Vanity Fair
Margarette Connor
British Novel into Film
Fu Jen Catholic University English Dept
Biblical allusion

“Ah! Vanitas Vanitatum! Which of us is happy
in this world? Which of us has his desire? or,
having it, is satisfied?"
Credits


Unless otherwise noted, all illustrations come
from Prof Melani’s course pages to be found
starting at
http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/me
lani/novel_19c/booksyll.html
An early illustration of Dobbin
The Narrator

Thackeray's drawing of
himself holding a mask and
a fool's scepter is relevant
to the discussion of the
narrator: is Thackeray to be
equated with the narrator
and the narrator's views, or
is Thackeray the deliberate
creator of a persona whom
we call the narrator? Does
the mask suggest the
possibility of changing
guises or identities?
Becky fishes

Becky is angling for a fat fish, Jos.
There is irony in the fact that Jos,
who distinguishes himself by how
much he eats and drinks, is himself
in danger of being caught and eaten
by Becky. Continuing the fish
metaphor, Mr. Sedley tells his wife,
"But mark my words, the first
woman who fishes for him, hooks
him" (43). Besides flattering Jos with
references to his knowledge of
foods, Becky lures Jos by knitting a
green purse, the purse symbolizing
money and the green perhaps
suggesting Becky's envy of the
Sedley's affluence; she shyly implies
that she is making it for him. Though
Becky is in a natural setting in the
drawing, Thackeray's emphasis on
society is maintained by the
buildings in the background.
Young Becky

Some drawings are less flattering to
Becky than the text is. The drawing
which most affects our view of
Becky represents Becky as
Clytemnestra at the end of the book.
The point I am making can readily
be seen in the drawing of Becky
using the dolls as puppets to mimic
Miss Pinkerton and her sister. Note
Becky's malicious expression. The
posture and dress of the men is
somewhat disreputable. Does the
picture also suggest why, as an
adult, she gets along so well with
men? why the Bohemian life
appeals to her? and why she enjoys
being with people?
Amelia
Amelia’s good points

Love, for Thackeray, has a
redemptive power. In a
letter to his mother, he
wrote of Amelia, "But she
has at present a quality
above most people whizz;
LOVE–by wh she shall be
saved. Save me save me
too O my God and Father,
cleanse my heart and teach
me my duty."
Clytemnestra
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Becky first appears as
Clytemnestra in the
charades at Lord Steyne's
party. In her first
appearance as
Clytemnestra, she is
demure and innocent,
modestly looking down
while holding a knife,
seemingly under the
protection of her husband,
who towers over her.
(Melani)
Who is Clytemnestra?
Clytemnestra, left. On right, Clytemnestra
killing Cassandra, her husband’s
concubine. Source:
http://www.utexas.edu/courses/larrymyth/images/oresteia/EGClytemnestra-Collier.jpg
The other Clytemnestra

You can find the illustration of Becky’s second
appearance as Clytemnestra at
http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/me
lani/novel_19c/thackeray/ch5267_files/frame.htm
All of the illustrations

You can find copies of all of the illustrations
Thackeray did for Vanity Fair at
http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/me
lani/novel_19c/thackeray/illustrations.html