Summary of Richard Steele's “Character of Will Wimble”

Introduction

            Sir Richard Steele was a famous English essayist, dramatist, journalist, and politician, best known as principal author (with Joseph Addison) of the periodicals The Tatler and The Spectator.

            Steele’s essay, “The Character of Will Wimble” is about a person called Will Wimble.  It traces his character.  Steele ends the prose by universalizing the problem of difference between two brothers – the younger and the elder.

Will’s Letter

            Richard Steele visits his friend Sir Roger de Coverley at his house.  He receives a man with a huge fish and a letter.  The messenger says that Will Wimble caught the fish.  He also informs that Will Wimble would dine with Roger.  Sir Roger reads the letter given by the messenger.  Will Wimble has written it.  It says that Will is willing to stay with him for a week.  Will promises to bring lash for his whip.  He also informs that he had been busy helping Sir John’s family.

Character of Will     

            Will is a younger brother of a baronet.  He is about forty and fifty.  He had no specific business to do.  He helps people with his handicraft skills.  He makes angle rods.  He always carries tulips, which he gifts to the family members.  He some times gifts puppies.  Many people love him.  He presents hand made clothes to women.

            He comes to Sir Roger’s house.  On his way, he cuts a few hazel twigs.  He is given a hearty welcome.  He loves Sir Roger.  He requests Roger to give a servant who would carry shuttle cocks to a lady nearby.  He then talks about adventurous stories, which attracts Steele.

Conclusion

            They eat the fish, during which time Will talks about the way he caught the fish.  After dinner Steele feels pity for Will.  He considers Will as a responsible man but he is without a job on his own.  It is been a practice in Europe that the elder brothers take care of the business and the younger ones are left for the family.  Steele does not like this.  If Will had been into the field of commerce, he would have shined.