A study of digression as a narrative technique in Henry Fielding’s Joseph Andrews

Abstract

Digression is a notable literary device that conveys a temporary departure from the main part of the narrative to focus on unrelated issues explaining the background details. However, after the temporary move, the author returns to the central topic at the end of the narrative. In his remarkable novel Joseph Andrews, Henry Fielding used various digressive or interpolated materials that add variety to the main plot. Here, Fielding deploys digression not as an exaggerated statement but rather as a part and parcel of the main plot. Such digressive or interpolated materials were expected to be related to the main plot by theme, moral, symbolic or ironic inverse relationship.