# XIV explained — The Vicar of Wakefield

> Chapter companion for The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith.

## What happens

Dr. Primrose goes to the fair to sell his horse to raise money for his daughters' trip to London, but after a series of failed bids, he meets a seemingly learned old man who buys the horse with a draft on a neighbor. Returning home, he discovers the man is the same rogue who sold Moses the green spectacles, and that his daughters' journey to town has been canceled due to malicious rumors.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance

Dr. Primrose is deceived by Mr. Jenkinson's venerable appearance and learned talk, highlighting the theme of appearances masking reality.

### Social Class and Wealth

The family's need to sell their horse to fund the daughters' trip underscores their reduced financial circumstances and social aspirations.

## Character check-ins

### Dr. Primrose

The narrator goes to the fair to sell his horse, meets a stranger, and is duped into accepting a draft from the rogue Jenkinson.

### Mr. Jenkinson

Disguised as a venerable old man, he buys the horse with a draft and is later revealed to be the same rogue who sold the green spectacles.

### Solomon Flamborough

Neighbor who identifies Jenkinson as a rascal and reveals the draft is worthless.

### Mr. Thornhill

Visits the family to inform them that the daughters' journey to London is canceled due to malicious reports.

### Olivia Primrose

One of the daughters whose planned trip to London is canceled, leaving her in tears.

### Sophia Primrose

One of the daughters whose planned trip to London is canceled, leaving her in tears.

## Key lines

> The opinion a man forms of his own prudence is measured by that of the company he keeps, and as mine was mostly in the family way, I had conceived no unfavourable sentiments of my worldly wisdom.

A person's confidence in their own good judgment depends on the people they associate with; since I mostly kept company with my family, I thought myself quite shrewd in practical matters.

_Dr. Primrose reflects on his naivety in worldly affairs._

> I never in my life saw a figure that prepossessed me more favourably. His locks of silver grey venerably shaded his temples, and his green old age seemed to be the result of health and benevolence.

I had never seen anyone who made such a positive first impression on me. His silver-gray hair gave him a dignified look, and his vigorous old age appeared to come from good health and kindness.

_Dr. Primrose is favorably impressed by the stranger's appearance, which later proves deceptive._

> This is the very same rogue who sold us the spectacles. Was he not a venerable looking man, with grey hair, and no flaps to his pocket-holes? And did he not talk a long string of learning about Greek and cosmogony, and the world?

This is the same swindler who sold us the green spectacles. Wasn't he a respectable-looking old man with gray hair and no pocket flaps? And didn't he ramble on about Greek and the creation of the world?

_Solomon Flamborough identifies the stranger as the rogue who previously cheated Moses._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_wakefield_se/chapters/xiv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_wakefield_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_wakefield_se/chapters