# Chapter VII 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

This chapter introduces a midwife living in the same village as Tristram's parents. She is a widow who, with the help of the parson and his wife, is trained and licensed to practice midwifery. The parson pays for her license, which is drafted by Didius with a peculiar amendment. The chapter concludes with a reflection on hobbyhorses and the harmless pursuits of great men.

## Themes in this chapter

### Obsession and Hobbyhorses

The chapter concludes with a defense of hobbyhorses, citing examples like Dr. Kunastrokius combing asses' tails, and emphasizing the harmless nature of personal obsessions.

### The Absurdity of Systems

Didius's 'dainty amendment' to the midwife's license and the elaborate description of the licensing process highlight the absurdity of systematic formalities.

## Character check-ins

### Didius

Devises a neat formula for the midwife's license, inserting his own amendment.

### Hafen Slawkenbergius

Mentioned indirectly via the reference to Dr. Kunastrokius, a figure associated with hobbyhorses.

## Key lines

> she had been left, it seems, a widow in great distress, with three or four small children, in her forty-seventh year

She became a widow at 47, struggling to raise three or four young children.

_Establishes the midwife's backstory and her need for support._

> the parson join'd his interest with his wife's in the whole affair; and in order to do things as they should be, and give the poor soul as good a title by law to practise, as his wife had given by institution,—he cheerfully paid the fees for the ordinary's licence himself

The parson supported his wife's plan by paying for the midwife's official license, ensuring she had both practical training and legal authority.

_Highlights the collaboration between the parson and his wife to establish the midwife._

> so long as a man rides his Hobbyhorse peaceably and quietly along the King's highway, and neither compels you or me to get up behind him,—pray, Sir, what have either you or I to do with it?

As long as someone pursues their harmless obsession without forcing others to join, it is no one else's concern.

_A key statement on the theme of hobbyhorses, advocating for tolerance of personal quirks._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/vii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tristram_shandy_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters