Olivia tells her story. It was indeed Squire Thornhill who abducted her. It turns out that the fashionable ladies were actually ill-bred tramps from town, who were acting as decoys to get the vicar’s permission to send Olivia and Sophia to London. Mr Burchell’s letter – which was actually insulting the reputation of these ladies, and not of the Primrose girls – scared them off, which is why the fake appointment to London spots never went through. nephew to enjoy the rest, and chiefly resides in town.’‘What!’ cried I, ‘is my young landlord then the nephew of a Farmer Williams visits the family one day when the squire is there. The farmer’s clear passion for Olivia seems to bother Squire Thornhill, and Olivia suggests to her father that the squire must have a reason for delaying in his proposal. The vicar and Deborah then decide to set a date by which Squire Thornhill must act, after which they will give Olivia’s hand to Farmer Williams. Slyly, they let the squire know about this date. In many ways, social class is one of the most pernicious forces in the novel. Despite the vicar’s outward support of poverty, the Primrose family cannot accept having lost its upper-middle-class status. Because they continue to see the world in terms of social class, they prove blind to Squire Thornhill’s machinations and question good people like Mr Burchell and the Flamborough girls. Even as their attempts to act above their station embarrass them, the Primrose family continues to push for a certain level of appearance.

The sermons represent the Vicar’s dedication to his faith and his role as a moral guide for his family and community.One could see this inconsistency in the vicar as an expression of his love for family. Because he values them above all else, he wishes great things for them, even if what they want contradictions his virtue. Of course, this attitude necessarily means a compromise in virtue. Thomas Preston suggests that one of the novel’s main themes and arcs comes with the vicar’s “purging of his pride of family” so that he can return them to the purity of the hermetic life that enjoy at the novel’s beginning. The vicar then learns that Sophia has been abducted. Almost immediately afterwards, George is brought to the jail as a prisoner, after having heard of Olivia’s shame and then challenging the squire to a duel. The squire’s servants beat him instead. Horrified by this succession of misfortunes, the vicar steels himself and delivers a sermon on fortitude to the entire prison. The vicar makes friends with a cute, scholarly, and down and out young man, Mr. Burchell after he rescues Sophia from drowning. Sophia is attracted to Mr.Burchell. At the same time, the family also gets wind of their new landlord, Squire Thornhill, known to be a rascal who lives on the generosity of his uncle, Sir William Thornhill.

Though both Olivia's health and the vicar's own health are fading, he refuses to make peace with Squire Thornhill until Jenkinson brings word that Olivia has died. Anguished, the vicar sends a letter of peace to Squire Thornhill, who refuses to compromise because of the letter the vicar sent to Sir William. The butler has become a friend to the vicar since the latter convinced Mr Arnold not to fire him. He informs the vicar that Squire Thornhill has made overtures to Miss Wilmot, and will be visiting. When the squire does arrive to pay his compliments, he is surprised to find the vicar there and asks after Olivia. The short continuance of friendship among the vicious, which is coeval only with mutual satisfaction

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However, the vicar is disconcerted to observe Mr Burchell’s attentions towards Sophia. He later criticizes the man to his family but is admonished for his harshness by Sophia and Moses. Goldsmith uses vivid descriptions of the countryside to evoke a sense of peace and tranquility, in contrast to the turmoil faced by the family. Sophia describes the man who kidnapped her, and Jenkinson realizes who the scoundrel is. With Sir William's blessing, the jailer gives Jenkinson two men with which to apprehend this criminal. Meanwhile, Sir William realizes who George is, and lectures him about fighting. He comes to understand the behavior, if not condone it, when he learns what George believed about his nephew. However, right before the wedding, Olivia flees with Squire Thornhill. This is a heartbreaking blow to the family, since it means Olivia has sacrificed her reputation (which was no small virtue in this time period). The vicar sets out after her, hoping to save and forgive her. He finds Squire Thornhill at home, and then suspects Mr. Burchell of the crime.

On their removal to their new vicarage the Primrose family had made the acquaintance of a certain Mr Burchell, who appears to be a broken‐down gentleman, kind‐hearted but somewhat eccentric. By good fortune he is now the means of rescuing Sophia. It thereupon appears that he is in reality the benevolent Sir William Thornhill, the squire's uncle. The squire's villainy is now exposed, and at last all ends happily. Sir William marries Sophia. Olivia is found not to be dead, and her marriage to the squire is shown to have been, contrary to his intentions, legal. The Vicar's fortune is restored to him, and George marries the young lady of his heart. One of his favourite topics to discuss is that of matrimony. In fact, he has written and published passionate tracts arguing that a husband or wife should never remarry if his or her partner dies. He believes a person should remain chaste in his or her beloved’s memory.The novel contrasts the lives of the wealthy and the poor, exploring themes of social inequality and injustice. Deborah whispers her approval to the vicar, noting that Sophia has potentially made a “conquest” as Olivia had with the squire (40). The chaplain tells them that that the squire intends to throw a ball for the girls on the following night, and then asks Sophia if she will grant him her first dance. However, she refuses, saying that she should grant her first dance to Mr Burchell. To the vicar’s surprise, the young man politely refuses to attend. Analysis of The Vicar of Wakefield The vicar then learns of Sophia’s abduction. Almost instantly, George is imprisoned. The imprisonment follows George challenging Thornhill to a fight. In his distress, the vicar preaches to the prisoners. Sophia's features were not so striking at first; but often did more certain execution; for they were soft, modest, and alluring. The one vanquished by a single blow, the other by efforts successfully repeated...Olivia wished for many lovers, Sophia to secure one. Olivia was often affected from too great a desire to please. Sophia even represt (repressed) excellence from her fears to offend."

Though both Olivia’s health and the vicar’s own health are fading, he refuses to make peace with Squire Thornhill until Jenkinson brings word that Olivia has died. Anguished, the vicar sends a letter of peace to Squire Thornhill, who refuses to compromise because of the letter the vicar sent to Sir William. Finding themselves poor, the vicar’s family has few options. Therefore, he is encouraged by the offer of a vicar job in a distant neighbourhood, which would pay fifteen pounds a year and allow the family some farmland to manage. The family is discouraged by the prospect of moving, but he reminds them that they are now poor and much acclimate to fewer luxuries. Before they move, he sends George to town, hoping that the young scholar might find some work through which to support his family.Education and Knowledge: The novel examines the theme of education and knowledge, as characters seek to expand their horizons and better themselves through learning and intellectual pursuits.