One of the main issues seems to be the opposition of city corruption versus the simplicity of the

country, which despite its drawbacks is preferable.

City corruption is shown in the behaviour of most city dwellers or by characters who have
been corrupted by the city, like Lady Booby.

There is also the stress of non-urban characteristics of such characters as Joseph, Fanny and
Adams.

The inserted stories like Wilsons and the story of Leonora support this claim.

However, this negative aspect of urban life is counterbalanced by the fact that Joseph, who has
experience the vices of this life, has acquired practical knowledge about life which enables his to
see through peoples duplicity; something which the nave Adams is not capable of.

This makes the novel somewhat simplistic since it shows that Joseph, by leaving the corruption of
the city, he is able to find happiness in his married life with the equallly virtuous Fanny whereas
Lady Booby resorts to London where she finds consolation in the hands of a young captain.

The memorable character of Parson Adams shows that it is one thing to preach and another to put
your preaching to practice. He also demonstrates that life learnt from books is not enough by
itself.

As for the narration there is heteroglossia, which consists of the different characters speaking in
their own voices. However, because of the fact that Fielding stresses that he has created not
characters but species, it is felt that Fieldings narratorial voice, which guides the reader
throught the book, strives for a certain interpretation.