Vanity Fair: A Novel Without a Hero

Thackery was an excellent social satirist, who wrote in the realistic vein, and sought to counter the kind of melodramatic and pretentious entertainment provided by such authors as Edward Bulwer-Lytton, and William Harrison Ainsworth. His objective was to make his readers see through the social and literary hypocrisy that, as he believed, characterized the age. Thus, Vanity Fair gives an unusual perspective on the Napoleonic Wars, satirizes high society, and anticipates Dickens' later concern with money and society. It is a humorous book, filled with tragedy and misfortune. As a 19th century novel, Vanity Fair breaks free from the influence of the landed aristocracy. Within its pages, Thackery shifts the focus to the bourgeois and nouveaux riches such as the Sedleys. Though the first generation of that family had had no weight in the social circles of its time, the second and third generations were highly regarded on account of the accumulated wealth which they took for granted and spent freely. The book is often referred to as the novel without a hero; not because such a figure did not exist within it pages, but simply because the realistic depiction of the characters always contributed a number of traits which prevented them from filling that position. George Osborne, for one, had been heroic enough in defying his father to marry a bankrupt's daughter, but he was no hero on account of his unfaithfulness to his young wife. Amelia Sedley was not the heroine of the tale either on account of her intentional manipulation of Major Dobbin. The Major, though superior to all other characters, did not become a hero owing to his passivity in dealing with his love life. Becky was more of the villain than the heroine of the tale, while her husband Rawdon had failed in filling that position subsequent to his acceptance of a post secured by means of his wife's prostitution to Lord Steyne. Becky Sharp, arguably the most interesting and intriguing character in the novel, is a complex persona. She is at once loved and hated for her behavior, bearing, and acts. It is important to note, however, that Becky is much more honest than the flawless and gentle Amelia. The latter had egoistically idolized her husband even though she knew he was unfaithful to her. At the same time, she manipulated Major Dobbin whom she knew would obey her in anything on account of his infatuation. Becky, on the other hand was not half as lucky as her friend. To a particular extent, she was the victim of a hypocrite society that worshipped money and rank. It was this kind of social regime and injustice that had taught her even in school that people will always shun her unless she owned money. Though Becky owned none, she knew all the same how to impress society on nothing a year.