The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews and of His Friend Mr. Abraham Adams

The narrator explains the difference between histories, biographies, and novels. The story of Joseph Andrews describes types of people, which the narrator calls “manners” (132). The narrator uses this style of storytelling to comment on the nature of humanity. He acknowledges that not everyone can be classified as one type of person or another, and that people are a complex combination of types.

Joseph, Fanny, and Adams begin their journey late in the day. Darkness falls after a few miles, and Fanny asks to stop and rest. Adam’s sees a light in the distance and hears men talking about murder. Joseph and Fanny fearfully clasp one another and say they will be glad to die in one another’s arms, while Adams says he would prefer not to die at all. They run away, and in the darkness Adams falls and rolls down a hill. Joseph carries Fanny down the hill, and the narrator advises female readers to choose a strong man who is able carry them.

They keep walking and soon come to a house, where they are invited inside to rest. There is a knock at the door, and the group finds out that the “murders” they overheard were sheep stealers who had been talking about killing sheep rather than people.