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Chapter 27
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
Olivia visits Dr. Primrose for the first time since his imprisonment and is noticeably unhappy and unhealthy looking. While he urges her to be happy and trust in a better future, she asks him to submit to Squire Thornhill’s demands in the hope that he will show pity. Dr. Primrose refuses, saying he will never allow such an insult to her honor to stand. After Olivia leaves, Jenkinson presses her cause, asking Dr. Primrose if he thinks it is right to sacrifice his family’s wellbeing for Olivia’s honor or to obstruct the Squire and Miss Wilmot’s marriage. Dr. Primrose again rebuffs these arguments, as he does not believe the Squire will be inclined to spare him and could not bring himself to approve of the Squire’s adultery regardless. Jenkinson agrees but points out that Olivia is wasting away; he suggests Dr. Primrose petition Sir William Thornhill.
Dr. Primrose, attempting to defend his daughter’s honor, now fails to live up to his own principles, refusing to humbly accept the Squire’s marriage to Miss Wilmot, which he can only obstruct anyway, not prevent. Though Dr. Primrose may be right that the Squire will not forgive him if he submits, his refusal to make the attempt is based not on reasoning but on his sense of pride. The attempt to petition Sir William, despite his reputation for being just, seems doomed to failure given the failure of George’s earlier petitions.
Themes
Dr. Primrose anxiously awaits an answer from Sir William, but none arrives, and he soon begins to lose hope. His health begins to decline; Olivia’s declines even faster, however, and Jenkinson soon tells Dr. Primrose that she has died. Dick and Bill attempt to comfort their father, assuring him that Olivia is happier in heaven now. Jenkinson presses the case that Dr. Primrose should make peace with the Squire to protect the rest of the family. Dr. Primrose consents to this plan, feeling he has no pride left, and Jenkinson writes a letter on Dr. Primrose’s behalf approving of the Squire’s marriage to Miss Wilmot. Moses carries the letter to the Squire, who tells him that Dr. Primrose’s submission comes too late; the Squire heard of the Primroses’ petition to his uncle, who rejected it without a reply, and that any future letters should be sent to his attorney.
Olivia’s death is the last straw for Dr. Primrose, who now has no reason to cling to his pride. It is unclear if his willingness to submit to the Squire comes too late, or if the Squire always intended to keep him imprisoned. The rejection of the family’s petition to Sir William, too, leaves them utterly without hope.
Themes
Just as Dr. Primrose has accepted his fate, Mrs. Primrose tells him that Sophia has been kidnapped by two well-dressed men in a post chaise. Neither of the men is Squire Thornhill. As Dr. Primrose despairs, Moses attempts to comfort him by showing him a letter from George, who is happy and successful in the army. A letter Mrs. Primrose sent to him must have luckily miscarried, as she asked him to seek avenge his family against the Squire. Dr. Primrose scolds her angrily but praises their luck. In the letter, George fondly reminisces about their fireplace at Wakefield and expresses sadness at not hearing from his family for some time.
While Dr. Primrose is capable of submitting to his own fate, the abduction of Sophia, too, is more of a disgrace than he can bear, as he is now truly powerless to help his family. The family takes comfort in George’s letter—so much comfort that Dr. Primrose is able to forgive his wife’s incredibly unwise decision to ask George to duel the Squire—the most affecting aspect of which is not George’s career achievements, but the simple pleasures of familial love he still professes.
Themes
Just as the Primroses rejoice, George is brought to the prison wounded and in fetters. He did receive his mother’s letter after all and attempted to duel the Squire, who sent four servants to fight George instead, one of whom George severely wounded. George is clearly legally in the wrong and will be punished, perhaps even with the death penalty. To comfort his son, Dr. Primrose leads his family and the prisoners in prayer.
George, chained around the ankles, is now guilty for the second time of dueling. Though the Squire’s decision to send four surrogates is hardly honorable, as the aggressor George is at fault, especially as he wounded one of the men. All that is left now for Dr. Primrose is his faith, hence his turn to prayer.
Themes
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