The Adventures of Roderick Random

Strap and the Chandler’s Widow

Strap confides in the narrator that he plans to propose to a nearby tallow chandler’s widow, who he believes runs a profitable trade, owns a well-furnished home, and has expressed interest in marrying him to escape her current circumstances. The narrator agrees to meet the widow first to verify reports of her fortune before giving Strap his full approval. Upon meeting her, the narrator immediately notices her prominently pregnant belly and warns Strap that he is almost certainly being deceived by the friend who introduced them, who is likely trying to pawn the pregnant widow off on Strap to avoid supporting her and her child himself. Strap initially doubts the narrator’s judgment, but the prediction is proven correct within a fortnight: the widow gives birth, her false friend disappears, and her household goods are seized by creditors to settle her debts.

The Opera and Melinda

The narrator meets his friend Banter and Mr. Chatter at a public eating house, and accompanies them to the Opera that evening. Chatter points out the popular, wealthy socialite Melinda in a box, and promises to introduce the narrator to her, noting she is a highly sought-after social “toast” with a £10,000 fortune. The narrator eagerly accepts, and Chatter secures Melinda’s agreement to dance with the narrator at the next assembly. Banter later warns the narrator privately that Melinda is a frivolous coquette who grants favors to any attractive young man only to expand her flock of admirers to feed her vanity, claims she is cold and unfeeling, and predicts she will ultimately marry the wealthiest fool who pursues her. The narrator dismisses Banter’s warning as either satire or resentment over a past rejection from Melinda, and is confident his own charms will win her over.