Squire Western

He is Squire AllworthyÂ’s neighbor. A robust man he is full of energy and is essentially brash. His wife has passed away and he lived with his only daughter-Sophia. He has a single Sister- Lady Western, who visits her brotherÂ’s estate often. Squire Western is extremely fond of hunting as well as drinking. To him the ideal day would be one in which he would go after game and then return home to drink the evening away. The day would be considered even more beautiful if his daughter Sophia would sing his favorite songs on the piano. The Squire is extremely fond of his only daughter and she returns the affection to him.

Squire Western has an amiable friendship with the spirited Tom. Together, they go after game and spend many happy hours together. The Squire scarcely realizes that his daughter is falling in love with Tom. One day Lady Western informs her brother that she thinks that Sophia is in love with Blifil. Squire Western believes her and approves of the match. He likes the idea of Squire AllworthyÂ’s nephew marrying his daughter. So, he goes ahead and proposes the match to Squire Allworthy. The latter too is very happy to consider welcoming the charming Sophia into his family. But the fact is that Lady Western is completely off the mark. Sophia is in love with Tom, not Blifil. Blifil in turn is more than happy to entertain the idea of possessing SophiaÂ’s body and her fortune.

When Squire Western learns that Sophia loves Tom, not Blifil, he is angry, to say the least. He does not like the idea of a union between his beautiful daughter and a bastard. His mind is so fixed on Blifil that he begins forcing his daughter to marry the groom of his choice. While the Squire does love his daughter, he is also quite orthodox in his thinking. He believes that marriage decisions must be made by parents and that daughters must have no choice but compliance to their fathersÂ’ wishes. The Squire is peaceful so long as his daughter listens to him but when she doesnÂ’t he starts hollering and shouting. He seems rather chauvinistic in his thinking. He argues a great deal with his sister. She nags him often and insists that he has no worldly sense. He for that matter refuses to be insulted by her and talks back ferociously. Squire Western has none of the delicacy of spirit that is exhibited by Squire Allworthy. He is loud and blusters his way through. While Sophia adores her father, she cannot endure the idea of marrying detestable Blifil. She has no choice but to flee her fatherÂ’s insistence. She runs away to London and gains the protection of the shrewd Lady Bellaston.

Eventually, it is revealed that Tom is innocent and that he is really Squire AllworthyÂ’s nephew. This news is much to the liking of Squire Western, especially since he had previously enjoyed TomÂ’s company. This time on he forces Sophia to accept Tom soon. He makes references to the consummation of marriage that have Sophia blushing. Ultimately he is a very happy man. His daughter lives next door and Sophia and Tom look after the old Squire. He continues his hunting and his drinking. This colorful man adds a burst of energy to the narrative and the reader likes him despite all his loudness.

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