The Wealth of Nations · Character
Great Britain
The nation-state as Smith's central patient, a commercial power whose laws, taxes, and colonial ambitions he diagnoses with clinical precision.
supporting
Also known as its, Its, herself, it
First appearance: introduction and plan of the work
As a supporting figure in The Wealth of Nations, Great Britain is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
Mentioned regarding capital stock not being diminished by the late war.
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Britain is the book's implicit protagonist: a country that has grown rich through commerce yet hobbles itself with monopolies, bounties, and a colonial system designed for merchants rather than for the public. Smith…
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The fuller portrait of Great Britain sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Great Britain in introduction and plan of the workCharacter Web
19 connectionsA slice of how Great Britain sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- Domestic and colonial entities
- English monarchs and economic policy
- Ancient authorities and examples
+14 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This passage marks the story's dramatic climax because it presents the emotional and psychological peak of Smi…
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Follow the arc while readingIn the story
Great Britain appears across 30 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
- IX: Of the Profits of Stock
- V: Of the Different Employment of Capitals
- I: Of the Natural Progress of Opulence
- Of the Rise and Progress of Cities and Towns, After the Fall of the Roman Empire
- II: Of Restraints Upon the Importation from Foreign Countries of Such Goods as Can Be Produced at Home
- Chapter III: Of the Extraordinary Restraints Upon the Importation of Goods of Almost All Kinds, from Those Countries with Which the Balance Is Supposed to Be Disadvantageous
- I: Of the Unreasonableness of Those Restraints Even Upon the Principles of the Commercial System
- II: Of the Unreasonableness of Those Extraordinary Restraints Upon Other Principles
- +22 more
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Great Britain unlock in the free preview.
See Great Britain in introduction and plan of the work