La Narrativa de Henry Fielding y la Sociedad Inglesa del Siglo XVIII

La Narrativa de Henry Fielding y la Sociedad Inglesa del Siglo XVIII
mismo. Esto supuso que las ya abultadas deudas de Fielding aumentasen de
manera espectacular ese invierno.
Tal era su grado de necesidad que se vio en la obligación de hacer
traducciones para un tal Nourse. Esta experiencia fue seguramente la que
inspiro el episodio de Wilson en Joseph Andrews (III, 3). Wilson relata que,
encontrándose en una situación lamentable, a punto de morir de hambre,
conoció a un librero que con adulaciones y cumplidos a su cultura y a su
inteligencia le ofreció un empleo como traductor:
“A Man in my Circumstances [Wilson continues], as he very well knew, had no
Choice. I accordingly accepted his proposal with his Conditions, which were none of the most
favourable, and fell to translating with all my Might. I had no longer reason to lament the
want of Business; for he furnished me with so much, that in half a year I almost writ myself
blind.”
En la historia de las locuras de juventud de Wilson en Joseph Andrews,
Fielding no sólo recordaba la serie de grabados de su amigo Hogarth, The
Rake’s Progress, sino que también rememoraba el libertinaje de su propia
juventud. En el momento de escribir Joseph Andrews estaba pagando las
consecuencias de su anterior vida: la ruina de una carrera teatral lucrativa, la
ignominia de una vida como autor de alquiler, la perspectiva de clientes que se
reían al pensar que el autor de Tom Thumb y Pasquin, quería que le confiasen sus
asuntos legales, además de la amenaza de las sponging houses y la prisión por
deudas sobre su cabeza. Cuando Wilson relata a Adams la historia de su
arresto por deudas, Fielding tenía en mente seguramente su reciente
encarcelamiento por una deuda de la misma cantidad:
“He arrested me at my tailor’s suit, for thirty five pounds; a sum for which I could
not procure Bail, and was therefore conveyed to his house, where I was locked up in an upper
chamber. I had now neither health ... liberty, money or friends; and had abandoned all
hopes, and even the desire of life. “But this could not last long,” said Adams, “for doubtless
the tailor released you the moment he was truly acquainted with your affairs; and knew that
your circumstances would not permit you to pay him.” Oh, sir, answered the gentleman, he
knew that before he arrested me; nay he knew that nothing but incapacity could prevent me
paying my debts; for I had been his customer many years, had spent vasts sums of money
with him, and had always paid most punctually in my prosperous days: but when I
reminded him of this, with assurances that if he would not molest my endeavours, I would
pay him all the money I could, by my outmost labour and industry, procure, reserving only
what was sufficient to preserve me alive: he answered his patience was worn –out; that I had
put him into off from time to time; that he wanted the money; that he had put it into a
lawyer’s hand’s; and if I did not pay him immediately, or find security, I must lie in gaol
and expect no mercy”
- 232 -