In the News
Throwing Away a Good Thing
1810- As Becky Sharp left Miss Pinkerton’s school for the final time with her friend, Amelia Sedley (another graduating student), she laughed as she flung her parting gift of a dictionary out the window into the yard at one of the workers. Why would she waste a perfectly good book? Throwing away a good thing is a common theme in Thackeray’s Vanity Fair. Becky throws away men and friends like it’s her job. She throws away a marriage that was perfectly beneficial to her. Amelia tried to throw her life away for a man that did not want her. Many of the men threw their freedom for marriage. What is up with this? All of these characters made these decisions because they thought it would better their place in society. Thackeray made sure that it did not. He wanted to show that trying to better oneself in society would end in disappointment., because that was what he experienced.
1810- As Becky Sharp left Miss Pinkerton’s school for the final time with her friend, Amelia Sedley (another graduating student), she laughed as she flung her parting gift of a dictionary out the window into the yard at one of the workers. Why would she waste a perfectly good book? Throwing away a good thing is a common theme in Thackeray’s Vanity Fair. Becky throws away men and friends like it’s her job. She throws away a marriage that was perfectly beneficial to her. Amelia tried to throw her life away for a man that did not want her. Many of the men threw their freedom for marriage. What is up with this? All of these characters made these decisions because they thought it would better their place in society. Thackeray made sure that it did not. He wanted to show that trying to better oneself in society would end in disappointment., because that was what he experienced.
Where’s the religion?
There is a severe lack of religion in this novel, which is odd for the time period. Some characters believed in God, such as Amelia, but the Reverend Crawley did not even write his own sermons! An explanation? We know that this topic was on his mind since he took his title from the religious book, Bunyan’s A Pilgrim’s Progress, which is about a christian who resists many temptations. One of these was a Vanity Fair, where all of the inhabitants were very vain and selfish. Bunyan’s point was that these people were sinners and had no hope of redeeming themselves unless they changed their ways. However, Thackeray just took the scene at face value. Yes, while the people of the time of his novel were religious, it did not affect the way they acted. He did not need to include it as a useless detail because it went without saying, and it was not all wrong necessarily; he might have thought it even amusing (Allen 113). He did not just forget it. He left it out so that people would notice its absence and realize the true state of his readers own vanity fair.
There is a severe lack of religion in this novel, which is odd for the time period. Some characters believed in God, such as Amelia, but the Reverend Crawley did not even write his own sermons! An explanation? We know that this topic was on his mind since he took his title from the religious book, Bunyan’s A Pilgrim’s Progress, which is about a christian who resists many temptations. One of these was a Vanity Fair, where all of the inhabitants were very vain and selfish. Bunyan’s point was that these people were sinners and had no hope of redeeming themselves unless they changed their ways. However, Thackeray just took the scene at face value. Yes, while the people of the time of his novel were religious, it did not affect the way they acted. He did not need to include it as a useless detail because it went without saying, and it was not all wrong necessarily; he might have thought it even amusing (Allen 113). He did not just forget it. He left it out so that people would notice its absence and realize the true state of his readers own vanity fair.
Becky Spins her Web
Becky Sharp has tried to entangle Amelia Sedley’s brother into her web, both literally and figuratively. Her goal is to marry above her to improve her social position, and Jos Sedley, though fat and dull, would do this for her. Recently, he has been seen holding her yarn while she was making a purse with it., suggesting that there really is something going on. ‘Holding’ meaning literally wrapped up in it. She did not have him trapped, however, as he has fled the country. Who will she try to entangle next?
Becky Sharp has tried to entangle Amelia Sedley’s brother into her web, both literally and figuratively. Her goal is to marry above her to improve her social position, and Jos Sedley, though fat and dull, would do this for her. Recently, he has been seen holding her yarn while she was making a purse with it., suggesting that there really is something going on. ‘Holding’ meaning literally wrapped up in it. She did not have him trapped, however, as he has fled the country. Who will she try to entangle next?
Marriage, Proposals. and Refusals
At the end of chapter fourteen, Sir Pitt tries to get Becky to leave with him back to Queen’s Crawley by asking her to marry him. The only problem? Becky’s already married. Sir Pitt is confused, Miss Crawley is going crazy, and Becky goes and pretends to faint just to avoid further questioning. This scene is rather chaotic and very important. Characters are learning things that they did not know before. After this crazy scene, Sir Pitt leaves and Miss Crawley is left to wonder why on earth Becky would refuse to marry someone like Sir Pitt. When Becky awakes from her fake fainting spell, Miss Crawley tries to get it out of her who the other man is. Becky won’t tell anyone, though. She moves on from the situation and tries to forget about the whole thing. This event gives us a look into Becky’s character. We already know she is a strong, independent woman. But, the fact that she can forget about this ordeal shows us that she is able to keep pushing forward. This trait was most likely gained from her experiences as an orphan child. Becky knows how to deal with life unlike many of the women in the novel.
At the end of chapter fourteen, Sir Pitt tries to get Becky to leave with him back to Queen’s Crawley by asking her to marry him. The only problem? Becky’s already married. Sir Pitt is confused, Miss Crawley is going crazy, and Becky goes and pretends to faint just to avoid further questioning. This scene is rather chaotic and very important. Characters are learning things that they did not know before. After this crazy scene, Sir Pitt leaves and Miss Crawley is left to wonder why on earth Becky would refuse to marry someone like Sir Pitt. When Becky awakes from her fake fainting spell, Miss Crawley tries to get it out of her who the other man is. Becky won’t tell anyone, though. She moves on from the situation and tries to forget about the whole thing. This event gives us a look into Becky’s character. We already know she is a strong, independent woman. But, the fact that she can forget about this ordeal shows us that she is able to keep pushing forward. This trait was most likely gained from her experiences as an orphan child. Becky knows how to deal with life unlike many of the women in the novel.
Jealousy
Amelia and George have been married for just a short few weeks and they are unhappy with their relationship. Amelia is really sad and starts to get jealous of Becky’s life. George finds out that he now has no money and, with money always being his first priority, he is very angry. Amelia, however, doesn’t seem to care. She simply takes it as a new adventure and comes across as excited. We see Amelia’s true character come out through her reaction to being poor. Although she has been well off for her whole life, she doesn’t mind that she is now going to have to work harder at her life. She is happy because maybe now George, her greedy husband, will learn how to be a civil human being. Also, if they were truly in love, nothing would really matter as long as they were together.
Amelia and George have been married for just a short few weeks and they are unhappy with their relationship. Amelia is really sad and starts to get jealous of Becky’s life. George finds out that he now has no money and, with money always being his first priority, he is very angry. Amelia, however, doesn’t seem to care. She simply takes it as a new adventure and comes across as excited. We see Amelia’s true character come out through her reaction to being poor. Although she has been well off for her whole life, she doesn’t mind that she is now going to have to work harder at her life. She is happy because maybe now George, her greedy husband, will learn how to be a civil human being. Also, if they were truly in love, nothing would really matter as long as they were together.
The Death of a “Hero”
Many young men were called to battle when French invaded. Some of theses men included Rawdon Crawley, William Dobbin, and George Osborne. All three men had duties and responsibilities at home. Young Rawdon Crawley was the current husband of Rebecca Sharp. George Osborne was the current husband of Amelia Sedley. William Dobbin was a friend of George Osborne and took very good care of Amelia and protected her when George was not around. When the men depart from their beloved ones they each have different reactions. Rawdon shows his wife his concern for her well-being. William Dobbin asks other relatives to make sure the women will be safe and well cared for if something should happen. George Osborne on the other hand was relieved to be leaving his wife. As the women listen to the war sounds from miles away they each think very differently. Amelia is constantly worried about her husband George. Contrairly Rebecca wondered how great her life could be if Rawdon were not to return from the battle. Finally when the Battle of Waterloo was over only two of these young men would return to their loved ones. George Osborne was shot during the battle and would never return to his sweet Amelia. Amelia is devastated by the news of her late husband and remains depressed until months later she births her and George’s only son. She names him Georgy after his father. George Osborne would be forever remembered through his memories and his beautiful son.
Bad Parenting
Rebecca Sharp, a manipulative woman, is married to Rawdon Crawley. Rebecca is all about getting her way. She is an orphan who did not have any money of her own starting out. She now has money that she steals from people, including friends, by tricking them. On March 26, 1816, Rebecca and Rawdon have their first child. He is named Rawdon after his father. Rebecca and Rawdon’s parenting styles are quite different. Rebecca fits the mold of a, “deadbeat-dad,” even though she is the mother. She ignores her child and hires a French maid to take care of her child. Rebecca is only concerned with her own social status. Rawdon on the other hand is a wonderful father. He enjoys spending time with his beloved son. He plays with him and brings him toys and gifts. He also enjoys taking his son out to meet with old military friends. Rawdon and his son become very close. Poor little Rawdon looks upon his mother like she is some sort of Goddess who is too great to be in his company. She treats her son and husband so badly that Rawdon has to hide his affection for his own son, just to avoid consequence from his wife who is also the mother of his child! I believe this family could use some serious counseling and maybe even a divorce lawyer.
Parting Ways
Amelia Sedley and her family had gotten to the brink of starvation within Vanity Fair. They had lost everything after her father had lost everything he had in society. The only way for this to change and save her son was to send little Georgy, her son, off with her father-in-law, Old Osborne. Osborne was happy because he was able to turn young George into the man he wanted his own son, young George's father. This was also another way that Old Osborne could get back at Amelia for marrying his son and turning him into lower society. But Old Osborne does not achieve his goal of changing young George. He still showed signs of his mother's character. Although Amelia hat to let go, she still loved her son and hated that she had to part from him.
Amelia Sedley and her family had gotten to the brink of starvation within Vanity Fair. They had lost everything after her father had lost everything he had in society. The only way for this to change and save her son was to send little Georgy, her son, off with her father-in-law, Old Osborne. Osborne was happy because he was able to turn young George into the man he wanted his own son, young George's father. This was also another way that Old Osborne could get back at Amelia for marrying his son and turning him into lower society. But Old Osborne does not achieve his goal of changing young George. He still showed signs of his mother's character. Although Amelia hat to let go, she still loved her son and hated that she had to part from him.
The Truth Unravels
Rawdon Crawley, Becky's husband, had had his suspicions on what his wife was doing in Vanity Fair. She was beautiful, yet manipulative, meaning she could get away with what she wanted. One day Rawdon had been in jail and needed a way out. He sent a letter to his wife, but she never came. He sent a letter to Jane and Pitt Crawley who helped him out. Since Becky did not show up, Rawdon thought something was wrong. When he got to her, she was with Lord Steyne, another man. She had also been hiding receipts for money from him that came from other men. Becky plead to have Rawdon forgive her and that she was innocent, but Rawdon knew better. He stood up to her and realized the type of person his wife really was, a manipulative and selfish woman. Rawdon was now done with Becky and her evil life and left her.
Wedding Bells
The recent widow of George Osborne has finally remarried again. Amelia Sedley and William Dobbin have just married. This is seen as a shocker because Amelia was so wrapped up in her late husband. George had been killed in the Battle of Waterloo, leaving both his wife and his son, young George. Dobbin had been in love with Amelia ever sense he laid eyes on her, but Amelia was too involved with her husband. Dobbin did not give up though, he professed his love to Amelia, yet she still was not ready. Becky had came to town and showed a letter George had written to Becky that showed George was not loyal to his wife. Amelia realizes that she must let go of her old life and that Dobbin was the person she loved. When he was gone she missed him and when he was near her, she felt happy and loved. They now live happily together with their children.
The recent widow of George Osborne has finally remarried again. Amelia Sedley and William Dobbin have just married. This is seen as a shocker because Amelia was so wrapped up in her late husband. George had been killed in the Battle of Waterloo, leaving both his wife and his son, young George. Dobbin had been in love with Amelia ever sense he laid eyes on her, but Amelia was too involved with her husband. Dobbin did not give up though, he professed his love to Amelia, yet she still was not ready. Becky had came to town and showed a letter George had written to Becky that showed George was not loyal to his wife. Amelia realizes that she must let go of her old life and that Dobbin was the person she loved. When he was gone she missed him and when he was near her, she felt happy and loved. They now live happily together with their children.
Manipulation Leads to Death
Joseph Sedley, brother of Amelia Sedley, has died. From the beginning, Joseph was a wealthy man who traveled to India very often. He was particular of his clothing and how he looked in society. Becky took notice of this. From the start she wanted someone who had money so she could be a part of the Vanity Fair. By the end, she was back to Joseph. Everyone within society had realized the character she really was, manipulative. However, Joseph blew off these rumors and let her back into his life. Becky told him that people took her son away from her to make him feel sorry. This was her tactic to manipulate him. She took his money. By the time Joseph realized who Becky really was, it was too late. His money was gone and he was terrified of her. Some time later, Joseph Sedley died. Many believe Becky was responsible for his death.
Joseph Sedley, brother of Amelia Sedley, has died. From the beginning, Joseph was a wealthy man who traveled to India very often. He was particular of his clothing and how he looked in society. Becky took notice of this. From the start she wanted someone who had money so she could be a part of the Vanity Fair. By the end, she was back to Joseph. Everyone within society had realized the character she really was, manipulative. However, Joseph blew off these rumors and let her back into his life. Becky told him that people took her son away from her to make him feel sorry. This was her tactic to manipulate him. She took his money. By the time Joseph realized who Becky really was, it was too late. His money was gone and he was terrified of her. Some time later, Joseph Sedley died. Many believe Becky was responsible for his death.