Partridge

An ordinary schoolteacher, Partridge does not play a very important role in the first half. He notices a spark of intelligence in a young maid-Jenny Jones and endeavors to teach her while she is at home. She learns fast and is soon able to challenge her master too. Unfortunately for Partridge, this friendship of his with a young maid is not viewed without doubts. When a little baby is found in Squire AllworthyÂ’s bed suspicion alights on Partridge and Jenny Jones. Jenny Jones leaves the neighborhood and Partridge too has to eventually abandon his school and his house. The reader does not see much of Partridge here. He does not go to great lengths to defend himself and so we too assume that he is guilty of being little TomÂ’s father. Jenny Jones and Partridge disappear into oblivion as the reader gets absorbed in the events in youthful TomÂ’s life.

Partridge reappears as a jovial barber and surgeon. Tom is banished from his house and is on the highway to London. In an accident, he wounds himself badly. Luckily for Tom, he meets a barber who doubles up as a surgeon. This is none other than Partridge. Partridge and Tom get along very well and Partridge reveals to Tom that he is the infamous schoolteacher. He also reassures Tom that he is not his father. Partridge then insists that he would like to accompany Tom in his travels. This insistence is not purely on the basis of benevolence. Partridge thinks that in this way, he might find favor with Squire Allworthy once again. But along the way, Partridge grows genuinely fond of his companion Tom. Partridge provides much comic relief throughout the narrative. He is funnily selfish, whackily eccentric and uncannily shrewd. He is a unique combination of heart, as well as calculating mind. Partridge is not as brave as Tom and the dark and the unknown terrifies him. When Tom and Partridge are together in the woods at night, Partridge is terrified. When the duo enters the Old Man of the Hill’s house Partridge is convinced that herein resides ill. His fears are increased by the strange appearance of the ‘old Man’. But Tom has no such superstitious doubts and is compassionate to the old man. Later, Partridge refuses to go towards a group of revelers at night. He is sure that they are hobglobins or evil spirits. In reality they turn out to be a group of gypsies. Thus, many of Partridge’s superstitious fears are unfounded, though they do add some spice to the narrative.

Partridge does not shy away from being called TomÂ’s servant and this is an interesting fact. He had enjoyed a certain amount of respect before he was charged with the guilt of impregnating Jenny. But as he is ostracized by society, his fortune falters. He becomes a barber eventually and does not mind accompanying Tom as a poor companion. His vigor and his quaintness enable him to rise beyond the level of a servant though. He becomes TomÂ’s friend and confidante.

At the end of the novel, we learn that Jones settles £ 50 a year on Partridge and that Partridge once again sets up a school in which he meets with much better encouragement than formerly. There is also a treaty of marriage on foot between Partridge and Miss Molly Seagrim, which through the mediation of Sophia is likely to take effect.

Thus, Partridge is restored to the healthy level of respect that he had formerly enjoyed. Partridge comes across as a survivor, a man of many skills and one fond of gossip. He adds much color to TomÂ’s adventures in the second half of the novel. He entertains the reader with his witticisms and his quirky ways. The narrative would lack spice without PartridgeÂ’s enthusiastic presence.

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