The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman · Chapter
The Eighteenth Chapter explained
Uncle Toby declares his love to Mrs.
What happens
Uncle Toby declares his love to Mrs. Wadman in a blunt, straightforward manner, then falls silent. Mrs. Wadman, expecting more, steers the conversation toward the burdens of marriage and child-rearing, but Toby's simple, pious responses frustrate her.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Marriage
The chapter centers on Toby's declaration of love and Mrs. Wadman's pragmatic concerns about marriage and child-rearing.
The Absurdity of Systems
Walter Shandy's false system about Toby's method of love-making is humorously critiqued, along with the French notion that talking of love makes it.
Characters to notice
- Uncle Toby
Declares his love to Mrs. Wadman with awkward brevity, then remains silent, leaving her to guide the conversation.
- Mrs. Wadman
Receives Toby's declaration, then attempts to engage him in a discussion about the hardships of marriage and motherhood.
- Bridget
Opens the door for the corporal, setting the scene for Toby's entrance.
- Corporal Trim
Raps at the door, announcing Toby's arrival.
- Walter Shandy
Mentioned as being in raptures with Toby's system of declaring love, though Toby never understood his meaning.
Key passages
“he was in love”
Toby bluntly told Mrs. Wadman that he loved her.
Toby's declaration is direct and unadorned, causing him to strain himself.
“That talking of love, is making it.”
The French believe that merely speaking about love brings it into being.
The narrator dismisses this belief as absurd, comparing it to making a black-pudding by recipe.
“They are written, quoth my uncle Toby , in the Common-Prayer Book.”
Toby replies that the reasons for marriage are found in the prayer book.
Toby's answer is simple and religious, avoiding deeper discussion.