The Old Midwife Character Analysis in Tristram Shandy

The old midwife is the only midwife living near Shandy-Hall. Renowned for her services, the midwife acquired her skills thanks to Yorick, whose wife encouraged him to pay for the midwife’s training. Mrs. Shandy insists on having the midwife deliver Tristram, but the midwife falls and hurts herself during Mrs. Shandy’s labor, forcing her to hand the rest of the procedure over to Dr. Slop.

The Old Midwife Character Timeline in Tristram Shandy

The timeline below shows where the character The Old Midwife appears in Tristram Shandy. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Chapter 7. The village where Tristram’s family lives is also home to an old midwife who has developed a great reputation for her work despite only offering her services within... (full context)

Chapter 10. Tristram affirms that while the parson’s support of the midwife may seem irrelevant to the story of his birth, that is not the case. Though... (full context)

...intention in recounting this is to show the village’s reaction. When the parson paid for the midwife to be trained, rumors quickly spread that he would once again buy a high-quality horse... (full context)

Chapter 13. Tristram notes that it is time to return to the original subject: the midwife . Recounting her importance to the neighborhood, Tristram explains once more the radius in which... (full context)

...control of the circumstances of childbirth in other ways. She insists upon the services of the local midwife , despite the fact that their neighborhood is also home to a doctor with significant... (full context)

...will be called, he will be paid only to socialize with Walter and Toby while the midwife helps Mrs. Shandy give birth. Tristram then cautions the reader note to mistake his mistress... (full context)

...that Mrs. Shandy is in labor, and their servant girl Susannah has gone to fetch the midwife . Walter orders Obadiah to take a horse and go fetch the Dr. Slop as... (full context)

...As Dr. Slop prepares to examine Mrs. Shandy, Walter explains to him her insistence on the midwife ’s care. He says that Dr. Slop is only there in case the midwife needs... (full context)

...tell Dr. Slop, Walter, and Toby that Mrs. Shandy is about to give birth and the midwife has fallen and hurt herself. Dr. Slop offers to look at the midwife’s injury, but... (full context)

Chapter 17. Dr. Slop and the midwife argue viciously, unable to agree if it’s Tristram’s hip or his head that is crowning.... (full context)

...mulls over the idea until he falls asleep. Toby quickly follows suit. As Dr. Slop, the midwife , and Mrs. Shandy are all busy, Tristram resolves to make use of this chapter... (full context)