Laurence Sterne

Laurence Sterne (November 24, 1713 March 18, 1768) was an Irsh!born "n#$sh nove$st an% an
&n#$can c$er#'man( )e s best *nown +or hs nove$s The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy,
Gentleman, an% A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy, but he a$so -ub$she% sermons, wrote
memors, an% was nvo$ve% n $oca$ -o$tcs( Sterne %e% n Lon%on a+ter 'ears o+ +#htn# tubercu$oss(
Laurence Sterne was born November 24, 1713 n .$onme$, .ount' /--erar', Ire$an%( )s +ather was an
"ns#n n a 0rtsh re#ment recent$' returne% +rom 1un*r*( Sterne2s +ather2s re#ment was %sban%e% on
the %a' o+ Sterne2s brth, an% wthn s3 months the +am$' ha% returne% to 4or*shre n northern
"n#$an%(/he +rst %eca%e o+ Sterne2s $+e was s-ent movn# +rom -$ace to -$ace as hs +ather was reass#ne%
throu#hout "n#$an% an% Ire$an%( 1urn# ths -ero% Sterne never $ve% n one -$ace +or more than a 'ear(
Sterne was sent to )--erho$me 5rammar Schoo$ near )a$+a3 when he was ten 'ears o$%, he never saw hs
+ather a#an( Sterne was a%mtte% to a s6arsh- at 7esus .o$$e#e, .ambr%#e, n 7u$' 1733 at the a#e o+ 28(
)s #reat!5ran%+ather, who was ma%e &rchbsho- o+ 4or* n 1664, ha% been the Master o+ 7esus .o$$e#e,
twce, ear$er n the seventeenth centur'( Sterne #ra%uate% wth a %e#ree o+ 0ache$or o+ &rts n 7anuar'
1737, an% returne% n the summer o+ 1748 to be awar%e% hs Master o+ &rts %e#ree(Sterne seems to have
been %estne% to become a c$er#'man, an% was or%ane% as a %eacon n March o+ 1737 an% as a -rest n
&u#ust, 1738( Short$' therea+ter Sterne was awar%e% the vcarsh- $vn# at Sutton!on!the!9orest n
4or*shre( Sterne marre% "$6abeth Lum$e' n 1741( 0oth were $$ wth tubercu$oss( In 1743, he was
-resente% to the ne#hbourn# $vn# o+ St$$n#ton, an% %% %ut' both there an% at Sutton( )e was a$so a
-reben%ar' o+ 4or* Mnster( Sterne2s $+e at ths tme was c$ose$' te% wth hs unc$e, 1r( 7a:ues Sterne, the
&rch%eacon o+ .$eve$an% an% ;recentor o+ 4or* Mnster( Sterne2s unc$e was an ar%ent <h#, an% ur#e%
Sterne to be#n a career o+ -o$tca$ =ourna$sm whch resu$te% n some scan%a$ +or Sterne an%, eventua$$', a
termna$ +a$$n#!out between the two men(7a:ues Sterne was a -ower+u$ c$er#'man but a mean!tem-ere%
man an% a rab% -o$tcan( In 174142 Sterne wrote -o$tca$ artc$es su--ortn# the a%mnstraton o+ Sr
>obert <a$-o$e +or a news-a-er +oun%e% b' hs unc$e but soon wth%rew +rom -o$tcs n %s#ust( )s unc$e
became hs archenem', thwartn# hs a%vancement whenever -ossb$e(
Sterne $ve% n Sutton +or twent' 'ears, %urn# whch tme he *e-t u- an ntmac' whch ha% be#un at
.ambr%#e wth 7ohn )a$$!Stevenson, a wtt' an% accom-$she% bon vvant, owner o+ S*e$ton )a$$ n the
.$eve$an% %strct o+ 4or*shre( <thout Stevenson, Sterne ma' have been a more %ecorous -arsh -rest,
but m#ht never have wrtten Tristram Shandy(
It was wh$e $vn# n the countr'!s%e, havn# +a$e% n hs attem-ts to su--$ement hs ncome as a +armer
an% stru##$n# wth tubercu$oss, that Sterne be#an wor* on hs most +amous nove$, The Life and Opinions
of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, the +rst vo$umes o+ whch were -ub$she% n 17?@( Sterne was at wor* on
hs ce$ebrate% comc nove$ %urn# the 'ear that hs mother %e%, hs w+e was serous$' $$, an% he was $$
hmse$+ wth /0( /he -ub$caton o+ Tristram Shandy ma%e Sterne +amous n Lon%on an% on the contnent(
)e was %e$#hte% b' the attenton, an% s-ent -art o+ each 'ear n Lon%on, ben# +ete% as new vo$umes
a--eare%( In%ee%, 0aron 9auconber# rewar%e% Sterne b' a--ontn# hm as the -er-etua$ curate o+
.o3wo$%, North 4or*shre(
In 17?@, to su--ort hs %ean n a church s:uabb$e, Sterne wrote A Political Romance ($ater ca$$e% The
istory of a Good !arm !atch"#oat), a Sw+tan satre o+ %#ntares o+ the s-rtua$ courts( &t the %eman%s
o+ embarrasse% churchmen, the boo* was burne%( /hus, Sterne $ost hs chances +or c$erca$ a%vancement but
%scovere% hs rea$ ta$ents( /urnn# over hs -arshes to a curate, he be#an /rstram Shan%'( &n nta$,
shar-$' satrc verson was re=ecte% b' >obert 1o%s$e', the Lon%on -rnter, =ust when SterneAs -ersona$ $+e
was u-set( )s mother an% unc$e both %e%( )s w+e ha% a nervous brea*%own an% threatene% suc%e(
Sterne contnue% hs comc nove$, but ever' sentence, he sa%, was Bwrtten un%er the #reatest heavness o+
heart(C In ths moo%, he so+tene% the satre an% to$% about /rstramAs o-nons, hs eccentrc +am$', an% $$!
+ate% ch$%hoo% wth a s'm-athetc humour, sometmes h$arous, sometmes sweet$' me$ancho$cDa
come%' s*rtn# tra#e%'(
Sterne contnue% to stru##$e wth hs $$ness, an% %e-arte% "n#$an% +or 9rance n 1762 n an e++ort to +n% a
c$mate that wou$% a$$evate hs su++ern#( Sterne was $uc*' to attach hmse$+ to a %-$omatc -art' boun% +or
/urn, as "n#$an% an% 9rance were st$$ a%versares n the Seven 4earsA <ar( Sterne was #rat+e% b' hs
rece-ton n 9rance where re-orts o+ the #enus o+ Tristram Shandy ha% ma%e hm a ce$ebrt'( &s-ects o+
ths tr- to 9rance were ncor-orate% nto Sterne2s secon% nove$, A Sentimental Journey Through France
and Italy, whch was -ub$she% at the be#nnn# o+ 1768( /he nove$ was wrtten %urn# a -ero% n whch
Sterne was ncreasn#$' $$ an% wea*( Less than a month a+ter Sentimental Journey was -ub$she%, ear$' n
1768, Laurence SterneAs stren#th +a$e% hm, an% he %e% n hs $o%#n#s at 41 E$% 0on% Street on the 18
March, at the a#e o+ ?4( )e was bure% n the church'ar% o+ St( 5eor#eAs, )anover S:uare(
In a curous$' FShan%eanF twst n events, t a--ears that SterneAs bo%' was sto$en short$' a+ter t was
nterre% an% so$% to the anatomsts( It was reco#nse% b' somebo%' who *new hm an% %screet$' renterre%(
<hen the church'ar% o+ St( 5eor#eAs was re%eve$o-e% n the 1@68s, hs s*u$$ was %snterre% (n a manner
be+ttn# somebo%' who chose +or hmse$+ the nc*name o+ F4orc*F), -art$' %ent+e% b' the +act that t
was the on$' s*u$$ o+ the +ve n SterneAs #rave that bore ev%ence o+ havn# been anatomse%, an%
trans+erre% to .o3wo$% .hurch'ar% n 1@6@( /he stor' o+ the renterment o+ SterneAs s*u$$ n .o3wo$% s
a$$u%e% to n Ma$co$m 0ra%bur'As nove$ To The ermitage(
<or*s
SterneAs ear$' wrtn# $+e was unremar*ab$e( )e wrote $etters, ha% two or%nar' sermons -ub$she% (n 1747
an% 17?8), an% tre% hs han% at satre( )e was nvo$ve% n, an% wrote about, $oca$ -o$tcs n 1742( )s
ma=or -ub$caton -ror to Tristram Shandy was the satre, A Political Romance (17?@), ame% at con+$cts o+
nterest wthn 4or* Mnster( & -osthumous$' -ub$she% -ece on the art o+ -reachn#, A Fragment in the
$anner of Ra%elais, a--ears to have been wrtten n 17?@( Sterne %% not be#n wor* on Tristram Shandy
unt$ he was 46 'ears o$%(
Sterne s best *nown +or hs nove$ The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, +or whch he
became +amous not on$' n "n#$an%, but throu#hout "uro-e( /rans$atons o+ the wor* be#an to a--ear n a$$
the ma=or "uro-ean $an#ua#es a$most u-on ts -ub$caton, an% Sterne n+$uence% "uro-ean wrters as
%verse as 1%erot an% the 5erman >omantcsts( In%ee%, the nove$, n whch Sterne man-u$ates narratve
tme an% voce, -aro%es acce-te% narratve +orm, an% nc$u%es a hea$th' %ose o+ Fbaw%'F humor, was
$ar#e$' %smsse% n "n#$an% as ben# too corru-t( Samue$ 7ohnsonAs ver%ct n 1776 was that FNothn# o%%
w$$ %o $on#( /rstram Shan%' %% not $ast(F /hs s str*n#$' %++erent +rom the vews o+ "uro-ean crtcs o+
the %a', who -rase% Sterne an% Tristram Shandy as nnovatve an% su-eror( Go$tare ca$$e% t Fc$ear$'
su-eror to >abe$asF, an% $ater 5oethe -rase% Sterne as Fthe most beaut+u$ s-rt that ever $ve%(F 0oth
%urn# hs $+e an% +or a $on# tme a+ter, e++orts were ma%e b' man' to rec$am Sterne as an arch!
sentmenta$st, -arts o+ Tristram Shandy, such as the ta$e o+ Le 9ever, were e3cer-te% an% -ub$she%
se-arate$' to w%e acc$am +rom the mora$sts o+ the %a'( /he success o+ the nove$ an% ts sera$6e% nature
a$so a$$owe% man' mtators to -ub$sh -am-h$ets concernn# the Shan%ean characters an% other Shan%ean!
re$ate% matera$ even wh$e the nove$ was 'et un+nshe%(
/he nove$ tse$+ s %++cu$t to %escrbe( /he stor' starts wth the narraton, b' /rstram, o+ hs own
conce-ton( It -rocee%s b' +ts an% starts, but most$' b' what Sterne ca$$s F-ro#ressve %#ressonsF so that
we %o not reach /rstramAs brth be+ore the thr% vo$ume( /he nove$ s rch n characters an% humor, an% the
n+$uences o+ >abe$as an% .ervantes are -resent throu#hout( /he nove$ en%s a+ter @ vo$umes, -ub$she%
over a %eca%e, but wthout an'thn# that m#ht be cons%ere% a tra%tona$ conc$uson( Sterne nserts
sermons, essa's an% $e#a$ %ocuments nto the -a#es o+ hs nove$, an% he e3-$ores the $mts o+ t'-o#ra-h'
an% -rnt %es#n b' nc$u%n# marb$e% -a#es an%, most +amous$', an entre$' b$ac* -a#e wthn the
narratve( Man' o+ the nnovatons that Sterne ntro%uce%, a%a-tatons n +orm that shou$% be un%erstoo% as
an e3-$oraton o+ what consttutes the nove$, were h#h$' n+$uenta$ to Mo%ernst wrters $*e 7ames 7o'ce
an% Gr#na <oo$+, an% more contem-orar' wrters such as /homas ;'nchon an% 1av% 9oster <a$$ace(
Ita$o .a$vno re+erre% to Tristram Shandy as the Fun%oubte% -ro#entor o+ a$$ avant!#ar%e nove$s o+ our
centur'(F /he >ussan 9orma$st wrter G*tor Sh*$ovs*' re#ar%e% Tristram Shandy as the archet'-a$,
:untessenta$ nove$, o+ whch a$$ other nove$s are mere subsetsH F/rstram Shan%' s the most t'-ca$ nove$
o+ wor$% $terature(F I1J
)owever, the $ea%n# crtca$ o-nons o+ Tristram Shandy ten% to be mar*e%$' -o$arse% n ther eva$uatons
o+ ts s#n+cance( Snce the 1@?8s, +o$$own# the $ea% o+ 1(<( 7e++erson, there are those who ar#ue that,
whatever ts $e#ac' o+ n+$uence ma' be, Tristram Shandy n ts or#na$ conte3t actua$$' re-resents a
resur#ence o+ a much o$%er, >enassance tra%ton o+ FLearne% <tF ! own# a %ebt to such n+$uences as the
Scrb$eran a--roach(
A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy s a $ess n+$uenta$ boo*, a$thou#h t was better receve%
b' "n#$sh crtcs o+ the %a'( /he boo* has man' st'$stc -ara$$e$s wth Tristram Shandy, an% n%ee%, the
narrator s one o+ the mnor characters +rom the ear$er nove$( &$thou#h the stor' s more stra#ht+orwar%, A
Sentimental Journey can be un%erstoo% to be -art o+ the same artstc -ro=ect to whch Tristram Shandy
be$on#s(
/wo vo$umes o+ SterneAs Sermons were -ub$she% %urn# hs $+etme, an%, %es-te the +act that more co-es
o+ hs Sermons were so$% n hs $+etme than co-es o+ Tristram Shandy, an% the +act that +or a wh$e he was
better *nown n some crc$es as a -reacher than as a nove$st, the' are conventona$ n both st'$e an%
substance( Severa$ vo$umes o+ $etters were -ub$she% a+ter hs %eath, as was Journal to &li'a, a more
sentmenta$ than humorous $ove $etter to a woman Sterne was courtn# %urn# the +na$ 'ears o+ hs $+e(
.om-are% to man' e#hteenth centur' authors SterneAs bo%' o+ wor* s :ute sma$$(
Sterne, treate% hs w+e ba%$'
Icitation neededJ
, was one %a' ta$*n# to 1av% 5arrc* n a +ne sentmenta$ manner,
n -rase o+ con=u#a$ $ove an% +%e$t'( F/he husban%,F sa% Sterne, Fwho behaves un*n%$' to hs w+e,
%eserves to have hs house burnt over hs hea%(F FI+ 'ou thn* so,F sa% 5arrc*, FI ho-e your house s
nsure%(F
/he L+e an% E-nons o+ /rstram Shan%', 5ent$eman
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (or, more bre+$', Tristram Shandy) s a nove$ b'
Laurence Sterne( It was -ub$she% n nne vo$umes, the +rst two a--earn# n 17?@, an% seven others
+o$$own# over the ne3t 18 'ears( It was not a$wa's he$% n h#h esteem b' other wrters (Samue$ 7ohnson
res-on%e% that, FNothn# o%% w$$ %o $on#FI1J), but ts baw%' humour was -o-u$ar wth Lon%on socet',
an% t has come to be seen as one o+ the #reatest comc nove$s n "n#$sh, as we$$ as a +orerunner +or man'
mo%ern narratve %evces(
S'no-ss an% st'$e
&s ts tt$e su##ests, the boo* s ostensb$' /rstramAs narraton o+ hs $+e stor'( 0ut t s one o+ the centra$
=o*es o+ the nove$ that he cannot e3-$an an'thn# sm-$' wthout ma*n# e3-$anator' %versons to a%%
conte3t an% co$our to hs ta$e, to the e3tent that we %o not even reach /rstramAs own brth unt$ Go$ume III(
.onse:uent$', a-art +rom /rstram as narrator, the most +am$ar an% m-ortant characters n the boo* are hs
+ather <a$ter, hs mother, hs Knc$e /ob', /ob'As servant /rm, an% a su--ortn# cast o+ -o-u$ar mnor
characters nc$u%n# 1octor S$o- an% the -arson 4orc*( Most o+ the acton s concerne% wth %omestc
u-sets or msun%erstan%n#s, whch +n% humour n the o--osn# tem-eraments o+ <a$ter s-$enetc,
ratona$ an% somewhat sarcastc an% Knc$e /ob', who s #ent$e, uncom-$cate% an% a $over o+ hs +e$$ow
man(
In between such events, /rstram as narrator +n%s hmse$+ %scoursn# at $en#th on se3ua$ -ractces, nsu$ts,
the n+$uence o+ oneAs name, noses, as we$$ as e3-$oratons o+ obstetrcs, se#e war+are an% -h$oso-h', as he
stru##$es to marsha$ hs matera$ an% +nsh the stor' o+ hs $+e(
Techniques and influences
SterneAs te3t s +$$e% wth a$$usons an% re+erences to the $ea%n# thn*ers an% wrters o+ the 17th an% 18th
centures( ;o-e, Loc*e, an% Sw+t were a$$ ma=or n+$uences on Sterne an% Tristram Shandy( Satres o+ ;o-e
an% Sw+t +orme% much o+ the humour o+ Tristram Shandy, but Sw+tAs sermons an% Loc*eAs &ssay
#oncerning uman )nderstanding contrbute% %eas an% +ramewor*s that Sterne e3-$ore% throu#hout hs
nove$( SterneAs en#a#ement wth the scence an% -h$oso-h' o+ hs %a' was e3tensve, however, an% the
sectons on obstetrcs an% +ort+catons, +or nstance, n%cate that he ha% a #ras- o+ the man ssues then
current n those +e$%s(
9our n+$uences on Tristram Shandy oversha%ow a$$ othersH >abe$as, .ervantes, Monta#neAs &ssays an%
7ohn Loc*e( Sterne ha% wrtten an ear$er -ece ca$$e% A Ra%elaisian Fragment, whch n%cates hs
+am$art' wth the wor* o+ the 9rench mon*( 0ut the ear$er wor* s not nee%e% to see the n+$uence o+
>abe$as on Tristram Shandy, whch s ev%ent n mu$t-$e a$$usons, as we$$ as n the overa$$ tone o+ baw%'
humor centere% on the bo%'( /he +rst scene n Tristram Shandy, where /rstramAs mother nterru-ts hs
+ather %urn# the se3 that $ea%s to /rstramAs conce-ton, test+es to SterneAs %ebt to >abe$as(
/he sha%e o+ .ervantes s sm$ar$' -resent throu#hout SterneAs nove$( /he +re:uent re+erences to >ocnante,
the character o+ Knc$e /ob' (who resemb$es 1on Lu3ote n man' wa's) an% SterneAs own %escr-ton o+
hs charactersA F.ervantc humour,F a$on# wth the #enre!%e+'n# structure o+ Tristram Shandy, whch owes
much to the secon% -art o+ .ervantesA nove$, a$$ %emonstrate the n+$uence o+ .ervantes(
/he nove$ a$so ma*es use o+ 7ohn Loc*eAs theores o+ em-rcsm, or the wa' we assemb$e what we *now o+
ourse$ves an% our wor$% +rom the Fassocaton o+ %easF that come to us +rom our +ve senses( Sterne s b'
turns res-ect+u$ an% satrca$ o+ Loc*eAs theores, usn# the assocaton o+ %eas to construct charactersA
Fhobb'!horses,F or whmsca$ obsessons, that both or%er an% %sor%er ther $ves n %++erent wa's( It a$so
owes a s#n+cant nter!te3tua$ %ebt to 0urtonAs The Anatomy of $elancholy, Sw+tAs *attle of the *oo+s,
an% the Scrb$eran co$$aboratve wor*, The $emoirs of $artinus Scri%lerus(
/o%a', the nove$ s common$' seen as a +orerunner o+ $ater stream o+ conscousness, se$+!re+$e3ve an%
-ostmo%ern wrtn#( )owever, current crtca$ o-non s %v%e% on ths :ueston( /here s a s#n+cant
bo%' o+ crtca$ o-non that ar#ues that Tristram Shandy s better un%erstoo% as an e3am-$e o+ an
obso$escent $terar' tra%ton o+ FLearne% <tF, -art$' +o$$own# the contrbuton o+ 1(<( 7e++erson(
.onte3t
Laurence Sterne was born n 1713 n Ire$an%, the son o+ an arm' o++cer( &+ter #ra%uatn# +rom .ambr%#e
Knverst', Sterne sett$e% n 4or*shre an% remane% n "n#$an% +or the reman%er o+ hs $+e( )e became a
c$er#'man there, an% then marre% a woman wth whom he %% not #et a$on#( )s two ma=or nove$s, The
Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman an% A Sentimental Journey, were wrtten near the en% o+
hs $+e( )e %e% n March, 1768, at the a#e o+ ??(
Sterne wrote Tristram Shandy between 17?@ an% 1767( /he boo* was -ub$she% n +ve se-arate
nsta$$ments, each contann# two vo$umes e3ce-t the $ast, whch nc$u%e% on$' the +na$ Go$ume @( /he
numerous c$++han#ers an% antc-atons Sterne -ut n the c$osn# cha-ters o+ each nsta$$ment are
conventona$ +eatures o+ sera$$' -ub$she% wor*s, meant to arouse curost' an% mantan nterest n the
vo$umes to come( Tristram Shandy was enthusastca$$' receve% +rom the be#nnn#, thou#h t was a$so
crtc6e% +or ben# baw%' an% n%ecent n ts +ran* treatment o+ se3ua$ themes(
9or ts tme, the nove$ s h#h$' unconventona$ n ts narratve techn:ue!!even thou#h t a$so ncor-orates a
vast number o+ re+erences an% a$$usons to more tra%tona$ wor*s( /he tt$e tse$+ s a -$a' on a nove$stc
+ormu$a that wou$% have been +am$ar to SterneAs contem-orar' rea%ers, nstea% o+ #vn# us the F$+e an%
a%venturesF o+ hs hero, Sterne -romses us hs F$+e an% o-nons(F <hat soun%s $*e a mnor %++erence
actua$$' un+o$%s nto a ra%ca$$' new *n% o+ narratve( Tristram Shandy bears $tt$e resemb$ance to the
or%er$' an% structura$$' un+e% nove$s (o+ whch 9e$%n#As Tom Jones was cons%ere% to be the mo%e$) that
were -o-u$ar n SterneAs %a'( /he :uestons SterneAs nove$ rases about the nature o+ +cton an% o+ rea%n#
have #ven Tristram Shandy a -artcu$ar re$evance +or twenteth centur' wrters $*e Gr#na <oo$+, Samue$
0ec*ett, an% 7ames 7o'ce(
Summar'
/he acton covere% n Tristram Shandy s-ans the 'ears 1688!1766( Sterne obscures the stor'As un%er$'n#
chrono$o#', however, b' rearran#n# the or%er o+ the varous -eces o+ hs ta$e( )e a$so subor%nates the
basc -$ot +ramewor* b' weavn# to#ether a number o+ %++erent stores, as we$$ as such %s-arate matera$s
as essa's, sermons, an% $e#a$ %ocuments( /here are, neverthe$ess, two c$ear$' %scernb$e narratve $nes n
the boo*(
/he +rst s the -$ot se:uence that nc$u%es /rstramAs conce-ton, brth, chrstenn#, an% acc%enta$
crcumcson( (/hs se:uence e3ten%s somewhat +urther n /rstramAs treatment o+ hs Fbreechn#,F the
-rob$em o+ hs e%ucaton, an% hs +rst an% secon% tours o+ 9rance, but these events are han%$e% $ess
e3tensve$' an% are not as centra$ to the te3t() It ta*es s3 vo$umes to cover ths chan o+ events, a$thou#h
com-aratve$' +ew -a#es are s-ent n actua$$' a%vancn# such a sm-$e -$ot( /he stor' occurs as a seres o+
acc%ents, a$$ o+ whch seem ca$cu$ate% to con+oun% <a$ter Shan%'As ho-es an% e3-ectatons +or hs son( /he
manner o+ hs conce-ton s the +rst %saster, +o$$owe% b' the +$attenn# o+ hs nose at brth, a
msun%erstan%n# n whch he s #ven the wron# name, an% an acc%enta$ run!n wth a +a$$n# wn%ow!
sash( /he catastro-hes that be+a$$ /rstram are actua$$' re$atve$' trva$, on$' n the conte3t o+ <a$ter
Shan%'As eccentrc, -seu%o!scent+c theores %o the' become ca$amtes(
/he secon% ma=or -$ot conssts o+ the +ortunes o+ /rstramAs Knc$e /ob'( Most o+ the %eta$s o+ ths stor' are
concentrate% n the +na$ thr% o+ the nove$, a$thou#h the' are a$$u%e% to an% %eve$o-e% n -ecemea$ +ashon
+rom the ver' be#nnn#( /ob' receves a woun% to the #ron wh$e n the arm', an% t ta*es hm +our 'ears
to recover( <hen he s ab$e to move aroun% a#an, he retres to the countr' wth the %ea o+ constructn# a
sca$e% re-$ca o+ the scene o+ the batt$e n whch he was n=ure%( )e becomes obsesse% wth re!enactn#
those batt$es, as we$$ as wth the who$e hstor' an% theor' o+ +ort+caton an% %e+ense( /he ;eace o+ Ktrecht
s$ows hm %own n these Fhobb'!horsca$F actvtes, however, an% t s %urn# ths $u$$ that he +a$$s un%er the
s-e$$ o+ <%ow <a%man( /he nove$ en%s wth the $on#!-romse% account o+ ther un+ortunate a++ar(
.haracters
Tristram Shandy ! /rstram s both the +ctona$6e% author o+ The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy
an% the ch$% whose conce-ton, brth, chrstenn#, an% crcumcson +orm one ma=or se:uence o+ the
narratve( /he a%u$t /rstram Shan%' re$ates certan as-ects o+ hs +am$' hstor', nc$u%n# man' that too*
-$ace be+ore hs own brth, %rawn# +rom stores an% hearsa' as much as +rom hs own memores( )s
opinions we #et n abun%ance, o+ the actua$ %eta$s o+ hs $+e the author +urnshes on$' traces, an% the ch$%
/rstram turns out to be a mnor character(
Walter Shandy ! /rstramAs -h$oso-hca$$'!mn%e% +ather( <a$ter Shan%'As $ove +or abstruse an%
convo$ute% nte$$ectua$ ar#umentaton an% hs rea%ness to embrace an' tanta$6n# h'-othess $ea% hm to
-ro-oun% a #reat number o+ absur% -seu%o!scent+c theores(
Elizabeth Shandy (Mrs. Shandy) ! /rstramAs mother( Mrs( Shan%' nssts on havn# the m%w+e atten%
her $abor rather than 1r( S$o-, out o+ resentment at not ben# a$$owe% to bear the ch$% n Lon%on( En a$$
other -onts, Mrs( Shan%' s sn#u$ar$' -assve an% uncontentous, whch ma*es her a %u$$ conversatona$
-artner +or her ar#umentatve husban%(
Captain Toby Shandy (ncle Toby) ! /rstramAs unc$e, an% brother to <a$ter Shan%'( &+ter sustann# a
#ron!woun% n batt$e, he retres to a $+e o+ obsessve attenton to the hstor' an% scence o+ m$tar'
+ort+catons( )s tem-erament s #ent$e an% sentmenta$H /rstram te$$s us he wou$%nAt harm a +$'(
Corporal Trim ! Manservant an% s%e*c* to Knc$e /ob'( )s rea$ name s 7ames 0ut$er, he receve% the
nc*name F/rmF wh$e n the m$tar'( /rm co$$u%es wth .a-tan /ob' n hs m$tar' shenan#ans, but hs
own +avorte hobb' s a%vsn# -eo-$e, es-eca$$' + t a$$ows hm to ma*e e$o:uent s-eeches(
!r. Slop ! /he $oca$ ma$e m%w+e, who, at <a$terAs nsstence, acts as a bac*!u- at /rstramAs brth( &
Fscent+c* o-erator,F 1r( S$o- has wrtten a boo* e3-ressn# hs %s%an +or the -ractce o+ m%w+er'( )e
s ntereste% n sur#ca$ nstrument an% me%ca$ a%vances, an% -r%es hmse$+ on havn# nvente% a new -ar
o+ %e$ver' +orce-s(
"arson #oric$ ! /he v$$a#e -arson, an% a c$ose +ren% o+ the Shan%' +am$'( 4orc* s
$#hthearte% an% stra#ht!ta$*n#, he %etests #ravt' an% -retenson( &s a wtt' an% msun%erstoo%
c$er#'man, he has o+ten been ta*en as a re-resentaton o+ the wrter, Sterne, hmse$+(
Susannah ! .hamberma% to Mrs( Shan%'( She s -resent at /rstramAs brth, com-$ct n hs ms!
chrstenn#, an% -art$' to b$ame +or hs acc%enta$ crcumcson b' the +a$$en wn%ow sha%e(
%badiah ! Servant to <a$ter Shan%'(
&obby Shandy ! /rstramAs o$%er brother, who %es n Lon%on wh$e awa' at schoo$(
Wido' Wadman ! & ne#hbor who has marta$ %es#ns on .a-tan /ob' Shan%', an% wth whom he has a
bre+ an% abortve courtsh-(
&rid(et ! Ma%servant to <%ow <a%man( .or-ora$ /rm courts 0r%#et at the same tme that /ob' courts
<%ow <a%man, an% /rm an% 0r%#etAs re$atonsh- contnues +or +ve 'ears therea+ter(
The mid'ife ! /he $oca$ %e$ver'!nurse who s commssone% to assst at Mrs( Shan%'As $abor(
Eu(enius ! 9ren% an% a%vsor to ;arson 4orc*( )s name means Fwe$$!born,F an% he s o+ten the voce o+
%screton(
!idius ! & -e%antc church $aw'er, an% the author o+ the m%w+eAs $cense(
)ysarcius* "hutatorius* Triptolemus* and +astripheres ! &$on# wth 1%us, the' +orm the co$$o:u' o+
$earne% men whom <a$ter, /ob', an% ;arson 4orc* consu$t about the -ossb$t' o+ chan#n# /rstramAs
name(
The curate ! /he $oca$ church o++ca$, a$so name% /rstram, who msnames the bab' when Susannah +a$s
to -ronounce the chosen name F/rsme#stus(F
,unt !inah ! /rstramAs #reat aunt an%, n /rstramAs estmaton, the on$' woman n the Shan%' +am$'
wth an' character at a$$( She create% a +am$' scan%a$ b' marr'n# the coachman an% havn# a ch$% $ate n
her $+e(
Lieutenant Le -e.er ! & +avorte sentmenta$ chart' case o+ Knc$e /ob'As an% .or-ora$ /rmAs( Le 9ever
%e% un%er ther care, $eavn# an or-han son(
&illy Le -e.er ! /he son o+ Leutenant Le 9ever( Knc$e /ob' becomes 0$$'As #uar%an, su-ervses hs
e%ucaton, an% eventua$$' recommen%s hm to be /rstramAs #overnor(
Go$ume 1
Summar'
/rstram Shan%' be#ns hs autobo#ra-hca$ ta$e wth the stor' o+ hs conce-ton, n whch hs mother
nterru-ts the se3ua$ moment b' as*n# an rre$evant :ueston about the wn%n# o+ the c$oc*( /he author
s-ecu$ates that the crcumstances n whch a ch$% s conceve% -ro+oun%$' n+$uence ts eventua$ mn%,
bo%', an% character( )e $aments hs -arentsA care$ess %emeanor at ths %ecsve =unctureH Fha% the' %u$'
cons%erA% how much %e-en%e% on what the' were then %on#(((I am ver$' -ersua%e% I shou$% have ma%e a
:ute %++erent +#ure n the wor$%(F &s t stan%s, he b$ames hs own Fthousan% wea*nesses both o+ bo%' an%
mn%F on ther ne#$#ence( /rstram revea$s that the who$e crcumstance o+ hs comn# nto the wor$%
occurre% as a seres o+ such acc%ents an% ms+ortunes( Statn# succnct$' that he was born on November ?,
1718, he -romses to #ve the +u$$ %eta$s o+ hs brth eventua$$', but on$' a+ter a %etour throu#h hs
Fo-nons(F )e a%mts +rom the be#nnn# that hs narraton w$$ be unconventona$, an% he be#s the rea%er
to be -atent an% to F$et me #o on, an% te$$ the stor' n m' own wa'(F
Mean%ern# throu#h the hstor' o+ the town m%w+e, /rstram ta*es the o--ortunt' to satr6e
the obscure $e#a$ $an#ua#e o+ her $cense %ocument( )e a$so ntro%uces the character o+ ;arson 4orc*,
whom he re$ates to the =ester 4orc* n amlet an% to .ervantesAs 1on Lu3ote( &t the su##eston o+ hs
w+e, ;arson 4orc* s-onsors the trann# o+ the m%w+e as a servce to the town( /he -arson actua$$' stan%s
to bene+t -ersona$$' +rom ths benevo$ent #esture, snce the towns-eo-$e were +re:uent$' borrown# hs +ne
horses to r%e the seven m$es to the nearest %octor( In or%er to secure hmse$+ a#anst char#es o+ u$teror
motves, he has vowe% a$wa's to r%e the %ecre-t o$% horse on whch we now see hm( 4orc*As constant
=o*n# an% ac% wt ma*e hm man' enemes, hs un-o-u$art' eventua$$' %rves hm to a mserab$e ear$'
%eath(
/he transton +rom the satre o+ $e#a$ $an#ua#e to the stor' o+ 4orc* an% hs horses ta*es -$ace b' means o+
a bre+, essa'stc account o+ Fhobb'!horsesFH the narrow an% o+ten esoterc -ursuts (hobbes, essenta$$')
that nterest -eo-$e!!o+ten, to the -ont o+ obsesson( /he stores o+ 4orc* an% the m%w+e are a$so
nterru-te% b' the 1e%caton n .ha-ter 8, an% b' a -assa#e n whch /rstram +orecasts hs own $terar'
+ame( /rstram a#an %e+en%s hs %#ressve st'$e, -romsn# Fto #o on $esure$', wrtn# an% -ub$shn# two
vo$umes o+ m' $+e ever' 'earF unt$ he %es(
/he marra#e sett$ement between /rstramAs -arents st-u$ates that Mrs( Shan%' cou$% choose to bear her
ch$%ren n Lon%on, where she wou$% +n% su-eror me%ca$ care( It a$so states, however, that + she ma%e the
tr- to Lon%on on an' +a$se a$arms, the husban% cou$% re:ure her to sta' n the countr' on the ne3t
occason( /hs s the c$ause <a$ter Shan%' nvo*es at the tme o+ /rstramAs brth( <h$e /rstram thn*s the
$e#a$ arran#ement, on the who$e, a +ar one, he thn*s t Fhar% that the who$e we#ht o+ the artc$e shou$%
have +a$$en entre$', as t %%, u-on m'se$+(F )e cha$*s ths u- as another one o+ hs ms+ortunes, snce t $e%
hm to be born wth a +$attene% nose (the e3-$anaton about how ths came to -ass s %e+erre%)( Mrs( Shan%',
snce she cannot have Fthe +amous 1r( Mann#hamF o+ Lon%on, nssts on em-$o'n# the m%w+e to %e$ver
the bab'!!out o+ -eevshness, /rstram su##ests( <a$ter +ee$s stron#$' that she shou$% have 1r( S$o- nstea%,
an% the' +na$$' a#ree to -a' hm to wat %ownstars, n case o+ emer#enc'(
/rstram ntro%uces hs +atherAs theor' that Fthere was a stran#e *n% o+ ma#c* bas, whch #oo% or ba%
names, as he ca$$e% them, rresstb$' m-ressA% u-on our characters an% con%uct(F /he most
%sa%vanta#eous name o+ a$$, an% the one <a$ter most %etests, s /rstram( /he narrator %ec$ares that he
cannot 'et te$$ the stor' o+ how he came to be ca$$e% /rstram, a--ea$n# to the necesst' that FI shou$% be
born be+ore I IamJ chrstene%(F )e +o$$ows ths statement wth a more aca%emc verson o+ the same
ar#ument (about the -ro-er or%er o+ the rtua$s surroun%n# brth), :uotn# a $on# an% abstruse %ocument
%ea$n# wth the :ueston o+ whether +etuses can be ba-t6e% n the womb(
<a$ter an% Knc$e /ob' st %ownstars wh$e Mrs( Shan%' s #on# nto $abor( 0e+ore an' %a$o#ue #ets
-ro-er$' un%erwa', /rstram nterru-ts to #ve an account o+ /ob'As character, -romsn# to return to ther
conversaton subse:uent$'( /ob', we $earn (a+ter a +ew as%es about the "n#$sh c$mate an% the scan%a$ous
marra#e o+ &unt 1nah) s notab$e +or hs overweenn# mo%est', the +u$$er e3-$anaton o+ whch /rstram,
as usua$, reserves +or $ater, te$$n# us on$' that t stems +rom a woun% to the #ron that /ob' receve% %urn#
the se#e o+ Namur(
/rstram then enters nto a %#resson on %#ressons, e3-$ann# that hs wor* s both %#ressve an%
-ro#ressve( /hou#h the stor' ma' sometmes seem to be s%etrac*e% or stan%n# st$$, he c$ams that t s
actua$$' movn# +orwar% a$$ the wh$e( )e then returns to /ob'As character, whch he sa's w$$ be best
$$ustrate% b' means o+ hs unc$eAs stran#e hobb'!horse( )e re$ates how /ob', a+ter ben# woun%e%, s-ent
+our 'ears con+ne% to hs be%, where he was +re:uent$' ca$$e% u-on b' s'm-athetc vstors( /he' usua$$'
wante% to hear the stor' o+ hs n=ur', a +act that cause% /ob' some consternaton!!+or reasons that /rstram
%ec$nes to su--$' unt$ the ne3t vo$ume(
.ommentar'
/rstramAs stor' be#ns a% O,o (F+rom the e##F), n %e+ance o+ the )omerc e-c tra%ton that be#ns stores
n the m%%$e o+ thn#s an% then a$$ows the bac*#roun% to un+o$% a$on# wth the acton( /he a$ternatve,
seemn#$', wou$% be to be#n wth the be#nnn#, /rstram ta*es ths -ossb$t' to an a$most $u%crous
e3treme b' be#nnn# %efore the be#nnn#, +rom hs conce-ton rather than hs brth( /hs strate#' $ea%s
hm nto the -rob$em o+ re$atn# events o+ whch he cou$% have no *now$e%#e, whch wou$% ca$$ nto
:ueston hs status as an autobo#ra-hca$ narrator( )e antc-ates an% answers ths concern b' e3-$ann#
that he has $earne% the stor' o+ hs conce-ton +rom hs Knc$e /ob', who n turn hear% t +rom <a$ter
Shan%'( /he e++ect s to em-has6e that /rstramAs accounts are not +ctona$!!but nether shou$% we ta*e
them as -er+ect$' ob=ectve( /rstram re-resents a t'-e o+ authora$ -resence %++erent +rom that o+ Sterne
hmse$+H he s not +ree to nvent characters or ma#ne events, but rather +$ters a Frea$F wor$% (an% a
%rastca$$' $mte% an% -ersona$ one, wth a ra%us o+ but +ve m$es) throu#h hs own e3-erence, memor',
-ersona$t', an% o-nons(
It :uc*$' becomes a--arent that the chrono$o#' o+ the stor' w$$ be more com-$e3 an% unortho%o3 than =ust
ts a% O,o be#nnn#( /he narratve overste-s ts own %ec$are% $mts, nc$u%n# events that too* -$ace $on#
be+ore even the n#ht o+ conce-ton, an% a$so %rawn# 7enn', the authorAs com-anon as the stor' s ben#
wrtten, nto the boo*( &n% not on$' %oes /rstam stretch hs chrono$o#ca$ covera#e to ts e3treme
-ossb$tes, he a$so %sru-ts t nterna$$' b' -resentn# events n the wron# or%er, nterru-tn# one anec%ote
wth others or wth essa'stc %#ressons, an% scramb$n# the be#nnn#s, m%%$es, an% en%s o+ hs
se:uences( 4et, he mantans, the stor' s #on# on a$$ the wh$e( /hs s $ar#e$' true because the narratorAs
own voce an% nter-retatons -rov%e a source o+ contnut'( 0' $stenn# to /rstram, we are #ettn# to
*now hm, whch was the who$e -ont, an% whch ta*es -rece%ence over the %eta$s o+ hs brth, or an' other
sn#$e e-so%e( F&s 'ou -rocee% +urther wth me, the s$#ht ac:uantance that s now be#nnn# betw3t us,
w$$ #row nto +am$art', an%(((w$$ termnate n +ren%sh-(F
/he %ea o+ the hobb'!horse, whch s ntro%uce% casua$$' here, w$$ become a ma=or thematc concern(
/here s nothn# nherent$' snster about these hobb'!horses, most -eo-$e have them, an% /rstram
con+esses rea%$' to havn# a +ew o+ hs own (we are c$ear$' to assume that hs wrtn# s one)( 0ut the nove$
w$$ %ramat6e the wa' the' can $ea% nto a state o+ tota$ se$+!absor-ton, when the' become such a constant
-reoccu-aton that ever'thn# n the wor$% #ets subor%nate% to a sn#$e, a$$!consumn# %ea( In e3-$orn#
ths -ossb$t', Sterne seems to see t as sm-$' an e3treme nstance o+ what s a$rea%' our nnate
-s'cho$o#ca$ natureH %rawn# on Loc*eAs cha-ter on assocaton n the &ssay #oncerning uman
)nderstanding, he %ramat6es the wa' %eas that seem to be unre$ate% become connecte% n our mn%s( /he
nove$ w$$ e3-$ore the m-$catons o+ these assocatons +or scent+c *now$e%#e, +or our ever'%a'
un%erstan%n# o+ cause an% e++ect, an% +or soca$ nteractons(
/he %#ressveness o+ the narratve, n the wa' t +o$$ows chans o+ assocaton rather than stc*n# to a r#%,
+orma$ structure, s a$so a man+estaton o+ ths -rnc-$e( Ebsessve$' +orma$ thn*n# can be a *n% o+
hobb'!horse( <a$ter s the -rme e3am-$e o+ ths %e$u%n# a--roach to the wor$%H F$*e a$$ s'stematc
reasoners, he wou$% move both heaven an% earth, an% twst an% torture ever'thn# n nature to su--ort hs
h'-othess(F /he o-en +orm o+ /rstramAs wrtn#, then, s an e++ort to ta*e n the wor$% n a$$ ts varet' an%
+$u3( It s a resstance, n -art, to the %stortons an% man-u$atons that /rstam sees hs +ather -er+ormn# to
+orce ev%ence +or hs -reconceve% %eas( It remans +or the rea%er to %ec%e whether /rstramAs a--roach
o++ers an' more ob=ectve wn%ow on rea$t', or whether /rstramAs own set o+ hobb'!horses #ves rse to
=ust as much %storton(
&nother o-en :ueston s whether SterneAs atttu%e towar% /rstram an% hs -ro=ect s one o+ en%orsement or
ron'( /rstramAs +re:uent a%%resses to the rea%er (ma#ne% varous$' an% +$e3b$' as Sr, Ma%am, 1ear
>ea%er, 'our worsh-s, etc() %raw us nto the nove$( 9rom /rstramAs -ers-ectve, we are as*e% to be o-en!
mn%e%, an% to +o$$ow hs $ea% n an e3-ermenta$ *n% o+ $terar' a%venture( /he #a- between /rstram!the!
author an% Sterne!the!author, however, nvtes us not on$' to -artc-ate wth /rstram, but a$so to assess hs
character an% hs narratve(
Go$ume 2
Summar'
/rstram -c*s u- where the $ast cha-ter $e+t o++, un%erta*n# now Fto e3-$an the nature o+ the -er-$e3tes
n whch m' unc$e /ob' was nvo$ve%F n hs attem-ts to te$$ the stor' o+ hs war woun%( /ob'As troub$e was
that the m$tar' maneuvers n :ueston were so ntrcate an% technca$ that nobo%' cou$% un%erstan% hm,
n%ee% he sometmes even con+use% hmse$+ as we$$( It occurs to hm now to #et a $ar#e ma- o+ the envrons
o+ Namur, whch re$eves hm o+ hs %++cu$t' an% a$so sets hm o++ on hs hobb'!horse(
/rstram n+orms the rea%er that hs boo* s to be a Fhstor'!boo*F n the same wa' that Loc*eAs
&ssay #oncerning uman )nderstanding s a hstor'!boo*!!that s, as a hstor' Fo+ what -asses n a manAs
own mn%(F )e #oes on to attrbute the obscurt' n /ob'As batt$e %escr-tons not to an' *n% o+ menta$
con+uson, but to a con+uson n $an#ua#e tse$+H the Funstea%' uses o+ wor%sF that -re%omnates es-eca$$'
n the technca$ =ar#ons o+ s-eca$6e% +e$%s(
.a-tan /ob'As obsesson wth hs ma- #rows, an% he $aunches nto a %eta$e% stu%' o+ +ort+caton an%
m$tar' scence that becomes hs ru$n# -asson( )e soon #rows rest$ess +or hs recover'( /rstram, a+ter
remn%n# us that he st$$ means to resume the nterru-te% conversaton +rom Go$ume 1, .ha-ter 21 (when
he cut /ob' o++ at FI thn* !!F), -rocee%s wth the stor' o+ hs unc$eAs su%%en %esre to $eave the sc*be%H
.or-ora$ /rm, /ob'As servant, ha% -$ante% the su##eston n hs masterAs mn% that the' shou$% move to the
countr' n or%er to construct a re-$ca, bu$t to sca$e, o+ the batt$e ste an% +ort+catons( /hs %ea -$eases
/ob' so ntense$' that he can har%$' wat to be#n(
/rstram resumes the scene b' the +res%e on the %a' o+ hs own brth, an% /ob' +nshes hs $on#!%e$a'e%
sentence b' su##estn# that the' rn# the be$$ to n:ure about a$$ the nose u-stars( /he $abor has be#un n
earnest, Susannah runs +or the m%w+e, an% <a$ter sen%s Eba%ah to +etch 1r( S$o-( S-ecu$atn# about Mrs(
Shan%'As -re+erence +or the m%w+e, /ob' su##ests that t m#ht be a :ueston o+ mo%est'( <a$ter
cha$$en#es hm on ths -ont, an% /ob' %e+ers, a%mttn# that he *nows nothn# about women( )e a$$u%es to
the un+ortunate outcome o+ hs a++ar wth <%ow <a%man as ev%ence o+ the +act( <a$ter be#ns to ho$%
+orth about the r#ht an% the wron# en% o+ a woman, but s nterru-te% b' a *noc* at the %oor(
Eba%ah an% 1r( S$o- have arrve%( /rstram re+$ects on the com-$catons o+ ca$cu$atn# tme n a narratve
where events are ha--enn# smu$taneous$', or n com-arn# narratve tme wth $ve% tme( )e +rst c$ams
that t has been an hour an% a ha$+ snce Eba%ah $e+t on hs erran%!!-$ent' o+ tme to return wth the %octor(
)e then ar#ues, +rom the other s%e, that no more than two mnutes, thrteen an% three!++ths secon%s cou$%
-ossb$' have -asse%( 9na$$', he o++ers the con=ecture that 'ears have -asse%, snce a$$ the stores o+ Knc$e
/ob'As m$tar' career an% nva$%sm have ntervene% snce the brth%a' was +rst mentone%( )s ma#nar'
crtc remans un-ersua%e%, so /rstram c$oses the matter b' revea$n# that Eba%ah actua$$' ran nto 1r(
S$o- =ust outs%e the house, n a co$$son that sent them both nto the mu%(
Eba%ah s sent bac* out to +etch the %octorAs too$s, whch the %octor has $e+t at home( /ob' has been -ut n
mn% o+ Stevnus, an en#neer an% wrter on +ort+catons, he e3-$ans the connecton, whch seems $$o#ca$
to ever'one e$se( <a$ter nsu$ts hm +or hs %o##e%ness an% stu-%t'( /rstram re$ates that /ob'As +ee$n#s
were hurt, but that he Fwas a man -atent o+ n=ures(F )e #oes on to te$$ a sentmenta$ anec%ote about how
/ob' Fscarce ha% heart to reta$ate u-on a +$',F an% attrbutes whatever #oo%w$$ he hmse$+ has $earne% to
the ear$' m-resson o+ hs unc$eAs #ent$eness an% humant'( <a$ter, seen# /ob'As serene countenance,
:uc*$' a-o$o#6es, an% the brothers are reconc$e%( .or-ora$ /rm %e$vers a sermon on conscence
(actua$$' one o+ SterneAs own) that has +a$$en out o+ the vo$ume o+ Stevnus( /rstram #ves a mnute$'
%eta$e% vsua$ %escr-ton o+ the stance /rm assumes +or ths oraton( /he sermon -roves to have been $e+t
n the boo* b' ;arson 4orc*, who subse:uent$' retreves t(
Eba%ah returns wth the ba# o+ sur#ca$ nstruments, an% attenton turns once a#an to Mrs(
Shan%'As $abor( 1r( S$o- s to$% that he s not to nter+ere un$ess ca$$e% +or, so he contents hmse$+ wth
e%ucatn# the com-an' about recent a%vances n the scence o+ obstetrcs( <e $earn about another one o+
<a$terAs -et theoresH that the me%u$$a ob$on#ata s the most m-ortant -art o+ the bran, an% that t stan%s n
#reat %an#er %urn# the -rocess o+ ch$%brth( <th stren#th n numbers, the me%ca$ hobb'!horses o+ <a$ter
an% 1r( S$o- out-ace Knc$e /ob'As m$tarstc re+$ectons, an% the $atter s unab$e to re#an the +$oor( /he
vo$ume c$oses wth a remn%er o+ certan narratve $oose en%s st$$ to be -c*e% u-, most m-ortant$'H how
/ob' #ot hs mo%est' +rom hs #ron!woun%, how /rstramAs nose was $ost n the marra#e contract, an% how
he came to be name% /rstram(
.ommentar'
In ca$$n# hs wor* a hstor' o+ Fwhat -asses n a manAs mn%,F /rstram %raws attenton to the +act that, n
wrtn# hs own F$+e an% o-nons,F he w$$ be -ortra'n# most$' a mental life( /hs reassurance s m-ortant
n $#ht o+ the +act that we have move% throu#h two vo$umes wthout 'et arrvn# at the -ont o+ the
-rota#onstAs brth( )e a%%resses our e3-ectatons on ths -ont not on$' to he$- us ma*e sense o+ the wor*,
but a$so because those e3-ectatons are -art o+ what the wor* s about!!as s the :ueston o+ how e3act$' the
menta$ $+e +#ures n the $+e o+ a man( St$$, the com-arson to Loc*eAs &ssay #oncerning uman
)nderstanding s a -rovocatve oneH %oes /rstram mean that Loc*eAs h#h$' theoretca$ boo* s actua$$'
more autobo#ra-hca$ an% ntros-ectve than -h$oso-hca$M Er s he su##estn# that hs own boo*, however
-ersona$ t ma' be, w$$ %raw out #enera$ truths about human natureM /he author -rob$emat6es, throu#h
cons%eratons $*e these, the re$atonsh- between a hstor' o+ an n%v%ua$ mn% an% a -h$oso-hca$
account o+ human thn*n# n #enera$(
/he com-arson to Loc*e a$so rases the :ueston o+ the #enre o+ ths te3t( SterneAs boo* cou$% be cons%ere%
a nove$, /rstramAs narratve s certan$' not one( Tristram Shandy actua$$' %raws on the conventons o+ a
number o+ #enres, + o+ten on$' to -o*e +un at them or turn them on ther hea%s( K$tmate$', the nove$ recasts
these conventons nto a un:ue structure o+ ts own( .ome%', essa', an% satre are a$$ mo%es the author
re#u$ar$' ta*es u-( )e re+ers to other $terar' wor*s, an% a$so -ronounces hs own wor*As n%e-en%ence +rom
them( /he -resence o+ who$e %ocuments +rom varous non!$terar' %sc-$nes ($*e the sermon n ths
vo$ume, an% the memoran%um n the +rst) contrbutes $*ewse to the #enerc hetero#enet' o+ the boo*( /he
nc$uson o+ these te3ts a$so %eve$o-s a thematc concern about the c$ash between ever'%a' human $+e an%
the wor$% o+ esoterc scho$arsh-(
<e be#n to see more c$ear$', n ths vo$ume, that the nove$ s weavn# to#ether two ma=or narratve $nesH
one s the se:uence that nvo$ves the -vota$ events o+ /rstramAs ear$' e3stence( /he other traces the stor'
o+ Knc$e /ob', +rom hs so$%ern# %a's to hs hobb'!horse an% eventua$$' to hs $ove$+e( In ths vo$ume,
the s-ot$#ht +ocuses on /ob' wh$e /rstram han#s sus-en%e% n the bac*#roun%, =ust on the ver#e o+ ben#
born( &s /rstram revea$s more about hs unc$eAs hobb'! horse, the rea%er sees the r%cu$ous behavors nto
whch hs obsesson wth +ort+catons carres hm( <e a$so, however, see hm as #enune$' *n% an%
s'm-athetcH the +amous anec%ote o+ /ob' an% the +$' nvtes us to em-ath6e wth hm as stron#$' as
/rstram %oes( 4et the over$' sentmenta$ tones n whch the stor' s -resente% su##est that Sterne m#ht be
-o*n# +un at the e#hteenth!centur' cu$ture o+ sensb$t', nto whch /rstramAs ta$e s:uare$' +a$$s( <th the
a$$uson to /ob'As mo%est' n the +rst vo$ume, an% to hs a++ar wth the <%ow <a%man n ths vo$ume,
/rstram s out$nn# the tra=ector' /ob'As -art o+ the stor' w$$ ta*e(
.onversaton, n these cha-ters, s #overne% b' %ue$n# hobb'!horses( &s the ma$e characters com-ete +or
the chance to voca$6e ther varous nte$$ectua$ obsessons, the %a$o#ue %e#enerates, becomn# at certan
moments ether unnte$$#b$e or utter$' rre$evant( /he rea$, conse:uenta$ event that s ta*n# -$ace u-stars
s a$$ but +or#otten n the stu-%t' an% se$+!absor-ton o+ ther %scourse( 4et -re#nanc' becomes a
meta-hor +or these (o+ten abortve) nte$$ectua$ $aborsH /rstram s-ea*s o+ hs +atherAs +a$ure Fto be sa+e$'
%e$vere% o+F hs e3-$anaton about women, an% he %scusses <a$terAs s-ecu$atve ten%ences n sm$ar
termsH FIt s the nature o+ an h'-othess, when once a man has conceve% t, that t assm$ates ever' thn# to
tse$+ as -ro-er nourshment, an%, +rom the +rst moment o+ 'our be#ettn# t, t #enera$$' #rows the stron#er
b' ever' thn# 'ou see, hear, rea%, or un%erstan%(F <hen /rstram com-ares <a$terAs -h$oso-h6n# wth
the $abor #on# on u-stars, we are encoura#e% to thn* o+ /rstramAs own wrtn# -ro=ect n the same wa'(
/he brth at the center o+ the nove$ s a +#ure +or the %ea o+ the Fbranch$%F!!the -rocess o+ menta$
constructon that s the ma=or sub=ect o+ the boo*, an% o+ whch the boo* tse$+ stan%s as an e3am-$e(
Go$ume 3
Summar'
St$$ n the -ar$or, Knc$e /ob' contnues hs attem-t to re%rect the conversaton towar% the armes at
9$an%ers( <a$ter ta*es the bat, but then $a-ses nto a state o+ -h'sca$ con+uson when he removes hs hat
wth hs r#ht han% an% then has to reach across wth hs $e+t to remove the han%*erche+ +rom hs r#ht coat
-oc*et( /rstram crtc6es hs +ather +or not -ausn# to swtch han%s, but <a$ter has never been one to
retract a %ecson once he has a%vance% t( Knc$e /ob', n contrast to /rstram, wats throu#h <a$terAs
contortons wth -atence an% #oo%w$$( )e Fwhst$es L$$abu$$ero,F however, at hs brotherAs ar#ument that
babes were more +re:uent$' %ama#e% %urn# brth be+ore the a%vent o+ mo%ern me%ca$ techno$o#'(
/he ne3t -h'sca$ stru##$e comes wth 1r( S$o-As attem-t to unte the *not n hs me%ca$ ba#(
Eba%ah *notte% t u- to -revent t +rom c$attern# %urn# trans-ort so that he cou$% hear hmse$+ whst$e(
/rstram su##ests that ths *not, too, contrbute% to the +$attenn# o+ hs nose( 1r( S$o- cuts hs thumb wth a
-en*n+e( )e +a$$s to cursn# Eba%ah, an% <a$ter o++ers hm the use o+ one o+ hs rea%'!ma%e curses( /he
curse he -ro%uces s actua$$' a .atho$c e3communcaton %ocument, wrtten b' "rnu$-hus the 0sho-( 1r(
S$o- hestates at ts vehemence, but then s -ersua%e% to contnue wth the e3communcaton, nsertn#
Eba%ahAs name wherever re$evant( /rstram o++ers the o-non that we are a$$ or#na$ when we swear, an
ar#ument contra%ctor' to hs +atherAs h'-othess that ever' curse s or#na$$' %erve% +rom ths one b'
"rnu$-hus(
Susannah a--ears, announcn# that she has cut her arm, the m%w+e has +a$$en an% bruse% her h-, an% the
bab' s st$$ not %e$vere%( She re$a's the m%w+eAs re:uest that 1r( S$o- be ca$$e% u-stars to assst( 1r(
S$o-, however, s senstve about the +act that he has been subor%nate% to the m%w+e, an% brst$es at ben#
summone% $*e a servant( )e be#ns to s-ea* %s-ara#n#$' o+ the tra%tona$ metho%s o+ m%w+er' an% ts
ru%e nstruments o+ F+n#ers an% thumbs(F )e conc$u%es hs statement, n what /rstram ca$$s Fa sn#u$ar
stro*e o+ e$o:uence,F wth a +$oursh o+ the new$' nvente% +orce-s, whch he has +na$$' $berate% +rom the
*notte% ba#( Kn+ortunate$', he a$so acc%enta$$' -ro%uces the s:urt, whch s tan#$e% wth the +orce-s( /hs
-rom-ts /ob' to as*, nnocent o+ hs own se3ua$ nnuen%o, Fare ch$%ren brou#ht nto the wor$% b' a
s:urtMF 1r( S$o- %emonstrates the +orce-s on /ob', s*nnn# hs han%s an% *nuc*$es n the -rocess( In the
%e$ver' room, 1r( S$o- an% the m%w+e %ebate about whether t s the ch$%As h- or hea% that s +oremost(
S$o- remar*s that the :ueston s o+ no sma$$ conse:uence, su##estn# that + the ch$% s ma$e, hs #enta$a
ma' be n %an#er +rom the +orce-s(
FIt s two hours an% ten mnutes(((snce 1r( S$o- an% Eba%ah arrve%,F %ec$ares <a$ter, Fbut to m'
ma#naton t seems a$most an a#e(F )e -re-ares to %e$ver a -h$oso-hca$ $ecture on F1uraton,F on$' to be
nterru-te% b' /ob', who stea$s the #st o+ the ar#ument out +rom un%er hmH FA/s ownn#, entre$', :uoth
m' unc$e /ob', to the successon o+ our %eas(F &+ter a moment o+ consternaton, <a$ter $aunches nto the
$ecture an'wa'( )e an% /ob' bc*er, an% the s-eech s a#an cut short( /rstram, sarcastca$$', re#rets what
the wor$% has $ost n the un+nshe% $ecture(
<a$ter an% /ob' +a$$ as$ee-, the others are bus' u-stars, an% the author ta*es a%vanta#e o+ ths :uet
moment to wrte the ;re+ace, whch %ea$s wth Loc*eAs remar*s on wt an% =u%#ment( /rstram o--oses
Loc*eAs ran*n# o+ =u%#ment above wt, ar#un# nstea% that the' #o han% n han%, $*e the two *nobs on the
bac* o+ the char( /he brothers are then awa*ene% b' the s:uea*n# o+ the hn#e as .or-ora$ /rm -ee*s nto
the room(
/rm n+orms the #rou- that 1r( S$o- s n the *tchen ma*n# a br%#e, +or whch /ob' e3-resses hs
heart+e$t #rattu%e( /ob' be$eves S$o- s re-arn# the %rawbr%#e, an% /rstram %#resses to te$$ the stor' o+
how /rm an% 0r%#et bro*e the br%#e %urn# a romantc ren%e6vous at the +ort+catons( /he con+uson s
c$eare% u- when /rm announces that the br%#e un%er constructon s +or the bab'As nose, whch has been
crushe% b' the +orce-s(
/rstram %escrbes at #reat $en#th hs +atherAs e$aborate an% me$o%ramatc -osture o+ #re+ as he
s-raw$s across the be%( <a$terAs %stress s com-oun%e%, we $earn, b' a hstor' o+ sma$$ noses n the +am$',
a -henomenon that has ha% s#n+cant +nanca$ conse:uences( &s a conse:uence, <a$ter has rea% %ee-$' n
the $terature o+ noses, a%o-tn# t as another one o+ hs obsessons( /rstram en%s b' -romsn# a ta$e +rom
S$aw*enber#us, one o+ the most emnent authortes on noses(
.ommentar'
<th the amusn# -ortrat o+ <a$ter Shan%' attem-tn# to reach hs r#ht -oc*et wth hs $e+t han%, /rstram
carcatures the %o##e%ness o+ hs +atherAs -h$oso-hca$ %s-oston( /he vsua$ ma#e o+ <a$terAs -h'sca$
strann# an% contortons stan%s as a +#ure +or the absur% nte$$ectua$ #'mnastcs he constant$' -er+orms n
%e+ense o+ hs +avorte theores( /he e-so%e o+ the s:uea*' hn#e, sm$ar$', h#h$#hts the +act that <a$ter
Shan%'As -asson +or the esoterc causes hm to ne#$ect more -ractca$ matters( /he +act that /rstram st$$
has not +3e% the hn#e even we$$ a+ter hs +atherAs %eath remn%s us that there are stron# resemb$ances
between the +ather an% the son, even thou#h /rstram ma' tr' to %own-$a' them(
/hn#s %o not $oo* #oo% +or the ch$% about to be %e$vere%( /rstam has #ven us su++cent notce that the
bab'As nose s n =eo-ar%'( /he +act that 1r( S$o- man#$es /ob'As han% wth the +orce-s, n combnaton wth
<a$terAs theor6n# about bran %ama#e, $eaves us crn#n# n antc-aton o+ the %saster that s about to ta*e
-$ace( /he con+uson about hea%s an% h-s +rm$' $n*s the +$attene% nose wth the -ossb$t' o+ castraton(
/rstram w$$ %en' an' such s'mbo$c crcutousness, assertn# the $tera$ness o+ hs stor'( )s characters,
however, contnue to re+$ect +rom tme to tme on the event as a near!mss, *ee-n# the assocaton actve n
the rea%erAs mn%(
In the %scusson o+ tme, /ob' stumb$es onto the Loc*ean %e+nton o+ %uraton u-on whch <a$ter meant
to e3-oun%( Sterne s atten%n# here to the %++erence between c$oc*!tme an% menta$ tme( /he e3-$anaton,
thou#h +ar$' abstruse, comments on the e-so%e +rom the -revous vo$ume n whch the e$a-se% tme
between Eba%ahAs %e-arture an% return became so utter$' n%etermnate( "ach conscousness has ts own
-acn# an% tem-o, set b' whatever menta$ actvt' s #on# on at the moment( /he e++ort to s'nchron6e ths
tem-o wth an ob=ectve, e3terna$ tme can create stran#e e++ects, as when a short s-an o+ c$oc* tme Fseems
an a#e(F Ene resu$t o+ ths %scontnut' s to un%erscore the rre%ucb$e se-araton between n%v%ua$s!!the
+act that -eo-$e $ve n such se-arate wor$%s that each -erson s, n +act, a wor$% unto hmse$+( Loc*eAs theor'
a$so $en%s an authortatve bac*n# to /rstramAs unconventona$ metho%o$o#' n the tem-ora$ or%ern# o+
hs narratve(
/rstramAs e$aborate wor%-$a' on the wor% Fbr%#eF -onts out that $an#ua#e, whch we t'-ca$$' thn* o+ as
a vehc$e +or communcaton, can actua$$' be another me%um +or human so$aton( /he +act that the wor%
su##ests so man' %++erent conte3ts test+es both to the s$--erness o+ $an#ua#e an% to the wa' an
n%v%ua$As -rvate out$oo* co$ors hs nter-retatons( /rstram a$so remn%s us n the %#resson about the
br%#e that the stor' o+ /ob'As amours s st$$ +orthcomn#(
Go$ume 4
Summar'
/rstram be#ns, as -romse%, wth the S$aw*enber#us ta$e, a stor' about a trave$er wth an e3ce-tona$$'
$on# nose( )e then returns to hs +ather, who s st$$ $'n# across the be%, but be#ns to rouse hmse$+ an%
e3-ostu$ate about hs a++$ctons( <a$ter %ec%es that the ms+ortune o+ the crushe% nose must be
counteracte% wth a$$ the +orce o+ an e3cee%n#$' -ro-tous nameH he sett$es on F/rsme#stus(F
<a$ter ca$$s the %a'As events Fa cha-ter o+ chances,F an% so -rom-ts /rstram to revew the $st
o+ cha-ters he has -romse% the rea%erH on *nots, whs*ers, the r#ht an% wron# en% o+ a woman, wshes,
noses, an% mo%est'( )e a%%s to the $st a cha-ter on cha-ters, whch he %e$vers mme%ate$' as hs +ather
an% Knc$e /ob' wa$* %ownstars( It ta*es severa$ more cha-ters to #et them a$$ the wa' %own the stars,
%urn# whch tme the' contem-$ate the #reatness o+ the name F/rsme#stusF an% s-ecu$ate on the
%++cu$tes o+ marra#e an% ch$%brth(
/rstram %scusses wth the rea%er the +act that he s n the +ourth vo$ume o+ hs $+e stor' an% has on$'
#otten to the +rst %a' o+ hs $+e( Some :uc* ca$cu$atons revea$ that at the current rate o+ one vo$ume a
'ear, the $en#th o+ hs $+e s #rown# +aster than he s te$$n# t( >ather than -ro#ressn#, he s actua$$' $osn#
#roun%H Fthe more I wrte, the more I sha$$ have to wrte,F he marve$s, -ontn# out that the same ho$%s true
+or the rea%er(
Susannah rushes n wth the news that the ch$% has #one b$ac* n the +ace( She nee%s to *now the name he
s to be #ven so that he w$$ not %e wthout ben# ba-t6e%( <a$ter hestates +or a moment, %ebatn#
whether to rs* such a #reat name on a ch$% who m#ht not $ve to rea- ts bene+ts( 0ut snce there s no
tme to be waste%, he sen%s Susannah wth the name wh$e he %resses hmse$+( 0ut she -roves, as <a$ter ha%
+eare%, to be a F$ea*' vesse$F, she can on$' remember the +rst s'$$ab$e to te$$ the curate( )e chrstens the
bab' F/rstram,F m-atent o+ SusannahAs ob=ectons( <hen <a$ter $earns o+ the msta*e, he wa$*s ca$m$'
out to the +sh!-on%, sur-rsn# ever'one wth hs com-osure( >emann# behn%, /ob' an% /rm +n% a ho$e
n <a$terAs theor' about the m-ortance o+ .hrstan names, re+$ectn# on the +act that names actua$$' ma*e
ver' $tt$e %++erence n batt$e( <hen <a$ter returns to the house, he %e$vers a s-eech on the s'stematc
manner n whch he has been -ersecute% n the matter o+ ths ch$%(
/he' sen% +or ;arson 4orc*, n or%er to n:ure whether a re!chrstenn# s -ossb$e( )e %ec$ares hmse$+ no
FcanonstF an% su##ests that the' consu$t 1%us, the church $aw'er( /rstram then omts a cha-ter (s*--n#
+rom 23 to 2?) an% staunch$' %e+en%s hs -rv$e#e o+ %on# so( )e te$$s at #reat $en#th what wou$% have
been n the cha-ter be+ore returnn# us to the %nner o+ scho$ars( /he ssue o+ the un!namn# s -ut o++ b' a
comc nc%ent n whch a roaste% chestnut has +a$$en nto ;hutatorusAs -ants an% burne% hm( )e b$ames
4orc* +or the nc%ent, %emonstratn# the -arsonAs ten%enc' to ma*e enemes unwttn#$'( &+ter treatn# the
burn b' wra--n# t n a -a#e =ust o++ the -rntn# -ress, the $earne% men resume the :ueston o+ the namn#
acc%ent( &+ter $en#th' %ebates the' conc$u%e, rre$evant$', that -arents are unre$ate% to ther ch$%ren(
<a$ter Shan%' actua$$' en=o's these crcu$ar aca%emc %scussons #reat$', an% on$' when he returns home
%oes he reca$$ hs mserab$e a++$ctons( )e s mme%ate$' %stracte% +rom them a#an b' the arrva$ o+ a
$etter namn# hm as the rec-ent o+ a $e#ac' o+ a thousan% -oun%s, $e+t to hm b' &unt 1nah( )e muses
+or some tme about how to s-en% the mone', +ee$n# torn between sen%n# /rstramAs brother 0obb' on a
5ran% /our o+ "uro-e, or ma*n# some ca-ta$ m-rovements to the Shan%' estate( )s n%ecson s
re$eve%, however, when the news arrves that 0obb' ha% %e%( /rstram seems to e3u$t n that +act as the
vo$ume c$oses, statn# that he %ates the -ro-er be#nnn# o+ hs F$+e an% o-nonsF +rom the moment he
became the +am$' her( )e teases the rea%er, once a#an, wth the -romse o+ Knc$e /ob'As $ove a++ar,
ca$$n# t Fthe chocest morse$ o+ the who$e stor'(F
.ommentar'
/he se3ua$$' su##estve stor' +rom S$aw*enber#us reo-ens the :ueston o+ whether a se3ua$
nnuen%o s m-$e% n /rstramAs %ama#e% nose( /rstram -$a's wth hs au%ence hereH he wants the rea%er
to +ee$ the r%cu$ousness o+ the conventona$ assum-ton that ever'thn# n a stor' must have a h%%en
meann#( /o create ths e++ect, /rstram must smu$taneous$' encoura#e an% %sa--ont that e3-ectaton(
/rstram cu$tvates ths amb#ut' n a varet' o+ wa's, nc$u%n# the se3ua$ overtones n the %escr-ton o+
Knc$e /ob'As woun% to the #ron an% the nc%ent n whch the hot chestnut $an%s n ;hutatorusAs +$'(
/me contnues to be an m-ortant theme( In ana$'6n# the wa' hs $+e out-aces hs narraton o+ t, /rstram
s statn# n concrete terms an %ea that has been a -remse o+ the boo* a$$ a$on#H the e3treme %++cu$t' +or
even the most +$e3b$e an% resource+u$ *n% o+ wrtn# to contan an mmeasurab$' rch, com-$e3, an%
%verse rea$t'( /hese re+$ectons %o not +$n# /rstram nto %es-ar about hs -ro=ect, however( >ather, he
seems to a--roach t wth a new v#or, ta*n# the abun%ance o+ matera$ as a h#h$' o-tmstc crcumstance(
/he acc%enta$ mschrstenn# o+ the bab' +orces <a$ter to revse the e3-$anaton he #ave ear$er when he
ca$$e% ths %a' Fa cha-ter o+ chances(F /he -artcu$ar ms+ortunes that have be+a$$en hm touch wth -er+ect
-recson on each o+ <a$terAs most treasure% obsessons, the -onts o+ hs #reatest vu$nerab$t'( /he' be#an
to $oo* too conc%enta$ to be acc%enta$, an% he %ec%es that he must be the vctm o+ some heaven$'
cons-rac'( /rstram, $*e hs +ather, s susce-tb$e to +ar!+etche% %eas about the causaton o+ events( /he'
ta*e the remotest -recursor to ever'thn# that ha--ens as ts +un%amenta$ cause, over$oo*n# more
mme%ate +actors( Such a vew contrbutes to a +ata$stc out$oo*H when a servantAs *not s the Frea$F
e3-$anaton +or me%ca$ ma$-ractce, human ben#s are seen as havn# ver' $tt$e contro$ over the outcomes
o+ ther actons(
Go$ume ?
Summar'
/rstram o-ens ths vo$ume wth e-#ra-hs +rom )orace an% "rasmus an% then mme%ate$' nve#hs a#anst
-$a#arsm an% $terar' borrown#( )e com-$ans, FSha$$ we +or ever ma*e new boo*s, as a-othecares ma*e
new m3tures, b' -ourn# out o+ one vesse$ nto anotherM &re we +orever to be twstn# an% untwstn# the
same ro-eMF
)e then returns to the scene n whch hs +ather s %#estn# the news o+ 0obb'As %eath( <a$terAs
#re+ ta*es the ob$:ue an% m-ersona$ +orm o+ a cata$o#ue o+ $terar' an% hstorca$ cases o+ -arents who
have $ost ch$%ren( Mrs( Shan%', overhearn# the wor% Fw+e,F $stens at the %oor( Meanwh$e, n the *tchen,
.or-ora$ /rm ma*es a s-eech on the sub=ect o+ %eath that -ara$$e$s <a$terAs oraton n the -ar$or( /rstram
com-ares the rhetorca$ st'$es o+ these two men o+ such %++erent e%ucaton an% u-brn#n#( Eba%ah an%
Susannah res-on% st$$ %++erent$'H he thn*s o+ a$$ the wor* that w$$ have to be %one on the o3!moor, an%
she thn*s o+ a #reen satn #own an% the -re-arn# o+ the mournn# c$othes( /rstram then %#resses n or%er
to reca$$ that he st$$ owes cha-ters on chamberma%s an% buttonho$es, ho-n# that the -revous cha-ter
m#ht a%e:uate$' %schar#e hs %ebt( /rmAs s-eech!ma*n# contnues wh$e /rstram returns to Mrs(
Shan%', whom he has $e+t $stenn# at the -ar$or %oor, n tme to hear <a$terAs c$osn# s-ecu$atons on
Socrates an% hs ch$%ren(
<a$ter %etermnes to %evote hmse$+, now that hs o$%est son s %ea%, to -reservn# what s $e+t o+ hs
un+ortunate remann# ch$%( )e sets out to wrte a F/rstra!-ae%a,F a boo* out$nn# the s'stem un%er
whch /rstram s to be e%ucate%( &+ter three 'ears o+ wor*, <a$ter s a$most ha$+wa' throu#h wth the
-ro=ect, un+ortunate$', the ch$%As e%ucaton s ben# ne#$ecte% a$$ the wh$e(
&t the a#e o+ +ve /rstram su++ers hs ne3t ma=or catastro-he, n whch he s acc%enta$$' crcumcse% b' a
+a$$n# wn%ow sash n the nurser'( FA/was nothn#,F he sa's, FI %% not $ose two %ro-s o+ b$oo% b' t(F 0ut
the house s thrown nto an u-roar( Susannah, who was su-ervsn# the ch$%, +$ees the scene +or +ear o+
re-rsa$( /rm, hearn# o+ the nc%ent, ta*es the b$ame onto hmse$+, he %smant$e% a$$ the sashes to co$$ect
$ea% +or /ob'As +ort+catons( /rmAs va$ant %e+ense o+ Susannah remn%s /ob' o+ the 0att$e o+ Steen*r*(
/ob', 4orc*, /rm, an% Susannah march n +ormaton to Shan%' )a$$ to te$$ <a$ter about the acc%ent(
<a$terAs eccentrct' ma*es hm un-re%ctab$e, an% nobo%' s sure how he w$$ react(
/rstram, ar#un# +or hs r#ht to bac*trac*, returns to the moment o+ the acc%ent( /he ch$% screams most
m-ressve$', an% hs mother comes runnn# to see what s the matter =ust as Susannah s$-s out the bac*(
<a$ter a$so -rocee%s to the nurser', $earnn# what has trans-re% +rom the servants, who have a$rea%' hear%
the stor' +rom Susannah( )e surve's the scene wthout a wor% an% wa$*s bac* %ownstars( )e soon returns
a#an, e:u--e% to +ac$tate matters wth a Latn vo$ume on )ebrew crcumcson -ractces( <a$ter an%
4orc* con+er an% -ronounce that no harm has been %one to the ch$%(
<a$ter then be#ns to rea% +rom the /rstra!-ae%a( /ob' an% /rm ta*e u- amon# themse$ves the :ueston
o+ Fra%ca$ heat an% ra%ca$ mosture(F /he' #enerate an% then -resent an a$ternatve theor' to <a$terAs( /hs
+ree!+or!a$$ s nterru-te% b' the entrance o+ 1r( S$o-, who has been ten%n# to $tt$e /rstram( S$o- o++ers hs
%a#noss, an% then the others return to ther %ebate( <a$ter -romses to re+ran +rom rea%n# the /rstra!
-ae%a +or twe$ve months!!as soon as he +nshes arn# hs theor' about the m-ortance o+ au3$ar' verbs(
)e %emonstrates ther ut$t' b' means o+ the e3ten%e% e3am-$e o+ a whte bear(
.ommentar'
/rstramAs %atrbe a#anst borrown# +rom other authors soun%s str*n#$' mo%ern( )e wrote n a
tme when #oo% wrtn# was su--ose% to be conventona$ an% a$$usve, a$most b' %e+nton, t was not unt$
the >omantc -ero% that or#na$t' became the car%na$ $terar' vrtue( 4et %es-te the -ro#ressveness o+
the sentment, we are +orce% to reco#n6e that ts author %raws unabashe%$' +rom ever' source he can $a' hs
han%s on, a$bet o+ten -uttn# hs borrowe% matera$s to str*n#$' new an% or#na$ uses(
In chronc$n# the +am$'As reactons to the news o+ 0obb'As %eath, /rstram -ants a ba$ance% an% thorou#h
-ortrat o+ the varous members o+ the househo$%, ther mannersms, an% ther -reoccu-atons( /he tra#c
event o+ a +am$' memberAs %eath, rather than brn#n# the househo$% to#ether, sen%s them each s-nnn# o++
nto ther own -rvate orbts( )owever, /rstram %oes not sentmenta$6e ths +act an' more than he %oes the
+act o+ hs brotherAs %eath( /he stor' marches on, an% the se#ment c$oses wth /rmAs re+erence to the stor'
o+ Leutenant Le 9ever, a threa% /rstram w$$ -c* u- a#an $ater(
<a$ter ho-es to com-ensate +or the %sasters o+ /rstramAs conce-ton, nose, an% name b' ensurn# that hs
e%ucaton s con%ucte% +$aw$ess$'( /he -ara%o3 o+ the /rstra!-ae%a s that even thou#h t s meant to
re#u$ar6e /rstramAs e%ucaton, t actua$$' becomes a source o+ ts ne#$ect( F)e a%vance% so ver' s$ow wth
hs wor*,F /rstram te$$s us, Fan% I be#an to #et +orwar%s at such a rate,F that the /rstra! -ae%a -ro=ect
becomes an e3ercse n +ut$t'( /rstram com-ares t wth F%rawn# a sun%a$, +or no better -ur-ose than to
be bure% un%er#roun%(F /hus the -ro=ect o++ers another e3am-$e o+ the bu$t!n obso$escence o+ wrtn#(
L*e /rstramAs own boo*, the /rstra!-ae%a +a$s to *ee- -ace wth the -assa#e o+ tme n the rea$ wor$%(
/rstramAs acc%enta$ crcumcson s not as #rave, +rom ether hs +atherAs -ont o+ vew or hs own, as hs
other msha-s( /he scene un+o$%s as a come%', an% /rstram %ec$nes to %raw out Fthe #reat mora$F that s
mbe%%e% n ths stor', c$amn# to be too bus'( In rea$t', the mora$ s %oub$eH the +oo$sh +ort+caton
-ro=ect has #otten so out o+ han%, an% has so consume% the attenton an% %storte% the =u%#ment o+ ts
-$a'ers, that t has be#un to m-n#e on the ever'%a' $ves o+ the +am$' n wa's that are tru$' %an#erous( En
the other han%, /rstram cre%ts /rm +or hs nte#rt' n con+essn# hs own +au$t when he cou$% have
a$$owe% Susannah to ta*e the b$ame, F)ow wou$% 'our honors have behave%MF he as*s hs au%ence(
Go$ume 6
Summar'
/he author -auses to $oo* bac* over hs wor*, remar*n# on the number o+ =ac*asses the wor$% contans(
<a$ter too surve's hs wor*, con#ratu$atn# hmse$+ on the use+u$ness o+ hs /rstra!-ae%a( 1r( S$o- an%
Susannah bc*er as the' %ress 'oun# /rstramAs woun%( <a$ter be#ns to thn* o+ hrn# a #overnor (a
-rvate tutor) +or hs son, n or%er to m-rove /rstramAs su-ervson an% be#n hs e%ucaton( )e re+$ects on
the :ua$tes o+ the %ea$ #overnor, whch ns-res /ob' to recommen% Le 9everAs son, 0$$'( /rstram
embar*s on the sentmenta$ stor' about Le 9ever an% hs bo', re#rettn# that he msse% the o--ortunt', wth
a$$ the scene!sh+tn# n the $ast vo$ume, to #ve the stor' n .or-ora$ /rmAs own wor%s(
/ob' an% /rm ha% ta*en a -artcu$ar nterest n Leutenant Le 9ever when he +e$$ $$ wh$e -assn#
throu#h ther v$$a#e( 1es-te ther *n% an% #enerous attentons, Le 9ever %e%, $eavn# Knc$e /ob' to be
the e3ecutor o+ hs estate an% the #uar%an o+ hs or-hane% son( 4oun# 0$$' Le 9ever ha% been n the arm'
unt$ -oor hea$th an% +nanca$ troub$e recent$' reca$$e% hm home( )s arrva$ s e3-ecte% at an' moment
when /ob' -ro-oses hm +or /rstramAs #overnor(
1r( S$o- e3a##erates the e3tent o+ /rstramAs n=ur', creatn# a -ub$c embarrassment +or the Shan%' +am$'(
<a$ter cons%ers -uttn# the bo' n breeches as a correctve to -ub$c o-non an% %ec%es to submt the
matter to one o+ hs Fbe%s o+ =ustce(F /rstram e3-$ans that hs +atherAs -re+erre% metho% +or ma*n# b#
%ecsons s a mo%+e% verson o+ a 5othc tra%ton, n whch m-ortant matters are %ebate% twceH once n a
state o+ sobret' an% once wh$e %run*( /he %scussons <a$ter con%ucts wh$e n be% wth Mrs( Shan%' are
more sober than he m#ht wsh, however, snce she s a mar*e%$' uns-rte% conversatona$st( She
ac:uesces to -uttn# the bo' n breeches, an% submts to each o+ <a$terAs chan#n# o-nons about what sort
o+ breeches the' shou$% be( <a$ter then consu$ts hs $brar' +or ancent ws%om on breeches(
/rstram %ec$ares a turnn# -ont n the boo*, $eavn# a$$ these cons%eratons behn% Fto enter u-on a new
scene o+ events,F whch w$$ concern hs Knc$e /ob'( )e %escrbes the %eta$s o+ /ob'As +ort+catons, the
hstor' o+ ther constructon, an% the -$easure /ob' an% /rm too* n re!enactn# the events o+ the war( )e
eventua$$' $eaves o++ the account o+ ther +ort+caton -ro=ect to %scuss the other s%e o+ hs Knc$e /ob'As
-ersona$t', re+errn# a#an to /ob'As unusua$ mo%est' an% -re-arn# the sta#e +or the stor' o+ /ob'As $ove
a++ar( /ob' #reves when the war en%s, but /rstram nssts that t s not out o+ an' $ove o+ vo$ence or
%sre#ar% +or human $+e( /ob' %e$vers an &-o$o#etca$ Eraton n whch he ar#ues that war s a necessar'
ev$( Neverthe$ess, the /reat' o+ Ktrecht +orces a hatus n /ob'As obsessve actvtes( It s %urn# ths
F+ate+u$ nterva$,F /rstram hnts, that hs unc$e +a$$s vctm to <%ow <a%manAs amorous %es#ns( &+ter a
seres o+ rumnatons about the nature o+ $ove, /rstram +na$$' comes aroun% to statn# b$unt$', FM' unc$e
/ob' +e$$ n $ove(F 0ut /ob', o%%$', s amon# the $ast to $earn o+ hs own -$ans to marr' Mrs( <a%man(
.ommentar'
/he %ecsve event n ths vo$ume comes when /rstram announces a sh+t n the em-hass o+ the boo*( K-
to ths -ont, the ma=or se:uence o+ events has nvo$ve% the conce-ton, brth, ba-tsm, an% crcumcson o+
the n+ant /rstram( )ere the author trans+ers hs +ocus to the a%ventures o+ hs Knc$e /ob'( /he transton s
not as %rastc as /rstram ma*es t out to be, we have been #athern# -eces o+ /ob'As stor' a$$ a$on#, as we$$
as -romses o+ more to come (thou#h the' have man$' occurre% as %#ressons to the man narratve $ne)(
Ene o+ the most str*n# as-ects o+ the boo*, however, s the %e#ree to whch the man -$ot tra=ector' o+ten
rece%es nto the bac*#roun%, o+ten seemn# $*e no more than a s*e$eton on whch the author han#s a
%verst' o+ o-nons an% ana$'ses(
Now, however, /rstram %ec$ares outr#ht that he wou$% $*e to $eave hs own stor' behn%( 0ut he +ee$s he
cannot %o soH FI must #o a$on# wth 'ou to the en% o+ the wor*(F /hs statement revea$s the +act that the
stor' o+ the n+ant /rstram %oes not e3haust the F$+e an% o-nonsF o+ /rstram Shan%'( /ob'As stor' s =ust
as m-ortant n %sc$osn# the menta$ $+e o+ the author( &s + to -rove ths +act, /rstram %ro-s the ssues o+
the wn%ow sash acc%ent, the tutor, an% the breeches an% whs*s the stor' bac* to the ear$' %a's o+ /ob'As
obsessve hobbes( Ene o+ the most notab$e thn#s about ths -artcu$ar hobb'!horse s that t *ee-s /ob'
+rm$' roote% n the -ast, em-has6n# re!creatons an% re!enactments( <hen the en% o+ the war sus-en%s hs
-$easures, /ob' %oes $oo* to the +uture, he ho-es +or a new war to brea* out!!but on$' so that he can
re$e#ate t =ust as +rm$' to the -ast b' retracn# ts ever' movement( /he ntenst' o+ /ob'As mmerson n
ths ma#nar' wor$% s such that t ncor-orates an% trans+orms ever'thn# that comes wthn hs -urvew(
Go$ume 7
Summar'
/rstram remn%s the rea%er o+ hs vow to wrte two vo$umes a 'ear as $on# as he shou$% have hea$th an%
s-rts( )s s-rts have not 'et +a$e% hm, but he be#ns to worr' that hs %eteroratn# hea$th ma' -revent
hm +rom contnun# hs -ro=ect( /rstram reso$ves, there+ore, to run +rom %eath, F+or I have +ort' vo$umes to
wrte, an% +ort' thousan% thn#s to sa' an% %o, whch no bo%' n the wor$% w$$ sa' an% %o +or me, e3ce-t
m'se$+(F /hs s the motvaton wth whch he turns hs +ootste-s to 1over to be#n hs "uro-ean tour(
&+ter a +ar$' rou#h -assa#e, /rstram arrves n .a$as( )e %ebates wth hmse$+ about whether
he shou$% #ve a wrtten account o+ the town, as man' a trave$!wrter has %one be+ore hm( )e thn*s t a
shame Fthat a man cannot #o :uet$' throu#h a town, an% $et t a$one(F 4et he tres hs han% at %escrbn# the
-$ace an'wa', recor%n# m-ressons o+ ts church, s:uare, town!ha$$, an% seas%e :uarter, an% a%%n# a +ew
remar*s about ts strate#c $ocaton an% hstor'( )e re+rans at the $ast mnute +rom re-ro%ucn# >a-nAs
++t'!-a#e account o+ the se#e o+ 1346(
&+ter -assn# :uc*$' throu#h 0ou$o#ne, /rstram com-$ans about the state o+ 9rench trans-ortatonH
somethn# s a$wa's brea*n# %own( Ence n Montreu$, he %evotes most o+ hs attenton to 7anatone, the
nn!*ee-erAs %au#hter( She s more worth %escrbn# than an' archtectura$ won%er, he sa's, because Fthou
carrest the -rnc-$es o+ chan#e wthn th' +rame(F 9ee$n# 1eath st$$ -ursun# hm, /rstram trave$s on to
&bbev$$e( )e e3-resses hs %s%an +or the accommo%atons there, observn# that he wou$% rather %e n an
nn than at home, -rov%e% t was not ths one(
St$$ ea#er to #et to ;ars, /rstram e3-resses +rustraton at the near!m-ossb$t' o+ s$ee-n# n a
sta#ecoach( /he horses chan#e so o+ten that he must rouse hmse$+ ever' s3 m$es to -a'( Ence n ;ars,
/rstram ma*es a :uc* an% mathematca$ surve' o+ the ct'As streets an% bemoans the %++cu$t' o+ +n%n#
hote$ rooms there( &-o$o#6n# that he cannot sta' to -rov%e a -ro-er trave$o#ue vew o+ the ;arsan
scene, /rstram s :uc*$' bac* on the roa%( /hs tme he com-$ans about the s$ow -ace o+ 9rench trave$
an% n+orms us that there are two sure!+re wor%s +or #ettn# a 9rench horse to move( /o e$aborate, /rstram
o++ers an anec%ote about an abbess, whch revea$s that the 9rench wor%s soun% $*e "n#$sh obscentes(
/rstam ma*es short wor* o+ summar6n# 9ontanb$eau, Sens, 7o#n', an% &u3erre( /hen he s remn%e% o+
a -revous tr- to "uro-e %urn# hs 'outh, when he vste% man' o+ these same -$aces wth the rest o+ the
Shan%' +am$' (e3ce-t +or hs mother)( )s +atherAs eccentrctes #ave that tr- ts %e+nn# character, an% t
retans a -ecu$ar cast n /rstramAs memor'( &+ter %escrbn# some o+ those ear$er a%ventures, /rstram
$n#ers wth some awe over the wa' hs narratve has over$a--e% tse$+, he observes, FI have #ot entre$' out
o+ &u3erre n ths =ourne' whch I am wrtn# now, an% I am #ot ha$+ wa' out o+ &u3erre n that whch I
sha$$ wrte herea+ter(F
/rstram s +orce% to se$$ hs coach as he enters L'ons, t havn# become too %$a-%ate% to be o+ an' +urther
use( Ence n town, he meets wth FGe3aton u-on Ge3aton(F )e ma*es +ren%s wth an ass, %ubbn# t
F)onest'F an% +ee%n# t a macaroon( Someone e$se enters an% %rves the ass awa', an% /rstramAs -ants are
s$ashe% n the -rocess( )e then $earns that he s e3-ecte% to -a' Fsome s3 $vres o%% sousF at the -ost o++ce
+or hs carra#e to &v#non( ;rotestn# that he has %ec%e% to boo* -assa#e on a boat nstea%, /rstram +n%s
that he s st$$ cons%ere% $ab$e +or the mone'( <hen he rea$6es the case s ho-e$ess, he tres to #et a +ew
#oo% =o*es out o+ the stuaton to ma*e t worth the e3-ense, an% wn%s u- +ee$n# sats+e%( /hen /rstram
+n%s that he has $e+t hs notes n the chase an% rushes bac* +or them, on$' to %scover that the' have been
converte% nto cur$n# -a-ers( )e recovers them wth +ar$' #oo% humor, remar*n# that Fwhen the' are
-ub$she%(((the' w$$ be worse twste% st$$(F
In the south o+ 9rance, /rstram +ee$s he has $e+t 1eath behn%( /rave$n# across the -$ans o+
Lan#ue%oc on a mu$e, he comments, F/here s nothn# more -$easn# +or a trave$er!!or more terrb$e to
trave$!wrters, than a $ar#e rch -$an, es-eca$$' + t s wthout #reat rvers or br%#es, an% -resents nothn#
to the e'e, but one unvare% -cture o+ -$ent'(F )e #ves a sam-$e o+ hs own F;$an StoresF an% -romses
more o+ them some %a', but now a$$e#es that he must return to the stor' o+ Knc$e /ob'As romance( )e en%s
b' wshn# wst+u$$' that he cou$% $ve out the reman%er o+ hs $+e n such contentment as he en=o's wh$e
%ancn# wth Nanette, a Fnut brownF v$$a#e ma%(
.ommentar'
<th ths vo$ume, /rstram %sru-ts the -atterns hs narratve has +o$$owe% so +ar( >ather than contnun# to
bu$% (however ha$tn#$') towar% the stor' o+ Knc$e /ob'As romance, he sh+ts the scene +ar +rom the Shan%'
househo$% n or%er to re$ate hs own trave$s to the .ontnent( 9rom the moment he arrves n .a$as,
/rstram be#ns to -aro%' the conventons o+ trave$!wrtn#( )e :uestons whether the s#hts he sees are
worth %escrbn# at a$$, an% then %escrbes .a$as n such a wa' as to ma*e t soun% %entca$ to an' other
-$ace( )e s more ntereste% n -eo-$e (even +ctona$ ones) than -$aces, an% bra#s that Fb' se6n# ever'
han%$e, o+ what s6e or sha-e soever, whch chance he$% out to me n ths =ourne'!!I turne% m' plain nto a
city!!I was a$wa's n com-an'(F )e c$ams to have $earne% a #reat %ea$ about human nature as a resu$t(
)s u$tmate nterest, neverthe$ess, s n hmse$+H not on$' hs own o-nons an% wan%ern#s, but the stran#e
nteracton between the te3tAs own -resent an% -ast( /he number o+ /rstrams (/rstram %e-cte%
smu$taneous$' at %++erent -onts o+ hs $+e) we have access to s mu$t-$e% n ths secton( /he narratve
contans twoH the 'oun# man on the 5ran% /our wth hs +am$', an% the o$%er man who +ee$s the -resence
o+ 1eath an% worres about ben# ab$e to +nsh hs wrtn#( /he voce o+ the author s st$$ se-arate +rom
both o+ theseH he s no $on#er n 9rance, but has returne% to hs stu%' to recor% these +ar$' recent a%ventures(
/he author s enchante% wth ths stran#e -henomenon o+ memor' b' whch $ve% re-ettons can create a
%oub$eness n memor'(
9or a$$ the %scusson about +$een# 1eath, /rstram st$$ %oes not betra' an' rea$ an3et' about hs hea$th or
hs morta$t'( )e %ec$ares +rom the be#nnn# o+ the vo$ume that hs s-rts never +a$ hm, an% the narratve
test+es to the truth o+ that c$am( )e s as e3uberant an% +arcca$ as ever( Nor has he $ost an' o+ hs rba$%r'(
)e contnues to ma*e +un o+ the -ru%sh mora$t' he e3-ects +rom hs rea%er, as n the stor' o+ the &bbess(
/he &bbess s both more an% $ess mo%est than /rstram, +or t s she who revea$s the %rt' wor%s that he so
scru-u$ous$' wthho$%s, 'et he moc*s her e$aborate measures not to actua$$' sa' the wor%s( /hs e-so%e s
meant to e3-ose the $e#a$stc absur%t' o+ -ru%sh stan%ar%s o+ %ecenc'( /rstram s aware that even the
most censorous rea%ers have two ears!!one that cranes towar% the baw%', an% another that s re-e$$e%(
Go$ume 8
Summar'
/rstram e$aborates a#an u-on the necesst' o+ movn# bac*war% an% +orwar% n tme to te$$ hs stor'(
<h$e he st$$ nten%s to -ress on towar% the stor' o+ /ob'As $ove a++ar, he -re-ares us +or the -ossb$t'
that he ma' 'et ma*e some %#ressons a$on# the wa'( )e returns to hs ear$er su##eston that /ob' was the
$ast to *now that he was n $ove, observn# that + Susannah ha% not n+orme% hm o+ the matter, he m#ht
never have -ursue% the a++ar at a$$( /rstram $aunches nto the stor' once, #ets bo##e% %own n ramb$n#
s-ecu$atons, an% %ec%es to aban%on the cha-ter an% be#n a#an(
<hen Knc$e /ob' an% .or-ora$ /rm +rst come %own to the countr' to be#n wor* on the
+ort+catons, the' +n% that the house s un+urnshe%( /he' are ob$#e% to sta' wth <%ow <a%man +or
three %a's, an% b' the thr% %a' she has +a$$en n $ove wth /ob'( /ob' s so occu-e% wth hs batt$ements
that t ta*es unt$ the en% o+ the war!!e$even 'ears, n +act!!be+ore he has $esure to atten% to the stuaton
wth hs smtten ne#hbor(
/rstram %escrbes the <%owAs a%vances towar% /ob' as a m$tar' maneuver( Se-arate% +rom the ste o+
/ob'As batt$e re-$ca on$' b' a he%#erow, Mrs( <a%man s n a most strate#c -oston to $aunch her attac*(
0' +e#nn# nterest n hs ma-s an% -$ans she wor*s her wa' nto hs sentr'!bo3, en#neern# se%uctve
bum-s an% caresses whenever -ossb$e(
<hen the en% o+ the war +orces a $u$$ n ther actvtes, /rm o++ers to -rov%e some amusement +or /ob' b'
te$$n# the stor' o+ the Nn# o+ 0ohema an% hs seven cast$es( /hs ta$e never rea$$' #ets o++ the #roun%, an%
/rm %#resses nstea% nto the stor' o+ how he +e$$ n $ove %urn# the war( &+ter recevn# a woun% to the
*nee, /rm +n%s hmse$+ un%er the care o+ a 0e#une nun( &+ter a #reat %ea$ o+ *nee massa#n#, he su%%en$'
rea$6es he s n $ove wth her( /ob' h=ac*s the en% o+ the stor', whch s c$ear$' a--roachn# a se3ua$
c$ma3, b' sa'n#, Fan% then thou(((ma%est a s-eech(F
<%ow <a%man, who has been eaves%ro--n#, se6es the -assonate -tch o+ the moment to ma*e a move(
She enters the sentr'!bo3 an% announces that she has a s-ec* o+ somethn# n her e'e, as*n# Knc$e /ob' to
ta*e a $oo*( /ob' at +rst +n%s nothn#, but as he contnues to ns-ect her beaut+u$ e'e, hs heart be#ns to
warm to the <%ow <a%man( /hs s the %ecsve turnn# -ont n her cam-a#n(
<hen /ob' n+orms /rm that he has +a$$en n $ove, the two set to wor* ma--n# out a strate#'( /he' rea%'
ther un+orms an% wea-ons, an% /rm %ec%es to attem-t a -er-hera$ con:uest o+ 0r%#et, Mrs( <a%manAs
servant( /he n#ht be+ore the cam-a#n s to ta*e -$ace, <a$ter wrtes a $etter to /ob' +u$$ o+ hs brother$'
a%vce about women( /he FactonF s to be#n at e$even oAc$oc* the ne3t mornn#, an% <a$ter an% Mrs(
Shan%' wa$* out to watch the %rama un+o$%(
.ommentar'
/hs vo$ume s com-rse% o+ a seres o+ %e$a's an% restarts, as + /rstram s re$uctant to #et to the
events that w$$ termnate the stor' because, n %on# so, he w$$ +orce hmse$+ o++ the sta#e( )e s runnn# to
*ee- ahea% o+ the en% o+ hs own nove$ n much the same wa' that he +$ew +rom 1eath n the $ast vo$umeH
not %es-erate$' or +ear+u$$', but en=o'n# the s#hts a$on# the wa'( FEne wou$% thn* I too* a -$easure n
runnn# nto %++cu$tes o+ ths *n%,F /rstram remar*s when he #ets hun# u- n the s3th cha-ter( )e then
#oes on to %emonstrate that he does ta*e -$easure n them, turnn# the -ressn# concerns that -ush hm to
+nsh the nove$ (-overt' an% $$ness) nto =o*es( )e #ot sc* wh$e +ro$c*n# n 9$an%ers, an% -re+ers to
thn* o+ the ha--' cause rather than ts un+ortunate conse:uence( )e then turns the serous con%ton o+ hs
$un#s nto a satre o+ me%ca$ -ro+essona$s, whose %a#noses amount to nothn# more than e$ementar' math(
In one o+ these %#ressons, /rstram ma*es the -rovocatve statement, FI am reso$ve% never to rea% an'
boo* but m' own, as $on# as I $ve(F )ow cou$% he rea% an' otherM 0' ths -ont n the nove$ we are to
un%erstan% that /rstramAs boo*, n ts broa%est sense, amounts to the ver' wor*n#s o+ hs own mn%(
"ver'thn# he encounters (or rea%s) -asses throu#h that same +$ter, whch s tse$+ the substance o+ the
boo*( "ver'thn# /rstram has rea% s a -art o+ hs narratve, a$most b' %e+nton, n%ee% much o+ t s there
n a :ute $tera$ sense, an% he %e+nes the sco-e o+ hs boo* so that more can a$wa's be nc$u%e%( /rstramAs
boo*, n ths re#ar%, s hs ver' ben#!!hs $+e an% o-nons are -recse$' what he cannot avo% or esca-e(
<hen the war en%s, /ob' rea$$' %oes not *now what to %o wth hmse$+( /he a++ar wth <%ow <a%man
he$-s hm to transton out o+ a mn%set obsesse% wth the -ast (whch has become trans$ate% b' means o+
hs hobb' nto an ma#nar' an% even %e$usor' -resent)( /he e3-erence o+ $ove an% the -ros-ect o+
marra#e re:ure hm to thn* about the -resent rea$t' an% to $oo* +orwar% to the +uture n wa's to whch he
has become unaccustome%( FIt s not eas',F he te$$s /rm, F+or one, bre% u- as thou an% I have been to arm,
who se$%om $oo*s +urther +orwar% than to the en% o+ hs mus*et, or bac*war%s be'on% hs *na-sac*, to
*now much about ths matter Io+ chrono$o#'J(F /ob' s tr'n# to encoura#e /rm n hs stor'te$$n#, but he
cou$% =ust as eas$' be s-ea*n# about hmse$+(
Go$ume @
Summar'
/rstramAs mother revea$s a vo'eurstc curost' n her %esre to watch throu#h the *e'ho$e as Knc$e /ob'
ma*es hs march +or <%ow <a%manAs heart( .or-ora$ /rm has ha% some %++cu$t' n #ettn# /ob'As
ra##e% c$othn# an% o$% w# t%e% u-, +ortunate$', /rstram te$$s us, /ob'As #oo%ness o+ heart shnes +orth n
hs countenance to such a %e#ree that he $oo*s #oo% n an'thn#( /he a%vance be#ns, but then /ob' an%
/rm %etan themse$ves outs%e Mrs( <a%manAs %oor wh$e /rm te$$s o+ hs brother /om, who marre% a
w%owe% 7ewsh sausa#e!ma*er n Lsbon an% was ta*en nto custo%' b' the In:uston( <a$ter an% Mrs(
Shan%' watch m-atent$' %urn# ths $en#th' %e$a'(
/he author -auses to revew what he has wrtten, %ec%n# that Fu-on ths -a#e an% the +ve
+o$$own#, a #oo% %ea$ o+ hetero#eneous matter ImustJ be nserte%, to *ee- u- that =ust ba$ance betw3t
ws%om an% +o$$', wthout whch a boo* wou$% not ho$% to#ether a sn#$e 'ear(F )e then e3-ostu$ates +or
severa$ cha-ters on the nature o+ hs wrtn#, %e+en%n# hmse$+ n -artcu$ar a#anst char#es o+ n%ecenc'(
&s ev%ence +or the c$eanness o+ hs wrtn# he submts hs e3tensve $aun%r' b$$s( /rstram -$ans a
%#resson, an% then rea$6es that n ta$*n# about t he has actua$$' commtte% t( Marve$n# at ths +act, he
returns to Knc$e /ob'(
Mrs( <a%man an% 0r%#et wat ns%e, -ose% +or the *noc* at the %oor( /ob' has a moment o+ nervous
hestaton, but be+ore he can te$$ /rm to wat, F/rm $et +a$$ the ra--er(F /he' enter the house, an% two
b$an* -a#es a--ear n the -$ace o+ the ne3t two cha-ters( <e re=on the acton n the m%st o+ a su##estve
conversaton n whch /ob' o++ers to $et <%ow <a%man see an% touch the -$ace where hs #ron was
woun%e%(
/rstram ctes S$aw*enber#us on how a woman chooses her husban% an% %scusses Mrs( <a%manAs
reservatons about Knc$e /ob'As F+tness +or the marra#e stateF!!whch, he assures us, was -er+ect$' +ne n
s-te o+ the woun%e% #ron( 0r%#et has en#a#e% herse$+ to +n% out the %eta$s o+ the n=ur' on her mstressAs
beha$+, reso$vn# to be as +ren%$' wth /rm as necessar' n or%er to secure that vta$ n+ormaton(
/rstram ba$*s =ust at the moment o+ arrvn# at Fthe chocest morse$ o+ what I ha% to o++er to the wor$%,F
su%%en$' +a$$n# nto %oubt about hs $terar' -owers( )e nvo*es the s-rt o+ .ervantes to a% hm, an% s
remn%e% then o+ hs trave$s throu#h 9rance an% Ita$'( &n#ushe% to rea$6e that nobo%' e$se w$$ a--recate
the necesst' o+ $eavn# cha-ters 18 an% 1@ b$an* unt$ cha-ter 2? s com-$ete%, he voces a#an hs +avorte
-$ea to the wor$% Fto $et -eo-$e te$$ ther stores ther own wa'(F )e then e3-$ans the %eta$s o+ what
trans-res n those omtte% -a#es( /ob' %ec$ares hs $ove, an% <%ow <a%man, a+ter an aw*war% -ause,
turns the conversaton to the sub=ect o+ ch$%ren( /ob', who %oes not un%erstan% the motve behn% her
:uestonn#, covers hs ba++$ement b' -ro-osn# marra#e( 0ac* n cha-ter 26, <%ow <a%man nterro#ates
/ob' about hs woun%, an% he a%mres the Fhumant'F o+ her so$ctu%e( <hen she as*s where, e3act$', he
receve% the b$ow, he sen%s +or the ma- o+ Namur an% sets her +n#er on the ver' -$ace(
/rm then retreves the ma- an% ma*es the same #eo#ra-hca$ e3-$anaton to 0r%#et( She cuts to the chase,
te$$n# hm b$unt$' the rumor she has hear% about /ob'As m-otence, /rm %enes the a$$e#aton( )e
success+u$$' romances 0r%#et, an% +or a wh$e the two se-arate -hases o+ the cam-a#n contnue re#u$ar$'
ever' a+ternoon( /rm +na$$' revea$s to hs master the true reason behn% <%ow <a%manAs concern +or hs
n=ure% -arts, an% /ob' s woe+u$$' %s$$usone%( /he who$e ne#hborhoo%, meanwh$e, has $earne% o+ ther
msun%erstan%n#, an% <a$ter s h#h$' n%#nant on hs brotherAs beha$+( /he nove$ en%s wth the stor' o+ a
coc* an% a bu$$(
.ommentar'
&t the en% o+ the +ourth vo$ume /rstram wrtes, F/he thn# I $ament s, that thn#s have crow%e%
so n u-on me, that I have not been ab$e to #et nto that -art o+ m' wor*, towar%s whch I have a$$ the wa'
$oo*e% +orwar%s, wth so much earnest %esre, an% that s the cam-a#ns, but es-eca$$' the amours o+ m'
unc$e /ob'(F /rstram +na$$' $ea%s us to the $on#!-romse% conc$uson o+ hs Knc$e /ob'As a++ar, an% at $ast
we $earn the reason behn% /ob'As much!vaunte% mo%est'(
/ob'As nervousness an% nnocence s en%earn#, an% the -resentaton o+ the $ove a++ar as a batt$e seems n
man' wa's a more a-t use o+ the m$tar' meta-hor than a$$ ther +rut$ess an% obsessve hobbes( /he stor'
o+ /rmAs brother /om an% hs success+u$ courtsh- serves n one wa' as an ns-raton to /ob'As e++orts( En
the other han%, the menton o+ the In:uston $eaves a $n#ern# su##eston o+ the marra#e state as a *n% o+
-rson, contrbutn# to /ob'As hestanc'( /he -rson meta-hor certan$' a$so e3ten%s to the :ueston o+
censorsh- an% hovers over /rstramAs %#resson nto the :ueston o+ n%ecenc' n hs wrtn#(
/he unha--' en% to the <a%man a++ar reca$$s /ob'As con+esson, n Go$ume 2, that he un%erstan%s Fnothn#
at a$$F about women( )s navete here con+rms that +act, but t a$so n%uces a somewhat b$ea* answer to the
m-$ct :ueston o+ what the nature o+ women actua$$' s( <a$terAs $ecture on the $ust+u$ness o+ women, =ust
be+ore the nove$ en%s, s a conc$uson to hs un+nshe% oraton on the same to-c ear$er n the boo*(
<omen seem to bear the brunt o+ b$ame an% contem-t here, es-eca$$' n $#ht o+ the attenton %evote%
ear$er n the vo$ume to cata$o#un# Mrs( Shan%'As +au$ts( /rm actua$$' ma*es a more s'm-athetc
statement when he su##ests that women are o+ten F-ut u-on(((Ato -$ease others more than themse$ves(AF
<a$terAs +na$ s-eech s so out o+ tune wth the -$a'+u$ atttu%e the boo* as a who$e ta*es towar% se3ua$t'
that we cannot ma#ne the author en%orsn# such a vew( <here women +t nto SterneAs ntrcate treatment
o+ se3ua$t' an% #en%er remans a com-$cate% :ueston(
/he ssues o+ +ert$t', ster$t', an% se3ua$t' %omnate the c$osn# cha-ters, brn#n# the +ocus bac* to the
same set o+ concerns wth whch the boo* be#an( /he re+erence to <a$terAs rtua$6e% +rst!Sun%a'!o+!the!
month actvtes creates another sats+'n# s'mmetr'( /he +na$ cha-ter brn#s to#ether a$$ the ma=or
characters to $sten to one $ast coc*!an%!bu$$ stor', e++ectn# a se$+!ronca$ re-rse that serves as the authorAs
+arewe$$(
Evera$$ &na$'ss an% O/hemes
/he most str*n# +orma$ an% technca$ characterstcs o+ Tristram Shandy are ts unconventona$ tme
scheme an% ts se$+!%ec$are% %#ressve!-ro#ressve st'$e( Sterne, throu#h hs +ctona$ author!character
/rstram, %e+ant$' re+uses to -resent events n ther -ro-er chrono$o#ca$ or%er( &#an an% a#an n the
course o+ the nove$ /rstram %e+en%s hs authora$ r#ht to move bac*war% an% +orwar% n tme as he
chooses( )e a$so re$es so heav$' on %#ressons that -$ot e$ements rece%e nto the bac*#roun%, the nove$ s
+u$$ o+ $on# essa'stc -assa#es remar*n# on what has trans-re% or, o+ten, on somethn# e$se a$to#ether(
/rstram c$ams that hs narratve s both %#ressve and -ro#ressve, ca$$n# our attenton to the wa' n
whch hs authora$ -ro=ect s ben# a%vance% at the ver' moments when he seems to have wan%ere% +arthest
a+e$%(
0' +racturn# the se:uence o+ the stores he te$$s an% nter=ectn# them wth chans o+ assocate%
%eas, memores, an% anec%otes, /rstram a$$ows thematc s#n+cance to emer#e out o+ sur-rsn#
=u3ta-ostons between seemn#$' unre$ate% events( /he assocaton o+ %eas s a ma=or theme o+ the wor*,
however, an% not =ust a structura$ -rnc-$e( ;art o+ the nove$As se$+!crt:ue stems +rom the wa' the author
o+ten moc*s the -erverseness b' whch n%v%ua$s assocate an% nter-ret events base% on ther own -rvate
menta$ -reoccu-atons( /he authorAs own %eas an% nter-retatons are -resumab$' =ust as sn#u$ar, an% so
the nove$ remans above a$$ a cata$o#ue o+ the Fo-nonsF o+ /rstram Shan%'(
Much o+ the subt$et' o+ the nove$ comes +rom the $a'ern# o+ authora$ voce that Sterne acheves b' ma*n#
hs -rota#onst the author o+ hs own $+e stor', an% then -resentn# that stor' as the nove$ tse$+( /he
+ctona$ authorAs conscousness s the +$ter throu#h whch ever'thn# n the boo* -asses( 4et Sterne
sometmes nvtes the rea%er to :ueston the o-nons an% assum-tons that /rstram e3-resses, remn%n# us
that Shan%' s not a sm-$e substtute +or Sterne( Ene o+ the e++ects o+ ths techn:ue s to %raw the rea%er
nto an unusua$$' actve an% -artc-ator' ro$e( /rstram counts on hs au%ence to n%u$#e hs %os'ncrases
an% ver+' hs o-nons, Sterne as*s the rea%er to a--roach the un+o$%n# narratve wth a more
%scrmnatn# an% crtca$ =u%#ment(