Research Paper on:
Coming of Age in Joseph Andrews by Henry Fielding

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adult. The primary impetus for this evolution is actual experience as Fieldings protagonist encounters numerous adventures in London and the English countryside, accompanied by his former tutor and friend, Parson  Adams, and his beloved Fanny Goodwill. While Joseph is somewhat under the influence of Adams at the beginning of his journeys, he gains in confidence and maturity throughout the story,  fighting off Fannys would-be seducers, and guarding not only his loves chastity, but also his own from predatory aristocrats. By the end of the novel, Joseph is able to resist  efforts to dissuade him from marrying Fanny, once it is revealed that he is someone of higher social status, which indicates the level of maturity that he has attained.  While the student researching this topic requested no other sources, it is important to comprehending Fieldings novel to realize that it is intended to be read as a parody  of Samuel Richardsons novel Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded, a very sentimental eighteenth century romance that was published four years prior to Fieldings book, which extolled the chaste virtues of  Pamela Andrews, who is pictured by Fielding as Josephs sister. Joseph begins his servitude at the Bobby estate as a scarecrow, but advances successively, first to kennel-boy, then stable-boy  and jockey, till his fine reputation for strength and good character finds him at age seventeen working as a footman to Lady Booby. Although Lady Booby makes is flirtatious  with Joseph before her husbands death, her intent efforts to seduce Joseph do not begin till after the Sir. Thomas Booby dies suddenly. Just as his sister resisted the sexual  advances of Squire Booby, Joseph resists seduction by the squires widow, Lady Booby. Joseph writes to his sister: "My mistress is fallen in love with me -- that is, what