The Vicar of Wakefield n/e (Oxford World's Classics)

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The juxtaposition of the Vicar’s unwavering faith and the family’s misfortunes highlights the theme of perseverance through adversity. In literary history books, The Vicar of Wakefield is often described as a sentimental novel, which displays the belief in the innate goodness of human beings. But it can also be read as a satire on the sentimental novel and its values, as the vicar's values are apparently not compatible with the real "sinful" world. It is only with Sir William Thornhill's help that he can get out of his calamities. Moreover, an analogy can be drawn between Mr. Primrose's suffering and the Book of Job. This is particularly relevant to the question of why evil exists.

They lose their simple manners and grow more prideful and vain as their hopes for Olivia and the squire increase. However, the more they attempt to present themselves as above their station, the more embarrassments they encounter. For instance, both the vicar and Moses are duped when attempting to sell the family's horses in exchange for more fashionable ones. Dr. Samuel Johnson, one of Goldsmith's closest friends, told how The Vicar of Wakefield came to be sold for publication: [1]Happiness and misery rather the result of prudence than of virtue in this life. Temporal evils or felicities being regarded by heaven as things merely in themselves trifling and unworthy its care in the distribution One day, they are alarmed to see that man approaching. When he joins them, acting as though nothing has changed, the vicar angrily calls him a “poor pitiful wretch”(120). After attempting to feign ignorance, the squire angrily concedes that he will keep Olivia as wife and allow her to keep a lover. When the vicar more violently insults the squire , in turn, the latter threatens that the vicar will soon regret such animosity, and then leaves. Foreshadowing: The use of foreshadowing in the novel creates suspense and tension, hinting at the events that will unfold later in the story. Squire Thornhill, now completely ruined, begs mercy of his uncle and is granted a small allowance. Once he leaves, Sir William proposes to Sophia, who accepts. Afterwards, everyone converses over an elegant supper. The vicar notes that his daughters and wife are impressed by the “high life, and high lived company” of the two rich ladies (42). He is concerned that his family will eventually seem ridiculous and pretentious by mixing with a higher class. Nevertheless, fashionable ladies seem quite fond of Olivia and Sophia and ask whether the girls might accompany them home. The vicar politely refuses the request; as a result, his daughters are sullen for the rest of the night.

The vicar then learns that Sophia has been abducted. Almost immediately afterwards, George is brought to the jail as a prisoner, after having heard of Olivia's shame and then challenging the squire to a duel. The squire's servants beat him instead. Horrified by this succession of misfortunes, the vicar steels himself and delivers a sermon on fortitude to the entire prison. The Primrose family’s pride further manifests in these chapters, growing into a more dangerous vice. The vicar, who once admonished the family for their pretensions of wealth, here acquiesces to the schemes that aim to secure them a heightened social status. Tellingly, though, each one of their attempts to improve their appearance ends in a disappointment. Humor: The novel employs humor to lighten the mood and provide comic relief, balancing the more serious themes and moments with moments of levity and wit. Thornhill is later arrested with charges of abducting Sophia. It is later discovered that Thornhill had hired someone to kidnap Sophia so that he could stage-manage saving her and then seduce her. Though his family and Jenkinson try to convince Dr. Primrose to submit to the Squire and give the marriage his blessing in the hope that he will be released, he refuses to do so. They also attempt to petition Sir William but receive no reply. Olivia, weak and depressed after her ordeal, dies. After Olivia’s death, Dr. Primrose finally relents and asks the Squire to be released, but the Squire refuses. The Primroses then learn that unknown assailants have kidnapped Sophia. The family then receive word from George, who is happy and well, and Mrs. Primrose reveals she asked George to duel the Squire; thankfully, however, the happy tone of George’s letter suggests that he never got Mrs. Primrose’s message. Just then. However, George is brought to the prison, charged with wounding the men the Squire sent to fight him, confirming that he did receive his mother’s letter after all.Their father originally wished to name each after their aunt Grissel, but other considerations prevented him. They are affectionate, generally dutiful daughters. Of his daughters, the vicar claims, "Olivia...had that luxuriancy of beauty with which painters generally draw Hebe; open, sprightly, and commanding ...