Abstract

William Makepeace Thackeray is a famous critical writer in England in the 19th century who enjoys equal popularity with Charles Dickens. Vanity Fair has been generally regarded as his masterpiece. It reflects the fates of two contrasting but inter-linked women, through two women characters—Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley. Rebecca , clever and pretty , was born in a penniless family , she dreamed of getting rid of poverty and racked her wits in entering high society .Amelia, dear and gentle , was born in a rich family , she was satisfied with God’s will and projected all her feelings into George Osborne’s love .The two girls were different from each other not only in characters but also in destinies. But people in bad luck did not surrender to their fates and people in good luck may not necessarily obtain happiness , just as the author’s says :“Ah, Vanitas ,Vanitatum , which of us is happy in this world ? Which of us has his desire? or , having it , is satisfied ?” Different roads led to the same destination, such an ending certainly should be considered as a vivid satire. In the novel Thackeray examines the position and role of women in a money-oriented and status-conscious male world and attacks a corrupted, hypocritical society which advocates the Victorian virtues of marriage and family.
This paper firstly analyzes social background of that time--Chartist movement and Critical Realism. Secondly, the paper sheds light on the writing aim of Vanity Fair, and further widely exposes and sharply criticizes the machinations and greed for fame and wealth of people in the Britain of 19th century under capitalism through its theme. Thirdly, the paper penetrates deeply into these two heroines by comparing their different backgrounds, characters, views of love, and results.

Key words: feminine, fates, love, marriage, comparison