The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling · Character

Mrs. Honour

Sophia's devoted, chattering maid, whose loyalty runs on talk, tears, and the fear of losing the best place she ever had.

supporting

Also known as Honour, the friendly Mrs. Honour, The ingenious Mrs. Honour, the good Mrs. Honour

First appearance: the history of tom jones a foundling

As a supporting figure in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, Mrs. Honour is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Sophia's maid, who eagerly relays the gossip about Molly Seagrim's pregnancy and Tom Jones's involvement.

In the storyChapter XIIOpen this moment free

Mrs. Honour serves Sophia Western as lady's maid and confidante, privy to her mistress's secrets and never shy about sharing her opinions on them. Her devotion is genuine but thoroughly mixed with self-interest: she weeps at the thought of being turned off, yet her tongue runs fastest when a good story is in reach. When Sophia flees her father's house, Honour's chatter and wavering nerve become both lifeline and liability, making her a comic barometer of the heroine's precarious independence.

See Mrs. Honour in Chapter XII Book page

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Character Web

47 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Central plot characters
Minor and background figures

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

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Relationships

Sophia Western
professional · positive
Tom Jones
friendship · positive
Squire Allworthy
professional · positive
Sir George Gresham
social · ambivalent
Sophia Western
professional · positive
Sophia Western
professional · positive
Tom Jones
friendship · positive
Tom Jones
friendship · positive
Sir George Gresham
social · ambivalent
Squire Allworthy
professional · positive
Squire Allworthy
professional · positive
Sir George Gresham
social · ambivalent

Sophia Western
Mrs. Honour is Sophia's devoted maid, often acting as her confidante and helper.
Tom Jones
Mrs. Honour is friendly and helpful toward Tom, often assisting his romantic pursuits of Sophia.
Squire Allworthy
Mrs. Honour serves as a maid in Squire Allworthy's household, maintaining a respectful servant-master relationship.
Sir George Gresham
Mrs. Honour and Sir George Gresham have a distant, polite acquaintance through their connections to Sophia and Tom.
Sophia Western
Mrs. Honour is Sophia's devoted maid, often acting as her confidante and helper.
Sophia Western
Mrs. Honour is Sophia's devoted maid, often acting as her confidante and helper.
Tom Jones
Mrs. Honour is friendly and helpful toward Tom, often assisting his romantic pursuits of Sophia.
Tom Jones
Mrs. Honour is friendly and helpful toward Tom, often assisting his romantic pursuits of Sophia.
Sir George Gresham
Mrs. Honour and Sir George Gresham have a distant, polite acquaintance through their connections to Sophia and Tom.
Squire Allworthy
Mrs. Honour serves as a maid in Squire Allworthy's household, maintaining a respectful servant-master relationship.
Squire Allworthy
Mrs. Honour serves as a maid in Squire Allworthy's household, maintaining a respectful servant-master relationship.
Sir George Gresham
Mrs. Honour and Sir George Gresham have a distant, polite acquaintance through their connections to Sophia and Tom.

Relationship notes

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See Mrs. Honour in the history of tom jones a foundling

In the story

Mrs. Honour appears across 30 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter XII
Sophia's maid, who eagerly relays the gossip about Molly Seagrim's pregnancy and Tom Jones's involvement.
Chapter XIV
Praises Jones's beauty and behavior to Sophia, and recounts how he kissed Sophia's muff.
IV
Visits Tom in confinement and reveals Sophia's secret regarding the muff.
VI
Sophia's maid, who eavesdrops and tries to console her, revealing her sympathy for Tom.
Chapter XII
Carries Sophia's letter to Jones and receives his letter for delivery.
Chapter XIII
Sophia's maid, who delivers the letter and advises her, then carries the money to Black George.
Chapter XIV
Keeps the key to Sophia's locked chamber.
V
Attempts to comfort Sophia by listing eligible young gentlemen, but only angers her mistress.
VII
Informs Sophia of the impending marriage, initially tries to dissuade her from running away, but ultimately agrees to accompany her and devises a stratagem to get herself discharged.
VIII
Sophia's maid, torn between betraying her mistress for reward and remaining loyal, ultimately defends Sophia's honor against Mrs. Western's maid.
Chapter IX
Escapes Bridewell due to the clerk's legal advice, is turned away, and resigns her place with affected contempt; later meets Sophia at midnight to aid her departure.
Chapter III
Sophia's maid, who accompanies her and expresses concern about traveling further that night.
V
Sophia's maid, who relays the news of Tom's infidelity and urges her mistress to abandon him.
IX
Sophia's maid who arranges the escape, guards the luggage, and later advises Sophia against pursuing Jones.
Book XI
Honour remains loyal to Sophia, assisting her in navigating the intrigues of London.
Chapter II
Sophia's maid, who accompanies her and later falls into the rear when the strange lady joins them.
III
Attends Sophia voluntarily, helping her dress.
VI
Mrs. Honour bursts into the room in a panic, crying that the French have landed and they will all be murdered and ravished, causing a momentary fright.
Chapter VIII
Gets drunk on rum and brawls with the landlord, defending Sophia's honor; her pride is connected to her mistress's reputation.
Chapter IX
Mrs. Honour is initially given a ride in the coach but later forced to take her turn on horseback.
Chapter VIII
Mentioned as having influenced Sophia's decision to leave Upton without seeing Jones.
IX
Referenced as the owner of the horse the boy rides.
A project of Mrs. Fitzpatrick, and her visit to Lady Bellaston
Mentioned as snoring beside Sophia while Mrs. Fitzpatrick visits Lady Bellaston.
Chapter II
Brings a letter from Sophia to Jones and gossips about Lady Bellaston's reputation.
Chapter III
Delivers Sophia's letter and inadvertently reveals Jones's connection to Allworthy.
A short chapter, which concludes the book
Arrives to deliver dreadful news about Sophia to Jones.
V
Offers to attend Sophia but is dismissed by Squire Western.
Chapter VII
Brings news of Sophia's abduction and her own dismissal; initially angry at Jones but is placated by Lady Bellaston and later reconciled with Jones.
Chapter X
Writes to Jones explaining she has accepted a position as Lady Bellaston's personal maid, thus ending her service to him.
Chapter VIII
Mrs. Honour's former affection for Sophia is now entirely obliterated by her attachment to Lady Bellaston, to whom she has become a confidante.

Chapter companion notes

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See Mrs. Honour in the history of tom jones a foundling

See Mrs. Honour in Chapter XII