An intriguing way to view the Man of the Hill scene is to pull it through the ideas of philosopher, John Locke, and contemplate how they compare. Locke's ideas on learning were profoundly set forward in his work, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Locke pushed forward his "blank slate" theory, which holds that man is created with no innate ideas, instead, all ideas and knowledge are learned through experience (L

The Man of the Hill's knowledge and guidance of Tom is also quite important to the formation of Tom's journey. The man's story concerning his own travels and misfortunes appear to be a guide that Tom can follow so he will not fall into the same misfortunes. The man's life closely parallel Tom's in that both traveled the country. It appears that this section of the novel is intended to teach both the reader and Tom of the possibility of, and how to avoid misfortune. The Man of the Hill proclaims he "was a little ambitious, and extremely amorous" (Fielding 453). A direct parallel to Tom is seen in this statement. Tom possesses these characteristics, which were a hindrance to the development of a gentleman. Fielding is exemplifying Samuel Johnson's belief that literature should both entertain and instruct. The Man of the Hill accurately plays the roll of an instructor through life experiences. It is important to note that the man is old, which symbolizes his wisdom. Fielding does reference that the man is disappointed with his life. "If you desire therefore to hear the story of an unhappy man, I will relate it to you" (Fielding 450).

Initially, it is understood that in the Old Man's past he studied books at school. "Having, at length, gone through the school at Taunton, I was thence removed to Exeter College in Oxford" (Fielding 452). Locke clearly does not support institutionalized learning as the path to knowledge. Learning from books is not a proper way to gain true knowledge. "All the materials or reason and knowledge," contends Locke, come "from experience" (Locke 89). There is proof however, that Locke was a student of literature. David B. Paxman contends of Locke that "travel books may have had their most important influence on Locke's thinking at this broad level" (Paxman 462). It appears that Locke himself studied books. It is also widely known that he attended school as a young man. Locke finds that his learning was received outside of school, especially in his extensive travels. His journals are available detailing his time in France. His first trip took him to Paris for three weeks. He later returned, in 1675, to spend three years traveling extensively throughout the country (Lough vii). It is through this experience that Locke must have realized the source of knowledge. Evidence exists that Fielding's Old Man understands experience and reflection. He tells Tom that after fleeing school he "first began seriously to reflect on the miscarriages of (his) former life" (Fielding 457). The Old Man later does additional experiencing, when traveling Europe. It is this experience that Locke would contend, teaches a person. The Man of the Hill succeeded in this portion of his life in fulfilling Locke's theory. The Old Man's stories from Europe declare that he traveled with the intention of learning. He states "my design when I went abroad, was to divert myself by seeing the wondrous variety of prospects" (Fielding 481).

While only playing a minor role in the vast novel of Tom Jones, the Man of the Hill appears to aid Tom in developing knowledge on his own. The wisdom that the man has acquired over time is used to instruct Tom of the possib

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