# Obadiah — The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman character guide > Obadiah in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Obadiah tonight **First appearance:** 0004-book-i ## Snapshot The Shandys' servant, whose errands and coach-horse gallops carry the family's most delicate business with terrible jingling noise. ## Who they are 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. ## Relationships ### [Dr. Slop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/characters/dr_slop) _professional_ Obadiah, the Shandy family servant, is sent to fetch Dr. Slop, leading to a comically antagonistic professional encounter. ### [Uncle Toby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/characters/uncle_toby) _professional_ Obadiah is the Shandy family servant who occasionally assists or interacts with Uncle Toby in domestic matters. ### [Uncle Toby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/characters/uncle_toby) _professional_ Obadiah is the Shandy family servant who occasionally assists or interacts with Uncle Toby in domestic matters. ## In the story ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/vi) Reports that Mrs. Shandy is in labor and is sent to fetch Dr. Slop. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/viii) Ordered to saddle a horse and fetch Dr. Slop; meets Dr. Slop within threescore yards of the stable-yard. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/x) Leads Dr. Slop into the parlour, holding his hand, after the accident. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xi) Sent back on the coach-horse to fetch Dr. Slop's forgotten instruments. ### [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xii) Mentioned as the recipient of a crown-piece from Walter's wager. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xv) Mentioned as being away, with the company waiting for his return. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xviii) Enters jingling with the midwife's instruments in a green bays bag. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/vii) The object of Dr. Slop's anger; rides with the green bays bag containing instruments, causing a loud jingle. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/viii) Ties up Dr. Slop's bag with intricate knots using his hatband, delaying the delivery. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/x) Mentioned as the maker of the tight knots that cause Dr. Slop's difficulty. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xi) The target of the excommunication curse for tying knots. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xvii) Provides pumps to help Dr. Slop move across the room. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xviii) Mentioned as having arrived with Dr. Slop two hours and ten minutes prior. ### [Chapter XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxii) Mentioned as having told Trim that Walter had left off wearing the jackboots. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xiii) Mentioned as leading Dr. Slop into the back parlour. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xvi) Delivers news of Susannah's distress and is sent by Uncle Toby to fetch Corporal Trim. ### [Chapter XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxv) Informs Walter that only the lining of the coach has been brushed out, not the arms. ### [Chapter XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxxi) Walter talks over the whole affair of the Ox-moor with him; Obadiah comments on the land's neglected condition. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/ii) Repeatedly interrupts Walter with questions about horses and yeast, opening and shutting the door multiple times. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/v) Helps the sound by leaving the door a little ajar. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/vi) Left the letter on the table that brought news of Bobby's death, then eavesdropped. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/vii) Announces the death of Master Bobby. ### [The Kitchen Conference on Death and Toby's Kindness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/x) 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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxvi) Receives the story from Jonathan and relays it to Walter Shandy. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxvii) Follows Walter with a large reading-desk. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxvii) Mentioned as part of the family traveling through Europe. ### [Chapter XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/endnotes) Not directly mentioned in these excerpts. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/characters/obadiah - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/characters