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A&E Original Movie

Vanity Fair: Part 1

Overview:

Vanity Fair, a Novel without a Hero, by William Makepeace Thackeray, is a novel of English society in the early 1800s set during the Battle of Waterloo. Published in serial form in 1848, Thackeray poked fun at the vanity of man; most of the novel’s characters are pompous people who are motivated by greed; humility is in short supply. The novel follows the lives of two women, Becky Sharp and Amelia (Emmy) Sedley. Becky and Emmy are in marked contrast throughout the novel. Becky is destined to become a governess, but she is clever and schemes her way out of her humble beginnings. In Becky, Thackeray has created one of the most bold and determined female characters in an early Victorian novel.

History:

The year is 1815. Napoleon, Emperor of France from 1804-1815, escapes from his banishment on the island of Elba, and rebuilds his army (Tape 2, VIS CODE 45:00). The Battle of Waterloo is imminent. Thackeray’s characters Rawdon, George, and Dobbin prepare to leave for battle from Brussels, where the English army awaits marching orders. The Battle of Waterloo was fought in a village south of Brussels on June 18, 1815. At Waterloo Napoleon received a crushing blow from the Allies (British, Dutch, German, and Prussian troops), who were led by Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington. The Allies lost about 22,000 men and the French about 37,000. The word “waterloo” has come to mean a disastrous or crushing defeat. The French never regained the power they once enjoyed under Napoleon. The English king during this time was George IV. Queen Victoria, queen when Thackeray wrote Vanity Fair, gained the throne in 1837 and ruled for 64 years.

National Standards:

1. History (Era 7, Standard 32) – Students will gain a general understanding of early 19th century life in England (country estates, seaside resorts, and London). Events leading up to the Battle of Waterloo are illustrated, including the pageant-like preparations of the English in Brussels; the Battle itself is shown in colorful montages.

2. Geography (Standard 2) – The following places figure in the film: London, England; Brighton, England; Brussels, Belgium; Waterloo, Belgium; India; Coventry Islands.

3. Language Arts (Standard 9 & 10) - William Makepeace Thackeray’s Vanity Fair, a Novel without a Hero, (1848), is a captivating story of English society during the Napoleonic Wars. The novel was published in monthly parts, 1847-48. It is considered a masterpiece, peopled with characters from all walks of life – kings, rogues, swindlers, gamblers, ladies, officers, and gentlemen – hence the novel’s title, Vanity Fair.

Vocabulary

Discussion Questions

VIS CODE 6:45 – Becky and Emmy have spent six years at boarding school. In the film’s opening scenes the viewer learns about a little about these two young women. What are the differences between the two friends? (Becky is outspoken and bold, while Emmy is sweet and reserved. Becky is quick to see an opportunity, as illustrated by her interest in asking whether Emmy’s brother Joseph (Jos) is married. Becky and Emmy’s lives are contrasted throughout the film. Becky is a poor orphan, destined to make her own way in the world. Emmy is the daughter of a wealthy London merchant, and is facing the prospect of a marriage proposal.)
VIS CODE 8:00 – Becky openly flirts with Joseph, a bumbling man who has made his fortune in India. What are her motives? (Becky does not want to be a governess, and she knows her best bet is to marry a rich man. Joseph is the first one she meets. Becky is interested in the money, not the man.)
VIS CODE 13:00 – Becky’s flirting continues, within earshot of the Sedleys. Mr. Sedley knows Becky is “setting her cap at” Joseph, but Mrs. Sedley objects to her, saying, “she has no breeding.” Discuss the state of marriage in the 1800s. (A gentleman, such as Joseph, would by course marry a lady from a family of a certain social and financial standing. Becky’s father was an artist and her mother a dancer; two equaling horrifying occupations in Mrs. Sedley’s and society’s eyes. Those who worked in the theater or the arts (writers, painters, musicians) were not considered genteel company. A stigma remained attached to “the stage” for a long time. Becky’s background, therefore, is not good enough for Joseph. Mr. Sedley, however, reminds his wife that “we haven’t much breeding ourselves” – meaning that as a merchant he is a self-made gentleman, not born to the class (like the Crawleys.) The merchant class was just beginning to shed its stigma during the mid-1800s.)
VIS CODE 14:00 – 32:00 - Emmy’s sweetheart, Captain George Osborn, and his friend Captain William Dobbin, join the party at Vauxhall Gardens. Why does George sabotage Becky’s marriage scheme with Joseph? What kind of man is George? (George guessed at Becky’s plans, and because he does not think her suitable as a sister-in-law, he tells Joseph that Becky will not speak to him after his drunken behavior. He urges Joseph to “ leave the country.” George is arrogant, and thinks only of himself. Thackeray describes George as a spoiled young man who uses his good looks and charm to get his way. Note that Dobbin is shocked to hear George lie to Joseph, yet does nothing to counteract his friend’s words.)

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