J 2018

The Problem of Ridicule in Henry Fielding´s Joseph Andrews

HOCHMANOVÁ, Dita

Basic information

Original name

The Problem of Ridicule in Henry Fielding´s Joseph Andrews

Authors

HOCHMANOVÁ, Dita (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Brno Studies in English, Brno, Masarykova univerzita, 2018, 0524-6881

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

60200 6.2 Languages and Literature

Country of publisher

Czech Republic

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14640/18:00110025

Organization unit

Language Centre

Keywords in English

satire; politeness; ridicule; decorum
Změněno: 12/5/2020 21:28, PaedDr. Marta Holasová, Ph.D.

Abstract

V originále

Starting his career as a provocative dramatist, generally criticised for open political satire and indecency of his plays, Henry Fielding developed into one of the most prominent eighteenth-century novelist and had to work hard to build a reputation which would correspond with the newly developing sensibilities of the reading audiences. The article considers the transition in Fielding´s career in the context of changing demands on politeness in society and provides analysis of his first novel, Joseph Andrews, which links his technique of the true ridiculous to William Hogarth´s fight against sham values and Lord Shaftesbury´s idea of freedom of laughter. It also explains how this method helped Fielding create consciously ambiguous characters and make profound moral statements while keeping the possibility to entertain his readers through comedy.