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摘 要

威廉·梅克皮斯·萨克雷是英国十九世纪初杰出的小说家。他的代表作《名利场》是一部著名的讽刺性批判现实主义小说，描绘了十九世纪英国中上层社会里的丑陋、虚伪等。在小说中，两位漂亮的女主人公分别被描绘成温柔、善良却又柔弱的艾米丽娅，和聪明、卑鄙，甚至不惜一切以求攀上上流社会的瑞贝卡，展现了当时两个完全不同类型的女孩如何面对自己的命运。本文将对两位截然不同的女性形象进行分析，解读在当时的社会环境下女性的抗争与无奈。

关键词：《名利场》，女性形象，艾米丽娅，瑞贝卡

Contents

1. Introduction 1

2. Literature Review 1

3. The Gentle, Kind and Soft Girl ------Amelia Sedly 2

3.1 Innocence, Kindness but Vulgarness. 2

3.2 Softness and Compliance 3

4. The Clever and Despicable Girl ------Rebecca 4

4.1 Bravery and Independence. 4

4.2 Cleverness, Being Sneaky and Ingratiating. 5

4.3 Kindness.. 8

5. Conclusion 9

Works Cited …………………………………………………………….11

1. Introduction

William Makepeace Thackeray was born on July 18, 1811. He is an outstanding novelist in the early nineteenth Century. Early in Cambridge, he already showed his talent in literature and humor, but he left school without obtaining a degree. His father was a businessman who left a large number of properties to Thackeray, which enables him to travel around and do his social activities. Thackeray once went to Germany to study art, and was introduced to Goethe. Returning to London, he learned the Law for one year. In 1833, the failure of his newspaper consumed lots of his father’s legacy, and until Thackeray was 23 years old, he already spent his father’s entire legacy. Finally, in order to make a living, he had to become a correspondent in Paris.

At first, Thackeray published an article in the newspaper, and its humor and funny style attracted readers. Gradually, the writer Thackeray entered the novels in the Britain. Until 1848, Thackeray won the title of social satirist. In 1847-1848, Thackeray completed Vanity Fair, boldly satirizing the hypocrisy and corruption of the upper society. But Thackeray himself was very yearning for the upper society, and kept a good relationship with these people. The background of the Vanity Fair is the Britain after Napoleon War, and the main description of the heroine is the discrimination in society. Therefore, Rebecca used various strategies to get into upper society even sex, and she even used unscrupulous divisive tactics to get so. This figure is not evil, not good, but very humane.

2. Literature Review

Many researchers have studied this novel. Some scholars have studied the practical significance of this work. According to the scholars Mou Changqing and Zhang Ling, the Vanity Fair is not only a novel, but also a microcosm of society. They think human is selfish, and only consider their own interests. When the fame can be against the social justice, and when the pursuit of material is far more than the pursuit of spirit, fame becomes the beacon of actions. Wealth and fame of course can be pursued, but that is not all of life, life has a lot of good things to pursue, such as sincerity, goodness and virtue.

However, there are also some scholars having studied the characters and themes. According to the scholars Wang Xinchun and Li Shasha, there is no hero in the novel. The author gave each of the character criticism and laugh, and even the kind girl Amelia was also covered with ignorance and blindness.

In addition, some scholars interpret the female character and their destiny in Vanity Fair. Yu Yang holds that Rebecca’s personalities have been distorted in different life background; she was manipulative, hypocrisy, even dirty. Finally she got into the upper society, but she was deserted by people and cast aside. Another role, Amelia, was always in suffering, and bullied uncomplaining. But she got the sweet love and happy marriage eventually.

This dissertation will analyze Rebecca and Amelia from their personalities, their behaviors, and how they face their destinies.

3. The Gentle, Kind and Soft Girl ------Amelia Sedly

3.1 Innocence, Kindness but Vulgarness

Amelia was very pure and lovely, and compared with Rebecca, she was too innocent. She never believed Rebecca would do anything harmful to her. She treated Rebecca as her born sister, helping her when she had nothing. When Rebecca was not known by any influential people, Amelia even tried to help Rebecca to chase her brother, only didn’t she ask her father to let Rebecca live with her family. It doesn’t sound worth appreciating, of course, but in contrast to Rebecca, Amelia is far too kind. Maybe the author built this character only

Despite the many twists and turns, Amelia and George finally got married. Perhaps because George argued with his father and left home for her, Amelia hell-bent loved George. Of course, George deserved praise for what he sacrificed for their marriage. In the society of that time, it is a brave action. However, as the saying goes, human nature is hard to change. Nobody would believe, after the marriage, George was still a problem gambler. Even more frustrating was that, George was no longer in love Amelia as before after the marriage, which made the situation of Amelia not optimistic.

However, the unfortunate fate once again came to Amelia, George died on the battlefield. Thus, Amelia’s life was much more pessimistic, especially when she was a mother who spoiled her son. Amelia almost met any requirements from her son without hesitation. As the mother, there was no ground for blame. However such a living condition would not allow Amelia to keep being a good mother. At this time, the most sincere, gentle male role appeared--------Dobbin, repeatedly helped Amelia. Of course, the help was very direct-------money and Amelia repaid nothing for the gentlemen.

It is hard to understand what kind of views such a young widow will receive, but for her husband had died in battle, it is acceptable for the lady to find another backer. Amelia refused Dobbin on the one hand and firmly received the help from Dobbin on the other hand. The author also wrote Amelia’s thought here. She believed that as long as the Dobbin remained a friend, she would enjoy the Dobbin’s help. It is difficult to accept these behaviors from Amelia. Maybe it had been hard for her to let go of George. These kind acts of Amelia were too vulgar, and also made Dobbin helpless.

The character Amelia is built as the common female, kind, lovely and beautiful who represents most women both at that time and nowadays. Presumably because of the appreciation and sympathy to this kind of women, Thackeray created such a woman, containing not only a girl’s innocence and kindness, but also the timidity and weakness. Vanity Fair is a dirty place in which full of hypocrisy, money interests and betray. It is too cruel for such a pure girl.

3.2 Softness and Compliance

Reading all over the story, it is not very difficult to find out that Amelia was like a pure bird which grew up in a quite good and rich environment. She is not only innocent and kind, but also resigns herself to adversity.

Amelia was born in such a worriless family that she did not know what she really wanted. For example, her fiance Osborne was not decided by herself, and she never doubted about why her fiance was Osborne. Indeed, at the last 4 part in Chapter 12, we could find that Amelia did love Osborne very much, “Perhaps it was very imprudent in her parents to encourage her, and abet her in such idolatry and silly romantic ideas.”(Thackeray, 2005: 73) To such a gentle girl, of course Amelia would never doubt her parents’ suggestions. However after the failure of her father’s business, Osborne immediately wrote a letter to little Amelia though it was forced by his father, telling her that they were done. Amelia just received the news and became very sad without thinking about why these things happened and how to get all these things back, only resign herself to the adversity. This is a great difference between Amelia and Rebecca. She is only be driven by the destiny, never think of fighting back.

It is not hard to understand how little Amelia felt inside, falling into a common life from a rich family, it hurts of course. Amelia had been sad for a quite long time, not all for her family’s failure, but mostly for Osborne’s abandonment.

The night before Osborne went to the battle, Amelia clearly know it might be a long time she could not be with her husband, but she also worried about Osborne getting angry because she was still awake. From this detail we find out that Amelia is really a kind but weak lady. Also we find this characteristic at the party that night. Rebecca performed very closely with Osborne, but Amelia could only stay at the corner and tolerate all of these. In fact, she was angry, but she did not show up, only to call Dobbin to send her home with tears almost falling.

It is difficult to understand what a woman thinks inside. Maybe the women at that time do not dare to criticize their husband, and even it is his fault. Amelia is a great example to show the readers how weak and soft the women is at that time. They do not even dare to speak out their shouts from heart, this is a great pity. Of course Rebecca is not included.

4. The Clever and Despicable Girl ------Rebecca

4.1 Bravery and Independence

“The life of a good young girl, who is in the paternal nest as yet, can’t have many of those thrilling incidents to which the heroine of romance commonly lays claim…While Becky Sharp was on her own wing in the country…Amelia lay snug in her home of Russell Square…”. (Shu Jing, 2014:20) Rebecca was quite different from Amelia in two aspects. The first is to dare to fight against her destiny. Her parents died when she was child. Most of the students in the school snub her and even looked down upon her. At the very beginning part of the work, the author built a very pity and unfortunate girl. However Rebecca not only was active in the face of so unfair life, but also had plans to crawl up step by step. At this moment, the courage and perseverance of Rebecca should be admired.

“Rebecca has no advantages in regard to friends or family as she enters life. She must earn her bread for herself. Young as she is, she loves money, and has a great idea of the power of money” (Ye Chang, 2010: 21). However, Rebecca dared chase Amelia’s brother Joes bravely, even though his behavior was not because Rebecca really fell in love with this fat man, but because of her eagerness for wealth. In addition, she dared to express her own feelings, or to chase what she wanted, which was rare at that time. This part started the prelude against her fate.

However, the stupid man’s brother-in-law saw through the plot, Rebecca had to face the failure of her first step to the upper class. Then, two weeks later, Rebecca still had to do her tutor, such a humble job, but she didn’t give up her dream because of this repulse. Obviously, a powerless woman could only accept the trial from her fate.

Readers all have miserable sympathy to the fate of woman, even hope Rebecca can really get out of poverty into the fullness of life, a girl who dare to challenge her unfair fate will receive all the justice human’s support. Therefore Vanity Fair successfully created the image of Rebecca, which let the readers show their admiration, sympathy and spit. For she bravely faced the destiny, we admire her to get rid of prejudices. Rebecca is a girl who has the courage and wisdom. This is the admiration to her.

4.2 Cleverness, Being Sneaky and Ingratiating.

As mentioned before, Rebecca is a brave and clever girl. However, it must be admitted that she is smart in some wrong places, and even make people feel disgust. From Chiswick, when she threw out the dictionary which was received by the younger sister of the principle secretly onto the grass in front of a lot of people, it is not difficult to discover what she received in the school was snobbish and prejudices, and of course she was angry about all of these. It is right to express her dissatisfaction and unfair treatment. But, in the society at that time, a girl who just graduated from an Etiquette School should not behave like that. It is difficult not to make people have some prejudices on her. The description of Rebecca here gives readers the impression of this: this girl is not simple.

Leaving the school, Rebecca and Amelia firstly stopped at the home of Sedly---Amelia’s family. It should be noted that Rebecca really treated Amelia as one of her rare friends, even the only one. In contrast to what she did in the carriage----throwing the book out, she performed as a very refined, courteous, gentle and virtuous image in Sedly’s home. In fact, through the author’s description, the readers can found that, the so-called polite acts are all packed out, which is a proof of her cleverness. “All of these were in order to win Amelia’s brother Joes’ love, so that she could immediately get out of the poor status and become a member of a large family. Rebecca can be said as the typical snob at the time of the Britain” (Zhang Yechun, 2014:26)

If this step had been successful, she could have immediately got out of the previous unhappy life. She wouldn’t have to be stressed about her mother who was a French aristocratic descent, and proved it with her beautiful French pronunciation. Therefore, Joes can be said the first target which Rebecca used her brains. Being neither friendly nor aloof, Rebecca teased the man who was almost an idiot in love, and wanted help from Amelia to marry Joes. Even personally, Rebecca made a green silk purse to Joes; even she did not love him at all. It has to be admitted that Rebecca is really good at acting.

Women are easily to let themselves be mercy means, the poor situation and wiping the tears, several men even women can resist this kind of attack, especially from the very clever Rebecca’s hand. It is not difficult to imagine, how many times Rebecca used this means to help herself get to her goal step by step.

The readers have to admire the methods which Rebecca used to control the men again. Firstly, she hooked up with Rawdon’s father, but secretly married with Rawdon. Obviously this was strongly opposed by the aunt, Miss Crawley, who canceled the Rawdon’s inheritance right. Of course, Miss Crawley was a rich woman, and it couldn’t be denied that maybe Rebecca married Rawdon just for the position and the fortune. If she was willing to, Rebecca absolutely could find such a man who could be hooked easily by only a few words.

Some specific details should be noted as to how Rebecca entered the family and controlled her husband and the family property step by step.

When jazz Pitt keeled down to ask Rebecca to marry him, Rebecca took out her very good skills, putting the poor, and said she had a sweetheart. The most critical is that her words successfully made the jazz believe such a ‘virtuous kind and clever’ girl was abandoned by the foolish man. Therefore, the jazz not only did not feel embarrassed, but also feel they have to help the poor girl, and make arrangements for her wedding. It means the Jazz was willing to pay all of the money for Rebecca’s wedding, a huge number of money. At the same time, Rawdon’s aunt, Miss Crawley, also showed a great sympathy with Rebecca, and even treated her as her own daughter. So far, the marriage was done, and Rebecca naturally got into a noble family, getting rid of the past poor life and the humble identity.

But soon, Miss Crawley penetrated Rebecca’s plot, and then canceled Rawdon’s inheritance, but Rebecca did not accept the fact as usual. On the one hand she tried her best to recapture the finance and the right of inheritance; on the other hand, she actively looked for another goal and way to help herself. She even made use of Amelia’s husband, George, who was a man who climbed right and attached to vanity. Rebecca lured him to gamble to alleviate the economic pressure, never taking Amelia’s feeling into account. It is not difficult to imagine all the readers feel disgusted when they read here. However, given that kind of the social background and Rebecca’s miserable childhood, it seems understandable that Rebecca grew such psychologically twisted. Compared with Amelia, Rebecca did not care about her husband and son at all. It is not difficult to find that Rawdon was just a springboard of her way to success, and an umbrella for all her inappropriate behavior, while her son was just a little drag in her way to success. In order to clear the way, she did not hesitate not to save her husband, leaving Rawdon in prison. Until then, her husband finally realized how terrible Rebecca was, and broke up with her angrily. Even more exasperating was that Rawdon’s leaving made Rebecca very chagrin, she thought that half of her investment had failed.

On the other hand, she also communicated with Lord Stein privately, with youth and beauty. At the time Rawdon was going to war, Rebecca had no income, and she could only play between the upper societies. Gradually she won the like from the Duke and the officers, and became an ease socialite. She got a lot of money from the old lord Stein. However because of her being with upper class men for a long time, she was eventually abandoned by Rawdom. What’s more, the old Lord misunderstood Rebecca that she meant to get his money. As the result, Rebecca had nothing at all, but she was stubborn and still struggled, but in the end did not achieve her purpose.

Because of so many despicable behaviors, Rebecca left a dirty and mean impression on the readers. Through the shape of Rebecca the author vividly displayed the corruption of the British upper class society. In fact it is not Rebecca, but this kind of behavior of ‘Rebecca’ that is full of shameless. Much more sadly, these kinds of people are not in few. Thus, as a person who pursuits the truth, beauty and kindness, the author could only deeply felt helpless when facing such a social atmosphere. Therefore, Thackeray could only warn the readers the defects of this society by his paper and pen. In this novel, the author also wishes a better society at the same time.

4.3 Kindness

Reading through the novel, the readers may sympathize with Rebecca’s tragic life experience and fate, considering the fact that she was forced to do so.

In Vanity Fair, such a dirty place, Rebecca had been played for a long time. Rebecca eventually realized that money and power were not so attractive and important. Finally, Rebecca got married with her first target, the idiot of the love---Joes, and of course, the Sedly did not give the couple good wishes. Rebecca started a charity with Joes’ property, as it was a sin.

In fact, the author had implied the good points of Rebecca in many places through the whole work. Therefore, it is not difficult to find that Rebecca had always had a good side. However, this is the most humane and real place of Vanity Fair. If it is in today’s society, readers would firmly believe that Rebecca would absolutely be a successful woman by her excellent abilities both of learning and communication. The tragedy is that Rebecca was born in a wrong place at a wrong time, when Rebecca was a child, no matter the prejudice from teachers or the her humble status, more or less affected even changed her personalities. When the readers ponder over the work, the resentment to Rebecca gradually turns into sympathy, even feeling the destiny was so unfair. At the same time, readers would realize how deeply Thackeray understood this field which was full of hypocrisy and corruption. Vanity Fair is a satirical novel. Readers gradually discover that Rebecca is only the victim of that era, and what really worth despising and reflecting are the people’s value orientation and the social convention.

5. Conclusion

Thackeray created his ideal image of women through Becky to express his understanding of some feminine attributes and demonstrate his liking as well as compassion. Furthermore, Thackeray’s life experience nurtured his deep concern for women’s lives and had brought impact upon his attitude toward women. (Zhang Liping, 2012: 37)

Vanity Fair is about a poor and rich story of two girls. The two girls are incomparably beautiful, good at singing and dancing. The rich girl Amelia was kind and gentle, while the poor girl Rebecca used her beauty and unscrupulous divisive tactics to enter into the upper society. Rebecca was ambitious and all the girls were cast into the shade in front of her. 

The author vividly showed readers the widespread corruption in the upper society in nineteenth Century with his personally experience and appropriate descriptions, and more vividly brought us Rebecca and Amelia, these two completely different characters.

Through this paper, it is not difficult to find the author not only ridiculed the so called noble life and the strict hierarchy, but also pointed out that how weak and helpless the women were under that kind of social background.

The image of Amelia represents a class of women who succumb to the social background. They are kind and naive, however, also because of this, their thought and freedom are bound, and their own lives are controlled by various constraints.

Rebecca represents a kind of brave girls who dare to face even fight against their own destiny. However, at that time fighting with destiny meant Rebecca had to become one of the ‘noble’ people, climbing into the upper society step by step. Those commonly used means, greed, hypocrisy and ungratefulness are indispensable. The description of Rebecca shows that Rebecca was a dirty woman, but this is mostly because of the social background. On the other hand, that Rebecca could overcome all of these, and finally managed to enter the society is the best proof of her bravery, wisdom, and specialty.

Works Cited

[1] Shu Jing. “On Women’s Images in Vanity Fair”. Overseas English, 2014(13): 19-20.

[2] Thackeray, William Makepeace. Vanity Fair. Collector, 2010

[3] Ye Chang. “Discussion of Marriage in Vanity Fair”. Science and Technology Information, 2010 (3): 20-22.

[4] Zhang Liping. “Thackeray’s View of Women Reflected in Vanity Fair”. Overseas English, 2012(15): 27-29

[5] 陈桂花.《殊途同归话名利------lt;名利场gt;二女主角Amelia与Rebecca之比较》 黄山学院学报2003（5）: 79-81.

[6] 张业春.《lt;名利场gt;中的人物分析及社会意义》 内蒙古民族大学学报（社会科学版）2014（1）：21-27.

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