# The Eighteenth Chapter explained — The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

> Chapter companion for The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/the-eighteenth-chapter
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tristram_shandy_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters