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The fireplace in the Primrose family home symbolizes Dr. Primrose’s moral vision of the family and society as mutually informative models of enlightened behavior. The fireplace is where the family gathers after dinner—a ritual Dr. Primrose and his children repeatedly name as the happiest, most peaceful part of their lives. As both the primary site of Dr. Primrose’s benevolent fatherhood and the physical embodiment of familial harmony, the fireplace is key to the parallels the novel draws between the domestic and public spheres, and also to the vision of enlightenment that these models suggest.
On the other hand, Dr. Primrose is far from a traditional authoritarian and patriarchal father. He refuses to exercise absolute power over his wife or children, instead encouraging their diverse interests to help them make their best of their own talents. The fireplace often serves as the setting for this approach to fatherhood, where Dr. Primrose pairs his moral and religious instruction with Olivia and Sophia’s music and with Dick and Bill’s stories. This places Dr. Primrose firmly in the Enlightenment camp regarding views on the family, siding with philosophers such as John Locke who argued for the social and moral benefits of a kinder approach to fatherhood. As a symbol of the healing power of both progressive family values and democratic constitutional monarchy, the Primroses’ fireplace offers a healing answer to the family’s suffering.
The Fireplace Quotes in The Vicar of Wakefield
The The Vicar of Wakefield quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Fireplace. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 6
Quotes
As we expected our landlord the next day, my wife went to make the venison pasty; Moses sate reading, while I taught the little ones: my daughters seemed equally busy with the rest; and I observed them for a good while cooking something over the fire. I at first supposed they were assisting their mother; but little Dick informed me in a whisper, that they were making a wash for the face. Washes of all kinds I had a natural antipathy to; for I knew that instead of mending the complexion they spoiled it. I therefore approached my chair by sly degrees to the fire, and grasping the poker, as if it wanted mending, seemingly by accident, overturned the whole composition, and it was too late to begin another.
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Chapter 28
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I have called off my imagination a few moments from the pleasures that surround me, to fix it upon objects that are still more pleasing, the dear little fire-side at home. My fancy draws that harmless groupe as listening to every line of this with great composure. I view those faces with delight which never felt the deforming hand of ambition or distress! But whatever your happiness may be at home, I am sure it will be some addition to it, to hear that I am perfectly pleased with my situation, and in every way happy here.
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Chapter 32
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As soon as dinner was over, according to my old custom, I requested that the table might be taken away, to have the pleasure of seeing all my family assembled once more by a chearful fire-side. My two little ones sat upon each knee, the rest of the company by their partners. I had nothing now on this side of the grave to wish for, all my cares were over, my pleasure was unspeakable. It now only remained that my gratitude in good fortune should exceed my former submission in adversity.
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The Fireplace Symbol Timeline in The Vicar of Wakefield
The timeline below shows where the symbol The Fireplace appears in The Vicar of Wakefield. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 4
...prayer. After that, they go about their business. In the evening, they gather around the fireplace together, often with guests like their neighbor Flamborough. The Primroses sing and share their famous...
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Chapter 6
...on principle to washes, which he considers vain, Dr. Primrose “accidentally” tips it over into the fire and ruins it.
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Chapter 17
Gathered round the fire , the family discusses the future. Moses sees practical advantages in the marriage, as Williams...
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Chapter 19
...the sufferings of the Primrose family since the happier times they spent together around the fireplace at Wakefield; Miss Wilmot has not married since then and in fact has rejected several...
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Chapter 28
...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.
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Chapter 32
...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...
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