In The Expedition of Humphry Clinker, Tobias Smollett presents an important message regarding the error of superficial judgment on the basis of appearance; he points to people's internal conflicting sensibilities and urges his reader not to dismiss individuals on the basis of overt observations. We are all members of humanity, and thus are linked despite our external appearance, social rank, or seeming personality traits. Through the development of his characters, Tobais Smollett presents a satire of Mankind in the eighteenth century, highlighting this complexity of human nature and the dangers of attempting to judge it. Similar to the contemporary writers of this time, he utilizes caricature to promote instruction and reform by identifying general truths about the nature of society. In his Dedication at the start of Ferdinant Count Fathom, he states that there must be an endeavour "to instruct the ignorant-, and to "unfold the mysteries of fraud- as well as subjecting "folly to ridicule and vice to indignation-; in other words, there must be a serious moral intention."" The letters within The Expedition of Humphry Clinker serve to highlight the importance of distinguishing truth beneath appearances. In accepting our fellow humans, we can recognize the intrinsic goodness of and the common bond within humanity. .
Smollett's work is a wise and effective account of Mankind. The characters are finely drawn; their individual voices come through in their correspondence. Smollett depicts his characters as multifaceted individuals, demonstrating the complexity of human nature through sharp humor and profound insight. We follow their adventures as the characters journey through England and Scotland in a world obsessed with social class, money and advantageous marriage. The Bramble family's letters during their expedition encompass a wide range of topics: experience and sentiment, coffeehouse culture, civil engineering, agriculture, speech, fashion, science, moral philosophy, art, manners, and interaction, which itself is a genuine collection of late eighteenth century customs.
