“The Vicar of Wakefield” by Oliver Goldsmith is a two-hundred and fifty year old book that used to be required reading for all English students. Since my mother was in school over sixty years ago, it has fallen into disuse behind such works as “1984” and “Lord of the Flies”, whose value is unquestioned among teachers today, but in the face of the economic trouble that looms on the horizon I think it would be valuable to take a look at the old Vicar and what he has to tell us.
In this story, the Vicar of Wakefield is a happy, successful man with an average family who is preparing for the marriage of their eldest son to the daughter of another well-to-do neighboring minister. Just prior to the wedding, the Vicar's family learns that their agent, whom they trusted, has run off with all their inheritance and they are left penniless. The Vicar decides to take a job in a smaller more humble community where his family learns to scale down their expenses.
The unfortunate son who was to be wed, now finds that the bride's family is unwilling to approve the match due to the indigent circumstances of the groom's family so he decides to leave home to try and support himself and make his own fortune. The family at home begins to live relatively peacefully until their dishonest, wealthy neighbor begins to court their eldest daughter. Among other things, the family endures the burning down of their home, the illness of their father, the eldest daughter eloping with the philandering wealthy neighbor, the second daughter falling in love with a vagrant, the father being sent to prison because he is too ill to work to pay his debts, and the eldest son having no success in his work abroad.
All seems lost and indeed it would have been had not the vagrant turned out to be their wealthy neighbor and the philandering scoundrel his nephew. All ends right and the Vicar's faith is justified. Finally, peace is restored, as well as the family's lost fortune.
But it is not just the story that makes this book great. Throughout the book you begin to see that Oliver Goldsmith understood people and life. He offers sound wisdom in the face of the most trying circumstances. Precious indeed in these times of uncertainty.
Among others, this little story is told in the book that illustrates both the humor and the wisdom of Mr. Goldsmith: “Once upon a time, a Giant and a Dwarf were friends. They made a bargain that they would never forsake each other, but go seek adventures. The first battle they fought was with two Saracens, and the Dwarf, who was very courageous, dealt one of the champions a most angry blow. It did the Saracen but very little injury, who lifting up his sword, fairly struck off the poor Dwarf's arm. He was now in a woeful plight; but the Giant coming to his assistance in a short time left the two Saracens dead on the plain.
They then traveled on to another adventure. This was against three bloody-minded Satyrs who were carrying away a damsel in distress. The Dwarf was not quite so fierce now as before, but for all that struck the first blow, which was returned by another that knocked out his eye; but the Giant was soon up with them, and had they not fled, would certainly have killed them every one. They were all very joyful for this victory, and the damsel who was relieved fell in love with the Giant and married him. They now traveled far, till they met with a company of robbers. The Giant, for the first time, was foremost now, but the Dwarf was not far behind. The battle was stout and long. Wherever the Giant came all fell before him; but the Dwarf had like to have been killed more than once. At last the victory declared for the two adventurers; but the Dwarf lost his leg. The Dwarf was now without an arm, a leg and an eye, while the Giant, who was without a single wound, cried out to him, 'Come on my little hero, this is glorious sport; let us get one victory more, and then we shall have honor forever.' -- 'No,' cries the Dwarf, who was by this time grown wiser, 'I'll fight no more; for I find in every battle that you get all the honor and rewards, but all the blows fall upon me.'”
It seems to me that there is a Giant at work today, looking for fights, gaining all the rewards and leaving a Dwarf wounded and bleeding in the battle-field. When will they ever learn?
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