Caleb Williams

Caleb says that curiosity characterizes his life. How does this curiosity manifest throughout the story, and does curiosity help or hinder him?

Comparing Mr. Raymond’s way of life with that of Ferdinando or Barnabas, what can you conclude about the morality that governs each man?

Choosing either Emily or Laura, discuss their predicament as women in 18th-century society. Are the women victims of the era’s laws and social norms? If so, how?

Godwin uses the novel to make many strong statements about the state of the justice system in England. Using examples from the text, discuss whether Godwin did or did not prove his point.

Discuss either Caleb, Ferdinando, or Barnabas as a tragic hero, considering how their actions and personalities do or do not conform to the archetype.

Caleb often addresses the reader directly; he also explains some of his narrative choices, including the way in which he relates Mr. Collins’s story. How do these narrative choices shape the novel?

How does luck play a role in Caleb’s narrative? What might be the significance of that?

At one point, Caleb says he is happier living as an outcast because he doesn’t have the same worries and responsibilities as those who are stuck following the law. What does the novel suggest about someone’s place in society? Does it challenge the idea of what being happy truly means? Are any of the characters ever actually happy?