uncle. Mrs. Miller explains to Sophia the reasons for
Tom's marriage proposal to Lady Bellaston, and Sophia is satisfied. Now that Tom
is Allworthy's heir, Squire Western eagerly encourages the marriage between Tom
and Sophia. Sophia chastises Tom for his lack of chastity, but agrees to marry
him. They live happily on Western's estate with two children, and shower
everyone around them with kindness and generosity.
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