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Chapter 31
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
The next morning George wakes up Dr. Primrose to tell him that the merchant who stole their family fortune was arrested in Antwerp, with enough money to compensate the creditors he defrauded. Sir William then enters and tells Dr. Primrose he has procured marriage licenses and asks him to officiate the marriages. The light-hearted atmosphere amongst the company frustrates Dr. Primrose, who sees marriage as a ceremony to be taken seriously. Eventually, however, the marriages are performed, first Sir William and Sophia, and then George and Miss Wilmot. Flamborough and his family attend the party afterward, and his daughters pair off with Jenkinson and Moses. The parishioners who attempted to free Dr. Primrose come too, and when Sir William is told the story he also harshly rebukes them, but then gives them all money to drink and celebrate too.
The cycle of redemption comes full circle: George and Miss Wilmot are married, and the Primrose family gets their fortune back. In officiating the marriages of his son and daughter, Dr. Primrose closes this chapter of his life. And the novel hints at happy futures for Moses and Jenkinson. Even Dr. Primrose’s rebellious parishioners are both forgiven and invited to celebrate. For the Primrose family, the wedding is not only closure, but a reunion with their community after many trials and tribulations.
Themes
Squire Thornhill moves to a relative’s home, where he practices playing the French horn. Olivia holds out hope that he may reform himself, at which point she would allow him to live with her. Back at the wedding party, the whole group sits down to eat and celebrate, joking and laughing throughout. Afterward, Dr. Primrose requests that they once again all sit by the fireplace, and he reflects on his happiness; the task now, he tells himself, is to ensure that he is as grateful for his good fortune as he was patient with his previous sufferings.
The Squire, despite all his villainy, is forgiven for his past iniquities, and both Olivia and Dr. Primrose hold out hope that he too will redeem himself. Ultimately, however, the Primroses cannot be responsible for the Squire’s moral choices and must return to their own simple way of life. In their travels, they have seen and experienced many things, and Dr. Primrose hopes they will heed the lessons their hardships have taught them and continue to live with gratitude, humility, and moral generosity.
Themes
Literary Devices
