Vanity Fair (novel)

Vanity Fair is an English novel by William Makepeace Thackeray, first published in serial form between 1847 and 1848, and then as a single volume in 1848. It is subtitled "A Novel Without a Hero," and this subtitle is crucial to understanding the work's satirical nature.

The story follows the lives of two women: Amelia Sedley and Becky Sharp. Amelia is a kind and well-intentioned but ultimately naive and passive young woman from a wealthy London family. Becky Sharp, in contrast, is an orphaned, clever, and ambitious young woman determined to rise in society by any means necessary.

The novel chronicles their contrasting fortunes as they navigate the superficial and often corrupt world of early 19th-century English society. Becky's relentless social climbing and manipulative schemes contrast sharply with Amelia's dependence and emotional vulnerability. The backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, including the Battle of Waterloo, provides a historical context and further disrupts the lives of the characters.

Vanity Fair is a satire of the shallow values, hypocrisy, and materialism of the upper and middle classes. Thackeray uses his characters and their experiences to critique social mobility, marriage as a financial transaction, and the overall pursuit of wealth and status. He frequently addresses the reader directly, offering commentary on the characters' actions and the moral failings of society. The novel's enduring popularity lies in its sharp wit, its realistic portrayal of human flaws, and its timeless exploration of social ambition and moral compromise.