Abstract：Henry Fielding, the most outstanding British novelist, dramatist and one of the greatest representatives of the British Enlightenment in the 18th century. Fielding was the first writer who used complete novel theory to write in Britain, so he was called“the Father of British Fiction”by Walter Scott. Tom Jones is one of Fielding’s masterpieces, which describes the life, love story and moral development of the outcast—Tom Jones. This article interprets and analyzes the personality structure and characters of Tom Jones in depth on the basis of“triple personality theory”, which is one part of Freud’s psychoanalytic theory. Dominated by id, Tom follows the principle of pleasureIn addition, and behaves impulse and irrationally to search for primitive lust and need, which causes flaws in Tom’s character. However, under the control and coordination of the ego, superego and external environment, Tom’s character is improved and superfied gradually which further deepens Tom Jones’s understanding and persistence for morality and conscience. 

Keywords:  Tom Jones  Freud’s Psychoanalysis  Id  Ego  Superego  Character Analysis

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Introduction to Henry Fielding-1

1.2 Introduction to Tom Jones-1

1.3 Literature Review-2

1.4 Thesis Structure-3

Chapter Two Theoretical Framework-4

2.1 Freudian psychoanalysis-4

2.2 Relevant Principles of Freud Psychoanalysis Applied in the Thesis-4

2.2.1 Id-4

2.2.2 Ego-5

2.2.3 Superego-5

Chapter Three-6

An Interpretation of Tom Jones’s Personality Structure-6

3.1 Tom Jones’s Id-6

3.1.1 Searching for Pleasure and Desires-6

3.1.2 The Impulse Action-7

3.2 Tom Jones’s Ego-7

3.2.1 The Dilemma-7

3.2.2 Thoughts on the Life and Reality-8

3.3 Tom Jones’s Superego-9

3.3.1 The Conflict between Conscience and Indulgent Desire-9

3.3.2 Moral Principle Formation-9

3.3.3 Pursuing Perfection-10

3.4 The Inner Battle of Tom Jones’s Id, Ego and Superego-10

Chapter Four-12

Tom Jones’s Superego Purifying-12

4.1 Causes for the Character Crisis and Formation-12

4.1.1 The Influence of the External World-12

4.1.2 The Positive Personality of Internal World-12

4.2 The Purifying of Tom Jones’s Superego-13

4.2.1 Meditation-13

4.2.2 Goodness of other human being-14

Chapter Five Conclusion-15

5.1 Major Findings-15

5.2 Limitation and Suggestion-15

References-17