Vanity Fair : The Characterization of Becky Sharp and the Character of the Work as a Portrait of the Age

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  • Vanity Fair : ベッキー・シャープの人物描写と時代の肖像としての作品の性格
  • Vanity Fair ベッキー シャープ ノ ジンブツ ビョウシャ ト ジダイ ノ ショウゾウ ト シテ ノ サクヒン ノ セイカク

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Vanity Fair : A Novel without a Hero is a novel by William Makepeace Thackeray (1811_63), first published in 1847_48, satirizing society in early nineteenth century Britain. The book's title comes from John Bunyan's allegorical story The Pilgrim's Progress, first published in 1678 and still widely read at the time of Thackeray's novel. Vanity Fair refers to a stop along the pilgrim's progress : a never-ending fair held in a town called Vanity, which is meant to represent man's sinful attachment to worldly things. The story opens at Miss Pinckerton's Academy for Young Ladies, where the principal protagonists Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley have just completed their studies and are preparing to depart for Amelia's house in Russell Square. Becky is portrayed as a strong-willed and cunning young woman determined to make her way in society, and Amelia Sedley as a good-natured, loveable, though simple-minded young girl. Becky Sharp, the anti-heroin and Amelia's opposite, is an intelligent young woman with a gift for satire. Fluent in both French and English, Beckey has a beautiful singing voice, plays the piano, and shows great talent as an actress. Never having known financial or social security, Becky desires it above all things. She does nearly everything with the intention of securing a stable position for herself and her husband after she and Rawdon are married. She advances Rawdon's interests tirelessly, flirting with men such as General Tufto and the Marquess of Steyne in order to get him promoted. Marrying Rawdon Crawley in secret was a mistake. She also fails to manipulate Miss Crawley through Rawdon so as to obtain an inheritance. Although Becky manipulates men very cleverly, she does not even try to cultivate the friendship of most women. Lady Jane, the Dobbin sisters, and Lady Steyne see right through her. Amelia and Miss Crawley are exceptions to the rule. What has to be noticed is that Becky plays an important part in Amelia's marriage. After George Osborne's death, Amelia is obsessed with her son and with the memory of her husband. She ignores William Dobbin who has courted her for years. Becky shows her George's letter, and Amelia realizes what a good man Dobbin is. Amelia eventually marries Dobbin. Thackeray gives Becky the social mobility which makes her experience different social classes. Her social mobility makes her recognize the true value of Dobbin. Thackeray uses Beckey who experiences different social classes as the character who tells Amelia the true value of Dobbin.

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KJ00006956580

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Journal

  • ENGLISH REVIEW

    ENGLISH REVIEW (25), 19-36, 2011-03-30

    堺 : 桃山学院大学総合研究所

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