The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman · Chapter
Chapter XXIII explained
Tristram playfully speculates on the impossibility of truly knowing a person's character, rejecting various absurd methods of character analysis before declaring he will draw Uncle Toby's character from his hobbyhorse.
What happens
Tristram playfully speculates on the impossibility of truly knowing a person's character, rejecting various absurd methods of character analysis before declaring he will draw Uncle Toby's character from his hobbyhorse.
Themes in this chapter
Obsession and Hobbyhorses
Tristram resolves to draw Uncle Toby's character from his hobbyhorse, highlighting the centrality of personal obsessions to identity.
Knowledge and Philosophy
The chapter satirizes various philosophical and pseudo-scientific methods of knowing a person's character.
Characters to notice
- Tristram Shandy
Narrator who muses on the difficulty of character depiction and vows to portray Uncle Toby via his hobbyhorse.
- Uncle Toby
Subject of Tristram's promised character sketch, to be drawn from his hobbyhorse.
Key passages
“I will draw my uncle Toby's character from his Hobbyhorse.”
I will depict Uncle Toby's personality through his favorite pastime or obsession.
Tristram's method for character portrayal.
“our minds shine not through the body, but are wrapt up here in a dark covering of uncrystalized flesh and blood”
Our inner thoughts are hidden by our opaque physical bodies.
Tristram's reflection on the opacity of human nature.