Tom Jones Character Sketches of Sophia and Molly
Tom Jones Character Sketches of Sophia and MollyIn the novel Tom Jones, two female characters had a great impact on
the story. They were Miss Sophia Western and Miss Molly Seagrim who
differed in very many ways. These traits became distinct when matters
concerned with physical appearance, family, and their feelings about things
as well as the people around them were discussed.
Both girls were comparable in that they were beautiful, but this
was where their similarities stopped. The ways in which they were
beautiful were different. Molly’s beauty was described as being not
exactly feminine but more of the “amiable kind”. She had a handsome
face and “youth and florid health had a very considerable share in the
composition” (137). Sophia’s beauty was described as more of the
fragile kind. “Her shape was not only exact, but extremely delicate”
(122). Sophia’s beauty was made apparent to the reader by
explaining, in detail, the perfection of her forehead, eyebrows, eyes,
nose, mouth, and teeth. In short, she was the picture of perfection.
Molly was the second of five children while Sophia was an only
child. People in the novel who are clergymen are associated with
being poor. Molly’s mother’s father is described as such. In contrast,
Sophia’s father was a rich, well known Squire. In Molly’s family, it
seemed they were often against her. After the occurrences at the
church, instead of consoling her after the punishment she received
from the other women at church, her family scolded her for her
actions and called her a hussy, a slut and told her that her pregnancy
had brought much shame to the family. In an attempt to stop Tom
from finding Molly with Square her mother lied to him. She was
motivated, however, not by love but by some “profits” she would
be receiving because of her daughters relationship with Square.
Her sister was not as motivated by these “profits” and ended up
telling Tom in order to be spiteful. Sophia’s father was very pleased
when he was able to do something for her and called her his
“little darling” (133). Every night Sophia played her harpsichord
for him and she learned the ballads he liked in order to please him.
When a friend of Sophia’s made a comment on the effort she put in making
her father happy, she replied,
“You mistake me, madam, if you think I value myself on this
account: for besides that I am barely discharging my duty, I am
likewise pleasing myself. I can truly say, I have no delight to...
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