Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray (1847)

Vanity Fair, published in 1848, is one of William Makepeace Thackeray’s most famous novels. It is a satirical depiction of British society during the early 19th century, often considered a pioneering work of realist fiction. Set during and after the Napoleonic Wars, the novel offers a sharp critique of social climbing, materialism, and moral hypocrisy. Thackeray presents a “novel without a hero,” focusing on the unscrupulous and ambitious Becky Sharp and her more virtuous counterpart, Amelia Sedley, as they navigate the fluctuating fortunes and intricacies of English high society. The novel is known for its rich characterizations, satirical tone, and insightful commentary on human nature.

Plot Summary

The coach trundled up to Miss Pinkerton’s Academy for Young Ladies in Chiswick, carrying two young women poised to embark on vastly different paths. Rebecca Sharp, clever and ambitious, hailed from a modest background and had little but her wits and charm. Amelia Sedley, sweet and gentle, came from a prosperous family and knew nothing of hardship. Their lives intertwined at this boarding school, but their fates would lead them down divergent roads.

After leaving the school, Becky accompanied Amelia to her home in Russell Square. Amelia’s father, a well-to-do merchant, had arranged her marriage to George Osborne, a dashing young man from a wealthy family. In contrast, Becky had no such prospects. She was destined for a post as a governess in the Crawley household, her sharp mind already plotting how to make her way in a world that had given her nothing.

At the Sedley home, Becky quickly made an impression on Amelia’s shy brother, Joseph Sedley, who had recently returned from India with a considerable fortune. Becky, ever the opportunist, set her sights on him, charming and flattering him at every turn. But Joseph, overwhelmed by her boldness and nervous about public opinion, fled to India before any engagement could be formalized. It was a small defeat for Becky, but she never allowed such setbacks to dissuade her for long.

Soon after, Amelia’s family faced ruin when Mr. Sedley’s business collapsed. The engagement between Amelia and George was threatened, for George’s father disapproved of the now-penniless Amelia. Despite this, George, under the urging of his steadfast friend William Dobbin, married her against his father’s wishes. Amelia, oblivious to George’s selfish nature, adored him unconditionally. The couple’s happiness, however, was short-lived, as George was soon sent off to fight in the Napoleonic Wars, leaving Amelia behind.

Meanwhile, Becky entered the service of Sir Pitt Crawley’s family as a governess. Her wit and beauty quickly caught the attention of Sir Pitt himself, as well as his wealthy and miserly sister, Miss Crawley. When Sir Pitt’s wife died, he proposed marriage to Becky, but she revealed that she was already married to his son, Rawdon Crawley, an officer in the army. This revelation shocked the family and alienated Becky from Miss Crawley, whose fortune she had hoped to inherit.

Becky and Rawdon’s marriage was built on mutual ambition rather than love. Though they had little money, Becky’s social skills soon won them entry into fashionable circles. She charmed and manipulated her way through society, always seeking favor and advancement. Rawdon, although initially smitten with his wife, began to see through her cunning ways as their financial troubles mounted. Becky’s extravagant lifestyle and penchant for gambling further strained their relationship.

Amid these personal dramas, the Battle of Waterloo loomed. George Osborne, now a soldier, reunited with Amelia briefly before being sent off to fight. In the final days before the battle, George, ever susceptible to vanity and flirtation, became infatuated with Becky, who had joined the military camp as part of her social climbing. He foolishly pursued her, leaving Amelia heartbroken. George’s recklessness soon led to his death at Waterloo, leaving Amelia a widow and mother to a young son, Georgy.

Amelia’s life, once filled with the promise of love and happiness, descended into years of quiet sorrow and devotion to her son. She remained blind to the true nature of George, cherishing his memory and unaware of his betrayal. Meanwhile, William Dobbin, who had loved Amelia from afar for years, continued to support her through her grief, patiently waiting for her to see him in a new light.

As for Becky, her rise and fall in society were swift. She cultivated a friendship with the wealthy and influential Lord Steyne, who lavished her with gifts and attention. But the arrangement came at a cost—Rawdon soon discovered Becky’s affair with Steyne, prompting a violent confrontation. Becky’s deceitful ways finally caught up with her. Rawdon, disillusioned and ashamed, left her and accepted a post in a colonial outpost, abandoning Becky to her own devices.

Penniless and without allies, Becky wandered through Europe, surviving on her wits and occasional acts of manipulation. She encountered Joseph Sedley again, and once more, she saw an opportunity. Though Joseph was still hesitant, he eventually succumbed to Becky’s charms, and she ingratiated herself back into his life. However, the details of their arrangement remained murky, and Joseph’s sudden death raised suspicions about Becky’s true intentions.

In contrast, Amelia’s fortunes improved when her son, Georgy, was taken in by his wealthy grandfather, George’s father, who had softened after his son’s death. This allowed Amelia to live comfortably, though separated from her child. Over time, she came to see William Dobbin not just as a friend, but as the man who had always been there for her. After years of unrequited love, Dobbin finally won her heart, and the two married, bringing Amelia the peace and stability she had long sought.

In the end, Becky’s life was one of survival rather than triumph. She had clawed her way through society, leaving behind a trail of broken relationships and ruined reputations. Amelia, on the other hand, found happiness not through wealth or status, but through the quiet, enduring love of William Dobbin. The glittering world of Vanity Fair, with its emphasis on ambition and materialism, had revealed its true emptiness.

As the characters settled into their respective fates, the fickle nature of fortune and the vanity of human desires stood at the forefront, a reminder that in the pursuit of wealth and status, many had lost sight of what truly mattered.

Main Characters

1. Rebecca (Becky) Sharp: Becky Sharp is the novel’s cunning and resourceful protagonist. She is born into poverty but is fiercely determined to rise in society. Despite her lack of wealth and family connections, Becky uses her charm, wit, and manipulative tendencies to ingratiate herself with the wealthy elite. Her character is amoral, and she represents the social climber who will do anything to achieve success. Becky’s journey is marked by her unrelenting ambition and her ability to adapt to different circumstances, often leaving chaos in her wake.

2. Amelia Sedley: In stark contrast to Becky, Amelia is kind, gentle, and loyal, though sometimes naïve. She comes from a wealthy, respectable family but faces hardship when her family loses its fortune. Amelia is deeply in love with George Osborne and remains devoted to him even after his death. Her character represents virtue and moral integrity, but her lack of assertiveness often leads to her being taken advantage of by others.

3. George Osborne: George is Amelia’s handsome but shallow and selfish love interest. He is wealthy, self-centered, and careless with Amelia’s feelings, marrying her more out of defiance than love. His downfall comes during the Battle of Waterloo, where he meets a tragic end. George symbolizes the vanity and egotism prevalent among the upper classes.

4. William Dobbin: William Dobbin is one of the novel’s few honorable characters. He is a close friend of George Osborne and harbors unrequited love for Amelia. Unlike George, Dobbin is humble, kind-hearted, and self-sacrificing, standing as a moral foil to the more cynical characters in the novel. His loyalty and patience eventually earn him Amelia’s affection by the end of the story.

5. Rawdon Crawley: Rawdon Crawley is Becky Sharp’s husband. He is a charming and good-natured but dim-witted army officer. While initially enchanted by Becky’s allure, Rawdon eventually grows disillusioned with her manipulations. His character arc illustrates how Becky’s ruthless ambitions ultimately destroy their relationship.

6. Sir Pitt Crawley: Sir Pitt is Rawdon Crawley’s miserly and corrupt uncle. He is a wealthy baronet who becomes infatuated with Becky Sharp, even proposing to her, despite already being married. His crass behavior and greed make him a figure of ridicule in the novel.

Theme

1. Social Climbing and Materialism: One of the central themes of Vanity Fair is the pursuit of wealth and social status. Becky Sharp’s relentless ambition to rise in the world, despite her humble beginnings, exemplifies this. The novel critiques a society that values material wealth over moral integrity, showing how characters like Becky manipulate and deceive to gain prestige.

2. Hypocrisy and Moral Decay: Thackeray paints a vivid picture of the hypocrisy prevalent in Victorian society. The characters in Vanity Fair often maintain an outward appearance of respectability while engaging in morally questionable behavior. The title itself refers to the “vanity” of human endeavors, particularly the superficial values of wealth, power, and social standing.

3. The Role of Women: The novel explores the limited roles available to women in 19th-century England. Characters like Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley navigate a world where their options are confined to marriage and social conformity. Becky, in particular, subverts these expectations by using her wit and beauty to exert power over men, while Amelia remains more passive and dependent.

4. Fate and Fortune: The novel illustrates how fortunes rise and fall unpredictably. Both Becky and Amelia experience dramatic shifts in their fortunes throughout the story. Thackeray shows how individuals, regardless of their efforts, are often at the mercy of circumstances beyond their control, such as wars or economic downturns.

5. War and Its Impact: Set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, Vanity Fair touches on how war affects both society and the individual. Characters like George Osborne and William Dobbin are directly involved in the conflict, and the Battle of Waterloo serves as a pivotal moment that changes the course of many lives. The war also symbolizes the larger battles for survival and status in peacetime society.

Writing Style and Tone

Thackeray’s writing style in Vanity Fair is known for its wit, irony, and sharp satirical edge. He employs a third-person omniscient narrator who frequently breaks the fourth wall to address the reader directly, offering commentary on the characters and events in the novel. This narrative technique creates a sense of detachment, allowing Thackeray to critique the society he depicts without fully immersing the reader in the characters’ emotional experiences. His tone fluctuates between humorous and cynical, often exposing the absurdity of human behavior, especially in relation to vanity, ambition, and greed.

Thackeray’s prose is richly descriptive, vividly portraying the world of early 19th-century England, from the drawing rooms of the aristocracy to the battlefields of Waterloo. His language is accessible yet filled with irony, as he often contrasts the nobility of his characters’ outward behavior with their inner corruption. Through Becky Sharp’s manipulations and Amelia’s blind devotion, Thackeray critiques the emptiness of a society obsessed with appearance and status. Despite the novel’s darker themes, there is a playful quality to Thackeray’s writing, as he invites the reader to enjoy the spectacle of human folly.