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

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The Vicar is a sanguine character, who grabs the silver lining from cloud after cloud. He’d tell you that glass is half full and then say it was more than one body needed and give part of it away to his fellow man. He seems a little naive with today’s vision, but he cares far more about honor and integrity than money or position, and we could use a few more of his ilk, I think.

A few of the incidents in these chapters bear some explanation. For instance, after Olivia and Sophia hear their fortunes read, they begin to misinterpret their dreams to support their hopes. The particulars they use to refer to rural superstitions that were characteristic of the time – a 1755 edition of The Connoisseur said a purse was a “round cinder, as opposed to a hollow oblong one, which betokens a coffin,” and the 1756 Universal Spectator said, “she never has any Thing befalls her, without some fore-notice or other; she…is forewarn’d of Deaths by bursting of Coffins out of the Fire; Purses too from the same Element promise Money; and her Candle brings her Letters constantly before the Post.” It is worth realizing how Goldsmith seeks to skewer not just universal human qualities like the delusions of pride, but also some specific instances of foolishness that he observed in his day.

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Olivia’s flirtation with Squire Thornhill foreshadows her eventual elopement and the consequences of her actions. The vicar then learns of Sophia’s abduction. Almost instantly, George is imprisoned. The imprisonment follows George challenging Thornhill to a fight. In his distress, the vicar preaches to the prisoners. In the end, Miss Wilmot regains her fortune, and Sir William gives Olivia the allowance he gave the Squire. At Dr. Primrose’s request, the Squire isn’t punished for his actions. Sir William also chooses to marry Sophia, and Dr. Primrose marries them along with George and Miss Wilmot. Things get even worse when Olivia elopes with an unknown man. Dr. Primrose sets off in pursuit of her, initially suspecting that the Squire is Oliva’s mystery suitor. However, people along the way who saw Olivia describe an abductor resembling Mr. Burchell. Eventually, Dr. Primrose loses the trail and prepares to head home in defeat.

Oliver Goldsmith's hugely successful novel of 1766 remained for generations one of the most highly regarded and beloved works of eighteenth-century fiction. It depicts the fall and rise of the Primrose family, presided over by the benevolent vicar, the narrator of a fairy-tale plot of impersonation and deception, the abduction of a beautiful heroine and the machinations of an aristocratic villain. By turns comic and sentimental, the novel's popularity owes much to its recognizable depiction of domestic life and loving family relationships. Allusion: Allusions to literary works such as Shakespeare’s plays and Milton’s poetry add depth and meaning to the novel, providing a broader context for the themes and ideas explored. In their new neighborhood, the vicar works as a curate and farmer. The family sends George, who had been educated at Oxford, to London in hopes that he can earn a living there to supplement the family's income. The new area is comfortable and pastoral, but the women in particular find it difficult to acclimate to a lower level of fashion than they are accustomed to. Imagery: The vivid and detailed imagery in the novel creates a rich and immersive reading experience, bringing the setting and characters to life. Thornhill is broken and begs his uncle for pardon, where he is granted a small pay. Once Thornhill leaves, William proposes to Sophia.Happier prospects begin to appear. Let us be inflexible, and fortune will at last change in our favour Chapter 17, when Olivia is reported to be fled, can be regarded as the climax as well as an essential turning point of the novel. From chapter 17 onward it changes from a comical account of eighteenth-century country life into a pathetic melodrama with didactic traits. They both alike reflect their father's nature of being good-hearted, though prone to occasional fault; Olivia runs away with Mr. Thornhill in a rush of impetuous passion, and even the more sensible Sophia joins in with making "a wash" for herself and dressing up in fancy clothes. 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.