下载文档原格式
浅析《名利场》中蓓基·夏普的形象特征XXXX学院毕业设计（论文）题目：浅析《名利场》中蓓基·夏普的形象特征（英文）： A Brief Analysis of Rebecca Sharp’s Characteristicsin Vanity Fair系别：外语系专业：英语姓名：XXXXX学号：XXXXXXXXXXXX指导教师：XXXXXXXX日期：2013年5 月A Brief Analysis of Rebecca Sharp’s Characteristic inVanity fairABSTRACTWilliam Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) is one of the representatives of the English critical realistic writers. Vanity Fair is regarded as his masterpiece.Owing to its extraordinary literary merits, Vanity Fair is listed among the most notable nineteenth-century English novels. The novel is based on the popular British upper society in nineteenth century, and vividly describes a smart girl Rebecca who wanted to master her own fate and get out of poverty. In order to reach the upper society she was capable of everything. Through her efforts, she raised herself out of poverty into the upper class, but lost everything in the end.On the basis of the author’s background, this t hesis will analyze the characteristics of Rebecca embodied in the novelVanity Fair.The thesis is divided into five parts. The first part introduces the background of the author—William Makepeace Thackeray and his masterpiece Vanity Fair. The second part introduces the importance of characteristics in a novel and the research status of characteristics embodied in the novel Vanity Fair. The third part analyzes Rebecca Sharp’s characteristics. On the basis of the analysis, the fourth part explores the cause of Rebecca Sharp’s characteristics. And the last part has a summary of this thesis.Key Words: Thackeray; Vanity Fair; Rebecca Sharp; characteristics浅析《名利场》中蓓基·夏普的形象特征摘要威廉·梅克皮斯·萨克雷（1811.1863）是英国批判现实主义的代表作家之一,小说《名利场》是他的代表作。
女性主义视角下的《红楼梦》人物试论王熙凤和贾宝玉的“双性气质”一、本文概述《红楼梦》作为中国古典文学的巅峰之作，其人物塑造的丰富性和深度历来为研究者所津津乐道。
在众多鲜活的人物形象中，王熙凤和贾宝玉无疑是最为引人注目的两个角色。
本文试图从女性主义的视角出发，探讨这两位人物身上所展现的“双性气质”，即他们性格中同时存在的男性与女性的特质。
通过对这两位角色的深入分析，本文旨在揭示《红楼梦》在性别角色塑造上的独特之处，以及这种“双性气质”在文本中的意义和价值。
王熙凤作为贾府的掌权者，以其精明能干、机智过人的形象深入人心。
然而，在她身上，我们也不难发现一些传统女性角色中鲜见的特质，如决断、野心和对权力的渴望。
这些特质使她在男性主导的社会中显得格格不入，却又在某种程度上赋予了她超越性别的力量。
贾宝玉则是另一个充满“双性气质”的角色。
他身为男儿身，却对诗词歌赋有着极高的造诣，且内心深处充满了对女性角色的认同和亲近。
他的这种“双性气质”不仅体现在他的兴趣爱好上，更体现在他对待身边人的态度上，尤其是对待林黛玉等女性角色时，他所展现出的细腻、敏感和体贴，更是让人看到了他性格中女性化的一面。
本文将从女性主义视角出发，对王熙凤和贾宝玉的“双性气质”进行深入的探讨和分析，以期能够更全面地理解这两位角色的复杂性和多样性，并进而对《红楼梦》这部伟大作品进行更深层次的解读。
二、王熙凤的“双性气质”分析王熙凤是《红楼梦》中一位极为复杂和鲜明的人物，她的人物性格中既包含了女性的细腻、机智和柔韧，又展现出了男性的决断、刚强和野心。
这种独特的“双性气质”让王熙凤成为了整部小说中最为引人注目的人物之一。
从女性的角度来看，王熙凤具有女性特有的细腻和机智。
她善于察言观色，能够准确地捕捉到他人心中的想法和情绪，因此她常常能够在与人交往中占据主导地位。
同时，她也善于利用自己的女性魅力来达成自己的目的，比如在处理与贾琏的关系时，她能够用温柔的话语和细腻的关怀来赢得贾琏的心，从而掌控家中的大权。
外国文学——解读《名利场》女主人公蓓基解读《名利场》女主人公蓓基·夏泼概述：威廉·麦克皮斯·萨克雷是英国著名作家，其代表作《名利场》描写了19 世纪英国资产阶级的生活状态并塑造了非常丰满的人物形象——蓓基·夏泼。
蓓基出身于贫穷的画师家庭，从小父母双亡，在平克顿女子学校受尽歧视。
离校后她凭着美貌和机智，不择手段地猎取金钱，通过投机和冒险，力图挤进上流社会。
几经坎坷，几度荣辱，在英国社会的名利场中，她最终还是默默无闻地度日。
接下来，我结合蓓基的生活环境和其所处的社会背景来具体分析一下蓓基这一人物。
一、因为卑微，所以勇往直前蓓基出身低微，母亲是歌女，父亲是嗜酒如命的潦倒画匠。
蓓基从小缺少父母的关爱，她自强自立甚至很小就能应付各类讨债者。
蓓基到平克顿女校半工半读，她不放过任何学习的机会，不光在音乐方面颇有造诣，并且在极短时间内就修完了当时被认为上流社会女必须掌握的一系列课程。
如此聪明过人的蓓基因为下层人们出身竟然没有得到平克顿女士的赏识和同学的尊敬。
这是一个残酷的现实社会，蓓基深谙其中的道理。
所以她立志要不惜一切代价进入上流社会享受荣华富贵，改变自己卑微的命运。
离开平克顿女校进入社会后，蓓基迫切地需要通过嫁人来改变自己的命运。
尽管未能如愿嫁给乔斯，蓓基还是一直未放弃她嫁个好丈夫的愿望。
因为这是她唯一能改变命运的方法。
在克劳来爵士家当家庭女教师期间，蓓基的聪明乖巧俘获了极有可能继承富婆姑姑遗产的罗登·克劳莱的心，并秘密结婚。
但是罗登的继承权被剥夺，向往荣华富贵生活的蓓基还要继续前进，为自己的目标，她始终走在路上。
二、因为梦想，所以坚定不移蓓基无疑坚强理智成熟女性的典范,甚至兼有一种大智慧。
在战争来临,丈夫即将征战沙场时,已经怀孕的她含泪对丈夫说道:“去吧,我不会怪你的,国家需要你!”我们看到的是一个深明大义，坚强无比的蓓基。
而艾米利亚却只会发疯般的在街上寻找自己的丈夫乔治,希望他能留下来,因为没有他她就没法活下去。
《名利场》中蓓基的女性主义形象摘要：威廉·梅克皮斯·萨克雷是十九世纪批判现实主义的杰出代表人物之一，于1847年出版了他的杰作《名利场》。
在《名利场》中，萨克雷抨击了崇尚维多利亚时代婚姻和家庭美德的社会。
本文着重从女性主义角度分析小说主人公蓓基追求独立、平等的女性主义形象，希望给予相关研究领域以参考和借鉴。
关键词：《名利场》；蓓基；女性主义《名利场》[1]是英国十九世纪小说家萨克雷的成名作，也是其代表作。
故事主角蓓基是个坚强勇敢、富有智慧的姑娘，她不甘自身贫寒的家境，企图不惜任何手段摆脱困境跻身上流社会。
萨克雷在小说中对女性人物性格和追求进行了极为细致的描绘，展现了女性对命运、对爱情的价值观。
萨克雷写小说力求客观真实，既不遮掩善良人物的缺点，也不遗漏狡猾俗人章节，为读者呈现了真实的人物形象。
一、《名利场》中蓓基不同时期女性主义形象的塑造在《名利场》中，人们普遍认为女性是软弱的，顺从的，服从的。
蓓基是一位独立、聪明、有野心的女性，她不断追求、反抗，想要尽一切努力实现自我价值，并过上理想的生活。
（一）孩童时期的挑战蓓基的父亲是一个穷困潦倒的艺术家，经常酗酒，母亲则是歌舞剧的伴舞者。
作为父亲和丈夫，他从来没有给女儿和妻子提供一个温暖的家庭，甚至一个庇护所，她从父亲那里得到的是不断地殴打和负债的生活[2]。
母亲死后，蓓基的父亲把她留给了平克顿小姐，从此再也没有出现过。
这对蓓基来说是一场灾难，因为从此她成了名副其实的孤儿。
由于童年的悲惨经历，蓓基练就了其他同龄孩子所不具备的处理各种困难的能力。
作为女儿，面对各种麻烦棘手的杂事，蓓基选择勇敢面对，代替父亲承担家庭责任，成为意志坚强的女性，而不是弱者的代表。
孩童时期，她颠覆了传统观念中女孩从属、无能的形象。
（二）学生时期的挑战童年是孩子们最无忧无虑的时期，而蓓基却经历了悲惨、不体面的童年。
因为她卑微的家庭出身，除了善良的阿米莉亚，没有人愿意和她做朋友。
浅议《名利场》中女性主义觉醒的原因摘要：《名利场》是十九世纪英国作家萨克雷的代表作，深受读者喜爱，直至今天依然具有很强的影响力。
《名利场》以英国资本主义蓬勃发展、男权主义主导的社会为背景，勾画了女主蓓瑞卡·夏普凭借一切努力从社会底层进入上流社会的场景，展现了女性主义的觉醒。
本文对小说女主人公蓓瑞卡·夏普的女性主义觉醒过程进行分析，寻找觉醒的根本原因——双性同体。
关键词：《名利场》蓓瑞卡女性主义双性同体一、引言双性同体（androgyny）起源于神话故事，随着时代变化，产生了新的含义。
在生物学上的概念指的是人体结构和生理表征的两种结合，在心理上指的是人格中同时兼备强悍和柔情、果断和细腻等跨性别的特征［1］。
英女权主义代表作家艾德琳·弗吉尼亚·伍尔芙是最早在文学领域引入这一概念的人，在演讲稿《一间自己的房间》中指出：“每个人都有两种力量控制自己，分别是男性的力量和女性的力量。
然而在男女两性各自的脑海中，自身往往是最有力量的角色。
最正常的、合适的境况就是两种力量结合在一起和谐生活、精神共鸣的时候。
”［2］“双性气质”是在“双性同体”的基础上发展形成的，是指一个人同时具有较多的男性气质和较多的女性气质的人格（心理）特征，能更好地适应社会。
十九世纪中叶，英国经历工业革命之后，资本主义经济高速发展，工商业迅速崛起，社会结构开始发生变动，贫富差距开始拉大。
与此同时，受到男权主义社会压迫的女性开始反抗，争取自由平等和社会地位，女权主义开始觉醒。
现实主义作家威廉·梅克比斯·萨克雷笔下的《名利场》就描绘了在社会等级森严、男权主义盛行的维多利亚时代，面对趋名逐利、金钱至上的社会，女主人公蓓瑞卡下定决心改变悲惨的命运，努力成为上流社会一员的过程。
她充分利用每一次外部环境的改变，不断强大自我，凭借女性气质一步步融入上流社会，更凭借着男性气质游走在男权主义社会，实现个人奋斗目标。
摘要蓓基是英国著名批判现实主义作家威廉?梅克皮斯?萨克雷的成名作《名利场》中塑造的一个出身贫贱、受尽歧视，梦想摆脱困境，苦心经营，不择手段踏入上层社会的女性形象，本文通过对蓓基形象的分析展示了当时英国社会女性的处境。
关键词：《名利场》蓓基形象《名利场》是英国著名的批判现实主义作家威廉?梅克皮斯?萨克雷创作的一部“没有男主人公”的长篇小说，作品发表于1847-1848年，以19世纪初叶热闹的英国上流社会为背景，向人们展示了当时英国上流社会追名逐利、冷酷虚假、唯利是图、趋炎附势的黑暗面和道德危机。
作品以女主人蓓基曲折复杂的人生经历为主线，成功地塑造出一位出身贫贱、受尽歧视，梦想摆脱困境，苦心经营，不择手段踏入上层社会的女性形象。
作为一个人生经历复杂多变、情感生活曲折动荡的人物，蓓基勇敢坚强、聪明伶俐、八面玲珑、她不仅有着明确的奋斗目标和积极的进取精神，而且还能巧妙运用名利场中的规则，勇敢反抗阶级社会和男权社会的压迫，以特殊的方式主宰社会，但对名利和地位的疯狂追逐也使她抛弃了良心、荣誉和尊严，最终落得孤独终老的结局。
蓓基是作品中最具魅力、最具光彩的人物形象，她身上既闪烁着独特的人性活力和性格魅力，同时也折射出资本主义社会冷酷无情、唯利是图、惟势是趋的丑恶本质。
一确定目标，积极进取蓓基幼年丧母，父亲是一个嗜酒如命的穷画师，在蓓基十七岁时因酒癫症而亡。
早年丧母，少年丧父的悲惨经历不仅使蓓基从小游离于社会不同文化群体间，而且还使她学会了和各种各样人打交道的本领。
为了生存，她必须承受周遭的白眼和生活坎坷，“贫穷的生活使她养成阴沉沉的脾气”，强烈的生存欲望使她不择手段、费尽心机地要求社会的接纳：为了生存，她必须磨练坚韧、机警、狡诈、精明的性格；为了生存，她梦想摆脱困境进入上层社会，努力将自己的生命力表现出来。
父亲死后，无依无靠的蓓基寄宿在一个半似修道院半似监狱的女子学校，过着半工半读的生活，尽管她继承了父亲的艺术家的天赋和母亲的表演艺术，尽管她能说一口纯正的法语，具有很强的独立生活能力，但却由于出身贫穷卑微而饱受富家小姐和女校长的歧视和怠慢。
剖析《名利场》中蓓基的另一面蓓基是《名利场》中最具光彩的角色。
许多评论家认为蓓基“是个一无所有，靠姿色和诡计混世的女骗子”，是一个女野心家。
她的名字和虚伪、无赖放荡连在一起，这似乎说得太重了。
蓓基给人的印象并非是一个十恶不赦的人。
她虽不是天使，但也不是魔鬼。
她只是一个在熙熙攘攘、你争我夺的名利场上小偷小摸的女人而已。
蓓基生活的虚伪势利的名利场，是一个弱肉强食、惟利是图、没有情分、没有道义、趋炎附势、金钱统率一切的社会，是一个“名利的市场”。
在这个市场上，为了名、为了利、为了金钱和地位，一切都可以出卖：良心、友谊、爱情、父子关系、儿女之爱、兄妹之情、人格尊严；一切都可以被利用：卑鄙、抢夺、欺骗、无赖、讹诈甚至凶杀。
在这样的社会里，蓓基该如何生存呢?蓓基只是一个穷画师和流浪舞女的女儿，父母过早死后，什么资产也没给她留下。
在平克顿学校，不如她聪明的爱米利亚，因为家庭富裕而倍受校长的青睬，而蓓基却受辱。
于是她的三位老师——“人事的变迁、穷困的生活连上她本人”教会了她走怎样的人生之路。
蓓基为了得到金钱地位耍尽种种手段，不过这些花招只是爱慕虚荣的女人惯用的伎俩。
想找个有钱的丈夫，有背景的家庭，这在女人中很普遍。
蓓基所处的年代里，婚姻就是女人的命运。
拍马屁、过于露骨地追逐有钱男人，在人前假装举止端庄、天真烂漫，也谈不上不道德。
毕竟蓓基谈吐风趣，光彩照人，对什么人都有吸引力，总是社交场合的中心人物。
而且作者也多次提醒读者：“我们不能责怪她，她毕竟没有慈爱的父母为她安排这种微妙而又难于处理的事儿。
”蓓基的几次男女私情也说不上放荡，对乔治的调情是出于对上等人的报复。
她早就认为爱米利亚的可爱在于金钱的魅力，她的见识不及自己一半，现在两人的地位拉平了，她耍较量一番。
况且蓓基也不全靠姿色来吸引人，她聪明有情趣，性格坚强，有胆识有韧性，吃苦耐劳。
在克劳莱府，她的地位接近女主人，谜得候爵在太太死后即向蓓基求婚。
她不辞辛苦地照料刁钻古怪的老太婆克劳莱，成了她的活宝。
《名利场》中蓓基夏泼是怎样的人物形象分析（最新版）编制人：__________________审核人：__________________审批人：__________________编制单位：__________________编制时间：____年____月____日序言下载提示：该文档是本店铺精心编制而成的，希望大家下载后，能够帮助大家解决实际问题。
文档下载后可定制修改，请根据实际需要进行调整和使用，谢谢!并且，本店铺为大家提供各种类型的经典范文，如诗歌散文、原文赏析、读书笔记、经典名著、古典文学、网络文学、经典语录、童话故事、心得体会、其他范文等等，想了解不同范文格式和写法，敬请关注!Download tips: This document is carefully compiled by this editor.I hope that after you download it, it can help you solve practical problems. The document can be customized and modified after downloading, please adjust and use it according to actual needs, thank you!In addition, this shop provides you with various types of classic sample essays, such as poetry and prose, original text appreciation, reading notes, classic works, classical literature, online literature, classic quotations, fairy tales, experience, other sample essays, etc. if you want to know the difference Please pay attention to the format and writing of the sample essay!《名利场》中蓓基夏泼是怎样的人物形象分析【导语】：蓓基夏泼是名利场中的主要人物，关于蓓基夏泼是怎样的人一直受到大家的关注，本店铺来给大家介绍蓓基夏泼的人物形象分析。
本科生毕业论文从女性主义角度分析《名利场》中的两位女性形象院(系)、专业河北师范大学英语研究方向英国文学学生姓名学号指导教师姓名指导教师2013年5月20日Hebei Normal University Graduation ThesisA Feminist Analysis of Two Womenin Vanity FairCollege & Major：Hebei Normal University,English Research Field：British LiteratureStudent Name：Tutor Name：Tutor Title：Date: July20, 2012内容摘要《名利场》是英国19世纪批判现实主义作家萨克雷的代表作，通过描述两位性格迥异的女性形象及其各自不同的命运，揭露了当时英国上层社会的道德危机和腐败堕落，进而批判了资本主义社会金钱至上的观念。
大部分人对名利场中的两位女性形象持否定态度，人们普遍认为利蓓佳·夏泼自私、贪婪、虚伪，艾米利亚懦弱、缺乏主见，然而本文认为这两位女性都具有女性主义独立，智慧和坚强的特质，综合分析认为作者萨克雷实际上对这两位男权社会压迫下的女性持同情与赞扬的态度，而非批判。
本文主要在介绍作者的女性主义思想发展的基础上，从女性主义角度对小说中两位女性形象进行分析。
通过作者对笔下两位女性生动的描写，读者可以看到萨克雷对这两位女斗士的态度与波伏娃的女性主义理论不谋而合。
关键词：女性形象；女性主义；男权社会；赞扬AbstractVanity Fair is the masterpiece of Thackeray, a critical realism writer in the 19th century in Great Britain. By describing two typical female images with completely different characters and fates, it reveals the moral crisis and corruption of British upper society and then criticizes the money-orientated concept of capitalist society. Most people hold a negative attitude towards the female images in Vanity Fair and they generally consider that Rebecca Sharp is selfish greedy and hypocritical and Amelia is cowardly, stubborn, and weak-minded. However, this paper thinks these two females both have the feminism features, such as independence, wisdom, and braveness, and believes Thackeray actually sympathized and praised these two women rather than criticized them.This paper mainly analyzes the two female images in Vanity Fair from the perspective of feminism based on the author’s thought development of feminism. Through Thackeray’s vivid description of the two females in a male-oriented society, we can see the author’s attitude towards the two women coincides with Beauvoir’s feminist theories.Key words: female image; feminism; male-oriented society; praiseContents1. Introduction (1)1.1 Thackeray’s life and his “Vanity Fair” (1)1.2 Feminism and the purpose of this paper (1)1.3 Literature Review (1)2. The Sources of Thackeray’s Feminism (2)2.1 The social sources (2)2.2 His family sources (3)3. A Feminist Analysis of Amelia and Rebecca (3)3.1 Amelia as a heroine (3)3.1.1 A warm-hearted and pure Amelia (4)3.1.2 An unswerving and faithful girl (4)3.1.3 An courageous and decisive Amelia (5)3.2 Rebecca as a heroine (5)3.2.1 An iron-willed and independent Rebecca (6)3.2.2 A rebellious and smart Rebecca (6)3.2.3 An ambitious and adventurous Rebecca (7)4. Conclusion (7)References (8)Acknowledgements (9)1. IntroductionThis part makes a brief introduction to the author Thackeray, his novel Vanity Fair, and feminism, and introduces the heroines in the novel Vanity Fair from the perspective of feminism. Compared with other literature reviews, this paper has a different idea.1.1 Thackeray’ s life and his“V anity Fair”Thackeray(1811-1863) was an representative of critical realism in the 19th century England. He was born in India in the family of an English official. In his early life, Thackeray wrote all kinds of articles, mainly short pieces for journals and relatively slim books. Up to 1847, a series of his satirical sketches were collected in The Book of Snobs. But it was not until the publication of Vanity Fair that the world recognized the appearance of a new novelist of the first rank.Vanity Fair as Thackeray’s masterpiece gives a comprehensive view of English society in the early 19th century. By the title which is derived from Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress meaning “a fair, wherein are sold all sorts vanity”, the author intended to paint a vivid picture of the egoistic, hypocritical and money-grabbing world of his age. The subtitle of the book is “A Novel without a Hero”. From this it can possibly mean firstly that there are no exactly positive characters in a world full of bad and faulty people. Secondly it may imply that this is a novel about women instead of men. Although the subtitle may mean that there is no real hero in the novel, Rebecca and Amelia can be the real heroines of the novel in a way.1.2 Feminism and the purpose of this paper“In a simple way, feminism is a belief in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes, and a movement organized around the conviction that biological sex should not be the pre-determinant factor shaping a person's social identity or socio-political or economic rights. Many feminists are especially concerned with social, political and economic inequalities between the sexes which favour men at women's expense; some have also argued that gendered and sexed identities, such as "man" and "woman", are socially constructed. Feminists may disagree over the sources of inequality, how to attain equality, and the extent to which gender and gender-based identities should be questioned and critiqued; some of this disagreement may stem from continuing pressure to conform to masculine norms”[1].The goal of feminist history is to explore and illuminate the female viewpoint of history through the rediscovery of female writers, artists, philosophers, etc, in order to recover and demonstrate the significance of women's voices and choices in the past. Two particular problems which feminist history attempts to address are the exclusion of women from the historical and philosophical tradition, and the negative characterization of women or the feminine in it; however, feminist history is not solely concerned with issues of gender per se, but rather with the reinterpretation of history in a more holistic and balanced manner.This thesis is to discu ss the two main female characters’ images from the feminism perspective, which can make readers know more about the novel and the main themes as well as the social background. What’s more, this thesis can make them know the author’s writing intention. Readers will have a deep understanding of the novel and the characters in the novel. At the same time, these discussions can give some implications for the modern readers and the modern women.1.3 Literature ReviewSince the publication of Vanity Fair, a lot of scholars domestic and overseas have studied it from different viewing angles such as the heroines’ characteristics and reflected realistic problems.The research of Vanity Fair in China booms in recent years but most of them are scanty in depth or extension. Most researchers agree that the main characters in the book are lifelike. Some researchers focus on special characters to explore the humanity of the Victorian Age. The life of the heroines is a metaphor of human being’s desire.The research of the foreign critics mainly divides into several aspects. Some critics consider that Thackeray is a sentimental novelist. These researchers consider that Vanity Fair is the strong support to the view that Thackeray is a cynic in heart and soul. Other researchers regard Vanity Fair as a realistic novel. In this novel, Thackeray has portrayed the living manners of his own age and they bear a true and deep resemblance to their prototypes of the 18th century. In addition, some researchers take Thackeray’s Vanity Fair as a master piece of satire. Gao (2002) surveys the position and role of women in a money-oriented and status-conscious male world. Wu (2003) exposes situation of corrupted and hypocritical society which advocates the Victorian Virtues of marriage and family. Charlotte commented: “The more I read Thackeray’s works the more certain I am that he stands alone-alone in his sagacity, alone in his truth, alone in his feeling … Thackeray is a Titan”[2].Critics shift their attention to almost every aspect of the novel as time goes on. Some are by the ethnical content; some are interested in the polysemy of the theme; some try to interpret the major characters; some pay attention to its psychological dimensions. This research mainly discusses the heroines’ van ity and snobbishness and its reflection in real society, with a purpose to make readers better understand the theme of the novel and thought of the author.Taking these literatures as reference, this paper decide to discuss the heroines’ feminism characteristics in realistic society and their feminism female images from their different characters and their behaviors. By discussing the topic, this paper aims to find out the theme of the novel and thought of the author on women.2. The Sources of Thackeray’s FeminismAccording to a lot of literature about Thackeray, we can easily discover that his feminism can be traced back to the social circumstances and his family life in Thackeray’s day.2.1 The social sourcesIn the author’s living time, Ancient Grea t Britain, after experiencing the 17th century’s bourgeois revolution and 18th century’s industrial revolution, until 19th century, finally finished the primitive accumulation of capital based on the large scale colonial plunder. At that moment, the British commerce was prosperous and the monopoly position of British industry was more stable than before. In that time, with the fast development of the science and technology, people’s ideology and faith changed a lot. Females began to realize their poor living situation, and the discrimination against them, and they decided to struggle for themselves. The Feminist movement emerged around the late 19th century with the beginnings of the first wave of feminism. The first wave refers to the feminism movement of the 19th through early 20th centuries, which dealt mainly with the Suffrage movement. It was an outgrowth of the anti-slavery and abolitionist movements, in which women fighting for the rights of Blacks in the United States realized that they themselves lacked some of the rights they were fighting for others.As a critical realism writer, Thackeray witnessed a corrupted, hypocritical and mammonish Victorian society. In a money-oriented and status-conscious male world, women underwent a pathetic society that was full of prejudice.From these it can be seen that the social background and the development of feminism in Thackeray’s time, which poses effect on his writing in this novel Vanity Fair and the creations of the females characters. Thackeray wanted to write something to wake up more women, and advocate them to stand up to fight and live in a new life.2.2 His family sourcesTo a large degree, Thackeray’s feminism thought derived from his family, his mother, wife, and his daughters. Melville says, “Tha ckeray had a nature of almost womanly softness”[3].At the age of four, Thackeray’s father died. From that moment on, his mother became his only spiritual support in his early life. Unfortunately, later he had to separate with his mother when he was sent to England to study. In England, Thackeray led a terrible and lonely life because of his unhappy and cruel educational experience. He expressed, “I remember kneeling by my little bed a night, and saying, ‘Pray God, I may dream of my mother’”[4] Thackeray’s mother described when she reunited with her child, “dear soul he has a perfect recollection of me he could not speak but kissed me and looked at me again and again”[4]. His early childhood experience made a contribution to his ideal of women which could be found in his books.In 1835, a girl Isabella Shawe whom he later married came into Thackeray’s life. The time he fell in love with her, she was 18 years old. Isabella Shawe was an innocent and childish girl which was just the reason why Thackeray loved her. However, it was proved to be a sad marriage for the author. His wife got mental illness and had never been normal at until the end of her life. what he treasured most then had turn into an enduring pain in his life. His second emotional support collapsed forever.In Thackeray’s later years, his spiritual support was his daughters. The time with his daughters was the happiest time. The love for his girls sustained his spirit. He made every effort to make his daughters live happily. In the rest of his life, he had never separated with them. “Thackeray’s affection for his daughters was one of the most touching things about him”[5].Besides, Thackeray had a number of female acquaintances. His need for this kind of companionship could be understood through the analysis of his reliance on his mother. “I can’t live without the tenderness of some women”[3], he wrote to Mrs. Brookfield. In his many letters, we can find his need for the female companionship easily.In a word, Thackeray’s close relationship can be seen in his letters and the other books about him. These women and their ideas had a great influence on Thackeray’s thought.. He showed great concern and sympathy for women in his life or his works because of his miserable life. That is the reason why we call him a feminist in some degree. In Vanity Fair, he showed pity and respect to these two women.3. A Feminist Analysis of Amelia and RebeccaIn this novel, these two female characters Amelia and Rebecca have the different characters and the author also has the different description on them since they are both the heroines of this novel. in common, they have the feminist features and virtues.3.1 Amelia as a heroineAmelia is the heroine of this novel. She has many traditional virtues. Her pure and warm-hearted nature, unswerving and faithful belief, and her courageous and decisive spirit make a good impression on readers.3.1.1 A warm-hearted and pure AmeliaAmelia is a mild, kind-hearted lady. Besides, she is an innocent girl without any evil tricks in the traditional society.She lives a rich and happy life where she has the chance to receive a good education and grow up healthily and happily. Since childhood, s he is treated with all courtesy and mother’s intensive care which shapes her with t he characters of gentility and kindness. From “… cry over a dead canary-bird; or over a mouse”[6], it can be easily seen that Amelia is good-natured with a great mercy since that she will cry for a dead creature such as a mouse. Amelia’s parents Mr. Sedly and Mrs. Sedly are very kind people, especially Mr. Sedly. He is kind to Miss Sharp though she is only a poor and ordinary governess from the lower class in the hierarchical society. And Joseph, Amelia’s brother is dull and silly, but he is a friendly man to others. After all, in this family, there is no acrid or evil person. Thus the harmonious family environment makes a significant contribution to Amelia’s personality and her nature.We can find a lot of evidence which prove Amelia is certainly a warm-hearted girl. For example, in the first scene of this novel, everyone from the head-teacher to the students sees Amelia off and presents many gifts to Amelia in the iron gate of Miss Pinkerton's academy for young ladies on Chiswick Mall. Because in the daily life, Amelia is kind to everyone, therefore everyone likes this angel-like girl. Compared with Beckey, Amelia has better relationships with others. And when Rebecca lives in her family, Amelia makes every effort to help Rebecca and regards her as her best girlfriend though she knows that Rebecca is lowborn. Later she also tries to bring Rebecca and her brother Joseph together. Later, when she knows that Rebecca has done many bad things that are harmful to her, she still chooses to forgive her. For all these reason, Amelia is a good and warm- hearted woman.In addition to that, Amelia is no doubt a pure and innocent person. She is just like a lily blooming in an ugly and vulgar society. The evil tricks never appear in her mind. She considers everybody to be kind-hearted. For example, Amelia couldn’t understand Miss Pinkerton, the head-teacher of her school treats her very well just because her family is rich and Miss Pinkerton could benefit from her. In Amelia’mind, Rebecca is her good girlfriend. However, Rebecca takes advantage of Amelia’s innocence to achieve her own aim. Although Rebecca has a lot of tricks, she would n’t like to hurt Amelia because she realizes Amelia is a good girl. Good mind, good find.Also Amelia longs for love. George Osborne who comes from a wealthy family is her emotional dependence. She pins her happiness on the love she pursuits. “George was her Europe, her emperor, her allied monarchs and august prince regent … He was her sun and moon … when he came to Russel Square, her face lig hted up as if she had been sunshine … As soon as the door was shut, she went fluttering to lieutenant George Osborne’s heart as if it was the only natural home for her to nestle in.” [6] Her love for George is so pure and deep.As the heroine of this novel, Amelia is endowed with a pure and warm heart. She is the most beautiful angel in this novel.3.1.2 An unswerving and faithful girlAmelia is an unswerving and faithful girl, which we could know through her attitude to Rebeccaand Amelia.She sees Rebecca as her lifelong friend from the moment she brings her home. Mrs. Sedly does not like Rebecca because she sees through Rebecca and she figures out that Rebecca is taking advantage of her daughter. Mrs. Sedly shows that she doesn’t want Rebecca staying in their home. It is sure that Amelia understands what her mother worries about. However she does best to put in a good word for Rebecca and tries to bring Rebecca and Joseph together. One time, when Osborne speaks ill of Rebecca and says Rebecca just wants to go into upper society, Amelia defends her girlfriend no matter how deep she loves Osborne. She insists Rebecca is a good person whatever the others say. She trusts and appreciates Rebecca. It seems that she only believes her own eyes.Amelia loves George Osborne purely and faithfully as always. From the moment she falls in love with him, she never changes her love no matter what happens. However, even George’s father makes her family bankrupt, she still love him. Her love for Mr. Osborne has become an emotional dependence even he died in the war, just as “hanging on … happy and loving … by day and by night, and reigned over it always.”[7] When she is persuaded into another marriage, she refuses even if she understands Dobbin is so nice, sincere and helpful. She persists in widowhood for fifteen years .At last she gets married with Dobbin only after knowing that her husband who she contributes her deep and profound love and uncompromising honesty once decided to elope with Rebecca.3.1.3 An courageous and decisive AmeliaIn this novel, Amelia is always seen as a weak and tame girl by many critics, but actually she is not.She loves George deeply for over half of her life. But George want to elope with her best friend—Rebecca before his going into the war. She does not know this. After George’s death, she doesn’t choose to remarry a new husband even though Dobbin is passionately devoted to her, she refuses him. Then Amelia persists in widowhood for fifteen years. Fifteen years can never be a short time for a lonely woman with a child. It is really hard to imagine how she can go through the tough time. From this point, we have to admit that Amelia is a brave and courageous girl.After Rebecca telling Amelia that George ever wanted to elope with her, Amelia suddenly understand everything. That is too cruel for her who has sacrificed everything to love this man. But to our surprise, Amelia snaps out of it quickly and bravely. She realizes that George doesn’t deserve her love at all and Dubbin who loves and takes care of her all the time should be the real one deserved her love. Later, she gets married with Dubbin and lives a happy life since then. Therefore Amelia is not a weak girl.After the analysis of Amelia, we can find that she is a pure, kind, faithful and courageous woman. The author, Thackeray gives her a perfect ending and let this beautiful angel find her true love and get out of the depression. Inferring from the author’s arrangement, we can easily know that Thackeray’s attitude towards Amelia is positive. He admired Amelia’s courage. In his eyes Amelia is an angel and fighter who has so many virtues, fight for herself, pursue what she want and courageously jumps out of the trap of the traditional concept of love and marriage in an male-oriented society at last.3.2 Rebecca as a heroineBecky is another the heroine of this novel who has the virtues and the feminism features such as her independence and her fighting for her own fate, her rebellious as well as her smart female images.3.2.1 An iron-willed and independent RebeccaRebecca Sharp was born in a poor family. Her father was a beaten-up picture teacher, and her mother is a follower of song and dance drama. She lives a very hard life since her childhood, so she dreams of getting rid of predicament and going into the upper class. She suffers poverty, discrimination, inequity, and loneliness.Rebecca is an iron-willed and independent woman. She wants to break away from the control of patriarchy and change her situation via her own strength. She has a mind to pursue economic independence so that she can achieve social status and realize her value. No matter what disasters happen to her, she always cheers up quickly and appears nothing has happened.In order to survive in such a cruel society, Rebecca becomes socially active. She takes every opportunity to enter upper society. She uses her intelligence and smartness and tough characters to serve the hour. Several years later, she successfully enters into the upper class by herself. Meanwhile, hard life forges her to be an intelligent, capable, spell able woman who has her own judgment and independence. She is excellent in French, English, music and playing piano. After getting married with Rawdon Crawley, they do not live a rich life. In order to enjoy a luxurious life, they have to raise a loan. Later, Rawdon goes to the battlefield and Rebecca follows him so that their debt ends up with nothing definite. Thus, they have lived in European mainland for several years and run into much debt and then escape from the debt. They plan to return London. She knows that her husband is incapable to deal with the creditors so that she goes to negotiate with creditors by herself. In the process of dealing with debt, her intelligence and sociability are appreciated by the public.From these it can be seen that Becky’ iron-willed and independent spirit reflect feminism features.3.2.2 A rebellious and smart RebeccaRebecca is rebellious and smart. Rebecca who was born in a poor family has more chancesthan others to get in touch with various kinds of people and the horrible society. She has never missed all the ugly and evil things in the society, “the pompous vanity of the old schoolmistress, the foolish good humor of her sister, the silly chat and scandal of the elder girls, and the frigid correctness of her governesses equally annoyed her.”[6] Because of her experience, she is strongly opposed to the unjust hierarchical regulation and she shows her dissatisfaction with society. She does not want to depend on men to achieve what she wants and she only wants to pursue economic independence so that she can enter the upper class and get equal social status with men.Rebecca changes the traditional marriage and family roles that husband is a ruler while wife is only in the subordinate position. Rebecca becomes the economic leader and the decision-maker. She fights against Miss Pinkerton who is the supporter of patriarchy and refuses the unreasonable requirement. Rebecca is not reconciled to play a role as a family teacher and involves in Peters’ economic affairs and even more intelligent and capable than baron. In addition, she challenges patriarchy and is unwilling to be a traditional woman. She has strong female consciousness and she is an independent woman.Becky Sharp is a crafty, smart and tricky woman. Her life goal is to gain money and get into the upper society. To achieve this goal, she does everything: flatter, betray and spoil other people. She does not love anyone except herself, even her own destiny man who always shares everything with her all the time. “Revenge may be wicked, but it’s natural”[6] shows her “revengeful thoughts” which suggests that she will manage her goal at any costs with any means. It is certain that Rebecca is a smart girl. When in Amelia’s home, she knows everyone’s characters and habits quickly, and knows how to caterto others. In a short time, she almost gets everyone be fond of her. And Rebecca’s life goal is wealth and high society status. She never gives up her dream. She tries everything to conquer the man dominated world no matter how hard it is. As a rebellious woman, she never surrenders to anyone. As smart and energetic woman, she knows how to make others like her or love her so that she could obtain her goal and dream. Thackeray portrays such a image as a female fighter in a male-oriented world. In this novel, Thackeray makes her achieve her dream at last, which is the best reward to her great spirit.3.2.3 An ambitious and adventurous RebeccaRebecca is an ambitious and adventurous woman, which is caused by her miserable social and family reasons. In her early life, Rebecca is a poor girl. When she was young, her mother died. her father was a poor painter who was an alcoholic and died when she was only seventeen. Rebecca worked while studying with no dependence and receiving great discrimination and cold-shoulder. Personnel changes and the desolate life made her profoundly noticed the importance of wealth and status in that false, snobbish and cold society. She vowed to herself to be rich when she was only a little girl. Later, she did not miss any chance of entering into the upper society, just as “Rebecca’s wit, cleverness, and flippancy made her speedily the vogue in London among a certain class” [6]. But in the society of British that time, there is no better access to the upper class than the means of marriage. She tries all tricks and means, and plays the coquette and gets married with Rawdon Crawley at the end. However, Rawdon who is from the nobility is incompetent and idles away his time. Hierarchy and the entrance of upper class are strict and impassable, so Rawdon Crawley loses the right of inheriting the property due to his unwise marriage with Rebecca who is only an orphan coming from a poor family of the lower social class. Rebecca’s early life is all about this to improve her social economic condition.In order to win the man who dominates the society, she flirts with them. In such a man dominated society, if Rebecca wants to establish her high class status, she has to do something adventurous. Living is the most important thing for a woman, so she has to survive by hook or by crook. Just as Rebecca says, “I think I could be a good woman if I had five thousand a year. I could dawdle about in the nursery, and count the apricots on the wall. I could water plants in a greenhouse, and pick off dead leaves from the geraniums.” [6] In a man dominated society, women have no economic independence and they have to depend on their men only. If this way is infeasible, they have to depend on themselves. In many people’s eyes, Rebecca is an independent woman. She is an intelligent woman who insists on pursuing independence and insists on her own judgment. In order to make advancement in the world, she dares to challenge the world. In a sense, she is a new woman. She is praised by the author. Her evil tricks reflect all her feminist thoughts and behaviors. From these it can be seen her ambitious and adventurous features.Rebecca Sharp is a new and modern female. Her ambition, willpower, wisdom, spirit of independence and fighting surpasses all the men in that male-oriented world, which makes those gentlemen feel ashamed. We can find the feminism features from her. The author actually admires Rebecca’s spirit and makes her dream come true at last. Therefore Rebecca is a heroine in this novel.4. ConclusionVanity Fair is the famous work of British writer Thackeray in the 19th century and also one of his works in his life standing the test of time with noticeable realism. In the work, the author shapes two different and typical female adventure images that pursue their happiness in their own way.In this paper, it mainly discusses the two female images Rebecca and Amelia from the perspective。
