Joseph Andrews / Shamela

Fielding’s satire offers a sharp critique wrapped in wit. I wonder how effective humor was in challenging social norms back then and if it still works today.

The way Shamela mocks romantic tropes felt both hilarious and revealing about the genre’s conventions. What did others think about its commentary on storytelling?

Pairing these stories highlights different aspects of social commentary and humor. I’m curious whether they were originally published together or compiled later for thematic reasons.