Chapter III
Jonathan Wild's Morality
In accordance with the title above, the analysis in this chapter will be focused on the main character in Henry Fielding's Jonathan Wild. The thesis writer regards that the main character in the novel, Jonathan Wild, is important to be analyzed since Wild is the hero in the novel, who has a lot of problems about morality.
As a first step to depict the character of Jonathan Wild, it is very important to understand Wild's background, although it does not guarantee that someone's background has a great influence on one's inner self or even one's life. There are many reasons why the main character has problems about morality. In this chapter, the thesis writer divides them into the outer factors and inner factors which cause Wild's immoral life. Wild's family background, 20 situations in the society at that time, the social injustice and other man like
Heartfree can be classified into the outer factors which bring Jonathan as an immoral figure. While the inner factors can be seen in Jonathan Wild's personality and his own life.
Jonathan Wild, as Henry Fielding says is a 'great man'. The term 'great' is different from 'good'. The term 'great' does not only mean 'good'. 'Good' means benevolence, honour, honesty, and charity; and that parts and courage can be call 'great'. A man can be 'great' without being good or 'good' without being great (Defoe 31). Henry Fielding also admits it in his book:
Nothing seems to me more preposterous than that, while the
way to true honour lies so open and plain, men should seek false
by such perverse and rugged paths: it is so easy and safe, to be
good, men should wade through difficulty and danger, and to be
great, or, to use a synonymous word, villains (31).
The great criminal is contemplated as the typical 'great man'. That is why all 'great' and' surprising event' should be produced by 'great man'. The perfect example of greatness, Fielding says, is Jonathan Wild. Greatness is badness as he says:" No two things can be possibly be more distinct from each other, for greatness consist in bringing all manner of mischief of man kind, and goodness in removing it from them" (108). 21
111.1 The Outer Factors of Jonathan's Morality
There are many outer factors discuss in this analysis. They are the background of Wild's family. It is important to know how actually Wild's family is because it has an important role to his life. The second is the situations in the society which influences his morality. The situation at that time, eighteenth century, also can influence Wild to decide something whether that is wrong or right. The other outer factor is the social injustice that brings Wild's immoral life.
And the last is the other people who serve as a device to show Wild's immoral life.
III.1.1 The Background Of Wild's Family
In the first place, the outer factors that push Wild to become a man without morality is his ancestors. All his ancestors are 'great men'. This fact can be seen through his first ancestor named Wolfstan Wild. He is the expert of 'picking pocket'. This can be shown from the following quotation:
Mr Jonathan Wild, was descended from the great Wolfstan
Wild, who distinguished himself very eminently at famous
festival, he immediately applied to the pocket of his guest, and
contented himself with taking all that he had, without attempting
his life (42). 22
The next ancestor is an eminent man surnamed Longfinger. His name shows his characteristic that he can take a man's purse without the knowledge of the owner with his dexterity. This gentleman is the first of Wild's family who has the honour of suffering his country by his skill. This can be proved by this
following epitach:
O shame o'justice! Wild is hang'd,
For thatten he a pocket fang'd,
While safe old Hubert, and his gang,
Doth pocket o' the nation fang (43).
From all his ancestors it can be seen that actually Wild has an ability to become 'great'. Although it does not guarantee that Wild will become 'great' but there are wise words which say that "Fruits do not fall far away from the trees".
This means that more or less, Wild has an ability to become 'great'.
The other outer factors that force Wild is his family. A family is needed in building someone's character. If he or she has a strong family ties, he or she can overcome the problems he or she faces because his or her family helps to form his mentality. If his or her mental foundation is not strong enough to face the problems, he or she will be in despair everytime he or she has a difficulty.
He or she cannot solve it and tries to find an easy way out which is usually wrong. The fact that Jonathan Wild does not have strong family ties can be seen through Wild's brothers. His second brother, at first, is a public officer in 23 town. He is the man who is respected by people, but he steps out of his work and makes himself popular by ruining the meeting-house at Wolverhampton.
However, he is caught of being a rebel by his deeds:
Edward was so remarkable for his compasionate temper that he
spent his life in soliciting the causes of the distressed captives in
Newgate, and is reported to have held a strict friendship with an
eminent divine who solicited the piritual causes of the said
captives (43).
Another brother of Jonathan also becomes a prisoner at that time because of debt. At first, he is a Birmingham ware-man, or in a particular is a buckle-maker. Yet, he leaves his own city and comes up to London.
Because of debt, he is arrested. However, it seems that Wild's families have their own business so that they do not have time to give their attention to each other. Since Wild's two brothers take a wrong way and give wrong examples to him, so he also imitates and does it. From the proofs above, it seems that the three brothers have the same qualities to become 'great'. Or in other words that nature can produce men like Jonathan and his two bothers if they have a background of the family like that. 24
III.1.2 Situations In The Society Which Influence Jonathan Wild's
Morality
Certain situations can force someone to do something wrong. The time when Jonathan lives is during the eighteenth century, that is the time when crime is mostly done by everyone. At that time, money always plays an important role in the society. The society in which Wild lives is the society which praises wealth and social status. The rise of the middle class introduces bourgeouis life style to the society. Wild is not born with those respectable status of the middle class. Living in such of situation, Wild feels the dissatisfaction of his life and himself. His dissatisfaction forces him to do something to make his life better. He wants the society to admit him. The way that he takes to make his life better can be seen through his acquaintance with
Miss Mary Milliner: "An accident soon happened after his arrival in town in which almost saved the father his whole labour on his head, and provided
Master Wild a better tutor than any care or expense could furnished him with"
(48).
Through his acquaintance with Mrs. Milliner, he learns many things about crime such as prostitution, theft, and robbery. Mrs. Milliner and Jonathan, then, are doing business together. Mrs. Milliner teaches many new things to
Jonathan how to get money that Wild never knows before. From the fact above, it shows that Jonathan can not live in poverty. He hates his position as a lower 25 class, that is why he makes his life up to a middle class. His acquaintance with
Miss Milliner is only one of his ways to be respected in the middle class society.
The crime itself is more as the result of Wild's obession to become rich because in context with the eighteenth century London society, to be rich will put him in a position of respect among the middle class society. The crime which he learns from Miss Milliner that he does is theft. However, he is not endangering his life with his crime because he is afraid of the punishment that thieves must be hang in the gallows. It can be proved by the quotation below:
How easy is the reflection of having taken a few shillings and
pounds from a stranger, without any breach af confidence, or
perhaps any harm to the person who loses it, compared to that
of having betrayed a public trust, and ruined the fortunes of
thousands, perhaps of a great nation?(56).
For that reason, he asks his man to steal for him and he informs the owner that the things he robs are found. However, the owner must give him such as a ransom to get their things back:
Lost, the 1 st of October, a black shagreen Pocket-Book, edged
with Silver, with some Notes of Hand. The said Book was lost
in the Strand, near the Fountain Tavern, about 7 or 8 o'clock at 26
Night. If any Person will bring the aforesaid Book to Mr
Jonathan Wild, in the Old Bailey, he shall have a Guinea
reward (10).
From the quotation above, it strongly proves that Wild has always desired to establish his identity in the middle class society. He even pretends to be good man for cheating people, that is why he informs like the anouncement above, It seems that he lost the things, but actually it is his way to tell the people that he has the things. Wild is a person who wants to be somebody in such a materialistic condition of the society and he attempts any possible effort to achieve his aim. That is why he begins his career of stealing.
III.1.3 The Social Injustice that Brings Wild's Immoral Life
Since Jonathan Wild lives in the period of brutality and materialism, he begins to realize the importance of being rich. Since the demand for the position and money is considered to be potential elements in the society at that time, it might be considered that property is the breath of the people's lives. Wild starts to think that money is everything because it can help him to fulfil his desire to live luxuriously. However, the weakness of the middle class society which is portrayed is the lack of sincerity in helping others. Whenever they help others, they always think about the benefit they can get and measure everything with money. Jonathan, as the main character in this book, also does 27 the deeds above. As he says in the book: "It is well said of us, the higher order of mortals, that we are born only to devour the fruits of the earth: and it
may be as well said of the lower class, that they are born only to produce them for us" (61).
From the quotation above, it strongly proves that Wild moralizes himself as a higher creature, in this case is middle class people and he shows no
emotional feeling such as uneasy feeling or pity for his crime. It also shows that
Wild is an immoral figure from his own principles.
The other proof that shows that Jonathan Wild has the lack of sincerity of
helping others is when his friend, Heartfree is in jail. He pretends to be good to
Heartfree since Wild has a passion with Heartfree's wife, as he says to Mrs.
Heartfree:
Why doth he not procure bail?' said Wild. "Alas! sir,' said
she,' we have applied to many of our acquaintance in vain; we
have met with excuses even where we could least expect
them.' 'Not bail!' answered Wild, in a passion; 'he shall have
bail, if there is any in the world. It is now very late, but trust
me to procure him bail tomorrow morning (109).
From the fact above, it implies that Wild is also a product of the eighteenth century who also has the lack of sincerity in helping other people without thinking the benefit of what he gets of doing the good deeds. 28
III.1.4. Other People Who Serve as a Device to Show Wild's Immoral
Attitude
The character of Heartfree is important in Wild's life since Heartfree as a representative of "goodness" is very different from Wild as a representative of
"greatness". A good man like Heartfree makes Wild experience moral degradation. For Heartfree's principle, the things in this world are vanity as he says:
But again, was all this less undeniable, did Fortune, the lady of
our manor, lease to us for our lives, of how little consideration
must even this term appear! For, admitting that these
pleasures were not liable to be torn from us, how certainly
must we be torn from them! (137).
The quotation above shows that for Heartfree, money is not everything.
Money is an immortal thing that is easy to lose and to get it. Because of
Heartfree's principle , Wild becomes more wicked for he feels stupid of
Heartfree's principle, and it makes him fool Heartfree.
The writer assumes that a goodman like Heartfree makes Wild look worse. That is why, the differences between a "goodman" and a "greatman" can be seen through Wild's principle of life, as he says: 29
What is the life of a single man? have not whole armies and
nations been sacrified to the honour of ONE GREAT MAN? nay,
to omit that first class of greatness, the conquerors of mankind,
how often have numbers fallen by a fictitious plot, only to satisfy
the spleen, or perhaps exercise the ingenuity (177).
It shows that the different principles of two men can cause one's morality becomes evil. In this case a man who becomes evil is Jonathan Wild. The comparison between two principles of the two men is important since it can prove that Wild is a 'great' character.
Besides Heartfree, there are also other things which can make Wild become an immoral figure that is other gang. Apart from Wild's organization, there are Jack Hall's gang, Obadiah Lemon's gang, William Field's gang and the largerly Irish Carrick's gang. All of these gangs have the activities in London. In this scheme, gangsterism are praised and spread in all London. Even the data says:
In 1712 Under City Marshall Charles Hitchen declared that he
personally knew 2,000 people in London who lived by theft alone.
By the 1720s the number of criminals in the capital was almost
certainly not less than 10,000. In the second decade of the
century the Daily Journal published reports that mail robberies
were costing the government more than L 10,000 per annum. 30
Among that 10,000 a few men acquired the glamour and
notoriety of Chicago bootleggers of Mafia godfathers (9).
From the data above, it shows that Wild must compete with the other gangs in getting money. Therefore, Wild thinks that if he does not compete and does more than what the other gangs do, he will be the loser. He hates of being the loser because he is so proud of himself. That is why, the writer assumes that another gangs can make Wild becomes an immoral figure.
Moreover, the writer finds that Wild's interest only for the gang, as he says:
To keep up such a ridiculous contention among yourselves must
argue the highest folly and absurdity. When you know you are all
prigs, what difference can a broad or narrow brim create? Is a
prig less a prig in one hat than in another?...Let me hear no
more, therefore, of this childish disagreement, but all toss up
your hats together with one accord, and consider that hat as the
best which will contain the largest booty (154).
Here, the thesis writer discovers that the reason why Wild is only interested in gang because he feels that he cai. earn money from the gang since at that time gangsterism is one of the easy ways to getting money. Because of that reason, it is important for him to know the condition of the other gangs since he has to compete with them. 31
III.2 The Inner Factors of Jonathan's Morality
Besides the outer factors, there are also inner factors which influence
Wild's morality. The inner factor is like Wild's hardship of life and Wild's personality. Wild's hardship of life can make Wild become an immoral figure because he can not stand for miserable life. While with Wild's personality, he enjoys of doing crime and he does not shows uneasy feeling after he does the crime whether he makes other people or his friends sufffer for what he has done.
111.2.1 Jonathan Wild's Hardship of Life
Since he has already been influenced by the outer factors such as his family, the situation at that time, the social injustice and other man like
Heartfree, there are also inner factors which influence his morality.
Wild as an immoral figure is very selfish and materialistic. His own problem of life is called the inner factors. One of them is his hardship of life.
Before he becomes a criminal, he works for Daniel of Staffordshire, a counsellor as a servant. Whether he cannot please his master or he makes a mistake, the counsellor fires him. This condition makes him decide to come back to London and try to find any business there. Although he works hard at his trade, he could not earn money to finance his daily life. However, he is arrested because of debt. Having no friends to help him out from the prison or 32 money to maintain his life makes him become rough. Hence, the writer finds that because he is living in such a hard situation, Wild loses his feeling of safety and it causes dissatisfaction of his life . His dissatisfaction forces him to do something to make his life better. Then, he takes the criminal way such as theft and deception to get money. Wild does everything without considering whether his victim is his friend or his enemies One of his victims is his friend, who is also
"great" like him. Wild exercises his talent even on the wily Count and he cheats him at cards:
His hands made frequent visits to the count's pockets before the
latter had entertained any suspicion of him, imputing the several
losses he sustained rather to the innocent and sprightly
frolic of Miss Doshy, with which, as she indulged him with little
innocent..(50).
Since he experiences many hardship of life, he uses his skill to make his life better. Wild does not care whether he takes a wrong way or not. He learns much from the teachers and practise more than he has learnt. Since his teachers are men with 'great' qualities, he also does the same thing with all the teachers. That is why the count does not surprise with Wild's behaviour. 33
111.2.2 Jonathan Wild's Personality
After Wild experiences many hardship of life, his personality is changed.
The thesis writer notices that Wild can do everything even to his friends to reach his ambitions. It also proves that Wild even does not care whether his victim is his best friend or even his teacher who teaches him to cheat.
However,because the Count La Ruse is also a "greatman", he can accept what
Wild has done to him, as he says: "The count missed his money the next morning, and very well knew who had it; but, as he knew likewise how fruitless would be any complaint, he chose to pass it by without mentioning it" (55).
It seems strange, although the Count knows that Wild is cheating him but he still wants to make a friend with Wild. All of the incident happens because they still need each other, so they still can become friends. It also proves that people at that time make use of each other, like Fielding says in his book:
Indeed it may appear strange to some readers that these
gentlemen, who knew each other to be thieves should never once
give the least hint of this knowledge in all thier discourse
together, but, on the contrary, should have the words honesty,
honour, and friendship as often in their mouths as any other
men (55). 34
Not only Count La Ruse but also his acquaintance, Bob Bagshot who becomes Wild's victim of his "greatness". Wild 's personality is worse than both of them. It can be seen when Mr Bagshot advices Wild to cooperate with him
in robbing the Count, who wins a lot of money at hazzard-table. The natural characteristic of Wild, then, appears when it is time to share the booty. He wants the largest share to his pocket, as he says:
Mr Wild immediately conveyed the larger share of the ready into
his pocket, according to an excellent maxim of his: 'First secure
what share you can before you wrangle for the rest'; and then
the companion he asked with a stern countenance whether he
intended to keep all that sum to himself? (60).
From the quotation above, it is clearly seen that Wild's personality is very
bad. Besides being materialistic, he is also a greedy man. He is absolutely a
great criminal. He does his crime without the knowlegde of people that he is the
man who orders for the crime. Or in other words, he is an infamous organizer of
thieves.
The other proofs which show that Wild's personality is worse than the
other "great man' can be seen through following the quotation:
Why, look ye, Mr.Wild,'said Bagshot, 'if you want to borrow a
little of my part, since I know you to be a man of honour, I don't 35
care if I lend you; for, though I am not afraid of any man living,
yet rather than break with a friend, and as it may be necessary
for your occasions-' (62).
By comparing Wild with another "great" man like Mr. Bagshot, the writer discovers that Wild's personality is very bad. Wild does not consider whether
Mr. Bagshot is his friend or not as long as he can get the benefit for himself.
Jonathan Wild's great things are also done to his man, Blueskin.
Blueskin, at one robbery, hides a gold watch and refuses to give it to Wild. It makes Wild angry and wants to ruin Blueskin:
In the evening Wild and the rest of those who had been drinking
with Blueskin met at the tavern, where nothing was to be seen
but the profoundest submission to their leader. They vilified and
abused Blueskin, all agreeing with Wild that the watch found in
his pocket, and which must be a fatal evidence against him, was
a just judgement on his disobedience and revolt (163).
From the fact above, it proves that Wild can not cooperate with people who refuses his order. He is not scruple to ruin people who refuse his order or reject his cooperation. For him, the thing which his man steals belongs to him. 36
From the examples of Wild's greatness, they show that after Wild's hardship of life, Wild's personality becomes more wicked since he has already had the ability to become great.
After all the discussion above, it can be clearly seen who the real
Jonathan Wild is by analyzing his morality and its factor which influences his morality. However, whether the outer factor or the inner factors which inluence his morality, he became a man without morality since his background of his life supports this fact. Therefore, what the society judges him is not wrong. Wild is as bad as the society perceive him. Even it could be worse than what the society judges him because he pretends to do something good but in fact he does something bad. Finally, how he regards his crime, in this case whether he feels sorry or enjoy of doing criminality will be discussed in the next chapter.