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What hardships does Dr. Primroseās family face in The Vicar of Wakefield?
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Oliver Goldsmith
Oliver Goldsmith, oil painting from the studio of Sir Joshua Reynolds, 1770; in the National Portrait Gallery, London
In The Vicar of Wakefield, written by the Anglo-Irish author Oliver Goldsmith, Dr. Primrose and his family endure a series of severe hardships that test their resilience. These trials include:
- Financial Ruin: The family suffers the loss of the majority of their wealth.1
- Personal Betrayal: One of the daughters is seduced.1
- Destruction of Property: Their home is destroyed by fire.1
- Imprisonment: Dr. Primrose himself faces the indignity of incarceration.1
Despite these melodramatic incidents and significant suffering, the narrative ultimately resolves these conflicts, restoring order to the family's life.1