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).