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The Vicar of Wakefield · Theme

Love and Marriage

How The Vicar of Wakefield develops Love and Marriage.

Marriage is portrayed both as a sacred duty and a practical arrangement, with the Vicar advocating for monogamy and moral unions, while his daughters navigate courtship, seduction, and the tension between love and financial security.

Where it surfaces

  • The Vicar of Wakefield

    The chapter discusses the Vicar's principles on marriage, including his opposition to marrying for wealth.

  • Chapter VIII

    Sophia's preference for the impoverished Mr. Burchell over the wealthier chaplain highlights the tension between romantic inclination and practical matrimonial prospects.

  • The Family Use Art, Which Is Opposed with Still Greater

    Marriage is treated as a strategic arrangement, with Olivia's hand being bartered between suitors based on wealth and social advantage.

  • Chapter XVII

    Olivia's romantic entanglement with Thornhill versus her father's insistence on a prudent match with Williams highlights the tension between passion and practical marriage.