Abstract：Through Amelia, a novel written at the emergence of the consumer society, Fielding not only depicts the social transformations and changing patterns of consumption at the time but also reveals the logic of the consumer society as well as its problems. However, the criticism of consumption in the novel is rare, as literary scholars ignore the development of the history of consumption in the 18th Century and only consider consumption as an essential theme in modern and contemporary literature. Therefore, through a cross reading of the novel and related historical texts, this study attempts to explore Fielding’s insights into the influence of consumption on society, the individuals, and poverty. By analyzing plots related to the protagonists’ excessive consumption, their frequent debts, and their inability to alleviate poverty, it is possible to under- stand Fielding’s criticism of the demoralization of luxury, his perception of the disorder of social carnival, and his concern about poverty in the affluent society.
Key words : Henry Fielding; Amelia; consumer society; Luxury Debate
