The Adventures of Roderick Random

Rescue by the Witch-Suspected Widow

An old woman of remarkable intrepidity enters the barn with the two frightened men following, immediately advancing to the narrator’s position declaring she neither fears the devil nor a corpse. Recognizing the narrator’s critical condition, she arranges transport via wheelbarrow to a neighboring farmer named Hodge, arguing he possesses greater means to cover burial costs for vagrants. Upon arrival, the narrator is tumbled unceremoniously from the cart and nearly falls prey to hogs before groaning summons household members. Hodge, resembling the uncharitable Jew rather than the Good Samaritan, forwards the narrator to the parson, who must practice charity rather than merely preach it. The vicar, however, threatens excommunication unless the narrator is immediately removed. Having been passed from door to door throughout the entire village without receiving aid, the narrator finally regains consciousness in the home of an elderly woman locally suspected of witchcraft who, having heard of the distress, took the narrator in, dressed the wounds, and restored consciousness with homemade cordials.

The Widow’s Disowned Marriage Backstory

The narrator’s benefactress describes her origins as an only child of wealthy parents, heiress to considerable estate, and recipient of numerous addresses from admirers. She fell passionately in love with a young army lieutenant of no fortune, ultimately marrying him privately. When her father learned of the marriage through a letter while she was abroad, he renounced her completely, charging her never to return home and promising inheritance would go elsewhere. Her mother confirmed this rejection in a postscript. Her husband’s unconcerned, tender response to this news endeared him further, but he departed soon after for Flanders with his regiment, later learning they were killed in sight of one another at the battle of the Wood. Left in grief and want, the widow and her companion applied for pension, sold their jewels and superfluous clothing, and retired to Sussex where they lived solitarily for many years until her companion’s death two years prior. The widow explains her reputation as a witch stems from her intellectual conversation, reclusive habits, acquired medical knowledge, and elderly appearance—reputations furthered by a parish parson who took offense at her and villagers scandalized by her beloved cat wearing a collar, which was her deceased companion’s favorite.