When looking at characters in late 18th century literature, you can see some interesting characteristics in Lady Boobie from Joseph Andrews. Her capitalistic and controlling ways were a good representation of the expanding capitalist way of thinking, along with the fear that came along with it in the form of corruption. Fielding tries to explore the theme of vice and virtue throughout the story and uses Lady Boobie a lot for this.
             Lady Boobie is a very sexual person. She thinks she is the best and tries to put on an appearance of purity towards the people around her. She has a major conflict in her life with the theme of vice and virtue. She has her vices in her sexuality, lust, and passion which can easily corrupt. She also has her attempts at virtue because of how she wants to be perceived by her peers. Her reputation is extremely important to her, which is in part due to her finances. She wants sex but she cannot ruin her reputation at the same time. She tries to balance her desires with her public image so she can get what she wants, while not losing her status that she has earned. She is able to use her power from money to control people and to also take revenge. Her vices, which lead to corruption, are clearly seen when she threatens Joseph that if he does not take her, she will destroy him and Fanny. She owns all the land and can control where is able to go and even threaten him. Her attempt at virtue comes through when she hides the fact that she lusts over a servant. Her fear of embarrassment makes her keep it very quiet so no one in her circle of friends would know. While this isn't virtuous in the religious sense, it can be said it is because of her lies and secrets to keep her reputation intact.
             Once again vice and virtue is easily seen with Parson Trulliber. His hypocrisy is not evident to anyone in the story, but clear to us. While he is a man of the cloth, he does not part with anything,
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