Evelina

I absolutely love Burney's "Evelina". It reminds me of a soap opera; there's always something dramatic going on, there's a love story, and there are characters that always go at it with eachother. I can't help but laugh at the relationship between Madam Duval and the Captain. They're both so cruel to eachother; yet for some odd reason I can't help but like Duval and hate the Captain. The fact that he's so threatening and disrespectful to women disgusts me. True, there are times in which Duval deserves to be yelled at and put in her place; but I don't think either of these characters have to degrade themselves by spitting at eachother and threatening to hit the other. Lord Orville is my favorite character. Although he doesn't really say much in the book, his actions and his character in and of itself to me represent the most perfect man! ... Sadly there is no such thing as the perfect man [nor the perfect woman] but if there was such a thing, Lord Orville would be it! He reminds me of Mcdreamy from Grey's Anatomy. As for Evelina, i greatly disagree with those who say she's a snob. Just because she's embarrassed by her cousins when being accompanied withthem in the theater doesn't make her a snob. I'm pretty sure everyone's felt that way before when someone in their familyhas done something embarrassing; I know I have. And just because she refused to dance with a man of the upper class at her first party,doesn't make her a snob either! Maybe we keep thinking about how disrespectful it was because of the time period the novel takes place in. Nowadays if a creepy looking guy asks you to dance at a club, you pretend you don't speak English or that you have a boyfriend! Overall, this has definitely been my favorite book we have read this semester.

Tom Jones

Although Tom Jones was a lengthy read, I greatly enjoyed the storyline and learning about each characters flaws and values. What I enjoyed most was the ways in which the author presented characters of both the upper and lower class.
Characters of both social classes were depicted as thieves and liars. Those of the upper class who obtain wealth yearn for more money and power; and those who suffer in the lower class will do anything to help their family get by. Neither class was placed on a pedestal; but Fielding characterizes those of the upper class as being constantly greedy for more of what they already have. Personally, I felt that Fielding sympathized more with the lower class by creating a character like Black George. Although his actions upon stealing five hundred pounds fromTom is wrong; we can't help but be sympathetic towards him because we are introduced to the poverty he and his family are living in. The more Fielding describes Black George; the reader can't help but be forgiving towards him. But when a character like Bliful is introduced to the readers, and is known to be cruel towards Tom, I couldn't help but hate him. The fact that Bliful ponders over how much money Allworthy will leave behind for him, made me dislike him even more. I couldnt stand almost all the characters of the upper class in this novel, because instead of helping those in need; they only wanted to help themselves by gaining wealth.