英文学名利场英文.pptxVIP

英文学名利场英文第1页/共18页 ●Background●Content●Characters●Literary significance and criticism 第2页/共18页 Historical ContextThe novel is based on British upper-middle society in nineteenth century. Britain has strong, developed industry and commerce, and merchants who became rich by exploiting colonists dominate the society. Britain was at war with France, which is the battle of Waterloo. All the people among the upper-middle society scrambled for fame, wealth and power. 第3页/共18页 Publication Vanity Fair: A Novel without a Hero is a novel by William Makepeace Thackeray, first published in 1847–48, satirizing society in early 19th-century Britain. The books title comes from John Bunyans allegorical story The Pilgrims Progress. Vanity fair refers to a stop along the pilgrims progress: a never-ending fair held in a town called Vanity, which is meant to represent mans sinful attachment to worldly things. 第4页/共18页 Content of the novelAmelia Sedley, of good family, and Rebecca Sharp, an orphan, leave Miss Pinkertons academy on Chiswick Mall to live out their lives in Vanity Fair.Rebecca first attempts to enter the sacred domain of Vanity Fair by inducing Joseph Sedley, Amelias brother, to marry her. Rebecca takes a position as governess at Queens Crawley, and marries Rawdon Crawley. But because of his marriage, Rawdons rich aunt disinherits him. As a friend of George Osborne, William Dobbin becomes the instrument for getting George to marry Amelia. George dies at Waterloo. Amelia would have starved but for William Dobbins anonymous contribution to her welfare. Both Rebecca and Amelia give birth to sons. When she becomes the favorite of the great Lord Steyne, she accumulates both money and diamonds. But she hides much of her loot. In the meantime innocent Rawdon draws closer to Lady Jane, wife of Rawdons older brother, Pitt, who has inherited from the rich aunt. When Rawdon discovers Rebecca in her treachery, he left her. 第5页/共18页 Because her parents are starving and s