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

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Satire: The novel employs satire to critique the social norms and values of eighteenth-century England, highlighting the hypocrisy and absurdity of certain behaviors and beliefs. Several hours pass and the vicar can hardly interest anyone in the horse since it seems the beast has several medical conditions. Eventually, the vicar agrees to have a drink with a fellow clergyman. In the ale-house, the vicar is impressed by a respectable older gentleman, who both seems intelligent and exhibits charity when he gives a poor boy some money.

Finding themselves poor, the vicar’s family has few options. Therefore, he is encouraged by the offer of a vicar job in a distant neighbourhood, which would pay fifteen pounds a year and allow the family some farmland to manage. The family is discouraged by the prospect of moving, but he reminds them that they are now poor and much acclimate to fewer luxuries. Before they move, he sends George to town, hoping that the young scholar might find some work through which to support his family. Social Class and Status: The novel examines the theme of social class and status, as characters navigate the rigid social hierarchy of eighteenth-century England and grapple with the consequences of their social positions.As the novel proceeds, the reader is confronted by the limitations of narrative itself, the way that great work does not fit into easy categories. Despite the possibility of interpreting the novel in a straightforward manner (as is done above), it also defies categorization. Critic Richard Passon wrote that Goldsmith’s works are “easy to read and enjoy, but they have been difficult to analyze, interpret, and evaluate.” Dr Primrose tries to be straightforward, but his story is inconsistent, illogical, and sometimes hypocritical. It is difficult for readers to believe this man’s tale when it is such a pastiche of genres and literary forms. While this could be read as a failure on Goldsmith’s part, the confidence of the writing and the strict structure of his other work actually suggest that he was attempting to explore a larger question, about how humans cannot be easily defined, and are in fact more often defined by their contradictions than by their simplicity. Fate continues to disappoint the Primroses, as both Moses and Dr. Primrose after the same man in disguise cheats them out of money they make from selling their horses. Later, the family learns that Mr. Burchell is responsible for spreading rumors about them, causing them to end their relationship with him. Mrs. Primrose continues to scheme new ways to pair off Olivia and the Squire but is unable to induce him to propose to her.

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. In the conclusion, George marries Arabella and Sir William marries Sophia. The squire lives with a melancholy relative far away. The vicar’s fortune is restored when the merchant who stole it is caught. Happiness and felicity reign and the vicar hopes he will be as thankful to God during the good times as he was during the times of adversity. The Vicar of Wakefield ThemesFortune seems resolved to humble the family of Wakefield. Mortifications are often more painful than real calamities 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. The Vicar’s unwavering optimism foreshadows his ability to overcome challenges and find happiness in the end. The Vicar’s trusting nature leads him to misjudge people’s intentions, such as Squire Thornhill’s, creating ironic situations throughout the novel.

George joins the Arnolds, his father, and former fiancée. The vicar is surprised to discover that George lives in poverty since he was supposed to earn money for the family. Eventually, George tells the story of his adventures. He first went to London and met up with his cousin, as planned. He intended to work as an usher at the academy, but the cousin discouraged him from this plan, instead suggesting he become a writer. George liked the idea but found little success in writing about topics that actually interested him. I was a bit surprised to learn that there was a debate over whether or not this 1766 Goldsmith novel is a satire. I think if it is read as anything other than a satire, its import is lost. The humor hidden just beneath the surface is the only thing I can imagine would have garnered it its popularity or held its recognition over the years. It was very popular in the 19th Century and has reportedly influenced many writers. The man insults the vicar over his opinions, but they are interrupted by the arrival of Mr Arnold, the house’s true master. It turns out that this man was only the butler, pretending to be the master. Composer Liza Lehmann composed a 1906 comic light opera The Vicar of Wakefield to a libretto by Laurence Housman. Religion and Faith: The novel explores the theme of religion and faith, as characters draw on their religious beliefs and practices to navigate the challenges of life.

Education and Knowledge: The novel examines the theme of education and knowledge, as characters seek to expand their horizons and better themselves through learning and intellectual pursuits. Further, the vicar realizes that the truly virtuous characters are those he had begun to judge as inferior. The family’s grief is somewhat assuaged by the kindness of neighbours to whom they have thus far been rather cruel towards. They used Farmer Williams as a tool to ensnare the squire and consciously looked down upon the Flamborough girls. And yet these are the people whom truly help the family here. The Vicar of Wakefield, published between 1761 and 1762, is Oliver Goldsmith's most famous work and one of the most beloved and widely-read 18th century English novels. It is also considered a model example of the sentimental novel, one of the era's most popular literary genres.