The Vicar of Wakefield (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Oliver Goldsmith
- First Published: 1766
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Domestic realism
- Time of Work: Eighteenth century
- Setting: Rural England
- Genres: Long fiction, Sentimental fiction
- Subjects: Justice, Love or romance, Rural or country life, England or English people, Eighteenth century, Money, Clergy, Fire, Debtors or creditors
- Locales: England
Characters Discussed
Dr. Charles Primrose, the vicar of Wakefield, “a priest, an husbandman, and the father of a family.” He is generous, kindly, honest, and given to strong opinions (as on monogamy). A homely philosopher, he admonishes his wife and daughters on their vanity, warns them against Squire Thornhill (who later takes him in), urges them to be temperate, and frequently delivers himself of wise saws and modern instances, all the while remaining a good-hearted fool who is easily duped by villains. His fortitude is amazing during his train of calamities. He is so...
[The entire page is 981 words long]
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