Joseph Andrews characters

First appears in chapter 2

A handsome young servant in Lady Booby's household and the brother of Pamela Andrews. He takes the Christian teaching of chastity seriously and remains devoted to Fanny Goodwill despite the advances of women with far more power than he has.

First appears in chapter 2

The recently widowed mistress of Joseph's household. Accustomed to having her wishes obeyed, she is attracted to her young footman and reacts angrily when he will not become her lover.

Also known as Parson Adams

First appears in chapter 3

A poor, learned, and physically vigorous country clergyman who taught Joseph and encouraged his principles. He is charitable and courageous but so absent-minded and inexperienced in practical affairs that his good intentions regularly lead him into trouble.

First appears in chapter 6

Lady Booby's maid, who prides herself on refinement and religious feeling while behaving jealously and vindictively. She desires Joseph herself and resents both his refusal and her mistress's interest in him.

First appears in chapter 7

Lady Booby's steward, a prosperous and calculating servant who treats money as the surest measure of merit. His outward respectability contrasts with Adams's impractical generosity.

First appears in chapter 11

Joseph's beloved, a poor young woman raised near the Booby estate. Her affection for Joseph is mutual and steadfast, and she sets out to find him after hearing that he has been dismissed and injured on the road.

First appears in chapter 13

An innkeeper whose first concern is whether an injured stranger can pay. Though weak and easily overruled by his wife, he shows more humanity toward Joseph than several wealthier travelers do.

First appears in chapter 14

A maid at the Tow-wouse inn. She tends the robbed and injured Joseph with genuine compassion, although her later conduct creates disorder in the household.

First appears in chapter 49

Joseph's virtuous and socially successful sister, whose marriage has raised her above the Andrews household's former station. She returns to the Booby estate with her husband and remains warmly concerned for Joseph.

First appears in chapter 49

Pamela's husband and Lady Booby's nephew. He is a country gentleman who respects Pamela's judgment and is disposed to help Joseph, though his family connections place him between the lovers and his aunt's opposition.

First appears in chapter 52

A fashionable visitor at the Booby estate who treats courtship as a game. He pursues Fanny despite her commitment to Joseph and has the social confidence to assume that rank will excuse his behavior.

First appears in chapter 38

A gentleman living quietly in the country who shelters the travelers and relates how vanity and dissipation nearly ruined his youth. His present domestic contentment offers Joseph and Fanny an example of a good life beyond wealth and fashion.

First appears in chapter 58

An itinerant trader who repeatedly helps the travelers without demanding the deference expected by their social superiors. Information he has preserved about two stolen children becomes essential to Joseph and Fanny's future.