The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

After quoting both Horace and Erasmus, Tristram complains about plagiarism and writers who borrow from others. Then he returns to the moment when his father learned about the death of his eldest son. Walter’s grief manifests as a list of other parents throughout history and literature who have also lost their children. When he mentions the word “wife,” Elizabeth begins listening to her husband from the other room. At the same time, Corporal Trim is in the kitchen. He is speaking about death as well. Tristram compares the speech of Trim and Walter, who come from very different social classes. Elsewhere, Susannah and Obadiah respond by thinking of all the work that they will need to do before Bobby’s funeral. Tristram remembers that he promised to dedicate chapters to subjects like chambermaids, but he believes that his previous chapter has gone some way to settling his debt to the audience. Tristram leaves Trim to his speech, returning to his mother as she listens to her husband through the parlor door. In the wake of Bobby’s death, Walter promises to dedicate his life to raising his living child. To educate the boy, he will write a “Tristra-paedia” (298), which will outline the exact way in which Tristram is to be educated.