From the Bookshelf of Catching up on Classics (and lots more!)…

The Vicar of Wakefield

Oliver Goldsmith

Start date: August 1, 2022

Finish date: August 31, 2022

Why we're reading this: August 2022 Old School Classic Group Read
[close] August 2022 Old School Classic Group Read

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Aug 11, 2022 Franky rated it liked it

Shelves: satire, classics, 2022-reading-challenge, humor

From what I’ve read and gathered about Oliver Goldsmith’s The Vicar of Wakefield, it was THE book in its time, a book you just had to read. Dickens supposedly took the book to bed with him every night to read, and many other key figures and authors such as Goethe sung its praises.

I get the many allusions of the book of Job as being the basis for our protagonist, and I see the theme of perseverance ringing forth in many of the pitfalls and challenges the befall our Vicar, and I even see some of From what I’ve read and gathered about Oliver Goldsmith’s The Vicar of Wakefield, it was THE book in its time, a book you just had to read. Dickens supposedly took the book to bed with him every night to read, and many other key figures and authors such as Goethe sung its praises.

I get the many allusions of the book of Job as being the basis for our protagonist, and I see the theme of perseverance ringing forth in many of the pitfalls and challenges the befall our Vicar, and I even see some of the “humor” contained within, but yet, The Vicar of Wakefield was a little bit flat and disappointing to me. I think this stems from the fact that it worked neither as a straight up serious read nor a satire. I was having a tough time pinning down what make it just a so-so satire and commentary, but I think it falls on the writing style of Goldsmith, whose prose or style just does not match up with the aforementioned Dickens when it comes to “tongue in cheek” or dry humor. Also, there is way too much in the way of superfluous details that really kill much of the “humor.”

Not so say that there are not a few humorous spots in the book. At many points for our poor leading character and his family, it gets a bit beyond ridiculous truth be told, especially in the book’s second half. It reminded me of one of those plays or films where a character literally pulls of a mask to reveal who they really are and their true intentions (and we have plenty of that here).

And you have to feel for the poor Vicar here. Talk about running into a bad patch in life. Our Mr. Primrose seemingly lives in a world of sinners, schemers, and connivers all out to get him and his family. He has his fortunes stripped from him in the early going from a scammer, and this sets the tone for the entirety of his family’s misfortunes and string of bad luck.

However, I do see the moral ringing forth, as the Vicar is a “mostly” moral and just man who tries to overcome and persevere through it all to see the tide in his luck and fortunes turn. The ending was a cross between perhaps a Shakespearean comedy and a Dickens novel, where all ties are connected, secrets and key revelations known, and with a knowledge that with the final sentence, we can sleep well with the result (at least, I hope so).

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