The Adventurous Simplicissimus · Chapter
XVI: Of Oliver’s Descent, and How He Behaved in His Youth, and Specially at School explained
Oliver recounts his father's rise from poverty to wealth through service to a copper merchant, his marriage to the merchant's daughter, and his own spoiled upbringing.
What happens
Oliver recounts his father's rise from poverty to wealth through service to a copper merchant, his marriage to the merchant's daughter, and his own spoiled upbringing. He describes his early roguery, lack of discipline, and mischievous behavior at school, where he tormented the master and played cruel tricks on classmates.
Themes in this chapter
Folly and Wisdom
Oliver's parents' foolish indulgence and lack of discipline lead to his moral corruption, contrasting with the wisdom of proper upbringing.
Deception and Appearance
Oliver's sly tricks at school, such as stealing and framing others, highlight the theme of deception and false appearances.
Characters to notice
- Oliver
Oliver narrates his own youth, detailing his descent, spoiled upbringing, and early acts of mischief and cruelty.
Key passages
“My father was born not far from Aachen town of poor parents, for which reason he must in his youth take service with a rich trader that dealt in copper wares: and there did he carry himself so well that his master had him taught to write, read, and reckon, and set him over his whole household as did Potiphar Joseph.”
Oliver's father, born poor near Aachen, served a copper merchant so diligently that the merchant taught him literacy and arithmetic and made him head of the household, like Joseph under Potiphar.
Oliver begins his story with his father's humble origins and rise through service.
“So before I reached my seventh year I had given good proof of what I was to be, for the nettle that is to be stings early: no roguery was too bad for me, and where I could play any man a trick I failed not to do so, for neither father nor mother punished me for it.”
By age seven, Oliver had already shown his future character, committing every kind of mischief without punishment from his indulgent parents.
Oliver describes his early lack of discipline and his parents' failure to correct him.
“In summer would I catch crickets and bring them secretly into the schoolroom, where they did play a merry tune. In winter would I steal snuff and scatter it in that place where 'tis the custom to whip the boys.”
In summer, Oliver caught crickets and released them in class to cause noise; in winter, he stole snuff and spread it where boys were whipped, making everyone sneeze.
Oliver recounts specific pranks he played at school to disrupt lessons.