Textual references- The Vicar of Wakefield

 Some of my students have brought forth very significant observations from the novel

1. "That Virtue which requires to be ever guarded, is scarce worth the centinel/sentinel." (CHAPTER 5)

- The Vicar warns his family about Squire Thornhill but his warnings have no effect on them. It is then, that the Vicar realises that he should no longer interfere, his efforts are only being ignored.

 

2. "I armed her against the censure of the world"  (CHAPTER 22)

The Vicar tries to give strength to his daughter Olivia, who was betrayed by Squire Thornhill. The Vicar faces the reality that now the society will disapprove of his daughter and instead of taking this as an attack on his reputation, he prepares hi daughter for the life ahead. 

 

3. Through Vicar, Oliver Goldsmith shows his political philosophy in CHAPTER 20.

 

4. "When lovely woman stoops to folly and finds too late that men betray, what charm can sooth her melancholy, what art can wash her guilt away" CHAPTER 24

The Vicar generalizes the whole male gender here. 

 

5. Traditional Gender norms 

The 18th century England is shown in the novel, the male members have the decision making power and the main aim of Mrs. Primrose is getting her daughters married to someone of a higher status. Daughters of Mr.Primrose give high priority to romance.

 

6. Sense of Deception : Characters are not what they appear to be, to one another and even to the audience.

 

7. Moral lessons : The novel teaches us various moral lessons. A few are - 

 

"We are not to judge of the feelings of others by what we might feel if in their place. "

 

"Both wit and understanding are trifles, without integrity; it is that which gives value to every character. The ignorant peasant without fault is greater than the philosopher with many; for what is genius or courage without an heart? "

 

 

Hansika

Roll No 602

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 9th to 16th influenced me the most and showed us the true existence of the family. We can say that their real personalities are manifested. 

 

1)    If we start with chapter 9th what I read and observe that when Lady Blarney and Miss Skeggs appear in the Vicar’s house with Squire Thornhill . The party convenes outside to practise some country dance . When they lack sufficient female partners, the family invites the Miss Flamboroughs, two neighboring girls to join them. But with this idea, Olivia and Sophia are not happy , because Olivia and Sophia want the complete attention of high profile people. With this decision, Sophia and Olivia behave very disrespectfully towards Miss Flamboroughs,as the Vicar also said in the 10th chapter that his daughters are forgetting their lessons on morality ,humanity and temperance.

 

2)    Olivia and Sophia are impressed by the high status company after meeting the two rich ladies . From my point of view, it's good to be impressed with someone’s personality, but forgetting one’s own morals, ethics and values of humanity, is not good .  The Vicar’s daughters do  the same . 

 

3)     In 10th chapter, the fashionable ladies send message that they look forward  to seeing Olivia and Sophia at the Church . But the girls attempt to arrive there by horse  that proves disastrous, just because they both want to pretend modern , and classy in front of the fashionable ladies-- Miss Blarney and Skeggs.

 

4)     MY VERY STRONG POINT OF VIEW AND WHAT I ANALYSE :- 

In chapter 11 -: Squire Thornhill sponsors a trip to town to the Vicar’s daughters , but  he highlights they must first attain confirmation of the girls reputation . 

In chapter 14 :-  Tables turn out and someone has spoken  ill of the girls reputation and spread the rumours  about their wrong character . So Squire cancels his plan to sponsor their trip to town.  

But on the other hand, in CHAPTER 16, Squire Thornhill who believes on rumours and judges the girls’ reputation , does character assassination,  is chilling ,enjoying  and sitting with the Vicar’s family and the family  members still want  to see Squire Thornhill as Olivia’s husband . 

After coming to know the real image of Squire Thornhill, they continue their relationships. 

 

 

 

Shubham

562

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In chapter 2, Oliver Goldsmith as a protagonist presented his views about matrimony. He said that it was unlawful for a priest of the Church of England, after the death of his first wife, to take a second one. In this context, we can identify Vicar as a monogamist. In the eighteenth century, polygamy was mostly followed. The priests were also polygamous. The Vicar’s neighbouring priest married three times and was about to marry fourth time, which beings a topic of debate between the vicar and the priest.

 

        In Rajasekhara Charitra written in 1875 by Kanduri, likewise the vicar, he also was against polygamy, but he had not mentioned anything against this in the novel.

   Novels are the mirror of society, but what if we don't express our views in the texts, then how can readers get all information about the society and the rituals of that particular age. According to me, positive point of The Vicar of Wakefield is the real context of that age as well as the true visualisation of the eighteenth century English society. Oliver Goldsmith not only wrote the things, he also presented his views. He wrote openly about the expectation of the result. He reveals himself as a true reflector of the eighteenth century. 

 

Rubi Bansal

Roll no 603