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Chapter 6
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 Primroses go to great lengths to entertain Squire Thornhill, who brings a large party of his chaplain, his friends, and his servants. Mrs. Primrose insists on entertaining them, though the family can hardly afford to do so. The Primroses are less than enthusiastic, as the night before Mr. Burchell implied he would be marrying Miss Wilmot; trying to cheer them up, Squire Thornhill mocks her, calling her ugly. The Squire then affirms his preference for worldly pleasures over religion. He and Moses then get into an elaborate but largely empty argument full of big words and circular logic. Olivia is charmed, nevertheless.
The gulf between the Primroses’ lifestyle and the Squire’s is further emphasized by the contrast between their family and his large party of retainers, which plays the role of a cheap surrogate family that is tied together by wealth rather than love. The Squire’s ridiculous debate with Moses cements this contrast. Though the Squire says practically nothing meaningful whatsoever, he is able to fluster and outwit Moses with his social charms.
Themes
After the Squire leaves the family argues about his character. Mrs. Primrose makes clear her intention to pair the Squire and Olivia. Dr. Primrose does not approve of such a free thinker, but his family find his judgment too harsh, pointing out they know many free thinkers who are good men.
The difficulties of engaging with the world through Dr. Primrose’s strict moralistic vision are on full display here, as his family turns his own doctrine of forgiveness against him even though, as the reader will see, he is ultimately correct to judge Squire Thornhill.
Themes
