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2. Hypocrisy. Of all of the weaknesses of mankind, Fielding viewed hypocrisy as the most pernicious and damaging. When referring to Master Blifil in book 3, the narrator makes a thoughtful observation on the menace of his duplicitous ways: “A treacherous friend is the most dangerous enemy…both religion and virtue have received more real discredit from hypocrites, than the wittiest profligates or infidels could ever cast upon them” (130). The novel seeks to highlight hypocrisy across the social spectrum through the lens of humor. Goody Seagrim condemns Molly for falling pregnant, yet it is revealed that she gave birth within a week of her own marriage. Further, we discover later that she “shared in the profits of iniquity with her daughter” after Molly’s relationship with Mr. Square is exposed (217). The hypocrisy of the lower class is further illustrated when fair Molly is viciously attacked in the church yard after attending church in a fine dress. They are driven by envy, but disguise it in moral tones to justify their ire. Fielding also explores the double standards of the medical profession. Doctors frequently misdiagnose conditions as fatal – it happens to Tom, Allworthy and Mr. Fitzpatrick – in order to increase their earnings. The most ridiculous of these situations occurs when Captain Blifil is found dead of an apoplexy. Two physicians have been called, but the patient is already dead. The physicians then both attend on Mrs. Blifil: “The case of the lady was in the other extreme from that of her husband; for, as he was past all the assistance of physic, so in reality she required none” (118). The arrangement suits both (remaining) parties, however, as the physicians are earning a fee, and Mrs. Blifil is seen to be mourning her husband with the appropriate level of grief. Squire Western changes his attitude to Tom depending upon how he perceives the young man's circumstances. Initially, Tom is a great friend of the Squire, and is frequently welcomed in the Western household. As a young man, Tom’s valiant efforts to save Sophia's bird endear him to the squire, who proclaims: “I shall love the boy…the longest day I have to live” (161). However, this sentiment soon changes when he discovers that Sophia’s love for Tom is an obstacle towards her making a profitable match with Blifil. The squire roundly condemns Tom and resolves to keep them apart. He keeps this resolve until Tom’s parentage – and therefore his rightful inheritance – is revealed. The squire is then keen for the wedding between Tom and Sophia to happen immediately, and crudely suggests that a grandchild should be born nine months to the day. Overall, the man professes true sentiment but is driven solely by greed in the development of his opinions. Fielding illustrates the dangers of double standards through even the best of characters. Allworthy resolves to favor Blifil not because he has faith in the young man’s character, but because he is not favored by others: “Henceforward, he saw every appearance of virtue in the youth through the magnifying end, and viewed all his faults with the glass inverted” (141). We finally learn that Blifil had been deceiving Allworthy for most of the man's life, but Allworthy facilitates this deceit through his own actions.