Walter Shandy

Walter Shandy is Tristram's unconventional father. His habit of philosophizing and arguing about every subject usually finds him at odds with everyone else in the room. However, he seems to enjoy such conflict and even looks to create it. When he is arguing with his wife in what he calls his "beds of justice," he cannot accept that his wife agrees with his every word so continues to make his point even though continues to say that he is completely right. In fact, there seems to be little affection between Walter and his wife. For example, at one point when his parents go for a walk, Tristram describes his mother's arm as twisted into his father's arm. However, Walter's philosophizing on every subject often isolates him from the other characters. The first example is when he hears of his son Bobby's death. Upon the news, he decides...