The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman · Character

Obadiah

The Shandys' servant, whose errands and coach-horse gallops carry the family's most delicate business with terrible jingling noise.

supporting

Also known as Obadiah tonight

First appearance: book i

As a supporting figure in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, Obadiah is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

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Obadiah ferries the household's urgent commissions, from midwife to man-midwife, with a bag of instruments that clatters like an alarm. He has a wife and three children and one private grievance: at full gallop he cannot hear himself whistle. His blundering errands repeatedly detonate the family's best-laid plans, making him the accidental agent of the disasters Walter spends chapters trying to theorize away.

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The fuller portrait of Obadiah sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Obadiah in book i

Character Web

18 connections

A slice of how Obadiah sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Professional
Other

Character groups

Shandy Household Core
Narrative and Historical Figures
Wide Cast of Digressions
Protagonist

+13 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This passage is the dramatic climax because it depicts the precise moment the corporal’s long-standing resista…

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Relationships

Dr. Slop
professional · negative
Obadiah, the Shandy family servant, is sent to fetch Dr. How this plays out →
Uncle Toby
professional · ambivalent
Uncle Toby
professional · ambivalent

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Obadiah in book i

In the story

Obadiah appears across 30 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter VI
Reports that Mrs. Shandy is in labor and is sent to fetch Dr. Slop.
Chapter VIII
Ordered to saddle a horse and fetch Dr. Slop; meets Dr. Slop within threescore yards of the stable-yard.
Chapter IX
Rides a strong coach-horse at full gallop, turns a corner and collides with Dr. Slop; he circles three times before stopping.
Chapter X
Leads Dr. Slop into the parlour, holding his hand, after the accident.
Chapter XI
Sent back on the coach-horse to fetch Dr. Slop's forgotten instruments.
Chapter XII
Mentioned as the recipient of a crown-piece from Walter's wager.
Chapter XV
Mentioned as being away, with the company waiting for his return.
Chapter XVIII
Enters jingling with the midwife's instruments in a green bays bag.
Chapter VII
The object of Dr. Slop's anger; rides with the green bays bag containing instruments, causing a loud jingle.
Chapter VIII
Ties up Dr. Slop's bag with intricate knots using his hatband, delaying the delivery.
Chapter X
Mentioned as the maker of the tight knots that cause Dr. Slop's difficulty.
Chapter XI
The target of the excommunication curse for tying knots.
Chapter XVII
Provides pumps to help Dr. Slop move across the room.
Chapter XVIII
Mentioned as having arrived with Dr. Slop two hours and ten minutes prior.
Chapter XXII
Mentioned as having told Trim that Walter had left off wearing the jackboots.
Chapter XIII
Mentioned as leading Dr. Slop into the back parlour.
Chapter XVI
Delivers news of Susannah's distress and is sent by Uncle Toby to fetch Corporal Trim.
Chapter XXV
Informs Walter that only the lining of the coach has been brushed out, not the arms.
Chapter XXXI
Walter talks over the whole affair of the Ox-moor with him; Obadiah comments on the land's neglected condition.
II
Repeatedly interrupts Walter with questions about horses and yeast, opening and shutting the door multiple times.
Chapter III
Mentioned as the servant responsible for a mismanaged horse breeding that resulted in a mule; escapes Walter's anger due to a witty repartee.
V
Helps the sound by leaving the door a little ajar.
Chapter VI
Left the letter on the table that brought news of Bobby's death, then eavesdropped.
Chapter VII
Announces the death of Master Bobby.
The Kitchen Conference on Death and Toby's Kindness
Contrasts Trim's view of death in the field with its frightfulness in a house, and praises Uncle Toby as a kindly-hearted gentleman.
Chapter XXVI
Receives the story from Jonathan and relays it to Walter Shandy.
Chapter XXVII
Follows Walter with a large reading-desk.
Chapter XXVII
Mentioned as part of the family traveling through Europe.
Chapter XXXIII
Bursts into the room with a complaint about the bull failing to service his cow, and reports that his newborn child is hairy.
Endnotes
Not directly mentioned in these excerpts.

Chapter companion notes

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See Obadiah in book i