Love, money and power – these are the main subjects of William Makepeace Thackeray's "Vanity Fair". The paper concentrates on the novel's very last chapter “Which Contains Births, Marriages, And Deaths” and takes a closer look at the two characters Rebecca and Amelia.
These two women stand as examples for completely different beliefs: Becky only trusts in monetary values, whereas Emmy’s true salvation lies in love and loyalty – but also in religion and faith.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction: From a thousand thoughts to Vanity Fair
II. Analysis: Parasitism or Woman on the hunt for life
1. Brief outline of what happened to Amelia and Rebecca over the years
2. Amelia
3. Rebecca
4. Differences of Amelia and Rebecca in their style of speaking and its consequences
5. The irony of the commenting narrator
III. Conclusion: All things come to an end
Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the dynamics of the two primary female characters, Amelia Sedley and Rebecca Sharp, specifically focusing on the final chapter of William Makepeace Thackeray's novel "Vanity Fair". The research aims to contrast their conflicting motivations—Amelia's pursuit of emotional connection and faith versus Rebecca's calculated hunt for social and monetary status—while analyzing the role of the novel's ironic narrator in shaping the reader's perception of these figures.
- Contrasting life philosophies: Monetary ambition vs. emotional loyalty
- The characterization of Amelia Sedley and her struggle with inner conflicts
- Rebecca Sharp's manipulative strategies and quest for social standing
- Linguistic analysis of the protagonists' speech patterns
- The influence of the omniscient, ironic narrator on the novel's interpretation
Excerpt from the Book
2. Amelia
Taking a closer look at Amelia her sadness turns out to be more than mere mourning for a dead one: Although it first appears that never again emotions for another man could establish in Amelia, especially the last chapter of Vanity Fair discovers how deeply her yearning for William Dobbin is. For example, in conversations with her son she shows her opinion of the man: “She told him that she thought Major William was the best man in all the world; the gentlest and the kindest, the bravest and the humblest.” (p. 659) In fact, she even uses her child as a ‘transmitter’ to stay in contact with him:
“She made George write to him constantly, and persisted in sending Mamma’s kind love in a postscript. And as she looked at her husband’s portrait of nights, it no longer reproached her perhaps she reproached it, now William was gone.” (p. 659)
Why she is fighting these feelings can be explained by considering her attitude towards religion. As a pious Christian she feels obliged to love and adore her apparently decent and honourable husband, even posthumously, and although ultimately George’s death happened over fifteen years ago. This inner conflict can be seen here:
Chapter Summaries
I. Introduction: From a thousand thoughts to Vanity Fair: This chapter introduces Thackeray's novel as a sprawling Victorian work and outlines the contrasting natures of the two central female protagonists, Rebecca Sharp and Amelia Sedley.
II. Analysis: Parasitism or Woman on the hunt for life: This core section provides a detailed breakdown of the plot history, the psychological differences between Amelia and Rebecca, their divergent communication styles, and the specific narrative techniques employed by the author.
III. Conclusion: All things come to an end: The final chapter summarizes the resolution of the character arcs, emphasizing that while Amelia finds happiness and Rebecca gains status, they remain fundamentally distinct in their motivations and moral integrity.
Keywords
Vanity Fair, William Makepeace Thackeray, Amelia Sedley, Rebecca Sharp, Victorian Literature, Narrative Irony, Social Status, Emotional Conflict, Character Analysis, Napoleonic Wars, Literary Criticism, Ambition, Morality, Feminine Archetypes
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper provides a literary analysis of the final chapter of William Makepeace Thackeray's novel "Vanity Fair", focusing on the contrasting character developments of Amelia Sedley and Rebecca Sharp.
What are the central themes covered in the text?
The central themes include the pursuit of social advancement, the conflict between monetary goals and emotional loyalty, the role of religious adherence, and the power dynamics within romantic relationships.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to analyze why Amelia struggles to form new relationships despite her hidden feelings for William Dobbin, while simultaneously examining Rebecca's persistent, calculated hunt for prestige.
Which scientific methodology is used?
The author uses a qualitative literary analysis approach, focusing on close reading of the text, character contrast, and interpretation of the narrator’s ironic commentary.
What is addressed in the main part of the paper?
The main part analyzes the character motivations of Amelia and Rebecca, evaluates their distinct communication styles, and investigates the influence of the omniscient narrator on the reader's judgment.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Vanity Fair, Narrative Irony, Social Status, Emotional Conflict, and Victorian Literature.
How does the author describe Amelia's religious conflict?
The author argues that Amelia's adherence to religious principles serves as a self-imposed barrier, forcing her to remain loyal to the memory of her late husband and preventing her from acknowledging her love for Dobbin.
What is the significance of the "puppet master" metaphor in the narrator's conclusion?
The narrator uses this metaphor to assert his authority as an omniscient commentator, distancing himself from the characters and signaling to the reader that the "game" of the novel has reached its end.
Why does the paper label Rebecca as a "parasite"?
The paper refers to the narrator's perspective, noting that while Rebecca is calculating, she is also described as a "tender little parasite" because she relies on others, like Dobbin, to facilitate her social survival.
- Citation du texte
- Nadine Schneider (Auteur), 2006, Analysis of chapter LXVII from William Makepeace Thackeray's novel "Vanity Fair", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/338122
