Jonathan Wild - Week 13

Greatness is a term widely ascribed to many things and often people with varying degrees of sincerity. However, if that title is to have any lasting effect it must be ascribed by someone other than the one gaining the recognition. This sentiment is mirrored in Fielding's Jonathan Wild. Wild himself is a social creature and much of his actions are done in order to gather the attention of others, whether he is conscious of this fact or not. Wild comes to the harsh reality of his need for confirmation or his identity and subsequent 'greatness' when he is faced with isolation. After attempting to rape Mrs. Heartfree Wild is cast astray, left in a small boat to fend for himself and presumably die at sea. Wild throws a tantrum, but is quickly soothed when he realizes there is no one to hear his rant. He needs affirmation from others and without them he loses that part of himself. Jonathan Wild is defined by what others think of him, any 'greatness' he possesses is assigned to him by others' opinions. On his own he is just Jonathan Wild, no audience to give him a sense of meaning or being. Wild, a celebrity of his own time is similar to celebrities of modern time, many of whom are defined only by how much publicity they receive, by how many people are watching their next outrageous move. Like Wild they thrive on this attention and without it they are "no one" just another ordinary person lacking greatness.