Tristram Shandy: Book 4: Chapters 19-24 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 19. Walter comes back from the fishpond, catching Toby in the act of miming a siege. Luckily, Tristram comments, Walter’s despair prevents him from insulting Toby’s hobby-horse. Instead, he curses his fate, suggesting that God is punishing him for his or the Shandy family’s sins by condemning his badly named, noseless child to a life of failure. Walter bemoans the loss of his animal spirits, feeling weak and defeated. He also blames Mrs. Shandy for refusing to take a scientific approach to her pregnancy and believes that her arguing was also bad for the fetus. Toby suggests they call Yorick.

Chapter 20. Tristram, looking back at his first four volumes, is astounded by his pace. Comparing himself to a rider on horseback, he claims that while he never intended to “trod upon” anyone, he has moved with such haste that he now stands accused of splashing dirt on all kinds of passersby. He promises to defend himself with the story in the next chapter.

Chapter 21. Francis I of France suggests to his minister that they improve relations with Switzerland. The minister is dismayed and argues that they cannot keep bribing Switzerland. Francis suggests that instead he offer Switzerland the chance to be godfather to his child. The minister replies that Switzerland, as a republic, is female, so Francis suggests it be godmother. Switzerland agrees but claims its right as godmother to name the child. Francis consents, assuming Switzerland will suggest a normal name. Instead, they offer the options of Shadrach, Mesech, and Abed-nego. Francis is furious and suggests bribing them instead, but there is not enough money for that—instead, Francis demands that they go to war.

Chapter 22. Tristram humbly apologizes to the reader for the careless with which he has written his book so far, digressing from one topic to the next. The true intention of the book, he argues, is to counteract the spleen and the bitter humors it produces.

Chapter 23. Walter asks Yorick if a child can be renamed after it’s been christened. Yorick suggests that Walter come with him to dinner with Didius and several other church leaders to discuss the possibility of renaming Tristram. Walter insists Toby come with them too.

Chapter 24. Tristram points out that there is an entire chapter missing here, not by accident but quite deliberately—he has torn it out. The excised chapter describes Tristram’s father, Toby, Trim, and Obadiah’s journey to the dinner. On their carriage, however, the Shandy coat of arms, which once contained a bend dexter, has much to Walter’s chagrin been mistakenly repainted with a bend sinister. As this mistake has not been correct, Walter refuses to get into the carriage, suggesting to Toby that while it might be fit to visit Aunt Dinah, he will not take it to see the church leaders. Moreover, the damp carriage worsens Walter’s sciatica, so they agree to travel on horseback. Tristram has removed this chapter because it is so much better written than anything else in his book, and it would have ruined the rest of the story to include it.