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Chapter 24
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Vicar of Wakefield, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Humility in the Face of Adversity
The Possibility of Redemption
Family and Society
Equality, Justice, and the Law
Travel, Home, and Belonging
Summary
Analysis
Dr. Primrose’s family accompanies him on the journey, though Olivia is weakened by a fever. Soon an angry crowd of parishioners stops them, demanding Dr. Primrose’s release and threatening to fight the officers of justice. Dr. Primrose angrily scolds them and sends them away, however, and they continue onwards. The family stops at an inn while Dr. Primrose is conducted to the prison. He is surprised by the merriment there as the prisoners drink and carouse, and he attempts to be cheerful himself, too.
Closely connected to Dr. Primrose’s belief in a benevolent, moderating, and reformist constitutional monarchy, both in practice and in principle, is his abhorrence of violence and revolution. Thus, he confronts his parishioners with disgust, refusing to give them credit for their bravery or loyalty to him and instead castigating them for their unlawful, sinful behavior. Though Dr. Primrose firmly believes in the goodness of the law, this does not necessarily imply that those who break the law are evil, as his measured appreciation of his fellow prisoners suggests.
Themes
Talking to another prisoner, who offers Dr. Primrose some of his bedding to make his cell more comfortable, Dr. Primrose is surprised to recognize the prisoner’s quotations about cosmogony. Realizing it is Mr. Jenkinson, Dr. Primrose confronts him but then forgives him and promises to send Moses to convince Flamborough not to testify so harshly against him. They resolve to be friends before they are sent to their cells for the night, where Dr. Primrose sleeps excellently.
Once more, Dr. Primrose’s generosity is repaid in kind. And, once again, the source of his much-needed help is an unexpected old acquaintance: Jenkinson. Dr. Primrose forgives Jenkinson not only because Jenkinson’s selfless act of assisting him, but also because he finds Jenkinson’s remorse to be genuine. Though to Dr. Primrose such moral judgments are most relevant for heaven or hell, he too believes that remorse merits mercy on earth, which is why he promises to convince Flamborough that Jenkinson wants to make amends. Dr. Primrose sleeps very well in the prison because he is confident his actions are just and right.
Themes
