UNIVERSITY OF GUYANA BERBICE CAMPUS (TAIN)

FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND HUMANITIES

DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

ASHA TEJU (USI#1046642)

COURSE: NOVEL – THE EARLY ENGLISH NOVEL (ENG 2102)

TOPIC: SHOW HOW THE CHARACTER PARSON ADAMS IN “ JOSEPH ANDREWS” BY

HERNY FEILDING IS SEEN IN THE NOVEL AND OUTLINE THE CHALLENGES HE

FACES.

LECTURER: DR. DENNIS GILL

DUE DATE: 2 NOVEMBER, 2023

The character of Parson Adams in Henry Feilding's "Joseph Andrews" is depicted as a man of
strong moral principles and unwavering faith. He is a positive force not only as a clergyman who
puts his principles of charity into practice, but as a man who manages to confront the physical
obstacles of the world in the most awkward ways, and prides himself rather too much as a
teacher of Latin and as a writer of sermons. He often finds himself in difficult situations. He
experiences social, emotional, and moral difficulties.

Adams’ physical appearance is really interesting. He has a “comical face, with bearded chin and
deeply wrinkled cheeks”, a fist “rather less than the knuckle of an ox”, with a wrist, ”which
Hercules would not have been ashamed of”. His legs are so long that they almost touch the
ground when he rides on his horse’s back. He usually wears a “tattered old cassock” and a
“periwig” on his head. In addition, he is in the habit of snapping his fingers. He has so shabby an
appearance that Parson Trulliber mistakes him for a hog-dealer.

One of Parson Adams' defining characteristics is his simplicity and naivety. He possesses an
innocent and childlike nature, “He is an innocent … so completely sincere in his beliefs and
actions that he can’t imagine insincerity in other; he takes everyone he meets at face-value”
which makes him liable to manipulation and deception by others. Despite this vulnerability, he
remains steadfast in his beliefs and maintains an optimistic outlook on life. Parson Adams'
simplicity also leads to comical situations throughout the novel, as he often misunderstands
social conventions and behaves in an unconventional manner.

Although simple and naïve, Adams is a man of exceptional learning. Educated at the university
of Cambridge, he has made himself familiar with many languages, and, in particular, has
acquired masterly knowledge of the Greak and Latin: “Mr. Abraham Adams was an excellent
Scholar. He was a perfect Master of the Greek and Latin Languages; to which he added a
great Share of Knowledge in the Oriental Tongues...” His favourite author, however, is
Aeschylus and he carries a transcript of Aeschylean tragedies for more than thirty years. With the
modern literature, except a few books of divinity, he does not have even a nodding acquaintance.
The history of last thousand years is to him almost a blank.

Parson Adams is only a curate. He lives in the parsonage in Sir Thomas Booby’s parish. He is
about fifty years old and has a wife and six children whom he can barely support on his very
small income as a curate. He considers all his parishioners, especially Joseph and Fanny, as his
children. In contrast with Parson Trulliber and Barnabas, Parson Adams is extremely sincere in
his profession. He gets a very small income from the church but his virtue remains utterly
uncontaminated. He refuses to become a puppet in the hands of Lady Booby when the latter
forbids him to publish the banns of Joseph’s marriage with Fanny.

Fielding has also made Adams a comic character. He has made him absent-minded and given
him amusing mannerisms. However, this does not detract Adams’ greatness as a true Christian.
Simple, kind, generous and courageous, Adams is the epitome of true feeling and goodness of
heart. Adams’ impulses always prompt him to help anyone in distress. He is ever ready and ever
willing to fight for the right cause. Although fifty years of age, Adams is magnificently strong
and healthy. He knows how to use his huge fists in defending others.

Despite his good nature, he faces many challenges. One of the primary social challenges that
Parson Adams faces is his lower social status compared to many of the other characters in the
novel. As a clergyman, he is not as wealthy or influential as some of the noble characters he
encounters. This difference in social standing often leads to instances of ridicule and
condescension from those who consider themselves superior. For example, Lady Booby, a
wealthy noblewoman, frequently mocks and belittles Parson Adams due to his humble
background.

Another social challenge that Parson Adams faces is his lack of knowledge about worldly affairs.
He is portrayed as a simple and somewhat naive man who is more concerned with his religious
duties than with societal norms. This lack of awareness often leads to misunderstandings and
awkward situations. For instance, when he stays at an inn, he mistakenly enters the wrong room,
thinking it to be his own. This results in a comical encounter with a lady who mistakes him for
an intruder.

Parson Adams also faces personal challenges throughout the novel. One such challenge is his
physical appearance. He is described as being tall and thin with a large nose, which makes him
an easy target for mockery and ridicule. Despite this, Parson Adams remains confident in himself
and does not let others' opinions affect him.

Another personal challenge that Parson Adams encounters is his tendency to become easily
distracted from his religious duties. He has a passion for literature, particularly classical works,
and often gets absorbed in reading or discussing them instead of focusing on his pastoral
responsibilities. This distraction leads to criticism from others, including his own parishioners,
who feel neglected by his preoccupation with literature.

Parson Adams faces several moral challenges in the novel, primarily related to his unwavering
commitment to his principles and beliefs. He is a devout Christian who strives to live according
to his religious convictions. However, he often finds himself in situations where he must
navigate moral dilemmas.

One such challenge arises when he encounters instances of injustice or immorality. Parson
Adams feels compelled to intervene and speak out against wrongdoing, even if it means facing
opposition or danger. For example, when he witnesses the mistreatment of Fanny Goodwill, a
virtuous young woman, he goes to great lengths to protect her and ensure justice is served.

Another moral challenge that Parson Adams faces is the temptation of worldly pleasures. Despite
his strong moral compass, he occasionally finds himself tempted by materialistic desires or
sensual pleasures. These temptations test his resolve and require him to reaffirm his commitment
to his religious beliefs.

In conclusion, Parson Adams faces various challenges in Henry Fielding's novel "Joseph
Andrews." These challenges encompass social, personal, and moral aspects of his character.
Despite the obstacles he encounters, Parson Adams remains steadfast in his principles and serves
as a source of humor and moral guidance throughout the story.
 References

 Parson Adams in Joseph Andrews Character Analysis | Shmoop.

(n.d.). https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/joseph-andrews/parson-adams.html

 Parson Adams: Character Analysis.

(n.d.). https://maenglishnotespk.blogspot.com/2014/05/parsonadams-characteranalysis.html