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MATERIALISM AND SOCIAL STATUS:

THACKERAY’S SATIRE ON BRITISH SOCIETY OF THE
EARLY VICTORIAN ERA THROUGH REBECCA SHARP
CHARACTER IN VANITY FAIR

A Thesis

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education

By
Nadia Octaviani
Student Number: 021214111

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM

DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION
FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2008

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We are what we imagine

Our very existence consist in our imagination of

ourselves

Our best destiny is to imagine who and what we are

The greatest tragedy to befall us is to go unimagined

N. Scott Nomaday

This thesis is dedicated to my family,

to my friends, and to my self.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank those who have given me their affection, support,

guidance and criticism in finishing every part of my thesis.

First of all, I would like to bestow my gratitude to Allah s.w.t. for guiding

and keeping me not to stray from His path and finally finish my thesis. My

deepest gratitude is given to my beloved dad and mom, Pak Kun and Mama

Ning, who have given me their never-ending affection and prayer to support me

through the life. I also thank them for keeping asking patiently on the progress of

my thesis. I would like to thank my two little brothers, Danang and Damar, for

kindly sharing their fight and laugh with me.

My greatest appreciation is addressed to my sponsor Ibu Henny

Herawati, S.Pd., M. Hum., who believed and convinced me that I am able to

finish and defend my thesis, though I hesitated in myself. I really thank her for her

patient guidance, suggestion, time and ideas in improving this thesis. My

thankfulness goes to Ibu Agnes Dwina Herdiasti S.Pd., M.A., who had checked

my thesis in such a short time. I also would like to thank to all PBI lecturers for

the experience and knowledge that I could be proud of myself as a student of PBI.

My thanks are given to Mbak Dani and Mbak Tari for helping me in every

administration problems.

Big thanks to my Ndul, Handy Inderata, for opening up my eyes to the

world that I had never seen before. Through laughter and cry, I thank him for

those unforgettable moments that have been coloring my life. All those support,

faith, happiness, hope and love that he gives have shaped me as who I am. My

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gratitude also goes to all of my comrades who have kept me away from a dull life.

Sasha, Echie, Ita, Mawar, I thank them for always welcoming me. Thanks for

the never “jaim” friendship lesson. It has been six-wonderful-year friendship. To

all my 2002 companions, Ook, Udjo, Metty, Uchiel, Lissa, Wida, Regina,

Andre, Miko, Galih, Reni, Ikas, Rika, I am proud to know them all. I also thank

“Black Jacket” and “Wizard of Oz” plays performance squads for showing the

fun of self esteem. For Endra 14a girls, I thank them all for sharing the same roof

Uwi for delivering the meal, Chiwi for swimming lesson and special thanks for

my insomniac companion Ayu, for her late night sharing and grammar-checking

session. I also thank Dian and Diah who had been my whip to finish this thesis.

Last but not the least; I am grateful to those whom I cannot mention one

by one. Thanks would not be enough to show my gratitude.

Yogyakarta, April 16, 2008

Nadia Octaviani

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE ..................................................................................................... i

PAGE OF APPROVAL ..................................................................................... ii

PAGE OF BOARD EXAMINERS .................................................................... iii

STATEMENTS OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY................................................. iv

LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH

UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMI ................................................................. v

PAGE OF DEDICATION................................................................................... vi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................... vii

TABLE OF CONTENT ..................................................................................... ix

ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................... xii

ABSTRAK ........................................................................................................... xiii

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................... 1

1.1 Background of the Study ........................................................................ 1

1.2. Problem Formulation ............................................................................ 4

1.3. Objectives of the Study ......................................................................... 4

1.4. Benefits of the Study ............................................................................. 5

1.5. Definition of the Terms ......................................................................... 5

CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ............................. 8

2.1. Review of Related Theories .................................................................. 8

2.1.1. Theory of character ..................................................................... 8

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2.1.2. Theory of characterization .......................................................... 10

2.1.3. Theory of Critical Approach ....................................................... 11

2.1.4. Theory of Satire .......................................................................... 12

2.1.5. The Relationship between Literature and Society ...................... 14

2.2. Review on British Society of Victorian Era .......................................... 16

2.1. Governmental and Political condition ........................................... 16

2.2. Economic Condition ...................................................................... 17

2.3. Social Condition ............................................................................ 18

2.3.1. High Class Society ................................................................ 18

2.3.2. Middle Class Society ............................................................ 19

2.3.3. Lower Class Society ............................................................. 19

2.2.4. Moral Values ........................................................................ 19

2.3. Criticism ................................................................................................ 21

2.4. Theoretical Framework ......................................................................... 22

CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY ................................................................... 24

3.1. Subject Matter ....................................................................................... 24

3.2. Approach of the Study .......................................................................... 25

3.3. Method of the Study .............................................................................. 26

CHAPTER 4 ANALYSIS ................................................................................ 28

4.1. Character Analysis of Rebecca Sharp ................................................... 28

4.1.1 Social Traits .................................................................................. 29

4.1.2. Physical Traits .............................................................................. 32

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4.1.3. Psychological Traits ..................................................................... 33

4.1.3.1 Cunning .............................................................................. 33

4.1.3.2. Clever ................................................................................. 35

4.1.3.3. Independent ....................................................................... 37

4.1.3.4. Selfish ................................................................................ 39

4.1.3.5. Hypocritical ....................................................................... 40

4.1.3.6. Ambitious .......................................................................... 42

4.2. Satire on British Society ....................................................................... 44

4.2.1. Thackeray Satirizes British Society is Materialistic .................... 46

4.2.2. Thackeray Satirizes the Importance of Social Status ................... 48

CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ............................... 51

5.1. Conclusions ................................................................................................. 51

5.2. Suggestions ................................................................................................. 53

5.2.1. Suggestions for Future Researcher .................................................... 53
5.2.2. Suggestion for Teaching Learning Activities .................................... 53

BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................. 56

APPENDICES
1. Summary of the Novel ................................................................................... 58
2. Biography of William Makepeace Thackeray ............................................... 63
3. Lesson Plan for Teaching Speaking ............................................................... 66
4. Material for Teaching Speaking ..................................................................... 68
5. The works of Thackeray ................................................................................. 71
6. Chronology of Thackeray’s Life .................................................................... 72
7. The Crawleys’ Family Tree

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ABSTRACT

Octaviani, Nadia. 2008. Materialism and Social Status: Thackeray’s Satire on

British Society of the Early Victorian Era through Rebecca Sharp Character
in Vanity Fair. Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study program,
Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and
Education, Sanata Dharma University.

This study is conducted to analyze the characterization of Rebecca Sharp,

one of the main characters in Thackeray’s Vanity Fair. This study also analyzes
Thackeray’s portrayal upon British society in the early Victorian era. Vanity Fair
is categorized as a social novel, a novel which mostly describes the relationship
between people in a society. Through the social novel, the readers may see the life
and the shape of a particular society as well as the conflicts that exist within it.
This study is conducted based on the reasons that through a character’s eyes, the
readers may see the world and the society. There are similarities of situation
between the society in the novel and the society where Thackeray lives.
Therefore, this study aims also to find out how Thackeray’s view and satires on
the society.
There are two main questions that are going to be discussed in this study,
namely (1) how the character of Rebecca Sharp is described in the novel, and (2)
how Thackeray satirizes the British Society of the early Victorian Era.
The data gathering method used was library research. The data was
collected from the novel itself as the primary source and criticisms of the novel
and other sources related to the novel as the secondary data. This study used the
socio-cultural approach. The theory of character and characterization were
employed in order to answer the first question. These theories were used to find
out Rebecca Sharp’s characterization. To answer the second question, the theory
of character, the theory of satire, the relationship between literature and society,
and review on British Society at early Victorian era are used.
The result of the analysis shows that Rebecca Sharp is described as a
beautiful, charming, independent, hypocritical, selfish and ambitious person who
comes from low-class society and tries to make her way to be accepted in the
high-class society. Based on Becky’s characteristics, it can be drawn that first,
Thackeray attempts to satirize British society as a materialistic society. He shows
his satire using Becky’s cunning, selfishness, and ambition, along with the
influence of society on Becky’s materialism. Second, Thackeray satirizes the
importance of social status in British society. He shows his satire through Becky’s
marriage that is not based on love, but on her wish to elevate her social status.

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ABSTRAK

Octaviani, Nadia. 2008. Materialism and Social Status: Thackeray’s Satire on

British Society of the Early Victorian Era through his Character in Vanity
Fair. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan
Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata
Dharma.

Studi ini disusun untuk menganalisis karakter Rebecca Sharp, salah satu
tokoh utama dalam novel Vanity Fair karya Thackeray. Studi ini juga menganalisa
gambaran Thackeray terhadap masyarakat Inggris pada awal jaman Victoria.
Vanity Fair termasuk dalam kategori novel sosial, sebuah novel yang kebanyakan
menceritakan tentang hubungan antar orang dalam sebuah masyarakat. Melalui
novel sosial, para pembaca dapat melihat kehidupan dan bentuk dari sebuah
masyarakat tertentu, demikian juga dengan konflik-konflik yang terdapat
didalamnya. Alasan studi ini disusun adalah bahwa melalui mata sang karakter,
para pembaca dapat melihat dunia dan masyarakat. Terdapat persamaan situasi
antara masyarakat di novel dan masyarakat dimana Thackeray hidup. Oleh karena
itu, studi ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui bagaimnana pandangan dan sindiran
Thackeray terhadap masyarakat tersebut.
Ada dua permasalah mendasar yang akan dibahas dalam studi ini, yaitu (1)
bagaimana karakter Rebecca Sharp dideskripsikan didalam novel, dan (2)
bagaimana Thackeray menyindir masyarakat Inggris pada awal jaman Viktoria.
Metode pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah studi pustaka. Data
dikumpulkan dari novel itu sendiri sebagai sumber utama, kritik mengenai novel,
dan beberapa sumber lainnya. Teori karakter dan karakteristik digunakan untuk
menjawab pertanyaan pertama. Teori-teori tersebut digunakan untuk mencari tahu
karakteristik Rebecca Sharp. Sementara untuk menjawab pertanyaan kedua
menggunakan teori karakter, teori sindiran, hubungan antara literatur dan
masyarakat, dan review mengenai masyarakat Inggris pada awal jaman Victoria.
Pendekatan yang digunakan pada studi ini adalah pendekatan sosio-kultural.
Hasil dari analisis menunjukan bahwa Rebbeca Sharp dideskripsikan
sebagai orang yang cantik, menarik, mandiri, munafik, egois, dan ambisius yang
berasal dari masyarakat kelas bawah yang miskin dan mencoba mencari cara
untuk diterima oleh masyarakat kelas atas. Berdasarkan dari karakteristik Rebecca
Sharp, dapat disimpulkan bahwa Thackeray mencoba untuk pertama, menyindir
masyarakat Inggris sebagai masyarakat yang materialistik yang mementingkan
status sosial. Thackeray menunjukan sindirannya melalui karakter Becky yang
licik, egois, dan ambisius. Kedua, Thackeray menyindir pentingnya status sosial
dalam masyrakat Inggris. Dia menunjukan sindirannya melalaui perkawinan
Becky yang tidak dilandaskan oleh cinta, tetapi oleh keinginannya untuk
meningkatkan status sosialnya.

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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

This chapter consists of the background of the study, objectives of the

study, problem formulation, benefits of the study, and definition of terms. The

background of the study focuses on the reasons why Vanity Fair was chosen. The

objectives of the study section explains the purpose of this study. The problem

formulation part gives the general description of what is going to be discussed in

this study. The section that talks about benefit of the study is the explanation of

the advantages of the study and those who can get the benefits from this study.

The definition of terms explains about the terms that are used in this study.

1.1 Background of the Study

Literary works can be categorized into three major genres: novels, poems,

and dramas. According to Walker, among many other literary works, novel is “the

most democratic of all, because it makes least demand for education and training

and puts the smallest strain upon the intelligence of the reader” (612). It is

relatively easier to enjoy a novel rather than the other literary works.

Reading novels can give the reader not only pleasure but also knowledge

contained in it. By reading adventurous novels of Conrad or Kipling, the readers

can “experience” traveling to Far East without spending a penny, and even

without moving from your seat (Eagleton 36). Another benefit that is offered from

reading novels is that readers can get the picture of the novel’s world, as De

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Bonald says that “literature is an expression of society” (qtd. in Wellek and

Warren 110). Through Dickens’ Oliver Twist, readers may see the cruel and hard

life of London’s street from the eyes of a child, or having known about the

wizard’s world from Rowling’s famous novels of Harry Potter.

Henkle proposes what he calls social novels, along with three other basic

modes of novels: the psychological novel, the novel of symbolic action, and the

modern romance. Social novels flourished in the nineteenth century. They usually

“describe entire societies, have varied casts of characters, are filled with action,

and depict life over a period of time” (Henkle 22). These novels seem realistic

because the world and the people of the novel are created similar to those in real

life. It presents life-like characters in familiar and possible social situations.

Social interaction is one of the important activities of these novels. They

describe the relationship between people in a society. The readers can get the

description of a country, classes of people, and subcultures of the time from

reading these novels. The main characters of these novels usually define

themselves through interaction with other characters. Therefore, “much of what

takes place in social novels is not internalized within the individual; rather it

transpires in the open between people” (Henkle 23).

From a social novel, readers can learn about life, about the shape of the

society, and conflicts that exist within it. Since the people and the social problems

faced by the characters are much alike the readers’, another objective of a novel of

this kind is to draw the readers into the experiences vicariously. Consequently, the

readers are asked to interpret their own lives because “the fictional and the real are

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too close to avoid transferring meaning from one to others. The fuller a novel’s

portrayal of society is, the more likely we are to feel as if we are part of it”

(Henkle 26-27). In portraying the society, the author can also express his or her

own opinion on the society. This opens up to the possibility for the author to try to

satirize the society. By analyzing the author’s satire conveyed in his novel, readers

can also find out how the society looks like.

Like many other social novels, which “describe entire society and have

many casts of characters” (Henkle 22), Thackeray’s Vanity Fair also serves much

information about the condition of society and characters. It tells about the life

journey of two best friends, Rebecca Sharp and Amelia Sedley, who come from

different classes in the society. Being a child of a poor painter father and a French

artist mother, Rebecca, or often called Becky, has suffered from poverty since she

is a little girl. Her friend Amelia, on the other hand, has a better life because she

is born from a merchant family. The setting takes place predominantly in England,

Belgium, and France during the battle of Waterloo around 1815 between France

and England. The novel further reveals how those two women try to meet their

ambitions; Becky, with her obsession with money and being accepted into high

class society, and Amelia’s obsession with true love.

Money and the importance of one’s status are two topics that are

constantly discussed in this novel. Vanity Fair tells about how people are moved

by their needs. Understanding how the author satirizes the society’s view on

money and social status, and what people can do to achieve them, is also another

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interesting experience in reading this novel. However, we all know that money,

power, and social status do not always determine one’s happiness.

Thackeray portrays the perception of a particular society towards money

and social status through his characters in the novel. Though there are many

characters in the novel, the most relevant character to be explored further in this

study is Rebecca Sharp. Rebecca Sharp is considered the best representative to

portray the society. She represents both the life of a lower-class and high-class

society. She is a girl without money and social status, but later in her life she can

lift up her status and enter the glamorous life of high-class society

1.2. Problem Formulation

There are two problems that will be discussed in the study:

1. How is the characteristic of Rebecca Sharp described in Thackeray’s

Vanity Fair?

2. How does Thackeray satirize the British society of the early Victorian era

through Rebecca Sharp’s character in Vanity Fair?

1.3. Objectives of the Study

This study aims to find out how the character of Rebecca Sharp in the

novel is described by the author. It also attempts to understand how Thackeray

views the British Society of the early Victorian era. Through Becky’s

characteristics in the novel, Thackeray expresses his satire toward the society.

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1.4. Benefits of the Study

There are two groups of people who can get the benefits from this study.

The first group is the readers in general. The readers can get a better

understanding not only the story being told, but also the background of it.

Hopefully, from this study, readers become aware that there are many more

important things in this world besides money, power, and social status. The

second group is the readers who are going to conduct studies on this novel. They

can use this study as one of their sources. There is also suggestion in

implementing Vanity Fair to teach speaking.

1.5. Definition of the Terms

There are several terms that will be discussed in the definition of the

terms. These terms need to be clarified in order to give better understanding of the

study.

The first word is materialism. The term materialism that is used in this

study signifies an ethical attitude. A person is called a materialist, in this sense, if

“he is interested seriously in sensuous pleasure and bodily comforts, and hence in

the material possession in bringing these about” (The New encyclopedia

Britannica volume 6 612). In this ethical sense, a man might be called a

materialist without having to believe the metaphysical theory, and conversely. A

materialist, in this study, is a person who considers material possessions,

including money and properties, as the most important things.

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The second word is social status. According to Gary Day, status means “a

legal term designating any mark of distinction which placed an individual in a

defined position in society in relation to others.” Status can also be defined in

terms of honor or prestige. “It is perfectly possible for a profession to carry a high

prestige factor, for example a priest, while at the same time having a low

remuneration” (10). A similar statement is also made by Richard T. Schaefer. He

says status refers to “any position of the full range of socially defined positions

within a large group or society – from the lowest to the highest position” (112).

Status often conveys connotations of influence, wealth, and fame. Schaefer

categorizes status into two parts, ascribed status and achieved status. “Ascribed

status is “assigned” to a person by society without regard for the individual’s

unique talents or characteristics” (112). He describes that this assignment takes

place at birth, therefore, one’s racial background, gender, and age are considered

as ascribed statuses. While achieved status is “attained by an individual largely

through his or her own effort” (Schaefer 113). One must do something to acquire

an achieved status, for example go to school, or learn some particular skills.

Teachers, parents, soldiers are the example of achieved statuses. In this study,

nobility, or family name, is considered as an ascribed status. As they are

determined at birth, it is difficult to change an ascribed status, although in some

cases people can change it by marriage. For example, by marrying Rawdon

Crawley, Becky was able to use the Crawley name.

The third word is society. A society means “a variety of people of

different occupations, ages, and natures, living in a way that creates a web of

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interrelationships” (Henkle 23). The society in this study refers to the British

society in the early Victorian Era. The society, here, also includes the customs,

perceptions and attitudes, beliefs and values, even the economic, social,

governmental, and political conditions.

The fourth word is Victorian. The term Victorian in English literary

criticism often implies disapproval of certain attitudes; for example, materialism,

hypocrisy, insularity, complacency, and censoriousness. While the term Victorian

that is related with a certain era, or Victorian Era, means the period during which

Queen Victoria ruled Britain from 1837-1903. Abrams used the year 1870 to

divide “Early Victorian” from “Late Victorian.” This period is considered as the

period of invention, scientific discovery, and changing economic, political, and

social ideas (The New encyclopedia Britannica volume 10 422). Both of

explanations of the Victorian terms above are used in this study. The first term

relates to English literary criticism is used to represent the attitude and the

perception of the characters in Vanity Fair. The second term relates to the period

or era used to show the time when Vanity Fair takes place.

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CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter presents discussions on review of related literature. The

discussions are divided into review of related theories, review on British society

of the early Victorian era, criticism, and theoretical framework. In the review on

related theories, there is a discussion about theory of character, theory of

characterization, theory of critical approaches, theory of satire, and the

relationship between literature and society. In the review of British society of

Victorian era, explanation about the British society of Victorian Era is presented.

The theoretical framework covers why and how those theories are applied in order

to answer the problems.

2.1 Review of Related Theories

There are five things that will be discussed in the review of related

theories; those are: theory of character, theory of characterization, theory of

critical approaches, theory of satire, and the relation between literature and

society.

2.1.1. Theory of Character

Character, according to Robert Stanton, can be defined into two ways. He

says that “it designates the individuals who appear in the story and it refers to the

mixture of interests, desires, emotions, and moral principles that makes up each of

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these individuals” (17). In other words, character is both the people in the novel

and their personalities or characteristics.

Character is one of the most important aspects in the novel. Through the

eyes of the characters, the readers can experience not only the characters’ life but

also see what Henkle said as “a vision of a world” (48). The characters tell the

story of the novel and put across the picture from their world. The readers,

therefore, can identify the novel’s world through the characters. Wellek and

Warren also say that the author expresses his idea and knowledge about his

society in the world of literature by using language as a medium in his fictitious

characters. The use of fictitious characters in fiction, such as heroes and villains

afford interesting indications of social attitude, which is similar to the

characteristics of the people in his society (104). Elizabeth Langlard also states

that by looking at the interaction between characters, we can see the society or the

world of the novel. “This society may also be revealed through human

relationships, through characters patterned interactions and their common

expectations from one another” (6)

The character in the novel, or what E. M. Forster calls as “Homo Fictus”

(38) reflects the qualities of ordinary human beings. They are named, given sexes,

provided with personalities complete with physical and psychological aspects.

The difference is that the characters in the novel, if the author wants to, can be

understood completely because their inner and outer life can be exposed (Forster

32). The explanation on how the author describes the inner and outer life of the

characters will be explained further in the theory of characterization.

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Forster divides characters into flat and round. Flat characters are easily

recognized, “they are constructed round a single idea or quality” (47). They

change only a little part from the beginning to the end of the story. On the other

hand, round characters are more complex than the flat characters. They are more

dynamic and can change. The changes will influence the character. The action of

this character is often unpredictable by the readers.

2.1.2. Theory of Characterization

According to Holman and Harmon (81), the technique the author uses to

reveal the characters of an imaginary person in the story is called characterization.

By knowing the technique that the author uses, the readers can get descriptions

about the characters of the novel. The descriptions of the characters can help the

readers to know and understand them better. The techniques the author uses may

vary from one to another.

There are many ways in characterizing characters. The following are nine

ways Murphy says the author can employ “to make his characters understandable

to, and come alive for, his readers” (161).

The first way is by personal description. The readers can identify

someone’s characters by describing the physical appearance (161). The second is

by seeing from other characters. Besides describing a character directly, the author

can also describe his character through the eyes and opinions of other characters.

The readers can know one’s character by knowing other characters’ opinion and

point of view about him or her (162). The third is by speech. Whenever a

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character says something or has a conversation with other characters, he gives the

readers some clues to his characters (164). Next is by exploring the character’s

past life. The pictures of the character’s past life can be traced and learnt to help

us figure out the character’s action of the present time. (166). The fifth is by

seeing from conversation of others. The clues to one character can be revealed

through the conversation with other characters (167). The sixth is by reaction. The

response or the reaction of a character to something may give the readers clues to

one’s character (168). The seventh way is by direct comments. In this way,

usually the author of the novel acts as a narrator. The author describes one’s

character by giving a comment directly (170). The eight is by thought. The readers

can know the character’s inner ideas and thoughts by looking at what one is

thinking about directly, or by other characters’ though about him or her (171). The

last way is by seeing one’s mannerism. The readers can get clues of one’s

characters by his mannerism, habits or idiosyncrasies (173).

2.1.3. Theory of Critical Approaches

Mary Rohrberger and Samuel H. Woods, Jr. presents that there are five

approaches that can be used as a means of observing a novel critically. These

approaches are the formalistic approach, the biographical approach, the socio-

cultural historical approach, the mythopoeic approach, and the psychological

approach (6-15). The first approach is the formalist approach. This approach is

concerned with demonstrating the harmonious involvement of all the parts to the

whole and with pointing out how meaning is derived from structure and how

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matters of technique determine structure (6-7). The second approach is the

biographical approach. This approach emphasizes the necessity for an

appreciation of the ideas and personality of the author to an understanding of the

literary object. Critics try to learn as much as they can about the life and

development of the author and apply this knowledge in their attempt to understand

his writing (8-9). The third is the sociocultural-historical approach. Two factors

are present here. Firstly, accuracy in the presentation of historical facts is of value

to the historian, but not necessarily to the author. Secondly, a work of literature

might have historical significance, but not necessarily literary significance (9-11).

The fourth is the mythopoeic approach. The critics use of mythopoeic frame of

reference try to discover certain universally recurrent patterns of human thought,

which they believe exist in significant works of arts (11-13). The last approach

that Rohrberger and Woods present is the psychological approach. This approach

involves the effort to locate and demonstrate certain recurrent patterns. In

applying this theory, we must be careful not to take the part for the whole and

reduce a piece of literature to a mere statement of a behavior pattern (13-15).

2.1.4. The Theory of Satire

The Nineteenth century became a period of satire. Most of literary works;

such as poetry, drama, essays, novels, and criticisms took on the satirical manner.

“Although the Victorian period was not noted for pure satire, the writers; such as

Dickens, Thackeray and others produced novels that showed an excellent vehicle

for social satire” (The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature 569).

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According to Holman and Harmon, a satire is “a literary manner that

blends a critical attitude with humor and wit for the purpose of improving human

institutions or humanity” (447). While Abrams says that a satire is “the literary art

of diminishing or derogating a subject by making it ridiculous and evoking toward

it attitudes of amusement, contempt, scorn, or indignation” (187). Though both of

them are using laughter and comedy as tools, a satire is different from a comic. In

comic, comedy evokes laughter mainly as an end, while satire evokes laughter as

a weapon, and against an object that exists outside the work itself. A satire is an

author way of criticizing a certain object that he dislikes or disagrees. “A satire is

an author’s style to criticize the root of the matter which the author is taken as a

fancy and does not agree with” (Abrams 187).The object of a satire can be many

things, included an individual, a type of persons, a class, an institution, a nation,

or even the whole human race (Abrams 187).

Both Abrams and Holman and Harmon divide satire into two major types;

they are formal (direct) satire and indirect satire. In formal (direct) satire, the

satiric voice speaks out, usually in the first person, directly to the reader or to a

character, or to an object that is being satirized (Holman and Harmon 448). On the

other hand, in indirect satire, the satire is expressed through “narratives of the

characters or groups who are the butt are ridiculed not by what is said about them,

but what they themselves say and do” (Holman and Harmon 448). According to

Abrams, the most common indirect form is a fictional narrative. In fictional

narrative, “the objects of the satire are characters who make themselves and their

opinions ridiculous or obvious by what they think, say, and do, and sometimes

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made even more ridiculous by the author’s comments and narrative style”

(Abrams 188)

2.1.5. The Relationship between Literature and Society

According to Langlard, society means “not merely people and their classes

but also their customs, conventions, beliefs and values, their institutions – legal,

religious, and cultural-- and their physical environment (6). It means that society

can be defined as two; a group of people and the system that embodied in them.

She divides society into two; they are the world that exists in the novel and the

world in which a writer lives. The two can influence each other. The world in

which a writer lives may influence the world in the novel in a way that there are

similarities between the two. On the other hand, the world in a novel may

influence the world in which a writer lives in a way that it is the author’s way in

expressing his opinion or criticisms towards it. It means that the readers may find

out that while reading along the novel, they may find the messages or values that

the author conveys.

The question of values has strong mimetic implications. Analyzing the

values …allows us to address questions of why novels mean what they
mean to us and why they can affect us powerfully. Society, as depicted in
the novel, thus comments on the roles and possibilities of society in our
lives (Langlard 6).

According to Wellek and Warren, the relationship between literature and

society may appear in the sociology of the writer, the influence of literature on

society, and the social context of the works themselves. The first is the sociology

of the writer. It also deals with the writer’s social background, social status, and

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social ideology. “Since every writer is a member of society, he can be studied as a

social being” (96). The main source is his biography, but the information about

where he came and in which he lived becomes another important point to explore.

His opinion of what happen in his society matters in analyzing his work.

The second is the influence of literature on society. It has a connection in a

way that the writer is not only being influenced by society but also influencing

society. The work that he produces is also influencing the shape and behavior of

society. People learn how to live their lives based on what they read in the book

(Wellek and Warren 105).

The third aspect is the main focus of this thesis. The context of the works

also deals with the implications and social purpose of the works. The most

common relation between literature and society is that the study of works of

literature is considered as social documents and assumed as the pictures of social

reality. As a social document, literature can be used to give the outlines of social

history. But studies of literature as simply social documents are not enough if

critics do not go beyond it. They should know the artistic method of the novelist

being studied - in what relation the picture stands to the social reality. Is it realistic

by intention? Or is it, at certain points, satire, caricature, or romantic idealization?

(Wellek and Warren 102-104). The writer has his own opinion about the social

issues in the society where he lives. Though not like a history work, the opinions

of the writer about those social issues can be traced in his work of literature.

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2.2. Review on the British Society of the Early Victorian Era

2.2.1 Governmental and Political Condition

The parliament was ruled mostly by the high class. They ruled the

government and created laws that must be obeyed by others. One of the

requirements for being a Member of Parliament is the ownership of the land, as

George King said “Ownership of the land was an eligibility requirement for the

member of Parliament” (qtd. from the New Encyclopedia Britannica Volume 3

261). Therefore, people from lower class society did not have rights in the

Parliament.

There are two major groups that existed in that period, Chartism and the

middle class Anti-Corn Laws League. The Chartism was aimed at parliamentary

reform, containing six points: annual parliament, universal male suffrage, the

ballot, no property qualifications for the members of Parliament, payment for

members and equal electoral districts. The Chartism was existed because of the

grievances of the working class. They were discontent because of bad harvests,

industrial unemployment, and high food price that made them hungry.

The second group is the middle class Anti-Corn Laws League. This league

was established by the middle class people who disagree with the Corn Law of

1815. The Corn Law was created by the agriculturalists, who were predominant in

Parliament, attempted to protect their economy position by raising the prices of

grain and rents. The league aimed to repeal the Corn Laws, by doing so, the

league believed that it would manage the problems of guaranteeing the livelihood

of the poor and securing the prosperity of industry (The New Encyclopedia

Britannica Volume 3, 261-6).

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2.2.2. Economic Condition

Industrial Revolution in the Victorian Era can be translated with the

changes in making good from hand labors to substituting machines. The use of

machines is increasing since the steam was invented. This condition forces the

changes from the agrarian society into industrial society. The labors did not have

any jobs anymore since the machines can handle their works. Therefore, wages

are extremely low because using machines are considered less expensive. The

working hours are also very long, almost fourteen hours a day. The women and

the children are also hired. The industrial revolution also makes the cities where

the factories built, becomes slums and crowded. Snyder and Martin say that “The

Industrial Revolution which had begun during the later part of the 18th century,

reached its climax just before Victoria came to throne” (311). The development of

machinery had brought many workers to the starvation because businessmen

considered buying machines and building factories more profitable. The

government policy of laissez-faire, or keeping hands off a man’s private business,

permitted each businessman to have a law that was created by him to use women

and children as workers and force them to work as hard as they could. At the same

time ‘the fencing off, or enclosing on the valid plea of improving agriculture made

the villagers hurt while the land owners happy” (Snyder and Martin 311).

The whole system was based on money or the cash-nexus. Both

agriculture and industry had become thoroughly dominated. For people who had

power, wealth, and position, it was a good opportunity to get richer and richer. On

the other hand, those who were lack of properties, and considered as lower class,

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had no chance to make a better life. Betsky says that the aristocrats or high class

society and middle class society were the people who obtained the benefits from

this economic revolution in England.

2.2.3. Social Condition

Generally, there are three social classes that occur in the Victorian Era,

namely high class society, middle class society, and lower class or working class

society. Each social class has its own characteristics.

2.2.3.1. High-Class Society

The high class society or the aristocrats was the richest class that had

power upon the economic, politic, military, and intellectual policies. This class

had the best houses, food, clothes, education, and entertainment. They went to

park or party for entertainment and social activities. Palaces, vast lands, luxurious

carriages, and other properties were their possession. They also had many servants

to serve them fully. They were considered as having high social status, and it was

ascribed from family root. Their children went to high quality school built for

high class families only. For children who did not go to school, their parents asked

a teacher or a governess to teach them at home (McKay, Hill, and Buckler 846).

The areas of their jobs in the society were the Church, government, navy or the

army (Encyclopedia Britannica Volume 19 949).

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2.2.3.2. Middle-Class Society

The middle classes were much larger groups and much less wealthy than

the lower class. They were composed mostly of the most successful business

families, such as those who worked in the industry, banking, and large commerce.

These middle class families were the main beneficiaries of modern industry and

scientific progress. They had a number of servants as an indication of wealth and

they spent food mostly since a dinner party was this class’ favorite social

occasion. They also had big interest in education by sending their children to

better advanced education. People from the middle class pretended to be good in

the society. The middle class consisted of independent shopkeepers, small traders,

and manufacturers (McKay, Hill, and Buckler 847).

2.2.3.3. Lower-Class or Working-Class Society

The lower class society, or often called working class society, was the

people whose livelihoods depended on physical labor and who had low levels of

living and education. They lived in slums, and they are not appropriately dressed.

Their characterizations were lack of properties and dependence on wages. These

conditions were associated with low levels of living and education, restricted

opportunities for leisure and cultural activities, and exclusion from the spheres of

important decision making (The New Encyclopedia Britannica Vol. XVI 949).

2.2.4. Moral Values

Victorians, according to Arnstein, may be generalized as prudery,

hypocrisy, and stuffiness. They often failed to be said thrift, seriousness of

character, respectability, hard work, and self help. Prostitute in London was

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notorious. Drunkenness disgraces the large town. Yet they tried. There was a

famous maxim at that era said “honesty is the best policy”. Especially in business

world, this statement was strongly remembered. A merchant or an industrialist

established his reputation by gaining reliability of others rather than sharp trading.

A bankruptcy was a horror for businessmen, since “bankruptcy was regarded not

merely as financial but as a moral disgrace” (Arnstein 76-7).

Victorian remained as “old-fashioned” when referring to attitudes toward

sex. It was taboo at that time to talk about sex. Ideally sex was never to be referred

to in conversation or in print. ”The reproduction of the species became the only

acceptable justification for sexual activity” (Arnstein 78). The Victorian family

was a patriarchal family, meaning that although a wife was not equal with a

husband, but she was fully responsible in taking care of her children. Divorce

equaled with bankruptcy can be a source of social disgrace.

It is true that the Victorian has a perfect rule to conduct the life of the

society. Unfortunately, the society was deficient in sight and sympathy.

Furthermore, it was too easy for the people to degenerate into sins. In fact, there

were so may people who broke the social law. It had become a common thing day

by day. For on stance, drinking and gambling were kinds of games for some

people. The Victorians did these activities to have fun while they were known

very well that they were forbidden in this country. People who cared tried to find

a way for Victorians who did wrong behaviors to leave the bottle, but this was a

very long term solution while the Victorian wanted a prompt and effective answer

to this problem.

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2.3. Criticism

This criticism was written by Pat Rogers, a professor of Liberal Arts at the

University of South Florida. He wrote the introductory part and edited Vanity

Fair, where this criticism was taken from. He started with commenting the title. It

referred to John Bunyan’s picture of the world as a crowded market place of

temptation. Originally entitle with Vanity Fair: A Novel without a Hero, its

subtitle also served as another provoking endless interpretation.

The position of a hero is replaced with a heroine. So, it is a novel about a

heroine, not a hero. The plot revolves around Amelia and Becky. Rogers also

quoted in Chapter 30, “if this is a novel without a hero, at least let us claim to a

heroine”, to show that it was Becky that acted like a heroine while she helped her

husband calmly preparing his leaving for battlefield.

According to Rogers in his introduction to Vanity Fair, there are some

questions concerning the plot of Vanity Fair. On the other hand, the book’s

characterization is praised in many ways. One character that is considered

successful in achieving the readers’ attention is Becky Sharp. “There can be few

readers who would fail to recognize the triumph which is Becky Sharp” (xxvii).

Rogers describes that Thackeray depicts Becky’s character with persuasive

consistency.

Thackeray knows that Becky is a heartless, self-centered and evil woman,

and spares no pains to make sure that we are aware of this. But she is also
admirable in more limited ways, on account of her courage, independence,
and clear-headed realism (xxvii).

He shows that Thackeray clearly describes Becky from two sides, virtues and

vices. Rogers also says that another interesting point from Becky is his position of

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Thackeray’s satires. Thackeray uses her both as the butt of the satire and as the

tool to show his satire.

Another critic is Seymour Betsky, a Fulbright professor of English,

University of Utrecht. Though Thackeray is not the first novelist who writes the

novel about the struggle of middle class or the gross behavior of upper class,

Betsky says that he is the first novelist who really hates rank and privilege, and

shows it in his characters.

But he is the first novelist who, hating rank and privilege in his bones,
skins bull-dog teeth into every single abuse of rank and privilege: self-
defeating miserliness in a Sir Pitt Crawley; in Rawdon Crawley the
prodigality of bloods and dandies; the mediocrity of mind and talents that
govern the great nation with a growing empire, exemplified in Mr. Pitt
Crawley; extreme brutality in Lord Steyne, trading on its prerogatives.

Betsky also says that the weapon of Vanity Fair that attracts the readers is

Thackeray’s satires. It is a satirical novel. Thackeray shows that there are many

moral inequalities in Vanity Fair, but he also predicts that there is no radical

change to reform those.

2.4. Theoretical Framework

There are some theories that are applied in this study. Those theories are

used in order to answer the problems. To answer the first problem, the theory of

character and the theory of characterization are applied. It is important to know

the theory of character because the analysis of this study is also dealing with some

characters of the novel. Besides explaining about what is meant by character, this

theory also explains that the readers can see the novel’s world through the

characters’ eyes. Theory of characterization is employed in this study in order to

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reveal the characterization of the characters. This theory provides the definition

and techniques of characterization. Though not all, these techniques can be used

to discover the characterization of the characters. Theory of critical approaches is

used to determine the most appropriate approach in analyzing and interpreting the

novel.

To answer the second problem, theory of satire, the relation between

society and literature, and review on the British society of the early Victorian era

are utilized. Theory of satire gives information about what a satire is, and what the

function of satire in a literary work. The relation between society and literature is

used to know what is meant by society and the correlation between literature and

society. This theory is also used to get proves that readers can really know the

perception of the British society in the early Victorian era through the characters

of the novel. The review on British society provides the information about the

governmental, economic, social condition and moral values at that era. Besides

getting better understanding about the society, by knowing this information, the

readers can also get the social criticisms that the author tries to express in his

novel.

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CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

There are three parts that are discussed in this chapter, namely: the subject

matter, the approach of the study, and the method of the study. Subject matter of

the study describes the novel that is going to be studied and a brief summary on

what the story is about. Approach of the study gives information about the

approach employed in this study. Method of the study explains what kind of

research that is used in this study, what sources are used, and steps taken in

analyzing the novel.

3.1. Subject Matter

The novel that was discussed in this study is called Vanity Fair. It was

written by William Makepeace Thackeray in 1847. It took more than a year for

him to finish it in monthly parts from January 1847 until July 1848. The novel

used in this study was published by Everyman and edited by Pat Rogers in 1997.

It is six hundred and ninety nine pages long and divided into sixty seven chapters.

Entitled Vanity Fair: a Novel without a Hero, this was considered as one of the

best novels that Thackeray ever wrote. Even Charlotte Bronte dedicated her

second edition of Jane Eyre to Thackeray, praising him as “the first social

regeneration of the day”. Thackeray, who was born in Calcutta, 18 July 1811,

wrote several other famous novels, such as Pendennis (1840-1850), Henry

Esmond (1852), The Newcomers (1853-1855), The Virginians (1857-1859), The

Adventures of Phillip (1862).

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Vanity Fair told about the story of two best friends. Becky Sharp, the

penniless orphaned of an artist and a French opera dancer, and Amelia Sedley, the

sheltered child of a city Merchant. The two have been educated at Miss

Pinkerton’s academy. Becky having failed to attract Amelia’s brother, Jos Sedley,

became a governess to the children of Sir Pitt Crawley. She becomes a favorite of

Miss Crawley, Sir Pitt’s rich spinster sister. When Becky confessed that she had

married with Rawdon Crawley, Sir Pitt’s youngest son, the young couple abruptly

fell from favor with Miss Crawley. They had to live without Miss Crawley’s

financial help and dependent on Becky’s wits.

Meanwhile, Amelia’s father had lost all his money and her engagement

with George Osborne had been broken off by George’s father, John Osborne. John

did not want his son to marry a poor woman from lower class. However, the two

were married without the permission of John Osborne.

Amelia and Becky accompanied their husband to Belgium for war. Becky

and Rawdon are apart after Rawdon discovered his wife with Lord Steyne. Becky

led an increasingly disreputable life on the continental. Rawdon who had become

a governor of Coventry Island, died of fever (Adapted from The Concise Oxford

Companion to English Literature 669).

3.2. Approach of the Study

As mentioned in Chapter II, there are five approaches that Rohrberger and

Woods offer. Among them, the one to be applied in this study was the

sociocultural-historical approach. The main concern of this approach was the

attitude and the action of society in which a work was created. A product of art

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was also a product of a society. This product also revealed the social issues and it

would “lead to an ethical judgment concerning the truth of an author’s statements”

(Rohrberger and Woods 10). This approach was used because I would like to

study the sociocultural-historical aspect of the story as the reflection of the society

in the Victorian era, the time when Vanity Fair took place. It helped me to relate

the perception of the characters in the novel with the society at that time.

Therefore, the appropriate approach for this study was the sociocultural-historical

approach.

3.3. Method of the Study

In gathering the data, library research was used. A Library research was

selected since most of the data were found in the library. The references were

particularly on the used approach, the literary theories, criticisms on the novel,

and the information about review on British society of the early Victorian Era.

There were two kinds of sources that were used in this study. They were

primary source and secondary sources. The primary source was the novel itself,

William Makepeace Thackeray’s Vanity Fair, published by Everyman and edited

by Pat Rogers in London 1997.

The secondary sources included the books, articles of related theories,

reviews on the British society in the early Victorian Era, and the criticisms on the

novel and the author. Some of the main sources that were used are Stanton’s

Introduction to Fiction, Henkle’s Reading the Novel, Wellek and Warren’s

Theory of Literature, Langlard’s Society in the Novel, Holman and Harmon’s A

Handbook to Literature, and Forster’s Aspect of the Novels, Rohrberger and

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Woods’ Reading and Writing about Literature, and other books and articles

related to the study. The complete lists of sources can be seen in the References

section.

Some steps were taken in analyzing the novel. The first step was reading

the novel, Vanity Fair as the main source of this study and trying to find out what

the story was about. The second step was selecting the interesting topics or the

problems that were going to be discussed in this study. In obtaining good

understanding of the novel, it needed more than once to read the novel. The third

step was reread the novel and watched the movie under the same title, Vanity Fair,

to find details that were related to the problems. The fourth step was summarizing

and taking notes of the points discussed. The fifth step was collecting the

information about the related theories and criticisms to analyze the problem,

including choosing the most appropriate approach for this thesis. The sixth step

was trying to answer the problems. The last step was concluding the result of the

study.

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CHAPTER 4

ANALYSIS

This chapter contains an analysis to answer the problems. The discussion

is divided into two parts, character analysis and satires on British Society. The

first section, character analysis of Rebecca Sharp, is an attempt to answer the first

problem, how Thackeray describes Rebecca Sharp’s character. In this part, the

character of Rebecca Sharp is revealed along with the method of characterization.

The second discussion is to answer the second problem, what satires toward

British Society that Thackeray tries to expose in Vanity Fair.

4.1. Character Analysis of Rebecca Sharp

“Characterization is an aspect of the novel which Victorians regularly

chose to emphasize” (Rogers xxvii). In Vanity Fair, characters play an important

role in building the story. One of the many interesting characters is Rebecca

Sharp, or often called Becky. Like ordinary people living in reality, Thackeray

describes Becky’s characters from two sides, her strengths and her weaknesses.

Thackeray constantly compares Becky’s virtues with her vices. Thackeray keeps

emphasizing that behind Becky’s positive attitude, she is still an evil woman.

As mentioned in Chapter 2, according to Murphy, characters have the

qualities of ordinary human beings. They are named, given sexes, provided with

personalities and completed with physical and psychological aspects (38).

Therefore, the analysis of Becky’s character will be divided into three parts;

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social, physical, and psychological traits. It aims to give more comprehensive

analysis. Based on character division, Becky is considered as a round character.

Becky’s conducts are difficult to recognize and often confusing. She often plays

different roles at different time. To identify Becky’s characters, the nine methods

that Murphy proposes are used.

4.1.1 Social Traits

From social point of view, Becky belongs to low class society. She is born

in a poor family. Her father is a painter while her mother is a French dancer and

singer at the Opera. At that time, the status of dancer at the Opera is equal with a

prostitute. Her school life in Chiswick Mall has influenced her belief that a poor

person from low-class will always be discriminated. She is jealous of the girls in

Chiswick Mall, since they are rich, noble, and well-treated. Meanwhile Becky,

who thinks that she is much better and cleverer than them, is not respected

because she belongs to low-class society. From that moment, she determines

herself to do anything to leave poverty behind.

Becky is a truly social climber. She marries Rawdon Crawley, the

youngest son of Sir Pitt Crawley, to have a higher social status. Sir Pitt Crawley is

a Baronet and a member of parliament. He is considered as one of well respected

men on Great Gaunt Street. Rawdon Crawley himself is a Colonel who is in

charge of British victory in Waterloo war. The Crawleys’ reputation is

unquestionable. It is seen from how Thackeray himself explains about the

Crawleys. He employs what Murphy says as the direct comment method.

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Among the most respected of the names beginning in C, which the Court
Guide contained in the year 18--, was that of Crawley, Sir Pitt, Baronet,
Great Gaunt Street, and Queen’s Crawley, Hants. This honourable name
had figured constantly also in the parliamentary list for many years, in
conjunction with that of a number of other worthy gentlemen who sat in
turns for the borough (64).

Becky becomes Mrs. Crawley. This marriage of course elevates Becky’s social

status because people recognize her as one of the members of the Crawleys.

However, she is not immediately rich. Rawdon’s aunt, Miss Crawley, who always

supports his financial, does not give her blessing on the marriage. She stops her

financial supports and she even crosses Rawdon’s name out of her heir list.

Becky meets Lord Steyne who helps her not only to present her to the

court but also to support her financially. With the help of Lord Steyne, Becky

manages herself to be accepted by the London high-class society. This is

considered as the best achievement in her life. Her ambition is accomplished. She

is rich and accepted by the society. She is invited to many parties and she never

misses to attend each of them. She lives glamorously. She literary becomes a

member of high class society.

Her turning point comes when Rawdon catches Becky’s affair with Lord

Steyne. Though Becky says “I’m innocent, Rawdon” (538), he is already

disappointed with his liar wife. Rawdon divorces her. Becky becomes a widow

and the custody of her son is given to Lady Jane, Rawdon’s sister in law. Though

she still gets little sum of money from Rawdon, Becky’s social status is

dramatically decreasing.

She remained for hours after he was gone, the sunshine pouring into the
room, and Rebecca sitting alone on the bed’s edge. The drawers were all
opened and their contents scattered about, - dresses and feathers, scarfs

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and trinkets, a heap of tumble vanities lying in a wreck. Her hair was
falling over her shoulders; her gown was torn where Rawdon had wretched
the brilliants out of it. She had heard him go downstairs a few minutes
after he left her, and the door slamming and closing on him. She knew he
would never come back. He was gone forever (539).

Thackeray uses Becky‘s thought and reaction to emphasize her defeat. It is

actually her life which is scattered. She sees her own life that she has buildt ever

since she left the school ruins in front of her. She knows that Rawdon will never

forgive her and her life as a lady is over.

She lives shabbier than ever now, without money or friends. She used to

have many people besides her. Everybody adores her especially men. Now,

nobody wants to be with Mrs. Crawley. Even though she has divorced with

Rawdon, she still uses her husband’s name to keep her status and dignity. She

feels lonely and lives in exiled. From other characters’ reactions, we can see that

“Mr. Wenham’s business, Lord Steyne’s business, Rawdon’s, everybody’s – to

get her out of the country, and hush up a most disagreeable affair” (647). After

her leaving from England, she lives in Boulogne, on the northern coast of French

just across from the Channel, where “bankrupts and scapegraces from Britain

retired” (747). She lives as a vagrant, refused from one place to another. She

really tries to get her life back, but there is always somebody who ruins her effort

that even Thackeray himself feels pity on her. He says “Whenever Becky made a

little circle for herself with incredible toils and labor, somebody came and swept it

down rudely, and she had all her work to begin over again. It was very hard; very

hard; lonely and disheartening” (650).

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4.1.2. Physical Traits

Becky is described as a beautiful woman. Her face is as fresh as a rose and

her complexion is as pale as snow. She often lets her hair curl round her neck that

makes her neck more dramatically beautiful (379). Whereas physically she is

pictured to have small and slight body, her attractive eyes become her appeal that

attracted men.

She was small and slight in person; pale, sandy-haired, and with eyes
habitually cast down: when they looked up they were very large, odd, and
attractive; so attractive that the Reverend Mr. Crisp, fresh from Oxford,
curate to the Vicar of Chiswick, the Reverend Mr. Flowerdew, fell in love
with Miss Sharp; being shot dead by a glance of her eyes which was fired
all the way across Chiswick Church from the school-pew to the reading-
desk (16).

From the above quotation, it can be concluded that little Becky has beautiful eyes.

Little Becky is a little bit shy, “eyes habitually cast down”, as she comes of her

age; she turns to be a charming and confident woman.

...Mrs. Rawdon Crawley’s debut was, on the contrary, very brilliant. She
arrived very late. Her face was radiant; her dress perfection. In the midst of
the great persons assembled, and the eye-glasses directed to her, Rebecca
seemed to be as cool and collected as when she used to marshal Miss
Pinkerton’s little dandies thronged round her (285).

She cleverly attracts people in the party by arriving late. Therefore, when she

appears, the crowd will pay attention to her. Though under everyone’s stare, she

does not feel awkward or nervous

Another description of Becky’s figure is taken when she attends a party.

All of the guesses are amazed. Her taste in fashion is described as if she is a

trendsetter. She always wears her best dress when she goes out to a party.

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She came like vivified figure out of the Magasin des Modes – blandly
smiling in the most beautiful new clothes and little gloves and boots.
Wonderful scarfs, laces, and jewels glittered about her. She had always a
new bonnet on: and flowers bloomed perpetually in it: or else magnificent
curling ostrich feathers, soft and snowy as camellias (381).

4.1.3. Personality Traits

4.1.3.1. Cunning

As mentioned before, Becky is a beautiful and charming woman. She uses

her charms to deceive people. Though she is not rich, Becky always wears

expensive jewelry and best dresses. She often gets many gifts from her admirers.

General Tufto is one of her admirers. He gives Becky many presents.

... the General, her slave and worshipper, had made her many very
handsome presents, in the shape of cashmere shawls bought at the auction
of a French general’s lady, and numerous tributes from the jewelers’
shops, all of which betokened her admirer’s taste and wealth (294).

When she thinks that the time has come for her to enter the London Court,

she needs somebody to take care of her. She needs someone who can help her

finance and her arrival to the court. She knows that she cannot depend on Rawdon

anymore because he cannot adapt easily with the society. One day, when Lord

Steyne visits the Crawleys for playing cards with Rawdon, Becky asks him to be

her “sheepdog” (378). She uses the term sheepdog so Rawdon will not be

suspicious. She does not mean that she needs a literary dog. Sheepdog or

watchdog means a guardian. Becky needs someone to help and present her to the

society. As a return, she will do anything that Lord Steyne asks, even committing

adultery.

She rose up from her sofa, and went and took his coffee-cup out of his
hand with a little curtsey. “yes”, she said, “I must get a watchdog. But he

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won’t bark at you.” And, going into the other drawing-room, she sat down
to the piano, and began to sing little French songs in such a charming,
thrilling voice that the mollified nobleman speedily followed her into the
chamber, and might be seen nodding his head and bowing time over her
(380).

When she lives in exile, Becky does not have many friends. Thus, when

she finally meets her old friend, Amelia, she is very happy. She really needs a

friend. To get Emmy’s heart, she even makes false story about the reason why

Rawdon leaves her. She says that she is not guilty and she is as loyal as a wife

should be. She tells that Lady Jane, Rawdon’s sister-in-law, has poisoned

Rawdon’s mind to take Rawdy, their son. By lying that her beloved son is taken

away form her and she is not allowed to see him anymore, Becky wins Amelia’s

heart. She knows that Amelia is fragile when it deals with a son. Becky knows

that Amelia lost her son once (668-9). They are friends once more. Amelia shares

her house with Becky. Becky lives and eats well there. Amelia also allows Becky

to use her possessions, such as her carriages, jewelry or dresses. Amelia even

tolerates Becky to have parties in her house though she is never really comfortable

in a party (684-7).

Becky also deceives Jos, her old admirer, with the same story. Becky

cleverly uses Jos’ old picture that she had. Becky says that she is never apart with

the picture and she never forgets him. Jos believes every single of her word. He

believes that Becky is really in love with him. Jos is in fact the one who struggle

to convince everybody that Becky is a good woman. He often says “I swear to you

on the Bible, that she is as innocent as a child” (697). Becky wins his heart. They

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travel together. Whenever Jos gets away, Becky is always at his side. She

eventually controls Jos’ life and money.

4.1.3.2 Clever

Becky is a smart girl. In order to be able to live independently, she learns

as much as she can in Chiswick Mall. Music and linguistics are considered

important for women at that time, therefore she learns music and linguistics which

become her strengths. Through her thoughts, the readers may see that she is

already able to plan her own life.

She determined at any rate to get free from the prison in which she found
herself, and now began to act for herself, and for the first time to make
connected plans for the future.
She took advantage, therefore, of the means of study the place offered her;
and as she was a musician and a good linguist, she speedily went through
the little course of the study (18).

Then, she makes an agreement with Miss Pinkerton to give her recommendation

as a governess of Sir Pitt Crawley’s daughters.

In Queen’s Crawley, Miss Crawley praises Becky as a smart woman.

Through her conversation with Becky, Miss Crawley says “You, my love, are a

little paragon – positively a little jewel – You have more brains than half of the

shire – if merit had its reward you ought to be a duchess – “(104). Another

quotation is taken from conversation between Miss Crawley and her servant, Miss

Briggs. They are talking about Becky’s refusal on Sir Pitt‘s proposal. Miss

Crawley says “Well, Becky would have made a good lady Crawley, after all. She

has brains in plenty (much more wit in her little finger than you have, my poor

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dear Briggs, in all your head).” (147). Miss Crawley assumes that even a woman

as smart as Becky has also a romantic feeling. She thinks that Becky must be in

love with some apothecary or painters. In fact, Becky has already married with

Rawdon Crawley, Sir Pitt’s youngest son. So, when Sir Pitt comes to propose her

as a wife, she refuses him.

Her marriage with Rawdon is not accepted by the Crawleys, especially

Miss Crawley. Miss Crawley does not support Rawdon’s finance anymore. In

chapter 36, how to live well on nothing a year, Becky shows her intelligence to

survive with small amount of money and to face her debts. Thackeray uses

Becky’s reaction and mannerism to show her cleverness. She does not panic when

she faces the problems. They live happily and comfortably in Paris. Rawdon has

already retired from army at that time, so he earns money from gambling with his

friends and he is good at it. Apparently, Rawdon’s friends are tired of playing and

losing games with him. Becky then uses her charms to entertain her husband’s

friends so that they are comfortable and willing to come back for another game.

To support Becky’s passion of parties and glamorous life, they owe many people

in both Paris and London. They owe the landlord of the hotel, the shop where

Becky often buys bracelets and watches, and even to their son’s sitter. It is only

because of her name, Mrs. Crawley, that she can still owe to everybody. Indeed, it

is because of the Crawleys’ wealth and high social status that the creditors still

respect them. So, when they hear Miss Crawley is dying, Becky, Rawdon, and the

creditor as well are so excited that her inheritance will be Rawdon’s. They are

planning to get back to London. Instead of going to London directly, Becky asks

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Rawdon to go to Brussels first. It seems that in London, Rawdon has also many

debts. After making arrangement by cheating her landlord to finish her bills, she

goes to London to settle another Rawdon’s debts. She makes negotiation with the

creditors and she wins the deal in a brilliant way that most of the lawyers of her

creditors compliment her (362-70).

She is also witty. Though they have not known each other for long time,

Mr. Sedley recognized Becky as a humorous girl. On one dinner, when Becky is

invited to the Sedleys, she demonstrates it by answering Joseph’s joke on pepper

and chili.

Old Sedley began to laugh, and thought Rebecca was a good-humoured

girl. Joseph simply said – “Cream-tarts, Miss? Our cream is very bad in
Bengal. We generally use goats’ milk; and ‘gad go you know, I’ve got to
prefer it!” (27-8)

Miss Crawley also praises her good humor. Becky makes her laugh often by

mimicking other people’s behaviors. Miss Crawley enjoys that and in fact she

becomes Becky’s adorer. Becky, who is only a governess, the same position as a

maid, is welcomed to dine together in the dining table with the Crawleys. “Becky

Sharp! Miss Sharp! Come and sit by me and amuse me; and let Sir Huddleston sit

by Lady Wapshot.” (103). Indeed, it is Miss Crawley who invites her. If Miss

Crawley says something, it becomes everybody’s order because everybody wants

to be her heir.

4.1.3.3 Independent

From her past life, we know that Becky is an orphan from early age. After

her father’s death, she has to be able to support herself. Therefore, she is hired by

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Miss Pinkerton, the principal, to be a trainee teacher of French in Chiswick Mall.

Rebecca was seventeen when she came to Chiswick, and was bound over
as an articled pupil; her duties to talk French, as we have seen; and her
privileges to live cost free, and, with a few guineas a year, to gather scarps
of knowledge form the professors who attended the school (16).

Becky is not afraid to confront Miss Pinkerton when she disagrees with her. Once,

the principal hears her practicing piano after the school is over. She plays very

well. Miss Pinkerton asks her to teach playing piano to the students, but she

refuses it. She does not agree with Miss Pinkerton because she knows that Miss

Pinkerton only takes advantage of her. She has a quarrel with Miss Pinkerton over

this.

“I am here to speak French with the children,” Rebecca said abruptly, “not
to teach them music, and save money for you. Give me money, and I will
teach them.”
“A viper - fiddlestick,” said Miss Sharp to the old lady, almost fainting
with astonishment. “You took me because I was useful. There is no
question of gratitude between us. I hate this place, and want to leave it. I
will do nothing here but what I am obliged to do.” (18)

From her speech above, we can see that Becky has courage to face Miss Pinkerton

when she disagrees with her, though Becky knows that Miss Pinkerton is the

principle of Chiswick Mall.

On the day of her leaving the school, Miss Jemima, Miss Pinkerton’s

sister, gives Becky Johnson’s Dixonary, but Becky throws it away in front of Miss

Jemima’s feet. She thinks that Johnson’s Dixonary is a reference for women to

speak politely. She does not want anything that can remind her of Chiswick Mall.

“But, lo! And just as the coach drove off, Miss Sharp put her pale face out of the

window and actually flung the book back into garden” (13).

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As an orphan, she knows that she does not have any parents to support her.

Since her father’s death, she has to be able to fulfill her needs. When it comes to

find a husband, she really hopes that she has a mother to arrange her marriage.

All she wanted was the proposal, and ah! How Rebecca now felt the want
of a mother! –a dear, tender mother, who have managed the business in ten
minutes, and, in the course of a little delicate confidential conversation,
would have extracted the interesting avowal from the bashful lips of a
young man! (54).

In the end, she knows that she does not have a mother. She is completely aware

that she needs to rely on nobody. She says “I must be my own mamma” (87).

Then, she continues her adventure in finding a husband.

In Brussels, she is left alone because Rawdon has to go to waterloo war.

She is not afraid to be left alone. While Jos runs away for his safety, she keeps

calm when she hears that British has defeated in the war. It is seen from the

conversation when Becky confronts Jos’ flight.

“What, you fly?” said Rebecca, with a laugh. “I thought you were the
champion of all the ladies, Mr. Sedley.”
“I – I’m not a military man,” gasped he.
“And Amelia? – Who is to protect that poor little sister of yours?” asked
Rebecca. “You surely would not desert her?” (316).

4.1.3.4. Selfish

Becky is selfish. In order to get what she wants, she does not care about

anybody else. She does not care of her son, little Rawdon. All she cares about is

her position, her pleasure, and her advancement in society. She attends many

parties, leaving behind her little Rawdon who needs her affection. She puts little

Rawdon upstairs so he does not disturb the party.

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“It’s my cherub crying for his nurse,” she said. She did not offer to move
to go and see the child. “Don’t agitate your feelings by going to look for
him,” said Lord Steyne sardonically. “Bah!” replied the other, with sort of
blush, “he’ll cry himself to sleep”; and they fell to talking bout the Opera
(380).

Becky also neglects her husband, Rawdon. It is Rawdon who stays at

home to play with little Rawdon. She often attends a party without Rawdon’s

guidance. “How is Mrs. Crawley’s husband?” Lord Steyne used to say to him

(380). In the patriarchal society where Rawdon lives, it is considered as shameful

thing to be called as one’s husband. He does not have any pride of being Rawdon

Crawley. He is not considered as Colonel Crawley anymore. Becky is more well-

known than he is.

4.1.3.5 Hypocritical

After her leaving from Amelia’s house, Becky goes to Queen’s Crawley.

Along the way to Queen’s Crawley, she immediately counts the money that Mr.

Sedley gives her. From Becky’s reaction towards Mr. Sedley’s gift, readers may

know that Becky is a hypocrite.

… and as soon as she had taken leave of Amelia, and counted the guineas
which good-natured Mr. Sedley had put into a purse for her, and as soon as
she had done wiping her eyes with her handkerchief (which operation she
concluded the very moment the carriage had turned the corner of the
street) … (65).

While she says farewell to the Sedleys, she cries a lot that implies it is the hardest

thing to do, to be apart with the Sedleys. She also pretends to refuse Mr. Sedley’s

money.

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Becky in Amelia’s house and Becky in the Crawleys’ house is quite

different character. With the Sedleys, Becky is considered as an arrogant woman.

While with the Crawleys, Becky pretends to be a helpful and obedient woman.

She was quite a different person from the haughty, shy, dissatisfied little
girl whom we have known previously, and this change of temper proved
great prudence, a sincere desire of amendment, or at nay rate moral
courage on her part. A system of hypocrisy; which lasts through whole
years, is one seldom satisfactorily practiced by a person of one-and
twenty; however, our readers will recollect that, though young in years,
but our heroine was old in life and experience (90).

Her speech also shows that Becky is a hypocrite. When she hears that Sir

Pitt’s death, she is happy not sad. This is because she hopes that Lady Jane will

introduce her to the society and Rawdon will get a position in Parliament. When

she is invited to Sir Pitt’s funeral, she pretends to mourn over (420). She says to

Lady Jane how grateful she is because she has a husband like Rawdon, and she

does not get angry to know that it is Pitt Jr. who gets Miss Crawley’s money.

Becky says

“She succeeded in making us poor,” Rebecca said, with an air of angelical

patience, “but how can I be angry with a woman who has given me one of
the best husbands in the world? And has not her own avarice been
sufficiently punished by the ruin of her own hopes, and the loss of the
property by which she set so much store? Poor!” she cried. “Dear Lady
Jane, what care we for poverty? I am used to it from childhood, and I am
often thankful that Miss Crawley’ money ha gone to restore the splendor
of the noble old family of which I am so proud to be a member. I am sure
Sir Pit will make a much better use of it that Rawdon could” (421).

In fact, she hates Lady Jane and Sir Pitt for being Miss Crawley’s heirs.

When Becky is in Queen’s Crawley, she also pretends that she loves her

son, Little Rawdon. She treats him full of affection and very well. She prepares

Little Rawdon’s needs. She tries to show that she is a loving and caring mother.

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The truth is Becky really wishes that she does not have to take Little Rawdon with

her. It is only because of Lady Jane’s invitation to see her nephew and Rawdon’s

assurance that he will take care of Little Rawdon, Becky lets Little Rawdon go

with them to the Queen’s Crawley. Along the journey, Little Rawdon sits outside

the carriage with his father. Becky is “inside the vehicle, with her maid and her

furs, her wrappers, and her scent-bottles” (450). It is winter at that time. The

conversation between Little Rawdon and Lady Jane while the two have dinner

shows the evidence. Little Rawdon says “I like to dine here. I dine in the kitchen

when I am at home”, replied Rawdon Minor “or else with Briggs” (451). It shows

that Becky does not care about Little Rawdon in her home. She orders her son to

eat in the kitchen with the servants.

After the custody of her son is given to Lady Jane, she never meets or

writes to Little Rawdon. She even forgets that she has a son. Until one day she

finds out that Little Rawdon becomes the Crawleys’ heir because Pitt and Lady

Jane’s son dies of hoping-cough and measles. She writes him the most

affectionate letter and calls him a darling son. Though Little Rawdon replies the

letter, he says to Lady Jane “Oh, Aunt Jane, you are my mother, and not – and not

that one” (647).

4.1.3.6. Ambitious

Becky is an ambitious person. She says to herself “it will be a fine day

when I can take my place above her in the world, as why, indeed, should I not?”

(87). Becky’s ambition is to be rich and to have high social status. She does

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everything to get money and elevate her social status. Then, the first step to take is

getting a husband. When she is invited to Amelia’s house, she finds out that

Amelia’s brother, Jos Sedley, is still a single. So she makes her moves to get Jos’

and the Sedleys’ heart. Her attempt to Jos Sedley does not work. Her failure with

Jos Sedley never breaks her heart, instead she directly makes some plans how to

conquer the Crawleys. She sets her eyes on Rawson Crawley because she knows

that Rawdon is Miss Crawley’s sweet nephew and her most probable heir. She is

married with Rawdon, but she is still poor because apparently Miss Crawley does

not like the marriage.

She makes friend with Lord Steyne though Rawdon has warned her that

Lord Steyne is cunning. Lords Steyne becomes her protector. Becky needs Lord

Steyne to support her finance and to present her to high-class society. She is

persistent in getting what she wants. She will do anything to be accepted by the

society, so when Lord Steyne asks her to send her son to a dormitory school, she

obeys him. She sends little Rawdon to Eton even with objection from Rawdon.

She also commits adultery with Lord Steyne. When Rawdon is in jail, charged of

his debts, she makes a lie letter that she is sick and she cannot help him. She also

lies that she does not have any money to pay those debts. It is Lord Steyne himself

who sets Rawdon into jail. Rawdon is free because of his sister in law’s help. He

goes home and finds Becky and Lord Steyne in his bedroom.

Rawdon opened the door and went in. A little table with a dinner was laid
out – and wine and plate. Steyne was hanging over the sofa on which
Becky sat. The wretched woman was in a brilliant full toilet, her arms and
all her fingers sparkling with bracelets and rings,; and the brilliant on her
breast which Steyne has given her. He had her hand in his, and was
bowing over it to kiss it, when Becky started up with a faint scream as she

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caught sight of Rawdon’s white face. At the next instant she tried a smile,
a horrid smile, as if to welcome her husband: and Steyne rose up, grinding
his teeth, pale, and with fury in his look (537-8).

Rawdon accidentally catches in the act of her infidelity. She has been a mistress of

Lord Steyne, and she gets much money from him, a thousand pound sterling,

more than enough to pay Rawdon’s bill. All the rings and the bracelets and the

jewelries that she wears to a party are the gifts from Lord Steyne.

From the discussion above, materialistic and social climber are the most

prominent character of Becky. Her conducts are aimed to make her rich and

elevate her social status. Her ambition, hypocrisy, cleverness, cunning,

independence, and selfishness prove it. Then, after finding out that Becky is a

materialist and a social climber, the question continues. What kind of society does

Thackeray want his readers to know in Vanity Fair? What are the satires and how

does Thackeray deliver them in his novel? These questions lead to the next

discussion of this chapter.

4.2. Satires on British Society

There are two major discussions in this part, materialism and social status.

As mentioned in theory of character in Chapter 2, Wellek and Warren say that the

author expresses his idea and knowledge about his society in the world of

literature by using language as a medium in his fictitious characters. The

characters in the novel may afford interesting indications of social attitude, which

is similar to the characteristics of the people in his society. In other words,

character may be used to find out what kind of society at that time. In this case,

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Becky as a main character is chosen to give description about British society of

early Victorian era. Besides describing the society, Thackeray also satirizes the

materialism and the importance of social status in British society at that time.

Dealing with the relationship between literature and society in Chapter 2,

there is a connection between society and literature. Here, the society where

Thackeray lives influences him on expressing his ideas or opinions in Vanity Fair.

Seymour Betsky says “Thackeray maintain, …, the conviction that his weapon is

satire” (145). Vanity Fair is his satire towards the British society.

In delivering his satires, Thackeray uses two ways, which according to the

division of satire by Holman and Harmon called, direct and indirect satires.

Thackeray often directly expresses his satires and also uses his characters to show

his satires. In this case, Thackeray uses direct satires by directly satirizing Becky,

and uses indirect satires by using Becky or other character’s behaviors.

As what Rogers says that

The point about Becky, for Thackeray’s purposes, is that she can be both a
target of his satire and its instrument. She embodies much of what is
wrong with Vanity Fair, especially its greed and its self-seeking. But,
unlike most of the characters, she can always see what the world is like
(xxvii).

Thackeray uses Becky as a target of his satire to the society, but at another time,

he uses Becky’s point of view to show his satire. The review of British society is

also used in this analysis to show the similarity between the society in the novel

and the society in which Thackeray lives.

To find out what satires that Thackeray wants his readers know in Vanity

Fair, the following discussion will be divided into two.

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4.2.1. Thackeray Satirizes British Society is Materialistic

Thackeray satirizes British society through Becky’s ambition. It is stated

in previous discussion that Becky is an ambitious woman. She persistently

pursues and does whatever it takes to be rich. While she is in Chiswick Mall, she

suffers discrimination from people there. She is discriminated because she is not a

rich and noble girl like any girl who study in Chiswick Mall. While other girls

sleep in their comfortable and warm bedroom, she sleeps in the garret. She is

jealous of them for being loved by everybody.

The happiness – the superior advantages of the young women round about
her, gave Rebecca inexpressible pangs of envy. “What airs that girl gives
herself, because she is an Earl’s grand-daughter” she said one. How they
cringe and bow to that Creole, because of her hundred thousand pounds! I
am a thousand pounds cleverer and more charming than that creature, for
all her wealth. I am as well-bred as the Earl’s grand-daughter, for all her
fine pedigree; and yet everyone passes me by here. And yet when I was in
my father’s, did not the men give up their gayest balls and parties in order
to pass the evening with me?” She determined at any rate to get free from
the prison in which she found herself, and now began to act for herself,
and for the first time to make connected plans for the future (18).

It is indirect satire when Becky describes her jealousy to the girls in Chiswick

Mall. He uses Becky’s thought to satirize that society at that time discriminates

the haves and the have-nots. The discrimination shows that the society at that time

is materialistic. They are money oriented. Furthermore, it influences Becky. She

becomes a materialist, too.

Her selfishness shows that Becky cannot find happiness except in

possessing money and attending parties that she can wear her beautiful trinkets

and dresses. She has already had a loving family. She has a handsome husband

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who loves her with all his heart. She also has a healthy and obedient son. She does

not care with her family. The only bliss that she gets is when she wears her

expensive dresses and jewelry to party.

Becky comes to the conclusion that morality is a matter of money.

Thackeray directly satirizes Becky for this thought. He says “And who knows but

Rebecca was right in her speculations-and that it was only a question of money

and fortune that made the difference between her and an honest woman” (425).

She deceives General Tufto to buy her some jewelry. Cunningly, she deceives

Lord Steyne to settle her debts. Lord Steyne gives her sum of money that Rawdon

never knows. Her hypocrisy does not always help her as a respected and honest

woman. Her greed leads her to ruin. It is her own fault that Rawdon catches her

affair. If she is willing to spare her one thousand pound that Lord Steyne gave her,

Rawdon will come home with her and he will not find Becky and Lord Steyne in

her bedroom.

Another point about materialism is shown through Miss Crawley

character. Sir Pitt and Mr. Bute Crawley are not very friendly to each other,

though they are brothers. When Mr. Bute preaches, Sir Pitt will answer it with

snoring. On the other hand, Mr. Bute does not like Sir Pitt’s conducts that rather

not appropriate as a Baronet. When Miss Crawley comes to visit Queen’s

Crawley, they are quite loving and respecting at each other. Becky says in her

letter to Amelia “What a charming reconciler and peace-making money is” (98).

They do not want to show their dispute in front of their sister because Miss

Crawley does want to hear any quarrel. Each of them tries to make her as

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comfortable as possible because they aim at her money. Becky learns from the

Crawley brothers’ hypocrisy. So, she also tries to get Miss Crawley’s heart. She

cleverly makes jokes to amuse Miss Crawley. She learns that money gives the

owner power, even power to make friends. Everybody wants to be Miss

Crawley’s friend, or at least her toady. Thackeray employs indirect satire through

the Crawley brothers’ and Becky’s behavior. He scorns at them. Besides using the

direct satire, Thackeray also directly satirizes the society to emphasize his satire.

Miss Crawley was, in consequence, an object of great respect when she

came to Queen’s Crawley, for she had a balance at her banker’s which
would have made her beloved anywhere.
What a dignity it gives an old lady, that balance at the banker’s! How
tenderly look at her faults if she is a relative (and may every reader have a
score of such), what a kind good-natured old creature we find her! (86-7).

4.2.2. Thackeray Satirizes the Importance of Social Status

As we know that Becky is a social climber. She marries Rawdon to elevate

her social status. Thackeray directly satirizes that marriage is affected to one’s

social status. When Becky is in trial to get a husband, Thackeray says that “…

women are commonly not satisfied until they have husbands and children on

whom they may centre affection…” (37). For Becky, marriage is a tool to elevate

her social status. Thackeray also satirizes the society’s perception on marriage and

the role of mother as a matchmaker. Thackeray says that women will work hard to

get a husband. They are willing to dance until five in the morning. They labor

themselves in expensive lessons to master some pianoforte sonatas or some

beautiful songs in a hope they can “bring down some ‘desirable’ young man”

(24). Even Becky uses her talents in singing and playing piano when she attracts

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Rawdon and Lord Steyne. Parents when it comes to find a spouse for their

daughter, show the same efforts as their daughter.

What causes respectable parents to take up their carpets, set their houses
topsy-turvy, and spend a fifth of their year’s income in ball supper and
iced champagne? Is it sheer love of their species, and an unadulterated
wish to see young people happy and dancing? Psha! They want to marry
their daughters, … (24).
Miss Crawley does not bless her marriage. She is only a governess. It

pictures that the marriage with different social status is still not accepted by the

society. Becky and Rawdon are exiled by the Crawleys. They also get difficulty in

mingling with the society. Her status as a governess and her mother who was an

opera girl follow her. A governess and a gambler are not people whom get

respect. Still, she attends every party to keep her exist among the society.

Becky’s ambition to be accepted as a member of high class society is

another example of Thackeray’s satire. She does everything to elevate her social

status. She pretends that she loves her son so that she can get Lady Jane’s help to

support her to the Court. She cleverly deceives Lord Steyne to help presenting her

to the court. Lord Steyne is an important person that can help her realizing her

dream.

In one of her letter to Amelia, Becky says that Sir Pitt is not what she

thinks a Baronet should be. Becky describes his character as rude. He swears a lot.

Though they dine with the finest silver spoons and forks, it does not stop him to

speak about how the meal is served. Sir Pitt literary asks the servants how they

slaughter the sheep for the meal. Becky also tells how stingy he is. Every person

in the house is only allowed to have one candle, though it is put in “a magnificent

old silver candlestick” (77). Sir Pitt also asks every change from the servants after

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he asks them to buy something. With his entire terrible manner, but people still

respect him as a noble. This is because he carries one of the most respected names

in England. Direct satire is also found when Thackeray comments on Sir Pitt.

Vanity Fair – Vanity Fair! Here was a man, who could not spell and did
not care to read – who had the habits and the cunning of a boor: …, and
yet he had a rank, and honours, and power, and somehow: and was a
dignitary of the land, and a pillar of a state. He was high sheriff, and rode
in a golden coach. Great ministers and statesmen courted him; and in
Vanity Fair he had a higher place than the most brilliant genius spotless
virtue (85).

He satirizes that ascribed status is more important than achieved status.

People get respected if they belong to high social status, no matter how wicked

they are. Lord Steyne is another example of this. Whenever he helps people, he

always thinks about the advantages for himself. Becky herself admits that he is

cunning and wicked, but he is still more respected that an honest man in Vanity

Fair.

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CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

This study is closed by the conclusion. This part is divided into two parts,

conclusions and suggestions. The first part is the conclusion of the study. It sums

up the analysis on the two problems of this study. The second part is the

suggestion. This part discusses the recommendations for future research on the

topic, as well as suggestions on how to apply Vanity Fair to teaching.

5.1. Conclusions

Having analyzed Vanity Fair in the previous chapter, it comes to the

conclusion part. There are two problems that are discussed in this study, how

Thackeray describes Becky’s character and how Thackeray satirizes British

Society using Becky’s character.

The first conclusion is dealing with the first problem. Becky is described

as a beautiful, charming, independent, hypocritical, selfish and ambitious person

who comes from low class. As a cunning woman, she is able to deceive many

people using her charms. She also cleverly uses her skills and beauty to attract the

people, especially men. Her wit combined with her skills in French and music,

become her weapon in conquering the society. She is an independent woman.

Mostly, she does not need anybody’s help in getting her goal, though she asks

Lord Steyne’s help to present her to the court. Her hypocrisy is another way to get

what she wants. She becomes an ambitious woman that is able to do and sacrifice

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anything, even her family, to achieve her goal. Therefore, it can be concluded that

Becky is both materialistic and a social climber. She does everything it takes to

get her ambition; to be rich and to elevate her social status.

From the discussion of Becky’s characteristics, Thackeray wants to show

his satires toward the British Society. Through Rebecca Sharp characteristics, it

can be seen that the society at that time is a materialist and social climber. First,

he satirizes British society as a materialistic society through Becky’s characters.

Her cunning, selfishness, and her ambition tell that she only finds her bliss in

pursuing and getting wealth. The society also gives impact in influencing her

character. She has suffered discrimination because of poverty since she was a girl.

She is not happy as a poor person, so she determines to be as wealthy as possible.

Another satire that Thackeray tries to reveal is that through money, people can get

many friends. He uses Becky’s hypocrisy as well as the Crawleys’ to show his

satires. Those show that society at that time is materialistic. The second satire that

Thackeray wants his readers know is his satire on the importance of social status

among the British society at that era. As a girl from low class society, Becky

determines to elevate her social status whatever it takes. Thackeray satirizes

Becky’s marriage. She only marries Rawdon because of her goal to elevate her

social status. By marrying Rawdon, who is a noble man from a respected family,

Becky’s social status automatically increases. Thackeray also uses direct satire by

directly commenting the system of marriage in British society. He shows that both

parents and daughters are willing to do anything to get a fine respected husband.

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He also satirizes Sir Pitt to show the importance of ascribed status than achieved

status.

5.2. Suggestions

This part is divided into two parts, the first is the suggestion for future

researchers, and the second is the suggestion for teaching implementation.

5.2.1. The Suggestion to Future Researchers

Vanity Fair is an interesting novel that has many other aspects that are

worth to analyze. This novel has many interesting characters. There are many

minor characters that influence Becky’s character. This can be another subject to

analyze. Besides Rebecca Sharp, Thackeray tells the story through another main

character, Amelia Sedley. Amelia provides the readers with the story of her never-

ending love. Her struggle to keep her love makes her life suffer. The meaning of

love for Amelia is also worth to analyze. Thackeray constantly compares the story

between the two. It is interesting to know the importance of telling the story

between them from Thackeray’s point of view. Since this study uses the

sociocultural-historical approach, the future researchers may use the psychological

aspects to explore the characters in Vanity Fair.

5.2.2. Suggestion for Teaching Learning Activities

There are many topics that can be used in Vanity Fair for teaching. For

example, the role of a mother that Becky shows. Becky shows that as a mother she

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does not care much about her family. She also tends to be more powerful than her

husband. This can be an interesting topic to discuss in the classroom; therefore,

excerpts of Vanity Fair are chosen to teach speaking.

The Implementation in Teaching Speaking

One of the obstacles to encourage the students to speak is the large size of

the class. Therefore, group discussion provides many opportunities for the

students to speak in the target language because the discussion is conducted in

small group and the teacher does not take significant role in the proceeding. There

are many activities that can be implemented in speaking class, such as dialogue,

discussions, story telling, interview, role-play, presentation, and even debate. The

following activity is discussing about the group discussion. There are three stages

in the implementation of group discussion in class, pre-discussion, discussions,

and post-discussion. In pre-discussion, the students are divided into groups.

Identifying and organizing the topic are also done in this stage. In the discussion

stage, the students discuss their topic while partner groups observe and give

feedback. In the Post-discussion, the students are concluded their discussion and

report it in front of the class. (Green and Lam 226-31). This kind of activity also

provides the students with opportunities to improve their critical thinking and also

their speaking proficiency.

These following suggestions can be used as an example of the procedure

in teaching learning activities. The meeting will be conducted in 100 minutes.

1. Students are already given the selected literary text for discussion in

previous meeting before the class. Chapter 36 and 37 in Vanity Fair is

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chosen because it shows how Becky handles her family. They are asked to

read the text and comprehend it before the class.

2. In class, the students are divided into groups of four. Each group members

should be as homogeneous as possible both in their speaking ability and

their personality, considering that the students consist of extrovert and

introvert. Their speaking ability and their willingness to speak are various.

This gives the chance for students to speak evenly in the group.

3. The teacher introduces the topics from the reading by asking questions.

Each group has to identify and organize the topic by using brainstorming

and mind-mapping techniques.

4. They start to discuss about the topic among group members using the

target language. Each group member should contribute the discussion.

They may use certain terms that the teacher gives. Each member of the

group must present his or her pros and cons about the chosen topic. Along

the discussion, the teacher should monitor the proceeding of each group’s

discussion. The teacher may use the teacher’ guide to evaluate the

students’ performance in each group.

5. After all group members have a chance to speak, they conclude the

discussion. One of the group member reports it in front of the class so that

other groups may give their opinion and suggestions on the report.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abrams, M. H.. A glossary of Literary Terms. 6th ed. New York: Holt,
Rinehart and Winston Inc. 1993.

Arnstein, Walter L. Britain Yesterday and Today: 1830 to the Present.

Lexington: D.C. Health and Company. 1966.

Day, Gary. Class. London: Taylor and Francis Books Ltd. 2001.

Eagleton, Terry. Teori Sastra: Sebuah Pengantar Komprehensif. 2nd ed.

Yogyakarta: Jalasutra. 1996.

Forster, E. M.. Aspects of the Novel: and Related Writings. London: Edward
and Arnold. 1974.

Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for writers of Research Paper. 6th ed. New
York: The Modern Language Association of America. 2003.

Henkle, Roger B. Reading the Novel: An Introduction to the Techniques of

Interpreting Fiction. London: Harper and Row Publisher.1977.

Holman, Hugh C., and William Harmon. A Handbook to Lliterature. 5th ed.
New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. 1986.

Hornby, A. S. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English. 5th

ed. Ed. Jonathan Crewthor.

Langlard, Elizabeth. Society in the Novel. Chapel Hill: The University of

North Carolina Press. 1984.

McKay, John P., Bennet D. Hill, and John Buckler. A History of Western
Society. 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. 1983.

Murphy, M. J.. Understanding Unseen: An Introduction to English Poetry an

the English Novel for Overseas Students. London: George Allen and
Unwin Ltd.. 1972.

Rogers, Pat. In Introduction of Vanity Fair: A Novel without a Hero. London:

Everyman. 1997.

Rohrberger, Mary and Samuel H. Woods, Jr. Reading and Writing about
Literature. New York: Random House. 1971.

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Schaefer, Robert T. Sociology. New york: Mc-Graw Hill Book Company.

1965.

Seymour, Betsky. Society in Thackeray and Trollope in the Pelican Guide to

English Literature: from Dickens to Hardy. Volume 6. Middlesex: Penguin
Books Ltd. 1972

Snyder, Franklin Bliss and Robert Grant Martin. A book of English

Literature. 3rd ed. New York: the Macmillan Company. 1934.

Stanton, Robert. An Introduction to Fiction. New York: Holt, Rinehart and

Winston, Inc. 1965.

Thackeray, William Makepeace. Vanity Fair: A Novel without a Hero. Ed.

Pat Rogers. London: Everyman. 1997.

The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2nd Ed. Ed. Margareth
Drabble and Jenny Stringer. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2003.

The New Encyclopedia Britannica: in 30 Volumes. Macropaedia Volume 3,

6, 10,16, 19. 15th ed. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. 1983.

Walker, Hugh. The Literature of the Victorian Era. London: Cambridge

University Press. 1913.

Wellek, Rene and Austen Warren. Theory of Literature. 3rd ed. New York: A
Harvest Book. 1956.

Online Sources:

http://members.aol.com/NeoNoetics/Materialism.html. Stack, George J. taken

from Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, ed. Edward Craig. 1998.
Routledge, New York.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Makepeace_Thackeray. Accessed on
Thursday, April 15, 2008 at 2.25 p.m.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanity_Fair#Plot_summary. Accessed on
Thursday, April 15, 2008 at 2.34 p.m.

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APPENDIX 1:
SUMMARY OF VANITY FAIR

Vanity Fair: A Novel without a Hero is a novel by William Makepeace Thackeray

that satirizes society in early 19th-century England.

The story opens at Miss Pinkerton's Academy for

Young Ladies, Chiswick Mall, 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 is a good

natured, loveable though simple-minded young girl.

At Russell Square, Miss Sharp is introduced to the dashing and self-

obsessed Captain George Osborne (to whom Amelia has been betrothed from a

very young age) and to Amelia's brother Joseph Sedley, a clumsy and

vainglorious but rich civil-servant fresh from India. Becky entices him and hopes

to marry him, though eventually fails as a result of warnings from Captain

Osborne and his own native shyness and embarrassment that Becky had witnessed

his foolish behavior at Vauxhall.

With this Becky Sharp says farewell to the Sedleys and enters the service

of the baronet Sir Pitt Crawley who has engaged her as a governess to his

daughters. Her behavior at Sir Pitt's house gains the favor of Sir Pitt, who after the

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premature death of his second wife, proposes to her. However, it soon transpires

that she is already secretly married to his second son, Rawdon Crawley.

Sir Pitt's half sister, the spinster Miss Crawley, is very rich. Where she will

leave her great wealth is a source of constant conflict between the branches of the

Crawley family who vie shamelessly for her affections; initially her favorite is Sir

Pitt's younger son, Captain Rawdon Crawley. For some time, Becky acts as Miss

Crawley's companion, supplanting the loyal Briggs in an attempt to find favor

before breaking the news of her elopement with her nephew. The misalliance so

enrages Miss Crawley, that she eventually disinherits her nephew in favor of his

elder brother, who also bears the name Pitt Crawley. The couple constantly

attempts to reconcile with Miss Crawley and she relents a little. However, she will

only see her nephew and refuses to change her will.

While Becky Sharp is rising in the world, Amelia's father, John Sedley, is

bankrupted. The Sedleys and the Osbornes were once close allies. The

relationship between the two families disintegrates and the marriage of Amelia

and George is forbidden. George ultimately decides to marry Amelia against his

father's will, primarily due to the pressure of his friend Dobbin, and George is

consequently disinherited by his father.

At a ball in Brussels, George gives Becky a note inviting her to run away

with him. He regrets this shortly afterwards, and reconciles with Amelia, who has

been deeply hurt by his attentions towards her former friend. The morning after,

he is sent to Waterloo, with Captain Crawley and Dobbin, leaving Amelia

distraught. Becky, on the other hand, is virtually indifferent about her husband's

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departure. She tries to console Amelia, but Amelia responds angrily, disgusted by

Becky's flirtatious behavior with George and her lack of concern about Captain

Crawley. Becky resents this snub and a rift develops between the two women that

last for years. Becky is also not very concerned for the outcome of the war -

should Napoleon win, she is planning to become the mistress of one his marshals,

and meanwhile she makes a profit out of selling her carriage and horses at inflated

prices to panicking Britons, seeking to flee the city where the Belgian population

is openly pro-Napoleonic.

Captain Crawley survives, but George dies in the battle. Amelia bears him

a posthumous son, who is also named George. She returns to live in genteel

poverty with her parents. Meanwhile since the death of George, Dobbin, who is

his son's godfather, gradually begins to express his love for the widowed Amelia

by small gestures directed towards her and her son. Most notably is the recovery

of an old piano, which Dobbin picks up at an auction following the Sedley's ruin,

which Amelia mistakes as a gesture from her late husband. She is too much in

love with George's memory to return Dobbin's affections. Saddened, he goes to

India for many years. Dobbin's infatuation with Amelia is a theme which unifies

the novel and one which many have compared to Thackeray's unrequited love for

a friend's wife.

Meanwhile, Becky also has a son, also named after his father, but unlike

Amelia, who dotes on and even spoils her child, Becky is a cold, distant mother.

She continues her ascent first in post-war Paris and then in London where she is

patronized by the great Marquess of Steyne who covertly subsidizes her and

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introduces her to London society. Her success is unstoppable despite her humble

origins and she is eventually presented at court to the Prince Regent himself.

At the summit of her success, Becky's pecuniary relationship with the rich

and omnipotent Marquess of Steyne is discovered by Rawdon, after he is arrested

for debt. His brother's wife, Lady Jane, bails him out and he surprises the couple

in a compromising position. Rawdon leaves his wife and through the offices of

Lord Steyne is made Governor of Coventry Island to get him out of the way, after

Rawdon challenges the elderly Marquess to a duel. Mrs. Crawley, having lost

both husband and credibility, is warned by Steyne to quit England and wanders

the continent. Rawdon and Rebecca's son is left in the care of Pitt Crawley and

Lady Jane. However wherever Becky goes, she is stalked by the shadow of Lord

Steyne. No sooner has she established herself in polite society, than someone

turns up who knows her disreputable history and spreads rumors; Steyne himself

hounds her out of Rome.

As Amelia's adored son George grows up, his grandfather, Mr. Osborne,

relents and takes him from poor Amelia who knows the rich and bitter old man

will give him a much better start in life materially than she or her family could

ever manage. After the death of old Mr. Osborne, Amelia, Joseph, George and

Dobbin go on a trip to Germany, where they encounter the destitute Becky. She

meets the young George Osborne at a card table and then enchants Jos Sedley.

Following Jos' entreaties, Amelia agrees to reconciliation (when she hears that

Becky has had her ties with her son severed), much to Dobbin's disapproval.

Dobbin quarrels with Amelia, and finally realizes that he is wasting his love on a

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woman too shallow to return it. However, Becky, in a moment of conscience,

shows Amelia the note that George (Amelia's dead husband) had given her, asking

her to run away with him. This breaks George's idealized image in Amelia's mind,

but not before she has already sent a note to Dobbin professing her love.

Becky resumes her seduction of Joseph Sedley and gains control over him.

He eventually dies of a suspicious ailment after signing a portion of his money to

Becky as life insurance. His death appears to have made her fortune.

By a twist of fate Rawdon Crawley dies weeks before his elder brother

whose son has already died. Thus the baronetcy descends to Rawdon's son. Had

he outlived his brother by even a day he would have become Sir Rawdon Crawley

and Becky would have become Lady Crawley - the title she uses regardless in

later life. The reader is informed at the end that although Dobbin married Amelia,

and although he always treated her with great kindness, he never fully regained

the love that he had once had for her.

Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanity_Fair#Plot_summary

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APPENDIX 2

Thackeray’s Biography
Thackeray, an only child, was born in Calcutta, India, where his father,

Richmond Thackeray, and his mother Anne Becher, held the high rank of

secretary to the board of revenue in the British East India Company. William had

been sent to England earlier, at the age of five, with a short stopover at St. Helena

where the imprisoned Napoleon was pointed out to him. He was educated at

schools in Southampton and Chiswick and then at Charterhouse School, where he

was a close friend of John Leech. He disliked Charterhouse, parodying it in his

later fiction as "Slaughterhouse." Illness in his last year there (during which he

reportedly grew to his full height of 6'3") postponed his matriculation at Trinity

College, Cambridge, until February 1829. Never too keen on academic studies, he

left the University in 1830.

On reaching the age of 21 he came into his inheritance but he squandered

much of it on gambling and by funding two unsuccessful newspapers, The

National Standard and The Constitutional for which he had hoped to write. He

also lost a good part of his fortune in the collapse of two Indian banks. Forced to

consider a profession to support himself, he turned first to art, which he studied in

Paris, but did not pursue it except in later years as the illustrator of some of his

own novels and other writings.

Thackeray's years of semi-idleness ended after he met and, on 20 August

1836, married Isabella Gethin Shawe (1816-1893). The marriage appears to have

been a very happy one though beset by problems (an overbearing mother-in-law

and sickness). Their three daughters were Anne Isabella (1837-1919), Jane (1837;

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died at 8 months) and Harriet Marian (1840-1875). He now began "writing for his

life," as he put it, turning to journalism in an effort to support his young family.

He primarily worked for Fraser's Magazine, a sharp-witted and sharp-

tongued conservative publication, for which he produced art criticism, short

fictional sketches, and two longer fictional works, Catherine and The Luck of

Barry Lyndon. Later, through his connection to the illustrator John Leech, he

began writing for the newly created Punch magazine, where he published The

Snob Papers, later collected as The Book of Snobs. This work popularized the

modern meaning of the word "snob".

Tragedy struck in his personal life as his wife succumbed to depression

after the birth of their third child in 1840. Finding he could get no work done at

home, he spent more and more time away, until September of that year, when he

noticed how grave her condition was. Struck by guilt, he took his ailing wife to

Ireland. During the crossing she threw herself from a water closet into the sea,

from which she was rescued. They fled back home.

In the early 1840s, Thackeray had some success with two travel books,

The Paris Sketch Book and The Irish Sketch Book. Later in the decade, he

achieved some notoriety with his Snob Papers, but the work that really established

his fame was the novel Vanity Fair, which first appeared in serialized installments

beginning in January 1847. Even before Vanity Fair completed its serial run,

Thackeray had become a celebrity, sought after by the very lords and ladies he

satirized; they hailed him as the equal of Dickens.

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He remained "at the top of the tree", as he put it, for the remaining decade

and a half of his life, producing several large novels, notably Pendennis, The

Newcomes, and The History of Henry Esmond, despite various illnesses,

including a near fatal one that struck him in 1849 in the middle of writing

Pendennis. Thackeray also gave lectures in London on the English humourists of

the eighteenth century, and on the first four Hanoverian monarchs. The latter

series was published in book form as The Four Georges.

In 1860, Thackeray became editor of the newly established Cornhill

Magazine, but was never comfortable as an editor, preferring to contribute to the

magazine as a columnist, producing his Roundabout Papers for it.

His health worsened during the 1850s and he was plagued by the recurring

stricture of the urethra that laid him up for days at a time. He also felt he had lost

much of his creative impetus. He worsened matters by over-eating and drinking

and avoiding exercise, though he enjoyed horseback riding and kept a horse. On

23 December 1863, after returning from dining out and before dressing for bed,

Thackeray suffered a stroke and was found dead on his bed in the morning. His

death at the age of fifty-three was entirely unexpected, and shocked his family,

friends, and reading public. An estimated 7000 people attended his funeral at

Kensington Gardens. He was buried on 29 December at Kensal Green Cemetery,

and a memorial bust sculpted by Marochetti can be found in Westminster Abbey.

Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Makepeace_Thackeray

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APPENDIX 3
LESSON PLAN

Subject : Speaking IV

Class : 4th Semester of English Educational

Study Program

Topic : The Role of a Mother

Time Allocation : 2 x 50 minutes

I. General Instruction Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the students are able to perform a group

discussion to achieve oral fluency and have confidence to communicate actively

II. Specific Instructional objectives:

At the end of the lesson, the students are able to:

1. Express their opinion orally about the role of a mother in a group discussion

based on the selected story.

2. Defend their opinion orally about the role of a mother in a group discussion

based on the selected story.

3. Interrupt other’s opinion orally about the role of a mother in a group discussion

based on the selected story.

4. Argue others’ opinion orally about the role of a mother in a group discussion

based on the selected story.

III. Material:

Taken from chapter 36 and 37 of William Makepeace Thackeray’s Vanity Fair

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IV. Teaching and Learning Activities:

Kind of Activities Time

Activity Alloc.
Pre-Teaching  Greeting 5’
 Listen to the teacher’s introduction about the
selected chapter of Vanity Fair that had been
given in the previous meeting
While-  Pre-Discussion
Teaching  The students are divided into groups of four 5’
 The teacher gives the topic based on the text 5’
 Each group identifies and organizes the topic 15’
 Discussion
 Each group discusses the topic by expressing, 35’
defending, interrupting, and arguing their
opinion
 The teachers observes the discussion 5’
 Post-Discussion 5’
 Each group concludes their discussion
 Each group has to present the result of the 15’
discussion in front of the class.
 The teacher allows other groups to give
comments or suggestions on the report
Post-Teaching  The teacher and the students draw conclusion on 5’
the role of a mother

V. Evaluation:

Students’ oral performance and participation

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APPENDIX 4
Pre-discussion questions
1. Does your mother work? What does she do?
2. If yes, do you find any objections for your working mom?
3. Suppose that you are a mother, do you think you will be a housewife or a
working mother?
4. Suppose that you are a husband, do you allow your wife to work?
5. Do you think that it is all right for a mother to take the father’s position as a
head of the family?

Read the following paragraphs carefully. These paragraphs talk about how
Becky, as a mother of a son, treats her family. Becky considers that to elevate
her social status is as a long live job.

About the Little Rawdon, if nothing

has been said all this while, it is
The parting between Rebecca and the because he is hidden upstairs in a
Little Rawdon did not cause either garret somewhere or has crawled
party much pain. She had not, to say below into the kitchen for
truth, seen much of the young companionship. His mother scarcely
gentleman since his birth. After the ever took notice over him. He passed
amiable fashion of French mothers, the days with his French bonne as
he had placed him out at nurse in the long as the domestic remained in Mr.
village in the neighbourhood of Crawley’s family, and when the
Paris, where Little Rawdon passed Frenchwoman went away, the little
the first months of his life, not fellow, howling in the loneliness of
unhappily, with a numerous family the night, had compassion taken on
of foster-brothers in wooden shoes. him by a housemaid, who took him
His father would ride over many a out of his solitary nursery in to her
time to see him here, and elder bed in the garret hard by, and
Rawdon’ paternal heart glowed to comforted him.
see him rosy and dirty, shouting Taken from Vanity Fair chapter 37,
lustily, and happy in the making of page 380
mud-pies under the superintendence
of the gardener’s wife, his nurse.

Taken from Vanity Fair chapter 36

The room was a low room, and once, when the child was not five year old, his father,
who was tossing his wildly up in his arms, hit the poor little chap’s skull so violently
against the ceiling that he almost dropped the child, terrified was he at the disaster.
Rawdon minor had made up his face for a tremendous howl – the severity of
the blow indeed authorized that indulgence; but just as he was going to begin, the
father interposed.
“For God’s sake, Rawdy, don’t wake mamma,” he cried. And the child
looking in a very hard and piteous way at his father, bit his lips, clenched his hands,
and didn’t cry a bit.
Addapted from Vanity Fair chapter 37, page 381

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1. After reading the above paragraphs, identify what kind of a mother Becky
is. Discuss the answer among the group. Elaborate your answer by quoting
sentences from above paragraphs to support your answer.
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2. Having analyzed the characteristic of a mother from Becky, what do you

think a role of a mother should be? Discuss the answer among the group.
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Language Feature that can be used in the Group Discussion

Functions Language Used Pronunciation Gestures

To prevent Please … I must Voice gets louder Hold up one page
interruption and finish … and faster
finish speaking
Helping somebody I wonder if Amy Stress Amy; voice Smiling; eyes
to begin speaking has an opinion rises towards end wide open
about this …? of question
What do you think
Amy?
Interrupting to Sorry, but I can’t Stress the negative Eye contact made
disagree agree … with speaker
I disagree with …
Interrupting to What do you mean Stress on Leans forward
obtain more by …? uncertain term;
information voice falls at the
end of question
Supporting the I think Peter made Stress goodLooks at Peter
previous speaker a good point about
…
Not supporting the Unlike Peggy, I Stress Peggy Looks around the
previous speaker think that group for support
Adapted form Methodology in Language Teaching, 229

Teacher’s guide for evaluating the students’

contribution
Number of Contribution

Behavior Student Student Student Student

A B C D
1. Total number of
contributions made
2. Responding supportively
3. Responding aggressively
4. Introducing a new
(relevant) point
5. Digressing from the topic
Taken from Methodology in Language Teaching, 228

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APPENDIX 5

W. M. Thackeray's Works

Contributions to Punch, 1843-1854

 The Book of Snobs

 Miss Tickletoby's Lectures on English History
 Papers by the Fat Contributor
 The History of the Next French Revolution
 A Little Dinner at Timmins's

Fiction

 The Luck of Barry Lyndon, 1844

 Mrs. Perkin's Ball, 1846
 Vanity Fair, 1847
 Pendennis, 1850
 Henry Esmond, 1852
 The Newcomes, 1853-55
 The Virginians, 1857

Criticism and Reviews

 "Laman Blachard" (essay) originally appeared in Fraser's

Art Criticism

 Thackeray on Turner's Rain-Steam-Speed

 Thackeray on Turner's The Fighting Temeraire

Caricature and Book Illustration

 Thackeray as Illustrator — the complete illustrations to Vanity Fair

 A selection of Thackeray's other drawings

http://www.victorianweb.org/victorian/authors/wmt/works.html

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APPENDIX 6

Chronology of Thackeray’s life

Born in Calcutta, India, the only son of Richmond Thackeray, an East
India Company administrator, and Anne Becher Thackeray, the daughter
1811
of distinguished civil servants in India.
Father dies, and WMT goes to England to live with his aunt, Mrs.
1816
Ritchie. His mother soon remarries.
1817 Attends school in Chiswick Mall; is unhappy there.
1822-
Attends Charterhouse School at Smithfield.
1828
1828 Stepfather prepares him for entrance to Cambridge.
1829- Enters Trinity College, Cambridge; leaves without a degree; travels on
1830 Continent; meets Goethe.
Studies law at Middle Temple, London, but gives it up when he inherits
1831-
£20,000. Buys the National Standard, a newspaper, and goes to Paris as
1833
its correspondent; it fails.
1834- Studies art in Paris and becomes a caricaturist. Contributes to Fraser's
1835 Magazine.
Paris correspondent of stepfather's newspaper, The Constitutional.
1836 Marries a penniless Irish girl, Isabella Gethen Creagh Shawe, daughter of
Colonel Matthew Shawe. Speculates and gambles away his inheritance.
Hack writer in London; publishes in The Times, Fraser's Magazine, The
1837
New Monthly Magazine, and Punch.
Thackeray's wife, who survives her husband by three decades, goes
1840
insane. His two daughters live with his grandmother in Paris.
1842 Visits Ireland and stays with the novelist Lever.
Publishes The Irish Sketchbook, the first work to appear under his own
1843
name.
1844 Travels in Far East
Publishes From Cornhill to Cairo. Establishes a home for his daughters,
1846 his grandmother, and himself at 13 Young Street in Kensington. Becomes
emotionally attached to Cambridge friend's wife, Mrs. Henry Brookfield.
1847-
Serializes Vanity Fair (published 1848)
1848
Publishes The Book of Snobs, a collection of portraits that appeared in
1848
Punch.
1848- Publishes The History of Pendennis.

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1850
1851 Ends relationship with Mrs. Brookfield at husband's insistence.
1852 Publishes The History of Henry Esmond.
1852- Lecture tour of the United States on "The English Humorists of the 18th
1853 Century."
1853-
Publishes The Newcomes, a sequel to The History of Pendennis.
1855
Second U. S. lecture tour. Publishes The Rose and the Ring, his
1855-
Christmas book, and Miscellanies, a four volume-collection of early
1857
writings.
Publishes The Virginians, sequel to Henry Esmond; Publishes The
1857-
Adventures of Philip on His Way Through the World, the last of his
1862
Arthur Pendennis trilogy; and Publishes Lovel the Widower.
1861-
Founds and edits the Cornhill Magazine.
1862
Dies on Christmas Eve in his new home at Palace Gardens of a cerebral
1863 hemorrage. Leaves an unfinished novel, Denis Duval. Buried at Kensal
Green.

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APPENDIX 7

THE CRAWLEYS’ FAMILY TREE

Lady Sir Pitt Rose Mr. Bute Mrs. Bute Miss

Crawley Crawley Crawley Crawley Crawley

Lady Pitt Rawdon Rebecca Violet Rosalind James

Jane Crawley Jr. Crawley Sharp

Pitt Matilda Rawdy

Binkie