In eighteenth-century England, Tom, the bastard son of one of Squire Allworthy's servants Jenny Jones and the local barber Partridge, is raised by virtuous Allworthy as his own son, after he sent Jenny away. Tom Jones is educated along with Allworthy's son, Master Blifil, educated in privilege in the western countryside, but they could not be more different in nature. Tom is handsome and randy, chasing anything in a skirt, has a sexual relationship on the sly with Molly Seagrim, the daughter of Allworthy's gamekeeper and his peasant wife. The girl appears pregnant and the father could be anyone, including Tom. Tom is kind-hearten and good nature, willing to defend that and those in which he believes. Blifil, on the other hand, is dour, and although outwardly pious, is cold-hearten and vengeful. Tom eventually falls in love with Sophie Western, the daughter of a neighbor landowner, who has just returned to the area after a few years abroad. Despite Sophie's love for Tom, Squire Western and his spinster sister would rather see Sophie marry Blifil rather than a bastard, who Western nonetheless liked before he knew that Tom liked Sophie. Based on half truths, Blifil convinces Allworthy to order Tom to leave his home and strike out on his own in London. While Sophie sneaks away in search of Tom, and Squire Western and Miss Western go off in search of Sophie, Tom gets into one misadventure after another on his way to London, some involving his randy nature, and some which will reveal certain aspects of his life previously unknown to him. Through it all, Sophie, deep down, is never far from his mind, even when his life is in danger - through mistaken identities, good deeds, sword fights... and lusty women.