Vanity Fair

Brief Overview

"Vanity Fair" is a novel written by William Thackeray, offering a satirical portrayal of early 19th-century English society. The novel centers around the stories of two women: Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley. Becky, a young woman without means or social standing, attempts to climb the social ladder using her cunning and beauty. Amelia, on the other hand, comes from a respectable family but faces numerous trials in the form of loss and disappointment. "Vanity Fair" is not a traditional story with a happy ending; rather, Thackeray presents the reader with an exhibition of human vices and weaknesses, illustrating the idea that justice and virtue do not always prevail in life. The author critiques society for its hypocrisy, pursuit of wealth, and social status, doing so with irony and wit.