Abstract: Henry Fielding’s novels blend two classical literary traditions in moral theme and narrative structure: the picaresque novel during the Renaissance period and episodic structure of classic epics. In his novels, or stories constructed in accordance with classic epics and legends, Fielding’s moral heroes have to face a double adventure for love and honor. Specifically, he illustrates the insoluble dilemma between love and honor and further represents his own belief that the misleading notion of honor will result in a series of consequences: a distorted notion of love, the commercialization of human relationship, and the improper pursuit of money. Compared with hypocrisy, vanity is a common weakness among ordinary people; even moral heroes cannot escape it. As such, its harmfulness is underestimated and hardly acknowledged by the public. Fielding’s art of moral teaching is realized in his distinction between honor and reputation. However, his emphasis on the important of reputation in the secular world leads to the ethical ambiguity in the connotations of the two words.

Key words: Henry Fielding, hornor, falsity, moral critique, ethical ambiguity