Vanity Fair – Chapter 2, Chapter 30

 

Chapter 2

 

Storyline

In chapter 2 the protagonists are two young girls who have just finished school. The girls are Miss Rebecca Sharp and Miss Amelia Sedley. Rebecca is an impulsive girl that has thrown Franch Dixionary from the carriage’s window: she hates her teacher Mrs Pinkerton and she doesn’t want to return at school anymore. Amelia is a quiet and good girl scared by Rebecca’s action.

 

Setting

The scene is set in the carriage that carries home the girls.

 

Characters

Rebecca is a revengeful, passionate and impulsive girl who hates her school and her teacher. She is superficial because she doesn’t think about the consequences of her acts.

Amelia is a quiet and simple girl. She rebukes Rebecca for the act and for the conversation. She is also nervous.

 

Narrator/Narrative technique

The narrator of this novel is an omniscient narrator. He comments the personality and the attitude of the characters, so that he leads the reader in judging.

 

Message

Thackery says that life is like a looking-gloss: it gives you back what you give to it.

 

 

Chapter 30

 

Storyline

The novel is about two lovers: Rebecca and her husband Captain Crawley. The man loves very much Rebecca, but she doesn’t feel the same for him. Captain Crawley has to leave but he doesn’t want to abandon her. During the story there is a description of the objects that the man leaves to her in case that he won’t return home.

 

Setting

The scene is set in the house of Captain Crawley and Rebecca.

 

Characters

Captain Crawley is a man that loves very much his wife. He doesn’t want to leave her, and he gives her same objects she could sell for her benefit.

Rebecca is a superficial women; she only thinks about material things. She doesn’t love his husband.

 

Narrator/Narrative technique  

The narrator is omniscient, like in chapter 2. He comments the story and the characters.

 

Message

Thackeray wants to represent the personality of Rebecca. He shows to reader that Rebecca is only a superficial character and she wants only material things.