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Book 4, Chapter 4
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Joseph Andrews, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Hypocrisy
Lust vs. Chastity
Social Class
Religion and Charity
Summary
Analysis
Squire Booby and Pamela ask Lady Booby about Joseph Andrews. They find that he is being taken before the justice, so they go off to see him. It turns out the nephew knows Justice Frolick. When they arrive, the justice informs Squire Booby that Joseph and Fanny have been sent to prison for a month for larceny. Joseph is accused of stealing a twig, as witnessed by a man named Thomas Trotter, and Fanny is accused of aiding and abetting him.
The twig represents what great lengths the rich will go to in order to stretch the law against the poor. This whole passage suggests that the letter of the law is less important than how people choose to enforce it, and in a society with large class disparities, the lower class often gets the worse end of the deal.
Themes
Squire Booby suggests that instead of going to prison over a twig, Joseph Andrews and Fanny should be left in his custody; he promises to smooth things over with Lady Booby. Justice Frolick agrees to this. During the proceedings, Fanny covered her eyes with a hat to hide her tears, but when she uncovers her face, the justice realizes that she’s lovely; he decides he wouldn’t have sent her to prison in any case. He apologizes to her and says that if Lady Booby is kicking her out of her parish, she’s welcome to settle in his parish.
Squire Booby saves Joseph and Fanny from going to prison using his connections and influence, just as Lady Booby used her connections and influence to try to get them in prison in the first place. This scene depicts a justice system that is not only corrupt but also frequently arbitrary.
Themes
Squire Booby and the Justice Frolick have a private conversation, then Squire Booby leaves, taking Joseph Andrews and Fanny with him. As they leave, parson Abraham Adams arrives—he’s come to help, but he’s too late. Squire Booby invites him into the coach. They ride back to Lady Booby’s place. Lady Booby is pleased to learn that Pamela is Joseph’s sister, since it will give her an excuse to get closer to Joseph.
Once again, Abraham Adams has good intentions about doing something helpful but fails to actually follow through. Lady Booby, on the other hand, will stop at nothing to try to fulfill her bad intentions. Since manipulating the legal system didn’t work, she’ll now try to manipulate her family connections.
Themes
