A life of problematic virtue in the vicar of

Novel, Victorian Era

Inside the Vicar of Wakefield, although Charles Primrose portrays nearly flawless virtue, he keeps two key flaws, take great pride in and obstinacy, which bring about many problems in his family’s life. The Primrose family suffers from the retribution of these flaws till they are finally purged once Charles increases humility in prison.

Many times in the new, Charles’s enormous sense of pride creates problems in the Primrose family, primarily resulting in their battling. He shows pride in two areas: his family and his virtue. In the initial pages from the novel, Charles gives a bank account of his pride in his offspring, noting “my sons hardy and active, my daughters amazing and blooming” (10). Charles values his family following to Our god, but , consequently, this take great pride in in them leads him to hold quite high expectations to get his children. Charles’s anticipations of his children produce many road blocks for them to overcome. His take great pride in affects Olivia the most, getting perhaps his greatest “treasure” (120). His hopes for her marriage to Mr. Williams incite her to run away together with the Squire, which in turn leads to “the honour of [the] relatives [being] contaminated” (88). Now, the Vicar is more concerned with the imperfection on his family’s reputation compared to the safety of his kid, never when realizing that Olivia might have fled from his oppressive pleasure in her. The Vicar’s pride in the virtue may also be remarked upon in this event. When he finally finds Olivia, he welcomes her back home, but he is even more interested in her return when he finds out she was married towards the Squire, exclaiming, “now you are a 1, 000 times even more welcome than before” (122). Even in light of all of his daughter’s suffering, Charles Primrose even now concentrates on the reputation of his family and his virtue, rather than on his little girl as a person. After bringing Olivia residence, he earnings to look out for his pride just before his family’s well being if he is obstinate with the Squire. Upon this meeting with the Squire, Charles’s pride and inflexibility place his entire family in debtor’s prison.

Charles’s resistance not only causes his family to end up in prison yet also helps to spark a great many other difficulties. When ever George is all about to be have been, the Vicar is ready to call the whole thing off because he and Mr. Wilmot disagree dedicated to monogamy. His obstinacy in this article threatens to “interrupt [their] intended alliance” (15). Once again, his obduracy, pigheadedness as well as take great pride in is obstructing the would like of one of his children, showing his selfishness. Another instance where his would like take precedence over his child’s is definitely the arranged marital life between Mr. Williams and Olivia. Despite the fact that Olivia causes it to be clear with her father that she will not want to marry Mr. Williams, he insists that the “honest Mister. Williams will be rewarded intended for his fidelity” (83). Charles disregards Olivia’s wishes, declaring, “my tenderness, as a parent, shall hardly ever influence my integrity as a man” (83). Due to the Vicar’s obstinacy through this situation, Olivia runs apart with the Squire to avoid her marriage to Mr. Williams. When the Squire comes to the Vicar intended for consent to marry Ms. Wilmot, the Vicar’s resistance gets the best of him. The Vicar proclaims to him, “as on your marriage with any although my daughter, that I can never consent to, and though the friendship can raise myself to a tub, or your resentment kitchen sink me towards the grave, yet I would despise both” (135). This proclamation seals the fate from the Primrose family members with the Vicar again placing himself great pride prior to his relatives. Although his pride and obstinacy business lead the Primrose family to prison, this predicament becomes a pilgrimage toward redemption.

Though his pride and tenacity lead him to a squalid penitentiary, it becomes a spot where Charles can finally be cleared of his flaws. Even though Jenkinson suggests that the Vicar should charm to the Squire for forgiveness to save his family, the Vicar nonetheless refuses, expressing, “though my personal submission and approbation could transfer myself from consequently… I would certainly not grant nor, as some thing whispers me personally that it can be giving calamité to adultery” (152). Again, the satisfaction of virtue and his stubbornness stand in the pattern of the lives of his family. Certainly not until following Olivia’s meant death really does Charles free his pleasure and implacability, saying, “there is no pleasure left me now” (154). The other prisoners also get a stop in Charles’s pilgrimage to redemption. When he first involves the prison, he looks down after them since miscreants, who need to be reformed. He as well tries to reform them to support “mend” (147) himself, keeping his selfish qualities. If the Vicar listens to of the death of Olivia and the misfortunes of George, he finally sees throughout the eyes of the other prisoners. He begins to relate to them on a level of mankind instead of levels of social position. In the face of fatality, Charles goes toward preach a single last time for you to the criminals, addressing these people as “my friends, my own children, and fellow sufferers” (161). This sermon signifies the end of his pilgrimage, bringing him to an comprehension of humanity and a religious rejuvenation. The Vicar finally realizes there is something greater outside of him self, other people. Immediately after Charles purges his persona flaws, his life starts to be restored to normal.

Through the Vicar of Wakefield, Charles Primrose’s major character faults, pride and stubbornness, lead to the enduring of his family. It is only after he quiets these flaws the fact that Primrose friends and family may reclaim their ex – status.