Vanity Fair Summary & Key Insights

William Makepeace Thackeray's Vanity Fair: A Novel Without a Hero satirizes English society during the Napoleonic era, focusing on the intertwined lives of Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley. The novel, analyzed extensively by John Carey in his critical works, lacks a traditional protagonist, instead highlighting the destructive nature of vanity and ambition.

Becky, an ambitious and resourceful young woman of humble origins, uses her wit and charm to climb the social ladder. She manipulates men, including the wealthy but foolish Rawdon Crawley, whom she marries for his fortune. Her cunning allows her to navigate the treacherous waters of high society, although her actions are often morally reprehensible. She's driven by a relentless pursuit of wealth and status, prioritizing material gain above genuine connection. Carey emphasizes Becky as a complex character, a survivor in a system that rewards superficiality, even while condemning her amorality.

Amelia, in contrast, is kind, naive, and hopelessly romantic. Her unwavering devotion to her weak and self-absorbed husband, George Osborne, leads to considerable suffering. George, a product of his privileged upbringing, is shallow and ultimately sacrifices himself for his pride and ambition. Their storyline highlights the consequences of misplaced affections and the disillusionment that accompanies idealized romantic notions. Carey highlights the contrast between Becky's proactive pursuit of her goals and Amelia's passive acceptance of her fate, illustrating different responses to the social pressures of the time.

The novel follows these two women and their interconnected relationships through significant historical events such as Waterloo. We see the impact of war and societal upheaval on their lives and the various supporting characters, revealing the moral bankruptcy prevalent within the upper echelons of society. Dobbin, a steadfast and loyal friend to both Amelia and George, emerges as a figure of unwavering virtue, albeit somewhat overshadowed by the more flamboyant characters. His unwavering love for Amelia ultimately provides a foil to the self-serving actions of many others.

Throughout the narrative, Thackeray employs biting satire and irony to expose the hypocrisy and superficiality of the social elite. The pursuit of wealth and status, the complexities of love and marriage, the corrosive effects of vanity and ambition – these are recurring themes, powerfully illustrated through the characters' intertwined fates and misfortunes. Carey's analysis often focuses on how Thackeray’s narrative techniques contribute to the novel’s enduring power, revealing its continuing relevance in portraying the enduring human flaws that drive social climbing and the pursuit of fleeting satisfaction. The novel's lack of a traditional hero underscores Thackeray’s pessimistic view of human nature, leaving the reader to ponder the consequences of unchecked ambition and the pervasive influence of vanity.