William Thackeray’s masterpiece and perhaps his only novel which is popular among the readers as a full-length novel, Vanity Fair, is still very popular and I have my reasons to put it above the classics such as Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. The notorious character of Rebecca Sharp, known popularly as Becky, is the reason that people remember the novel, mostly. I also find myself immensely impressed by this negative character which puts a direct and forceful impact on the readers. The author, who is also indulged in the novel very much as a narrator, though tries his best to arouse sympathy for Becky, the readers themselves give in to the circumstances and offer Ms Sharp their sentiments.
Vanity Fair is a novel which does not let you relax – though it offers cynicism at times to keep the intellectual readers happy and amused – the servants also have volumes of poetry published! The most remarkable feature in the novel that I could come close to is certainly the way in which it unfolds to the readers – the readers have no option but to accept it as the reality of the world. The bad thrives and the good suffers – isn’t it an obvious case?
Amelia Sedley suffers and she suffers for no obvious reason of her; she only thinks of helping Becky, her friend. However, the author of Vanity Fair has tried to make it indirectly clear that in this world of opportunism, you cannot trust anybody with you affection of love! This bitter truth strikes the readers; it struck the readers then and it will continue striking the readers every now and then – in future as well. This is the truth and one cannot run away from it anyhow.
Other than the abstract qualities, Vanity Fair also becomes very indulging in a sense that it offers a very sharp narrative and a very interesting plot. It does not bother showing the true face of modern society – whether it is in the form of Colonel, the old pervert or in the form of meek and afraid William Dobbin.
Yea, the only drawback which cannot let the modern readers, possibly, enjoy the novel is that its length – the novel Vanity Fair is more than lengthier and modern readers do not have that much patience to keep reading and reading and reading. However, once you find your interest senses active, I doubt you would deny reading it completely. Just enjoy the classic by the classic cynical author William ‘Makepeace’ Thackeray!
