名利场毕业论文

毕业论文（设计）
题目From Shaping the Characters of Becky to Analysis Thackeray`s Criticism on the British Society in Vanity Fair
学院外国语学院
专业英语年级 2012级
学生邓小岚
学号 120310311 指导教师袁德成
从《名利场》中蓓基的人物形象塑造看萨克雷对英国社会的
批判
英语专业
学生:邓小岚指导教师:袁德成
摘要：《名利场》是一部富有讽刺寓意的小说，使萨克雷在英国文学史上占据了不可动摇的地位，人们尊称他为讽刺小说界的大师，人们把他与查尔斯狄更斯齐名。

《名利场》通过刻画女主人公蓓基的人物性格特征来表现作者萨克雷对当时英国社会的批判，蓓基爱慕虚荣，八面玲珑，趋炎附势，自私自利，虚伪，为了达到自己的目的而不择手段，并且逃避责任，这些都是当时英国那些上流社会达官贵人的基本特征。

女主人公蓓基把自己的美色展露给大家，尤其是达官贵人，对达官贵人使眼色，眉目传情，凭借和达官贵人的不正当关系来提升自己的地位，获得金钱，获得金银珠宝，锦衣玉食。

一个普通女人如何获得财富？当然不是靠自己的双手，而是靠男人。

蓓基的一生中出现过很多男人，罗登是她丈夫，然而她并不爱自己的丈夫，只是因为她以为罗登是家产继承人而嫁给了他。

本文通过研究作者萨克雷对女主人公蓓基的性格描写来揭露和批判当时英国社会中很多跟蓓基一样为了了进入上流社会而不择手段。

关键词：人物形象塑造；英国社会；批判；名利场
ABSTRACT
Vanity Fair is a novel which full of ironic implication, which has made Thackeray`s unshakable position in the history of British literature. People regard him as a master of fiction and he is equally famous as Charles Dickens. Vanity Fair by depicting the heroine Becky`s personality traits to represent Thackeray`s criticism on British society at that time, Becky is vanity, versatility, timeserving, selfishness and hypocrisy. She always avoids responsibility, those are the typical basic features of the English polite social dignitaries. The heroine Becky shows everyone her own beauty, especially to the dignitaries, winking and flirting dignitaries and keeping improper relationship with dignitaries to improve her own positions, get the money, get gold and silver jewelry, and luxurious. How to gain wealth as an ordinary woman? Of course not by their own hands, but by the man. Becky's life appeared a lot of men, Rawdon is her husband, she does not love her husband, however, just because she thought Rawdon is the heir to the fortune and so married him. In this paper, by studying author Thackeray`s character portrayal of the heroine Becky to expose and criticize at that time a lot of woman like Becky in order to enter the upper society by hook or by crook in British society.
Key words: the shaping of image; the British society; critical; Vanity Fair
Contents
Part one. Introduction (3)
1.1A brief introduction of Thackeray (3)
1.2An introduction of Vanity Fair (3)
Part two. The character analysis of Vanity Fair (3)
2.1 Cold (3)
2.2 Hypocritical (3)
2.3 Vanity (3)
2.4 Versatility (3)
2.5 Timeserving (3)
2.6 Selfishness (3)
2.7 Conclusion of Becky`s characteristic (3)
Part Three. The positive character of Becky (3)
3.1 The bold man (3)
3.2 Dare to resist (3)
3.3 Wit and smart (3)
Part Four. The film and comment (3)
4.1 The film of Vanity Fair and the director (3)
4.2 The role of Becky (3)
4.3 The making process of this film (3)
Part Five.The wrong outlook on life (3)
5.1An early to see the reality of the society (3)
5.2The marriage as a "ladder" (3)
Part Six. Conclusion (3)
Bibliography (3)
Acknowledgments (18)
From Shaping the Characters of Becky to Analysis Thackeray`s Criticism on the British Society in Vanity Fair
Part one. Introduction
1.1A brief introduction of Thackeray
Vanity Fair is a masterpiece of the greatest British realist and humorist writer Thackeray. Thackeray is a prolific writer, he has a collection of 35 volume; His early works are humorous stories and poetry, such as the descriptions of Paris, the Irish descriptions, etc.; In the middle,he start to create critical realism novels, and which novel laid his position in the literary world in UK is Vanity Fair, which is published in 1848, the novel not only established his place in the English literature but also made Thackeray acknowledged as the eponymous famous novelist Dickens.
1.2An introduction of Vanity Fair
A Novel without a Hero is a novel by English author William Makepeace Thackeray, first published in 1847–48, satirising society in early 19th-century Britain. It follows the lives of two women, Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley, amid their friends and family. The novel is now considered a classic, and has inspired several film adaptations. In 2003, Vanity Fair was listed at #122 on the BBC's The Big Read poll of the UK's best-loved books.
The book's title comes from John Bunyan's allegorical story The Pilgrim's Progress, first published in 1678 and still widely read at the time of Thackeray's novel. In that work, "Vanity Fair" refers to a stop along the pilgrim's route: a never-ending fair held in a town called Vanity, which is meant to represent man's sinful attachment to worldly things.
This novel is originated from the early 19th century British upper-class, mainly describes the two women's fate in different personalities, shows the world at that time the British society moral crisis and corruption, and expose and criticize the capitalist
society, social change in temperature and the concept of money. This novels mainly describing the dark of British high society and the phenomenon of all kinds of people planning plot, lies, teasing the life for fame and wealth. The novel Vanity Fair is Thackeray's most famous work, it is also the most representative work in19th century British critical realism literature. Vanity Fair, through the arrangement of the plot in an attempt to prove "everything is undeserved reputation float," it reveals the prosperity of capitalist society with light outside, let people see the essence of it. Thackeray himself said that he would write "a group of extremely selfish and folly people desperately committed and enthusiastic pursuit of undeserved reputation in Vanity Fair" Vanity Fair doesn`t have so tight story structure, the content of the matter is basically made up of the life of two heroines Becky and Amelia together. Amelia is a bourgeois miss and Becky is nothing at all, through the fate of the two heroines, Thackeray describes a variety of people in the high society. This article through the analysis of the two women characters to reveals the corruption, moral people's selfish, hypocritical treacherous in the higher British society.
In 19th century of Britain, Becky sharp was born poor but ambitious to step into the higher class society from an early age, to achieve her goal, she does not hesitate to use any means, this novel is about how the heroine Becky use her own beauty and wisdom to conquer the world. At first Becky was working as a governor in Sir Pitt Crawley`s home, where not only all the children liked her, but also the spinster aunt Matilda Crawley did. In Becky`s mind that she knew that if she didn`t leave the country and go to London to live, she cannot truly step into the higher British society. So when aunt Matilda invite Becky to go to London, Becky accepted the invitation without any hesitation. In London, Becky met her good friend again in pink, Kingston college, a well-off Amelia Sedley. Amelia Sedley fell in love with the charming officer George, without thinking any against from her family and resolutely married him, and Becky also secretly married Rawdon Crawley, the most likely heir in Crawley`s family, and then Matilda aggravated the newly-married couple out of the house. At this point, Napoleon launched the war against Europe again, George was called up with Rawdon , there are only two friends lived alone ever after...
Part two. The character analysis of Vanity Fair
2.1 Cold
Becky sharp is cold which embodied in her son, she is indifference to her son. A scene once wrote, Rawdon play with son and threw up his son high and accidentally hit his head on the ceiling, knock very heavy, and then Rawdon, the father said don't cry, otherwise will wake the mother, and the child endure not to cry. We can see that her cold let her both own son and husband fear. She doesn't love her husband, her husband was only a higher servant, when her husband put in jail, she was still with play with Lord stein.
2.2 Hypocritical
Becky sharp is hypocrisy. Amelia Sedley is her best friend, and they used to be together as sisters, however, she and Rawdon design a caught cheating Amy`s husband, George`s money, and when she meet Amy, she pretend to be very concern about her husband, and say, "My dear, for god sake, try to stop him gambling quickly. She told Amy that George was gambling every day, do you know that he is not so rich, if he is not careful, he would lost all his money to Rawdon." Becky sharp by hook or by crook, all with gambling, blackmail. They "cheat the landlord, took off a cheque to the honest banker`s money, bought jewelry without paying."
2.3 Vanity
Vanity Fair`s heroine Becky is very vanity, with all her heart secretly into upper class society life, and so eloquent must be one of her essential skill. There are many such examples abound in the book.
In the evening they went to Brussels, Becky started to chat with George. Becky looked at the moon with smiling and said: "who would have thought that the moon is two hundred and thirty-six thousand eight hundred and forty-seven miles away from us here, am I good memory? "...（W.M.Thackeray 2010 :283)
Becky's eloquent successful lay the foundation of her into the upper class
society, her positive evaluation of her abilities, behaved quite natural, which make the listener in imperceptible in affection for her, by this way she improved her status in British upper class society. Also there are many people like her in the down class, they are so poor, they want to change their life to become a member of the upper class.
2.4 Versatility
Becky is a clever woman, she found that Miss likes to make fun of others, so she tries every mean to deride its social circle together with the old lady, almost every one of Miss social circle , in order to please Miss .Such as:
If Sir Pitt Treating guests without inviting Becky company, Miss crow can break into a furious rage, "How can Miss Sharp not come , she is the only one who can talked a few words with me in zone. (W.M.Thackeray 2010:122)
Becky was lively and cute, and versatility. No matter in what situation, as long as that there is someone who can be helpful to her future, she will try all possible way to please them. Becky is just a typical sample of that time, similarly, there are a lot of people in British society for the sake of their future fawn on anyone who can be helpful..
2.5 Timeserving
Becky is very good at flattering, she is not only to please Sir , but also show her wisdom and talent in front of him, her flattery ability makes readers eye-opening. Becky, devoting all her heart to flattery, so lets talk about what is the real purpose of her? Might as well listen to her words to Rawdon: "I'm asking Mrs Jean taking me into palace next year, I want your brother to place you in the congress, you idiot! I want you and your brother all vote to Stan, my dear fool! In that way you can be the Irish governor, or the secretary of the west Indies, or the treasurer officer, or consular,or something like this. (W.M.Thackeray 2010 :478)
This confession of Becky totally show her enthusiasm for fame, and the pursuit for wealth, she is double-faced, she know what should be talked to what kind of person, so she win the favor from a lot of people in the upper class. Becky is just a special case, of course, for that most people want to integrate into the upper society, this is a skill what they must master.
2.6 Selfishness
Becky has its own set of plans, she knew that only by dealing with the relationship between Rawdon and Sir Pitt which can help her into upper society, reflects that the following statement: "Sir Pitt he may die and his sons, and we will be Sir Rawdon and Sir Madam, then the reader will find that Becky did eventually in the help of Sir successful step into the court paradise. Becky advice Rawdon do not to fight with Sir B , it is all in the hands of her, she wasn't really in order to alleviate Rawdon and Sir Pitt relationship, but in order that she can smoothly enter the upper society, she know that Sir will help her, so she tries every possible mean to stop the fight between finish Sir and Rawdon, its just from her selfishness..
2.7 Conclusion of Becky`s characteristic
Thackeray through describe the main character, reveals the theme of the novel, the British society is a vanity fair. Becky Sharp, which is the daughter of a poor painter, is the product of the Victorian chase fame and wealth society. Though she is born in the lower class, but she is beautiful, bandage, extreme selfishness. After graduating from boarding school in the form of work-study program, started by a small family teachers, even the use a variety of means to seduce powerful giants, firmly seize every opportunity to step into the upper class, become a shining star, the only goal is to get fame and wealth, and to live a comfortable life which can let everyone envy. Becky, which is one of the most successful female adventurer, a
masterpiece of critical realism.When she aim at empty luxury life, all the resources become her tools, including sex, family love and friendship...With cold and selfish, hypocrisy, greed to describe Becky sharp was really suit.
Part Three. The positive character of Becky
3.1 The bold man
Simone DE once said: "A woman is not innate, but by shaping. The ego of a woman is not decided by her sex, but determined by the social and economic environment". Social culture and economy determines the status of women. At Victorian times, women have no chance to increase knowledge by education or work, they are just told what kind of behavior is specification, which bound the personality of women. As a Victorian women, Becky should not be so smart. Although she is a poor orphan, but she wants to win respect, economic status and social status. Her independent personality conflicts with what social status she was given. Why she wants to get respect is rooted in her own experience when she was a young child. When her father was drunk, the wife and daughter would be beaten, and her father would complaint social injustice. Her father's abuse contributed to her anger, she wanted to have a different childhood, but the social definition of female restrict her. Therefore, in her life, to live with her goals and desires is a great challenge for her. Only the upper and middle class women have a chance to accept education about words and deeds. Like Becky, a girl from the bottom of the social, life will be more bound.
3.2 Dare to resist
After her father died, Becky was allowed to stay in school, but have to teach French to girls. Becky was offended by other students` discrimination, so she began to
desire for prestige extremely. Life in school made her more aware that she is alone and no others can depend on. So she began to plan her own future. She was fed up with her treatment, and determined to try every means to enter the upper society. However, before graduation, she found that challenge the traditional idea would only bring disgrace on her own head. As a result, she hid her anger and ambitions, pretend to be obedience. She learned from Emily that obedience and innocent will be more liked. Even after she got her aim social status, Becky still showed her own rebellion. Born rebel that she won't change her behavior to meet the social expectations of women. Carefully, she deals with the people around her, and then she laugh behind they. The disgrace of Lord Stan let her get satisfaction, because of his noble status symbol of the social system set a cage for her childhood.
3.3 Wit and smart
According to Simone, traditional woman cannot leave the man and consider herself alone, but man can consider about himself only without considering the woman. Becky controls or deceives men through her intelligence, changes the role of women are inferior. As a governess, by becoming an indispensable character to break the rules of the society for women is limited. In the host`s home, even though she is just a private tutor, but she found herself dominated transactions as a matter of fact. Through her words and actions, she controls the people around her, make them believe that she is a woman who just like Emily, obedience and ignorance like child.
Part Four. The film and comment
4.1 The film of Vanity Fair and the director
“Ah! Vanitas Vanitatum! Which of us is happy in this world? Which of us has his desire? Or, having it, is satisfied? ----come, children, let us shut up the box and the puppets, for our play is played out.”(W.M.Thackeray 2010:774) This is the last sentence in Vanity Fair of William Thackeray`s novel. Vanity Fair, completed in 1847 to 1848, by reputation in the early 19th century, it is the most vivid and interesting description. It is that the conclusion of the Vanity Fair inspired director, Mira Nair. She said: "I want to shoot the film, because Thackeray and I have many common
questions: we all have a dream, when the dream come true, will we be happy? What is satisfaction? What is desire? What's life fame and wealth? Thackeray's novel is the best film material, precisely described what was happening in Britain at that time, this paper expounds an eternal theme. Particularly plump characters will resonate with modern people, I think Becky is one of the greatest female characters in literary works."
For the classic novel, Neil has its own unique insights.Coincidentally, Thackeray's spent his childhood in Calcutta in India, and Neil also grew up in India, her personal experience can complement and recreate Thackeray's novel.
Producer Janette Day want to made the novel into a film as early as 10 years ago. Becky is more like the modern women, "she said, just born in the wrong time. In the materialistic crazy world, she is vitality and different from others."
For the film's writer and joint production team, Matthew Faulk and Mark Skeet, they are able to work as an adaptation is a lucky gift for them, because in the process of novel Thackeray provides a large number of people, so to change the story based on Vanity Fair is the dream of all writers. In addition, in order to further enrich the script, who won the Oscar for best screenplay award Julian fellows joined the adaptation of the squad.
4.2 The role of Becky
As the project of the film forming gradually, casting work also began, who will be choose to play Becky is the most important work for them, Reese Witherspoon were invited to sign in. Witherspoon said: "I am excited to got a call from the Mira, we had met two years ago, because I'm her fan, hope to be able to cooperate with her. Between words, I found that we are familiar sensitive to the female subject, her grasp of the genre is amazing."
Witherspoon think that who she plays, Becky is a feminist, the role of Becky is very modern. Although she lost her parents and become homeless, but she is still desire for success, and every success is rely on her own ability.
Screenwriter Fellows said, "Reese can show emotional at the same time, this is her special place. Becky is also interesting, intelligent and complex, and smart and
ambitious and practical at the same time." Director Neil said: "Reese is very suited to play Becky, she and I also hope to be able to perform this role very much. She really had the characteristics of wit, cunning, charming and illusory, Becky, this role is very complicated, but I don't want to get Becky who hated by others, because after all, she is cunning, she is not liked by most people. Reese`s acting just can seize the audience's subtle emotions, let the audience follow her ups and downs together.
4.3 The making process of this film
Producer Lydia Dean Pilcher said: "In the UK, we have the most incredible scenes available. Mira is a connoisseur of photography and painting, there is a clear aesthetic point of view; and Dick, who has a deep heart. So this two people working together can create the most truly images."
Quinn said: "I have listened to her about the idea of the story, and what she wants to do with film. This is a story of very British, and to tell from the angle of the onlooker. I am Irish Americans, of course, is also a bystander, like the others, my ideas about the story and characters also are different from Mira, therefore, Mira consulted with everyone.
Production designer Maria Djurkovic fully consider the colonial influence of the early 19th century, when Britain increasing the number of colonies, at the same time also exert a subtle influence on to accept the risk from colonies such as India, north Africa, and China, the influence of effective recreate the era characteristics is very important.
In order to be more loyal to the historical facts, Djurkovic chose a large number of vibrant color. Because at that time under the influence of the east, so the fabric in the film, paper, and the choice of locations were meticulous. Film causeway, Morocco lanterns which appeared and China and Indian fabric also appeared, and so on.
Part Five.The wrong outlook on life
Becky, which is desperately seek status and wealth in her life, because of the society, the value of money and social status is the only standard. Even if she reached the target (such as married Rawdon), but later found out that these goals are not completely satisfied, or (for example with the British upper class) eventually feel
boring.Which has so inner monologue: "I think if I have five thousand pounds a year's takings, will also do a serious woman" the author`s heart immediately echo: "who can say Becky is wrong? why women are different and serious? Who can say it's not money that way?". This passage confirms "vanity fair" is a focus on potential, mercenary, plunder to deceive the world, there is no justice in this world. There are two main cause of error goal in life.
5.1An early to see the reality of the society
Bitterness family situation, leading to deformity of attitude to life. Becky is from a lower petty-bourgeois family, her father is a painter, impoverished and hard-drinking; her mother is a stray singer, soon after he left, she gave birth to a daughter. Although she is proficient in French, but cultural level is not high, Becky had endured the hardships of life, from childhood to follow her father lived a full credit days, for her father's debt. In order to make a living, she often need to deal with all kinds of people, so she learned the skills of sweet words, she can coax a collection of people come to their senses. Becky, smart, intelligence, agile and sharp at an early age. In order to survive, she must hone their tenacity, alert, she must withstand the supercilious look around and life's difficulties. Her father often take her together to listen to those wild friends to chat, that has made her young age, she even had not done her childhood, she becomes an adult woman since the age of eight, poor life has made her a much more sensible than their peers. Such increased her childhood life of the upper social life yearning.After his father's death, Becky boarding at pinker ton's girls' school. It was like a monastery and as a prison to Becky , she not only at school, insecurity and work-study program. Although she has excellent eloquence and music talent, speaks perfect French, but ignored because of the poor and humble, discrimination and neglect's classmates and teachers. Emily and classmates, principal due to born with a silver spoon in her mouth, the family rich favor and courtesy. At an early age she saw through the fickleness of the world, human changes in temperature of the bud is to deepen knowledge disparity between people are decided by money and status.Coldly, torture and abuse in her mind formed the distorted memory,
humiliation had had a serious alienation life made her personality, she formed the cold in resentment, envy, selfish character.She hated the social forces, think of themselves as prefer on a bit as good as rich lady.When Becky leaving school, take Emily's carriage to self her also began a new life.She determined to extricate themselves from the "cage", then set about action, start the "calculation" of his future.She need food, clothing and shelter, or in the full name and survive in the strange city.In reality, the rich will get the respect of people, get a good reputation.The poverty of people like her father, only will come down in life;Without the identity of the person like her mother, only will be the best society.Since unhappy family can't give her a good background, high social status, blinding ostentation and extravagance, it all on their own struggle. Becky realize this deeply, and put it into a positive action, to change their circumstances. Since then, Becky to exert all one's skill, step by step into society, fantasy becomes the object of many men pursue and the focus of the aristocratic circles.
5.2The marriage as a "ladder"
Wrong marriage and unfortunate life contributed to the development. The heroine uses marriage as her pursuit of wealth, power and status. She constantly planning how to boost her social status through the marriage. But she ignores the real marriage, love is looking for the other half of my life, marriage is two people over a period of time. Love is the foundation of marriage, because both sides have the feelings of love and honor each other would married, two people to share happiness and sorrow, understand each other after the marriage, to build better homes. No love marriage is not reliable.She regrets not her mother, at the beginning of the novel to running it for her, she had to depend on oneself. In Emily home when she started to capture Joseph is only for money. Although she strongly praised the Joseph clothing, praised the taste of Indian food, efforts to please the mother of Joseph in the casino to Joseph initiative, but she doesn't care about him, in private also laugh at him. Marriage for Becky is a shortcut to change her life.Then when she had never put off till tomorrow what you can to take off the crow, she will try our best to help him deal with some complex transactions, and his daughters into friendly relations, make him feel without her.When finish off glory had asked her to marry him, she was very
regret, because she has to Rawdon secretly married. Obviously if she not married, she was happily married, never put off till tomorrow what you can to take off the crow. She is only interested in money. She is lost when the crow lady opportunity greatly regret.We know from the novel, she was married Rawdon is she the life of the lady to crow error estimation results, plus she thinks Rawdon will inherit his aunt's heritage.Her selfishness, heart cold. She used her beauty and wisdom Rawdon attention, but she doesn't love her husband.She flattered him surface, the bottom of my heart look down upon him. To her husband could be killed in the war is indifferent, it is very concerned about how much money he gave himself. When Rawdon abandoned her, she doesn't regret marriage; Because of the failure, just for investment in marriage didn't get rich rewards and regret. Her improper relationship with Lord, Dan more illustrates her to his unfaithfulness, betrayal of marriage.
Conclusion
Vanity Fair is the critical realism masterpiece, it tartly conscience on improper buying and selling. The author applied the profound psychological description and outline to depict vivid character, this kind of way was deeply loved by readers and highly praised by others. Vanity fair are the overall features of irony, embodied in three aspects: the first is Socrates ironic narration, and second is irony dialogue between characters and the irony fate of the characters. From the perspective of speech act analysis of this work.Vanity Fair's ironic features have very important effect on revealing the author's critical spirit and calling the reader's participation and cooperation.
Vanity Fair is 19th century British critical realism writer Thackeray. Works by describing the early 19th century British ruling class life, through the irony of the upper social classes of men to attack the bourgeois social relations. In this society, the bourgeoisie of the ruling class all resorts to obtain money by fair means or foul. Becky, which is one of the typical representatives. The only pursuit of her life was to get fame and wealth. In order to get fame and wealth, she actively by quiet life into luxury nothing vanity fair. She and the old people of small kept improper relationship, the only purpose is to use them to live a comfortable life they want.The author through the fate of Becky, which unfolds, shows the British ruling class life successfully. So far, Vanity Fair is the start of the bourgeois society the irony of the。