Becky's Failures to Be an Ideal Woman in the Victorian Era As Seen In

BECKY’S FAILURES TO BE AN IDEAL WOMAN IN THE VICTORIAN ERA AS SEEN IN THACKERAY’S VANITY FAIR

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

YOHANNES ROSEFHEL SUSILO PUTRA

Student Number: 034214089

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY 2009

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You are trully a perfect lady, I will treat you like queen, I’d give you flowers every day, Not just any flowers, I will give you the most beautiful flowers in this world, I’d be your shoulder to cry on and your best friend, I’d spend every day thinking of how to make you laugh, You have the most amazing laugh, But, I’m dying anyway, If there’s a chance it’ll get you something, It’s worth it, I want you to know, Back in the past, It was never the doctors or prescriptions that kept me going, It was always you, Seeing you every day, That’s what kept me going.

(Madagascar Escape 2 Africa)

This undergraduate thesis is dedicated to

1. Jesus Christ

2. Holy Virgin Mary

3. My Patient Parents

4. My Fat Brother

5. My Beloved, one and the only Special Girl Friend

6. All My Best Friends Arround the Universe

7. The Magnificent Sanata Dharma University English Letters Lecturers

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

In the first place, I would like to thank Jesus Christ and Holy Virgin

Mary for leading my way all the time. Their wonderful love and blessing are the greatest guidance in finishing this thesis.

My big gratitude goes to Dewi Widyastuti S.Pd., M.Hum., who patiently read, re-read, re-read again, re-read re-read again and again and again my thesis.

She calmly critized and give valuable guidance, corrections to me and my thesis.

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to give my deepest gratitude to my beloved parents and brother. I thank them for their love, patience, understanding and all of the financial support throughout the years. To my beloved special “girl friend”, Ika, I have been blessed for having her by my side.

I hope, once again she can gives me a chance and we can be together again.

I owe a great deal to all my friends at Sanata Dharma University. Bayu,

Nitnot, Susit, Kambing, Yeri, Boim, Cosmas, Tino, Vino, Tito, Vendus, Adi,

Polak, Mbendol, Ryan, Mando, Yakubus, and many more. I am very grateful for our magnificent friendship. I thank them for being such nice friends. I really admire their sincere love to make my study full of hue and happiness.

Yohannes Rosefhel Susilo Putra

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE…………………………………………………………………. i APPROVAL PAGE…………………………………………………………... ii ACCEPTANCE PAGE……………………………………………………….. iii MOTTO PAGE……………………………………………………………….. iv DEDICATION PAGE………………………………………………………... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS…………………………………………………. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………………. vii ABSTRACT………………………………………………..………………….. ix ABSTRAK………………………………………………..…………………… x

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION: ...... …………………………….. 1 A. Background of the Study……..………………………………………. 1 B. Problem Formulation………………………………………………… 3 C. Objectives of the Study……………..………………………………… 3

CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW: ...... ……………………. 5 A. Review on Related Studies………………………………………….... 5 B. Review of Related Theories……………………………………..……. 7 1. Theory on Character and Characterization…………………..… 7 2. Theory on The Concept of an Ideal Woman in The Victorian Era…………………………………………………….. 12 3. The Relation between Literature and Society……………...…… 14 C. Theoretical Framework………………………………………….…… 14

CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY: ……………………………………….. 16 A. Object of the Study…………………………………………….…….. 16 B. Approach of the Study……………………………………………….. 17 C. Method of the Study………………………………………………….. 18

CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS …..…….………………………………………... 20 A. The Characteristics of Becky.……………………………………..….. 20 1. Clever.…………………………………………………………...… 21 2. Talented………………………………………………………….... 25 3. Independent……………………………………………………...... 26 4. Optimistic……………………………………………………..…... 28 5. Manipulate………………………………………………………... 29 6. Hypocritical……………………………………………………….. 31 B. The Concept of an Ideal Woman in The Victorian Era……………. 34 C. Becky’s Failures to be an Ideal Woman in The Victorian Era…..… 39 1. Becky’s Failures to be an Ideal Mother…………………………. 40 2. Becky’s Failures to be an Ideal Wife……………………………. 43 3. Becky’s Failures to be an Ideal Member of Society…………….. 45

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CHAPTER V CONCLUSION……………………………………………….. 49 BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………….. 53

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ABSTRACT

YOHANNES ROSEFHEL SUSILO PUTRA. Becky’s Failures to be an Ideal Woman in The Victorian Era as seen in Thackeray’s Vanity Fair. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letter, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2009.

This study discusses William Makepeace Thackeray’s Vanity Fair. This novel’s setting takes place in the Victorian era. The novel tells a story about two women who have a different background. They are Amelia Sedley and Rebecca Sharp (Becky). Amelia comes from the middle upper class societies while Becky from the lower class society. Becky wants to be one of the middle or upper class society members. However in his effort to pursue her goal, becky violates the concepts of an ideal woman in the Victorian age. The purpose of this study is to answer three problems. Firstly, this study is meant to describe the characteristics of Rebecca Sharp. Secondly is to understand the concepts af an ideal English woman in the Victorian era as depicted in the novel. The last is to connect those two previous problem formulations to find out how becky fails to be an ideal woman in the Victorian age. Because this undergraduate thesis used the library research, the main source of data was taken from the novel itself, Vanity Fair. The other source was also taken from the supporting books and online information. This study also used some theories to answer the problem formulations. Those theories are the theory of character and characterization and the theory about the concept of an ideal woman in the Victorian era. The writer use the Socio-Historical Approach. The analysis’ result shows some of Becky’s characteristics. Becky’s characteristics are clever, talented, independent, optimistic, manipulative and hypocritical. The final result shows the concept of woman in the Victorian Era A woman having a sexual intercourse before married was considered having a tragedy. A woman was ready to get married if she has some qualities, like being able to sing, play a music instrument, or having a special skill in language like French or Italian. They also had to be innocent, virtuous, biddable, dutiful and ignorant of intellectual opinion. A woman in the Victorian Era should take care of their child full with love and attention. She should be able to make a comfortable home for her husband and children. Her main duty was to bear a large family and to maintain a smooth family atmosphere. The last analysis shows how Becky failed to be an ideal woman in the Victorian Era. She failed to be an ideal mother, ideal wife and ideal member of society.

ABSTRAK

Skripsi ini membahas novel Vanity Fair, yang merupakan salah satu karya dari William Makepeace Thackeray. Novel ini berseting di Inggris pada masa Victorian. Novel ini menceritakan tentang dua orang wanita yang mempunyai latar belakang yang berbeda. Mereka adalah Amelia Sedley dan Rebecca Sharp (Becky). Amelia berasal dari golongan masyarakat menengah ke atas sedangkan Becky berasal dari golongan masyarakat bawah. Becky ingin menjadi anggota masyarakat golongan menengah atau atas. Tetapi dalam usahanya itu, Becky melanggar konsep-konsaep seorang wanita ideal pada masa Victorian. Tujuan dari studi ini adalah untuk menjawab tiga permasalahan utama. Pertama, studi ini dimaksudkan untuk menggambarkan tokoh Rebecca Sharp (Becky). Kedua adalah untuk mengetahui konsep-konsep seorang wanita ideal di Inggris pada masa Victoria. Ketiga adalah menghubungkan kedua rumusan masalah itu yakni untuk mengetahui apa saja kegagalan Becky untuk menjadi seorang wanita ideal pada masa Victoria. Karena skripsi ini menggunakan data kepustakaan, data utama diambil dari novel itu sendiri, Vanity Fair yang ditulis oleh William Makepeace Thackeray. Data lain diambil dari buku-buku pendukung, dan informasi dari internet. Studi ini juga menggunakan beberapa teori yang digunakan untuk menjawab pertanyaan-pertanyaan yang ada di rumusan masalah. Teori-teori yang digunakan adalah teori tentang tokoh dan penokohan dan teori tentang konsep seorang wanita ideal pada masa Victoria. Penulis juga menggunakan pendekatan dari sudut sosial sejarah. Hasil analisis menunjukkan beberapa karakteristik dari Becky. Becky karakteristik adalah pandai, berbakat, mandiri, optimis, memanfaatkan, dan bermuka dua. Penulis juga menunjukkan konsep-konsep seorang wanita yang ideal pada masa Victorian yaitu seorang wanita yang melakukan hubungan seks sebelum menikah adalah suatu tragedi. Wanita harus mempunyai kriteria-kriteria sebelum mereka menikah, mereka harus bisa menyanyi, memainkan alat-alat musik, dapat berbicara dalam bahasa Perancis atau Italia. Seorang wanita harus tidak berdosa, berbudi luhur, patuh, penurut. Mereka juga harus merawat anak- anak mereka dengan penuh perhatian. Pada analisis yang terakhir, menunjukkan bagaimana Becky gagal untuk memenuhi konsep seorang wanita yang ideal pada masa Victorian. Becky gagal dalam menjadi seorang ibu, seorang istri dan dia juga gagal dalam kehidupan bermasyarakat.

x CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

There are so many authors who create their works based on their daily life and their experiences in the society enriched by their own creativity and their imagination. Literature then functions as presentation of the situation and the thought are happening in a certain setting and place. In their works, the authors convey their daily life or their experiences in certain social, political, economical, cultural, issues or historical movement (Little, 1981: 1).

The literature can have two functions, as a work of art and as a science.

The difference is based on the way they are treated. As a work of art, literature is a work or activity done by an artist like a novelist, a playwright, and the others. As a science, literature is discussed by one who is scholar in literature world (Wellek and Warren, 1956: 15).

The term novel emerged in England during the eighteenth century. Indeed, for the first time, novel was mainly about the social and historical condition of the eighteenth centuries of England. Following the rise of the educated middle class, the spread of the printing press and a modification of the economic structures, the novel then stands in the front row as genres and bears many innovations in literature.

As a literary work, a novel is different from the other literary genres such as poetry and drama. The novel, as the “long” and “deep” version of prose, is not

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to be performed in front of the audiences. It is for individual consumption.

Therefore, there will be different “effects” in reader’s heart and mind after reading a novel. The novel may amuse the readers or even shock the readers.

A novel is an extended work of prose fiction. Therefore, a novel is neither acted out nor read out to its audience. It is designed to be read on a one-to-one basis. There are large printings of works in prose before the eighteenth century-religious works and sermons, political pamphlets, and so on- but it take some while for the fictional properties of prose, and its values as a medium for entertainment, to be realized (Martin, 1984: 110)

One of the periods in English literature is the Victorian period. It is an era of commercial expansion, which is accompanied by the intensification of intellectual activities. There are socio-economic changes and technological development in this period to the Industrial Revolution. Victorian period happened between the years of 1837-1901. It was the time when Queen Victoria ascended the throne and reigned.

According to Wellek and Warren, a novel is a picture of real life manners

(1956: 216). Based on that statement the writer believes that this novel exerts a message or opinion to a certain society because a written work is used to be a good way to bring opinion and assertion about a certain condition of society.

Thackeray is known as the best social-novelist and this assertion is strengthened by praise to his characterization. It is seldom to find a novel that is able to depict his characters very vividly and naturally as he is. In addition, he depicted the social condition of Victorian society by the two women characters in

Vanity Fair who are different in behavior, thoughts and manners (Langland, 1984:

59). It is believed that Thackeray partly shares the social determinism of the later 3

sociological or naturalistic novelist, but he counters it with a general ethical commitment to individual responsibility (Langland, 1984: 64).

There are some reasons why the writer is interested in analyzing this novel. Firstly, the novel portrays the British life at that time. It clearly satirizes the panorama of upper and middle class in England in the beginning of 19th century which is different from other literary. Second, the writer tries to give a clear portrayal about the concept of an ideal woman in the Victorian age.

This novel is set in the second decade of the 19th century, dealing mainly with the story of the two contrasting women, Amelia Sedley and Becky Sharp.

Amelia is the daughter of a rich businessman, John Sedley. She is blessed with all comforts of life and loved by everyone. Her family belongs to the upper middle class, while Becky comes from the lower middle class society. Her father is a poor artist and her mother is an opera dancer. There is a social gap which is influenced by the Industrial Revolution happened at that time. Most wealthy family becomes richer while poor family becomes poorer and they occupy the urban areas. The condition of poverty and social gap between the rich and poor arouses many social problems. The condition also influences people’s attitudes and actions (Gay,

1984: 27).

The writer chooses the character of Becky to discuss how Becky is influenced by the condition. Becky comes from the lower middle class and she wants to ascend to the higher social class because she wants to possess the honor which is only owned by the people from the higher class. Besides for being rich, she has to fulfill the higher class norms and values in her life. Becky’s attitude and 4

action change during the time progress. Her desire to be a high-class society makes her dangerous and villainous.

B. Problem Formulation

Considering the background above, the writer would like to examine three problems in this literary study. The three problems are formulated as follows.

1. How is Becky characterized?

2. How is the concept of an ideal woman portrayed in the Victorian age based

on Thackeray’s Vanity Fair?

3. How does Becky fail to establish a form of an ideal woman in the Victorian

age?

C. Objectives of the study

There are three objectives of the study. The first is to identify and describe what kind of person Becky is. The characterization of Becky leads to the second objective, which is to find out the concept of an ideal woman in Victorian age.

After that, the writer will relate the Becky’s characteristic and the concept of an ideal woman in Victorian age to discover Becky’s failure to be an ideal woman in the Victorian age.

CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL REVIEW

A. Review of Related Studies

The story was written in the middle Victorian Age that lasted from 1846-

1866. The story was written by William Makepeace Thackeray in 1847-1848. The novel is telling about the English society in the 19th century. This novel had attracted many readers in England (Langland, 1984: 10).

The novel is a kind of criticism that the characters in the novel represent some people that lived in the Victorian Era. One of the major characters that represents a few of people in Victorian society is Rebecca Sharp (Becky).

Langland also admires Thackeray’s wonderful characterization:

Thackeray’s decision to make his protagonist women was brilliant. A pragmatic woman, Becky Sharp, living by the unspoken codes of her day would be more readily thought by reader to be ruthless. Her behavior is at odds with traditional notions of femininity. Thackeray cleverly exploits his reader’s bias to dramatize social ills. In contrast to the schemer stands the pure woman, Amelia Sedley, the selfless wife and mother. Here again, women’s expected role as embodiment of many social ideals makes the choice of woman protagonist in whom to expose the weakness and sentimentality of society’s conception of morality especially effective (Langland, 1984: 59).

As the writer has told above that this novel is a novel about society, this novel is judged through the “social glasses” that people consider this novel as

Thackeray’s opinion to Victorian society who brought influence to their whole aspects of life such as economic, neighborhood, politic.

The novel seeks as its end the criticism of society’s influence. Society encourages behavior that it then judges to be immoral, just as it warps the

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potentially virtuous to its narrow, self-defeating definition of goodness. (Langland, 1984: 61)

Not all reviewers and reader agreed. Some were repelled by his realism and his focus on society’s moral corruption.

The people who fill up the motley scenes of Vanity Fair, with two or three exception, are as vicious and odious as a clever condensation of the vilest qualities can make them. The women are especially detestable. Cunning, low pride, selfishness, envy, malice and all uncharitableness are scattered amongst them with impartial liberality. It does not enter into the design of Vanity Fair to qualify these bitter ingredients with a little sweetness now and then, to show the close neighborhood of the vices and the virtues as it lays on the map of the human heart, that mixture of good and evil, of weakness and strength, which in infinitely varied proportions, constitutes the compound individual (Bell, 1848).

Many reviewers mainly focus on the Thackeray’s writing style. Since there are no other similar works discuss about the relation of the concept of an ideal woman that influence the character, so in this study the writer proposes a case of study on the relation of the main character and how both help to give a clear description of the condition of the Victorian Society. The main character is Becky, a woman from middle lower class who wants to get higher position in the society.

In other words, the writer wants to analyze deeper how the presentation of both the characterization of Becky and the concept of an ideal woman in the

Victorian Age which not analyzed yet. The writer would also like to show

Becky’s failures to be an ideal woman in the Victorian Age.

B. Review of Related Theories

1. Theory on character and characterization

In a story, characters play important roles. Through the characters, the author tells his story. Abrams (1981: 20-21) in his book entitled A Glossary of

Literary Terms points out that character is a person in dramatic or narrative work, characters are the persons who are endowed with moral and dispositional qualities that are expressed in what they say - the dialogue - and what they do the action.

The grounds in a character’s temperaments and moral nature for his speech and actions constitute his motivation. A character may remain essentially “stable” or unchanged in his outlook and disposition, from beginning to the end of a work or he may undergo a radical change, either through a gradual development or as the result of an extreme crisis. Whether a character remains stable or changes, we require consistency in a character - he should not suddenly break off and act in a way not plausibly grounded in his temperament as we already have come to know it.

Abrams also separates characters into two kinds. Firstly is major character and secondly is minor character. A major character is the center of the story. This character becomes the most important character in the story. Usually the acts of the story are focused on this character from the beginning to the ending part. On the other hand, a minor character appears in a certain setting, just necessarily to become the background for the major character (1981: 23).

Concerning characterization, according to Abrams (1981: 21), characterization can be presented in two ways. First is when the author merely 8

presents his character’ speech and acts and the leaves the reader to infer what motives and disposition lay behind what they say and do (also called dramatic method). Second is when the author himself intervenes authoritatively in order to describe and often to evaluate, the motives and dispositional qualities of his characters.

According to Richard M. Eastman in his book A Guide to the Novel, in depicting characters, a novelist is expected to “show people as they are”, and a novelist deficient in knowledge of human nature will certainly be doomed to clutter his pages with lifeless puppets. However, a fictional character has more commission that too merely “alive”. He is an apparatus, a mechanism; a device planned by his maker to help power the complete operation of the novel upon the reader. His humanity and his artistic function define each other (Eastman, 1965:

17).

According to Rohrberger and Woods (1971: 20), characters can be described as flat and round. They described the flat character as one-sided and many-sided for the round one. A round character is complex in temperament and motivation and it is represented with subtle particularity; thus he is as difficult to describe with any adequacy as a person in real life, and like most people, he is capable of surprising us.

The writer will also use the characterization theory based on M.J.

Murphy’s Understanding Unseen: An Introduction to English Poetry and English

Novel (1972, 161-173). This book provides nine ways of how an author may 9

reveal the character’s personalities and traits in literary works to the readers. They are as follows: a. Personal Description

The author can describe a person’s appearance and clothing. He can clearly describe it by using his skillful voice of adjective, what the characters are like and tell the reader the details of the character’s appearance: the face, skin, eyes and clothing, to name some. b. Characters as Seen by Other

Instead of describing a character directly, the author can describe him through the eyes and opinion of another. He describes the character’s appearance and / or personalities by letting the other characters in the story tell what they see from the other character that they encounter. c. Speech

The author can give readers an insight into the characters of one of the persons in the work through what the person says. Whenever a person speaks, whenever he is in conversation with other, whenever he puts forward an opinion, he is giving readers some clues to his characters. d. Past Life

By letting the readers learn something about the person’s past life, the author can give them a clue to the events that will help to show the person’s characters. This can be done by direct comment from the author, through the person’s thought, through his conversation and through the medium of another person.

e. Conversation of Others

The author can also give readers clues to a person’s characters through the conversation; either by other people or by the things they say about him. Those things can often give a clue to the character of the person who is spoken about. f. Reaction

The author gives the clue by letting the readers know how the characters in the story react to various situation and event. Using this kind of characterization, the readers might expect to find the quality of the characters in dealing with various situations and events that they encounter. g. Direct Comment

It is possible for the author to describe or comment on a person’s characters of the story directly. Usually the author gives comment explicitly towards his characters and the author gives his opinion about the characters in the story. h. Thoughts

The author might give the readers direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about. Here he can do what he cannot do in the real life, he can tell the readers what the thought of different people. i. Mannerism

The author can describe a person’s mannerism, or habits, which may also tell the readers something about his character. The character reveals his or her habits, both of the positive and the negative one.

2. The Concept of an Ideal Woman in the Victorian Age

According to Merli Estime in her book Prostitution in the Victorian Era

(1995: 4), the ideal women in the Victorian Age were expected to be pure and did not wear make up and jewelry. It was also not acceptable for women to bare their legs. Their jobs were to reproduce children and took care of the house and her husband. They were not allowed to have any property nor could they hold a job unless it was a servant and teacher. A woman had to obey her husband because he was by law responsible to her. Her needs did not exist.

The ideal Victorian woman was a pious, pure, and above all submissive.

Victorian marriage was a patriarchal authorian institution where the husband was a family protector and representative, while the mother was to be submissive and fruitful. A woman should make a home comfort for her children and her husband.

A woman’s main duty was to bear a large family and to maintain a smooth family atmosphere so that a man did not need to bother himself with domestic matters.

Humans have always been social creatures and in need of friends and companions.

Much of our lives are spent in interaction with others. Friends are those who will always be there for their companions in both happy and sad moments. In making friendship one has to look for those who are good, have noble manners, piety, knowledge and good culture

Women in the middle class and upper class were supposed to have no sexual conduct before marriage. A woman having a sexual intercourse before married was considered as having a tragedy. A woman was ready to get married if 12

she had some qualities, like being able to sing, play a music instrument or had a special skill in language like French or Italian. They also had to be innocent, virtuous, biddable, dutiful and be ignorant of intellectual opinion. A wealthy widow or spinster was a lucky exception because she could manage her own life.

She usually stayed alone because she had fortune inherited by her ancestor so that she could manage her own life without having to obey and depend on men.

However, a woman announcing her intention to remain single would attract social disapproval and pity. People would also put negative view to a married woman who had another relationship to another man

The Victorian family was a patriarchal one in which a wife was in no sense of her husband’s legal equal but in addition to serving as household manager and social arbiter, she was most obviously and significantly the mother for her children. Families were large and the average wife spent about fifty years in state of pregnancy and in nursing a child for the first year of its life. In such households it was almost a necessity that “little children should be seen and not heard,” for the alternative was bedlam. It was the home, in any event, that was felt to be the center of moral virtue and a refuge against the barbarism of the outside world. And the roles played by the Victorian women were determined in part by law, in part by social convention and to considerable degree by social class

(Arnstein, 1988: 82).

Women in Victorian Age were not regarded as whole individuals in the society. Women at that time were considered as the second-class people. 13

Women’s positions were only functioned as employees. They could not go to the world of business in high position. They could not join the army; they even could not talk about social problems such as politics, trade and technology. For single women, Arnstein (1988: 534) states, “A girl would be loved as she was pure, sweet and unselfish. Purity is indeed the standard for lady”.

In the Victorian Era, parents trained their daughters for their preparation for marriage carefully. The training was consisted of various trainings in order to attract men who were potential to be their husbands. There were three main aspects that became the important tools to accomplish their purpose, which are music, drawing, and French. For the girls from high social class, they would be educated by a private teacher who taught them intensively and personally. Also there was a particular school especially for female to provide the education for the other girls, who came from the lower social class (Swisher, 2000: 180-181).

The demand for the girls in the Victorian Era like this occurred to fulfill the taste of the Victorian bachelors. They need the girls to be innocent or at least give impression that they look innocent. That could be done when the girls wear white colored outfit that represented the form of virginity and purity. Not only white, the girls also liked to dress in blue or pink to show similar sense (Swisher,

2000: 184).

3. The Relation between Literature and Society

Wellek and Warren in book Theory of Literature state that literature, as a work of art is a social creation. Using language as its medium, literature has a 14

close relationship with the society. They also write that literature is a social institution which plays its role in representing life or social reality. Either the natural or the subjective world of individual becomes the object of literature imitation (1956: 102).

Langland writes that literature is an imitation of outside world (1984: 4).

Since society in a novel is not “a faithful mirror” that reflects what is real, the word “imitation” shows the important point of the non absolute fidelity of what is pictured in a work of art with what is or was really there in the real world. As she writes: “In art alone the illusion of an outside world be created and maintained.”

(1984: 4, 5, 9), from the point above, it is clear that the world is the object of literature, and society is a part of a world. Langland further explains that literary research is always about the social world, since the social matters like traditions, conventions, politics, socio-historical, or attitudes of the society are the materials which are raised in the analysis.

C. Theoretical Framework

In this section, the writer wants to explain about the theories that are used and the reason why those theories are needed in this analysis. The first theory is the theory of character and characterization. The theory of character will be used to study what kind of character is presented by William Makepeace Thackeray in

Vanity Fair. Because this analysis is focused on the main character only, hence this discussion will be held especially to analyze the character of Becky. The 15

theory of characterization is used here to know deeper how Thackeray characterize and develop the characters in this novel.

Second, theory of concept of an ideal woman in The Victorian Age is used to analyze the standard of an ideal woman in the novel, then to analyze and to make a comparison with Becky’s character, whether or not Becky can fulfill the standard or not. This theory will also be helpful to give clear description of the ideal woman in Victorian Age, so it will be easier for the writer to analyze the.

After studying how the character and the concept of an ideal woman in the story, the description of those two will be used to answer the last problem, how

Becky failed to establish a form of an ideal woman in the Victorian Age. Finally, the theories of character, setting and the concept of ideal woman in the Victorian

Age with help of the review of the English condition on the Victorian Age, associate together to the fulfillment of this analysis.

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

A. Object of the Study

The object in this study is William Makepeace Thackeray’s Vanity Fair which is one of his great novels. The novel, which was published in 1847, was firstly written with the title Pen and Ink of English Life. Then, considering Vanity

Fair to be the most suitable title for this novel, he changed it to Vanity Fair.

Among its many publishers, the writer uses the novel, which is published by The

Collins Clear-Type Press, London in 1954. This edition is the first printed edition and consists of 640 pages. Formerly, Vanity Fair was published in a newspaper, the first appearing in January 1847, and the last two in July 1848.

This novel has been filmed and even made a television series. William

Makepeace Thackeray, the writer of this novel, created a story about society in

England during the Victorian Age about two contrasting women, Becky and

Amelia Sedley. Amelia belongs to the upper middle class society and Becky comes from lower middle class society. Becky used all her tricks to reach the higher class of society. She even betrayed her best friend, Amelia. In the end,

Becky felt so sorry about all she had done to her best friend. Then, Becky realized that Amelia and other people she knew were kind people. Then, Amelia accepted her apology.

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B. Approach of the Study

Thackeray’s Vanity Fair is a novel that deals with the social condition of

England in the Victorian Age. It means the society is also under the impact of

Victorian Age. That element can be proven by Wellek and Warren’s statement that a work may be the result of author’s deep understanding about social problems around him (Wellek and Warren, 1956: 95). In other words, a literary work may present social problems. Concerning those reasons, the writer believes that it will be very suitable to analyze the novel from the socio-historical point of view. Quoting Rohrberger and Woods comment in Reading and Writing about

Literature about socio-historical approach, socio-historical approach is the approach that inserts the real condition of social and historical background which influence the author in making this novel, because the work itself cannot be separated from the social milieu and history when the work is created (Rohrberger and Woods, 1971: 9-10). It is important since literary works are not made without any purpose; it usually conveys a significant idea, values or rules of the society in which it occurs.

Socio-historical approach is applied here because this approach is the most appropriate one to answer the problem formulation, which is related with society and history. Using this approach, the writer wants to figure out the condition of

England society during the Victorian Age, which is presented in the story.

Moreover, the writer also wants to compare the condition of post-war England, which appears in the story with the real fact of England at that time. Hence, it will give the description of real society. 18

C. Method of the Study

Since literary analysis we could only use the library research, therefore the writer here uses the library research as the method of the study. The writer had arranged several steps in completing this analysis. Firstly, the writer had to read and read again the novel in order to understand and to comprehend the story because the novel was the primary source of this analysis.

Secondly, the writer determined the topic of the analysis and arranged the problem formulation which later became the key concept to do the analysis. In this step, the writer tried to finds the elements of the literary works, which were the elements of the novel itself.

Thirdly, the writer performed the collected data which are suitable for the research. It could be about the theories, which were related to this study, and there could be many criticisms, essays, book reviews or journals which supported this analysis or any other kinds of data which was needed and helped the writer to solve the problem of the study. These kinds of data could be found by searching the internet and from the library observation.

Next, the writer collected any kind of fact and proof that would help to do the analysis from the primary and secondary sources. In this step, the writer also formulated the data, fact and proofs that were found, with the problem formulation that was going to be analyzed.

In the last step, the writer started the analysis. Using the data, information and the theories of character and characterization, the theory of the ideal woman 19

on the Victorian age, and also the socio-historical background of the Victorian

Age, the writer intended to analyze the problems and answered it. Then the writer also gave conclusion for the complete fulfillment of this project. CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

A. The Characteristic of Becky in Vanity Fair

Abrams (1981: 20-21) in his book entitled A Glossary of Literary Terms points out that character is a person in dramatic or narrative work, characters are the persons who are endowed with moral and dispositional qualities that are expressed in what they say-the dialogue- and what they do the action. The grounds in a character’s temperaments and moral nature for his speech and actions constitute his motivation.

According to Abrams (1981: 21), characterization can be presented in two ways. First is when the author merely presents his character’ speech and acts and, leaves the reader to infer what motives and disposition lie behind what they say and do (also called dramatic method). Second is when the author himself intervenes authoritatively in order to describe and often to evaluate, the motives and dispositional qualities of his characters.

The writer will use some quotation from the novel to show the characteristics of Becky. Becky was physically small, thin, and red-haired. She was a woman whose obsession was to raise her social status by her own wits. She was living amidst society which held patriarchal system and she was obsessed with popularity, money and parties. Here, they are the characteristics of Becky.

20 21

1. Clever

Becky was portrayed as a woman with high intelligence. Compared to some girls of the same age among hers, she was over them all.

What airs that girl gives herself, because she is an Earl’s granddaughter! she said one. How they cringe and bow to that Creole because of her hundred thousand pound! I am a thousand times cleverer and more charming than that creature, for all her wealth. I am as well-bred as Earl’s granddaughter, for all her fine pedigree; and yet, when I was at my father’s, did not the men give up their gayest balls and parties in order to pass the evening with me? (Thackeray, 1954: 30-31).

From the quotation above, it can be seen that Becky felt that life was not fair.

Many women got respect from others just because of their father’s money and status and not because of their cleverness or their beauty.

Miss Crawley, the sister of Rawdon Crawley’s father, Sir Pit Crawley, once had compared Becky with all people in their surrounding of Crawley’s region and she concluded that no one was equal to Becky, but herself.

Look at my brother Pitt; look at Huddlestons, who have been here since Henry II. ; look at poor Bute at the parsonage;--is anyone of them equal to you in intelligence or breeding ? Equal to you--- they are not even equal to poor dear Briggs, my companion, or Bowls, my butler. You, my love, are a little paragon—positively a little jewel—You have more brains than half the shire—if merit had its reward you ought to be a duchess—no, there ought to be no ducthesses at all—but you ought to have no superior, and I consider you, my love, as my equal in every respect (Thackeray, 1954: 105).

From the text above the writer finds how the author delivered Becky’s being a superior woman among all the character in the story. By saying like in the quotation, Miss Crawley seems to emphasize how smart Becky was by comparing her to anyone else in her surrounding. She even degenerated them all by stressing that they were no match to Becky. Miss Crawley stated that Becky had more 22

brains than half of the shire and she deserved to be a duchess.

Rawdon Crawley had once rekindled his relationship with his aunt, Miss

Crawley, who acted as his benefactor. He was trying to convince Miss Crawley that his marriage would be good. Yet, she kept her thought that the marriage was his stupidity though she admitted Becky’s cleverness. It can be seen in the quotation below.

She rallied him about it; she had perceived his folly; she warned him; she finished by owning that little Sharp was the most clever, droll, odd, good- natured, simple, kindly creature in England (Thackeray, 1954: 130).

Sir Pitt Crawley had once asked Becky to be Lady Crawley because he was attracted to her gentle manner, beauty and her cleverness. It can be seen on the text below.

Come as Lady Crawley, if you like, the Baronet said, grasping his crape hat.There! Will that zatisfy you? Come back and be my wife. Your vit vor’t. Birth be hanged. You’re as good a lady as ever I see. You’ve got more brains in your little vinger than any baronet’s wife in the county (Thackeray, 1954: 140).

Sir Pit Crawley admits her cleverness by saying that Becky would become the cleverest woman compared to any other baronet’s wife in the country if she married him.

Another proof is taken from the conversation between Miss Crawley and her servant, Miss Briggs.

Well, Becky would have made a good Lady Crawley, after all, Miss Crawley remarked (who was mollified by the girl’s refusal, and very liberal and generous now there was no call for her sacrifices). She has brain in plenty (much more wit in her little finger than you have, my poor dear Briggs, in all your head). Her manners are excellent, now I have formed her (Thackeray, 1954: 144).

From the quotation above we can see that Miss Crawley admitted Becky’s cleverness and that Becky would be a good Lady Crawley with her brain. Miss

Crawley also said that Becky had more brain than Miss Briggs. Miss Crawley assumed that even a woman as smart as Becky also had a romantic feeling. She thinks that Becky had to be in love with apothecary or painters. However in fact,

Becky had already married with Rawdon Crawley.

Becky was also able to remember any lesson, one of them is astronomy; that she got at Miss Pinkerton’s school. It can be seen in the text below.

How delicious they smell in the open air! I adore them. Who’d think the moon was two hundred and thirty-six thousand eight hundred and forty- seven miles off? Becky added, gazing at that orb with a smile. Isn’t it clever of me to remember that? Pooh! We learned it all at Miss Pinkerton’s! (Thackeray, 1954: 227).

By knowing and remembering perfectly the astronomy lessons, such as the distance of earth and moon, she considered herself as a clever woman. Yet, she defeated George Osborn in this case.

Miss Crawley was disappointed with Rawdon Crawley marrying Becky

but she still acknowledged Becky’s cleverness over Miss Briggs.

Marry a drawing-master’s daughter, indeed! –marry a dame de compagnie---for she was no better, Briggs ; no, she was just what you are—only younger, and great deal prettier and cleverer (Thackeray, 1954: 304).

The quotation above tells about a quarrel between Miss Crawley and her nephew,

Becky’s husband, named Rawdon Crawley. Miss Crawley expressed her disagreement on Rawdon marrying Becky to her maid Miss Briggs. Yet, she compared Miss Briggs with Becky and she still acknowledged Becky superiority over Miss Briggs. She regretted this marriage because it was a kind of blasphemy 24

for the great name of Crawley.

Becky is also pictured as a woman that was very different from a common woman in the age in case that she could earn money by herself where as wives got their money from their husband or girls from their father. Further, she was depicted so much cleverer than her husband or other male breadwinners that she was admired as a wonderful female economist in Vanity Fair.

Rebecca was a good economist, and the price poor Jos Sedley had paid for her two horses was in itself sufficient to keep their little establishment afloat for a year at least (Thackeray, 1954: 324).

Becky’s professionalism was admired by her opponents and business partners. She could manage the important part of her business, especially in transaction, without any lawyer’s help. She did it in order to be thrifty with her money. Despite the fact that it was common at that time for a businessman to request the lawyer’s help in transaction.

Mrs. Crawley employed no lawyer in the transaction. The matter was so simple, to have or to leave, as she justly observed, that she made the lawyers of the creditors themselves do the business. And Mr. Lewis representing Mr. Davids, of Red Lion Square, and Mr. Moss acting for Mr. Manassach, of Cursitor Street (chief creditors of the Colonel’s), complimented his lady upon the brilliant way in which she did business, and declared that there was no professional man who could beat her (Thackeray, 1954: 343).

Once in a dinner, when Becky was invited to the Sedley’s, she demonstrated her cleverness by answering Joseph’s joke on pepper and chili.

Old Sedley began to laugh, and thought Rebecca was a good-humoured girl. Joseph simply said – Cream tarts, Miss? Our cream is very bad is Bengal. We generally use goats’ milk; and ‘gad go you know, I’ve got to prefer it! (Thackeray, 1954: 39).

At that time Miss Crawley also praised her good humor. Becky made her laugh 25

often by mimicking other people’s behaviors. Miss Crawley enjoyed that and in fact she became Becky’s adorer. This proves that Becky was also clever to make some jokes and could make other people happy with her jokes.

2. Talented

Becky is characterized as a woman who seemed to have special nature ability and having superior capacities than other characters in the novel.

and as she was already a musician and a good linguist, she speedily went through the little course of study which was considered necessary for ladies in those days. Her music she practised incessantly, and one day, when the girls were out, and she had remained at home, she was overheard to play a piece so well, that Minerva thought wisely she could spare herself the expense of a master for the juniors, and intimated to Miss Sharp that she was to instruct them in music for the future (Thackeray, 1954: 31).

From the text above the writer finds that Becky always became the queen of parties because of her beautiful voice and her music talent especially in playing piano. She was a description of the perfect woman with so many talents at that time.

In a party dance, Becky also played music by piano and made everybody, including Jos Sedley, who was also good in music, admire her.

As she came to the last word, Miss Sharp’s deep-toned voice faltered. Every body felt the allusion to her departure, and to her hapless orphan state. Joseph Sedley, who was fond of music, and soft-hearted, was in state of ravishment during the performance of the song, and profoundly touched at its conclusion (Thackeray, 1954: 49).

From the text above, Becky’s wonderful performance amazed everybody in the party, including Jos Sedley, a person who also knows music well.

Becky’s talent was not only in music but also in French, she could speak 26

French fluently.

–what a distinguee girl she was—how she could speak French better than the Governor-General’s lady herself—and what a sensation she would make at the Calcutta balls (Thackeray, 1954: 49).

From the quotation above, we can see that Jos Sedley admired Becky’s talent in speak French. He also said that Becky’s could speak French better than the

Governor-General’s wife and if he could bring Becky to the Calcutta balls it could be a good sensation.

3. Independent

Born from a lower class of society, her father, a master of painting and her mother was an actress of theatre, Becky struggled herself to fulfill all of her needs since she was a child. It became worse when her parents were dead when she was seventeen years old. This situation made her to be more independent than the other women in their ages. For the example, Becky would find her own husband and it was not the custom in England at that time. The custom was their mother would find a husband based on the family criteria or with the similar social status.

Becky decided not to follow this kind of custom. She thought that she would determine her life and be a free woman. She had the same right as other women, to get married, even though she was an orphan.

If Miss Rebecca Sharp had determined in her heart upon making the conquest of this big beau, I don’t think, ladies, we have any right to blame her; for though the task of husband-hunting is generally, and wit becoming modesty, intrusted by young persons to their mammas, recollect that Miss Sharp had no kind parent to arrange these dedicate matters for her, and that if she did not get a husband for herself, there was no one else in the wide world who would take the trouble off her hands (Thackeray, 1954: 35-36).

Becky decided not to follow the custom. She thought that she had to 27

determine her own life and had to be free from being tied by such a conservative belief. She had a right to marry just like other girls though she had no mother as her matchmaker.

Of what else have young ladies think, but husbands? Of what else do their mammas think? I must be my own mamma, said Rebecca; not without a tingling consciousness of defeat, as she thought over her little misadventure with Jos Sedley (Thackeray, 1954: 91).

In Vanity Fair, every character was encouraged to pursue their desire of pleasure. They regarded how social status and money were so much important for living in the society. Seeking for bright-future husband was very necessary. As for

Becky, an orphan, she had to burden this duty by herself. Her experiences taught her how she had to handle every problem in her life independently.

but, you see, poor dear Rebecca had all this work to do for herself. If a person is too poor to keep a servant, though ever so elegant, he must sweep his own rooms; if a dear has no mamma to settle matters with the young man, she must do it for herself. ….. And this I set down as a positive truth. A woman with fair opportunities, and without an absolute hump, may marry whom she likes. Only let us be thankful that the darlings are like the beasts of the field, and don’t know their own power. They would overcome us entirely if they did (Thackeray, 1954: 42).

She never trusted anyone, but herself. She thought that her wits and her own effort were the only hope she could rely on to get a better future and to reach her desire.

I am alone in the world, said the friendless girl. “ I have nothing to look for but what my own labour can bring me ; and while that little pink-faced chit Amelia, with not half my sense, has ten thousand pounds and an establishment secure, poor Rebecca (and my figure is far better than hers) has only herself and her own wits to trust to (Thackeray, 1954: 91).

The other example is when England was in the war with France. Many wives and mothers were so sad when their husband and children were sent to the 28

war. In contrary, Becky did not show this kind of sadness, because according to her sadness was useless. Besides, she did not feel afraid if she had to live alone or to be a widow. She believed that she could survive without her husband.

And Rebecca, as we have said, wisely determined not to give way to unavailing sentimentality on her husband’s departure. She waved him an adieu from the window, and stood there for a moment looking out after he was gone. ….. There had been no rest for her that night. She was still in her pretty ball-dress, her fair hair hanging some-what out of curl on her neck, and the circles round her eyes dark with watching. What a fright I seem,” she said, examining herself in the glass, and how pale this pink makes one look! So she divested herself of this pink raiment; in doing which a note fell out from her corsage, which she picked up with a smile, and locked into her dressing-box. And then she put her bouquet of the ball into a glass of water, and went to bed and slept very comfortably (Thackeray, 1954: 276).

In Brussels, she was left alone because Rawdon had to go to Waterloo war. She was not afraid to be left alone like other women. She believed that she could life alone if her husband leaved her. While Jos run away for his safety, she kept calm when she heard that British has been defeated in the war.

What, you fly? Said Rebecca, with a laugh. I thought you were the champion of all the ladies, Mr. Sedley. I – I am not a military man, gasped he. And Amelia? – Who is to protect that poor little sister of yours? asked Rebecca. You surely would not desert her? (Thackeray, 1954: 296).

From the quotation above, we can see that Becky was not afraid to be alone and without any protection. In fact she worried about Amelia, Jos’ sister.

4. Optimistic

Compared to all the characters in the novel, Becky’s childhood was not as happy and equal to them. Other women were depending on their father’s welfare but she was clinging on her own power.

What airs that girl gives herself, because she is an Earl’s granddaughter! 29

She said one. How they cringe and bow to that Creole because of her hundred thousand pound! I am a thousand times cleverer and more charming than that creature, for all her wealth (Thackeray, 1952: 30).

In this quotation, Becky envied her friend at her age that they had well-known family names and wealth. Becky, who did not have all that welfare, felt that one day she would receive respect from others because of her own power and not of her parents’.

Becky’s parents were artists and had died when she was a girl, they did not have much money to make Becky happy whereas society considered such profession as a lower job. Yet, she sometimes realized that her talents, her cleverness and her charm were the advantages for her that no women among her acquaintances could compare to her. She also sometimes regretted her life that she was born in poverty and being an orphan. Yet, she always thought something positive that nothing was impossible for her. Even though she had to burden her heavy struggles in reaching her aims by herself, she was always optimistic that she would make all her dreams come true.

Well let us see if my wits cannot provide me with an honorable maintenance, and if some day or the other I cannot show Miss Amelia my real superiority over her. Not that I dislike poor Amelia: who can dislike such harmless, good-natured creature? –only it will be a fine day when I can take my place above her in the world, as why, indeed, should I not? (Thackeray, 1954: 91).

Becky was optimistic that she could shift her social status into higher one someday with her intelligent. She did not give up though she knew that she was poor.

5. Manipulative

Becky was a beautiful and charming woman but she used it to deceive 30

people. Though she was not rich, Becky always wore expensive jewelry and best dresses. She often got many gifts from her admirers. One of them was General

Tufto. He gave Becky many presents.

… the General, her slave and worshipper, had made her many very handsome presents, in the shape of cashmere shawls bought at the auction of a French general’s lady, and numerous tributes from the jewelers’ shops, all of which betokened her admirer’s taste and wealth (Thackeray, 1954: 276).

From the quotation above, we can see that Becky used her charm to deceive

General Tufto, one from many people who became Becky’s admirers. Becky could receive many presents and expensive jewelry from many shops.

When she thought that the time had come for her to enter the London

Court, she need somebody to take care of her. She need someone who could help her finance and her arrival to the court. She knew that she could not depend on

Rawdon anymore because he could not adapt easily with the society. One day, when Lord Steyne visited the Crawley for playing cards with Rawdon, Becky used her charm and asked him to be her “sheepdog”.

I must have a sheep-dog. … I mean a moral shepherd’s dog, said Becky, laughing, and looking up at Lord Steyne. … A dog to keep the wolves off me, Rebecca continued. A companion. Dear little innocent lamb, you want one, said the Marquis and his jaw thrust out, and he began to grin hideously, his little eyes leering towards Rebecca (Thackeray, 1954: 350-351).

Becky used the term of “sheepdog” so Rawdon would not be suspicious. She did not mean that she need a dog literally. Sheepdog or watchdog means a guardian.

Becky need someone to help and present her to the society; in this case Lord

Steyne would be the right person to help Becky. As the return, she would do anything that Lord Steyne asked, even committing adultery. 31

When she lived in exile, Becky did not have many friends. Thus, when she finally met her old friend, Amelia, she was very happy. She really need a friend at this moment. Then, she started to deceive Amelia with a fake story about Becky’s son to get Amelia’s heart and attention.

And so they took your darling child from you? Our simpleton cried out. O Rebecca, my poor dear suffering friend, I know what it is to lose a boy, and to feel for those who have lost one (Thackeray, 1954: 609).

From the quotation above, Becky won Amelia’s heart by telling false story that her beloved son was taken away from her and she was not allowed to see him anymore. Becky knew that Amelia was fragile when it dealt with child because she knew that Amelia had lost her son once. Becky also said that Rawdon leaved her and took her son with him because Rawdon’s mind had been poisoned by

Lady Jane.

Becky also deceived Jos, her old admirer, with the same story. She could convince Jos to trust her that she was already changed.

I should have known you anywhere, she continued; a woman never forgets some things. And you were the first man I ever—I ever saw. … I have had so many griefs and wrongs, Joseph Sedley, I have been made to suffer so cruelly… all my friends have been false to me—all. There is no such thing as an honest man in the world (Thackeray, 1954: 604).

Becky cleverly used Jos’ old picture that she had as a tool to deceive Jos. Becky also said that she was never apart with the picture and she never forgot him. It made Jos believed every single word from her. He believed that Becky was really in love with him. After that, in fact, Jos was the one who struggled to convince everybody that Becky was a good woman.

6. Hypocritical

After her leaving from Amelia’s house, Becky went to Queen’s Crawley.

Along the way to Queen’s Crawley, she immediately counted the money that Mr.

Sedley gave her.

… and soon as she had taken leave of Amelia, and counted the guineas which good-natured Mr. Sedley had put into purse for her, and as soon as she had done wiping her eyes with her handkerchiefs (which operation she concluded the very moment the carriage had turned the corner of the street) … (Thackeray, 1954: 72).

While she said farewell to the Sedleys, she cried a lot that implied it was the hardest thing to do, to be apart with the Sedleys. She also pretended to refuse Mr.

Sedley’s money. In fact, she did not have any sad feeling because of leaving the

Sedleys and she quickly counted the money that was given to her. From Becky’s reaction it can be concluded that she was a hypocritical woman.

Becky in Amelia’s house and in the Crawley’s house was quite different character. With the Sedleys, Becky was considered as an arrogant woman. While with the Crawleys, Becky pretended to be a helpful and obedient woman.

She was quite different person from the haughty, shy, dissatisfied little girl whom we have known previously, and this change of temper proved great prudence, a sincere desire of amendment, or at nay rate moral courage on her part. A system of hypocrisy; which lasts through whole years, is one seldom satisfactorily practiced by a person of one-and twenty; however, our readers will recollect that, though young in years, but our heroine was old in life and experience (Thackeray, 1954: 94).

The quotation above notifies how different Becky in a two different occasions.

Once she was arrogant and in another time she became a person who was so kind and helpful to anyone else. It also explains to the reader of how young Becky was but she had already had many experiences beyond her age. 33

When she heard that Sir Pitt was dead, she was supposedly sad but in fact she was happy and pretended to mourn in the funeral. This was because she hoped that Lady Jane would introduce her to the society and Rawdon would get a position in Parliament.

She took up the black-edged missive, and having read it, she jumped up from the chair, crying “Hurray!” and waving the note round her head. … For I must have some mourning. … Of course I mean to go. I mean that Lady Jane shall present me at Court next year. I mean that your brother shall give you at seat in Parliament; and that you shall be an Irish Secretary, or a West Indian Governor: or a Treasure, or a Consul, or some such thing (Thackeray, 1954: 380).

From the quotation above, we can see that Becky was a hypocritical woman. First, when she read the letter about the death of Sir Pitt, she did not feel sad at all but on the contrary, she was so happy to hear that news. She also prepared herself to mourn over in the funeral so that other people would believe that Becky was in sadness. Second, she went to the funeral not to respect Sir Pitt but her purpose was to make herself introduced to the higher society by Lady Jane. Becky also hoped that Rawdon could get a position in the Parliament or other jobs that could earn a lot of money.

When Becky was in Queen’s Crawley, she also pretended that she loved her son, little Rawdon. She treated him full of affection and very well. She prepared little Rawdon’s needs. She tried to show that she was a loving and caring mother. The truth was Becky hated her own child, little Rawdon. She said to everyone that she loved and cared about her son, but in fact she hated, even she was cruel to him. She also gave less attention and affection to her son. We can see it in the several quotations below. 34

The parting between Rebecca and the little Rawdon did not cause either party much pain. She had not, say the truth, seen much of the young gentleman since his birth. After the amiable fashion of French mothers, she had placed him out at nurse in a village in the neighborhood of Paris (Thackeray, 1954: 341).

From the quotation on page 341, it can be seen that Becky gave no attention to her child since his born. Becky did not take care her son even she put her son in the nursery in a village in neighborhood of Paris, while she was busy with her own business.

His mother came out and struck him violently a couple of boxes on the ear (Thackeray, 1954: 412).

As seen on quotation on page 412, Becky came out and struck her son with boxes.

This incident happened when Becky realized that her son knew about her relation with Lord Steyne.

Take Rawdon outside with you, and give him a cigar too if you like. Rawdon did not warm his little son for the winter’s journey in this way, but he and Briggs wrapped up the child in shawls and comforters, and he was hoisted respectfully on to the roof of the Cellar. … His mother, inside the vehicle, with her maid and her furs, her wrappers, and her scent-bottles (Thackeray, 1954: 414-415).

From quotation on page 414-415, it is explained that when Becky took little

Rawdon to the Lady Jane, along the journey Little Rawdon sat outside the carriage with his father. Becky even told Rawdon to give a cigar if he wanted to.

Becky also did not give Little Rawdon a shawl to avoid the cold. In fact Miss

Briggs wrapped Little Rawdon with a shawl to warm him. Becky sat inside the carriage full of comfort. From those three quotations the writer concludes that

Becky was a hypocritical woman.

I like to dine here. I dine in the kitchen when I am at home, replied Rawdon Minor, or else with Briggs (Thackeray, 1954: 415). 35

From quotation on page 415, it can be seen that Becky did not care about Little

Rawdon in her home. Even her own son was taking a dinner in the kitchen with her servant. From all the quotations above it can be seen that the way Becky treating her son was different from what she said to every one, it makes her as a hypocritical woman.

B. The Concept of an Ideal Woman in the Victorian Era Based on the

Thackeray’s Vanity Fair

In the early chapter, the writer has mentioned the definition of the ideal woman in the Victorian Era. The concept of an ideal woman in the Victorian Era was pious, pure, loving and above all submissive. Women in the middle class and upper class were supposed to have no sexual conduct before marriage. A woman having a sexual intercourse before married was considered having a tragedy. A woman was ready to get married if she has some qualities, like being able to sing, play a music instrument, or having a special skill in language like French or

Italian. They also had to be innocent, virtuous, biddable, dutiful and ignorant of intellectual opinion. A woman in the Victorian Era should take care of their child full with love and attention. She should be able to make a comfortable home for her husband and children. Her main duty was to bear a large family and to maintain a smooth family atmosphere. Based on this definition, the writer would describe how the concept of an ideal woman is in the Victorian Era as seen in

Thackeray's Vanity Fair.

… as a young lady not unworthy to occupy a fitting position in their 36

polished and refined circle. Those virtues which characterize the young English gentlewoman, those accomplishments which become her birth and station, will not be found wanting in the amiable Miss Sedley, whose industry and obedience have endeared her to her instructors, and whose delightful sweetness of temper has charmed her aged and her youthful companions. In music, in dancing, in orthography, in every variety of embroidery and needlework, she will be found to have realized her friends’ fondest wishes. In geography there is still much to be desired; and a careful and undeviating use of the backboard. In the principles of religion and morality, Miss Sedley will be found worthy of an establishment which has been honoured by the presence of The Great Lexicographer, and the patronage of the admirable Mrs. Chapone. In leaving the Mall, Miss Amelia carries with the hearts of her companions, and the affectionate regards of her mistress, who has the honour to subscribe herself (Thackeray, 1954: 22).

The quotation above is from the letter written by Mrs. Pinkerton to

Amelia’s parents when Amelia graduated. Mrs. Pinkerton was the one who managed Chiswick Academy. In her letter, Mrs. Pinkerton gave her comment on

Amelia. She wrote that Amelia suited to live in a good environment because she had a good accomplishment. Mrs. Pinkerton also said that she could be categorized as a young English gentlewoman. In the education fields, she was good in geography, in orthography, also in music and dancing, and in variety of embroidery and needlework as well. She was very obedient and diligent and also had a good temper in the daily live in the Mall. In the letter, Mrs. Pinkerton wrote that Amelia was also religious and had a good morality.

From the quotation above, it can be seen that Amelia could fulfill the concept of an ideal woman in the Victorian Era. According to Swisher in her book

Victorian England, parents trained their daughters for their preparation for marriage carefully. It consisted of various trainings in order to attract men who were potential to be their husband. There were three main aspects that became the 37

important tools to accomplish their purpose, which were music, drawing, and

French (2000: 180-181). In this case, Amelia's personality could suit the concept of the ideal woman in the Victorian Era according to Swisher. In the Victorian

Era, woman’s priority in life was marriage. To get ready for the marriage a woman should have some qualities morally and physically. A woman was supposed to have a good skill in music, drawing, and in education field. Amelia could fulfill all that aspects. She was good in music and dancing. In the education field, she was good in geography and orthography. She also had a good morality in daily life; she was very obedient and diligent. She was also a religious woman.

Miss Amelia was a young lady of this singular species; and had many charming qualities which that pompous old Minerva of a woman could not see, from the differences of rank and age between her pupil and herself. For she could not only sing like a lark, and dance like Hillisberg or Parisot; and embroider beautifully; and spell as well as Dixonary itself; but she had such a kindly, smiling, tender, gentle, generous heart of her own, as won the love of everybody who came near her (Thackeray, 1954: 23).

From the quotation on page 23, it can be seen that Amelia was a young lady that has charming qualities that were different from other women in the Mall.

She could sing beautifully like a lark and dance nicely or embroider but she also had an ability to spell a word like in the dictionary. Her characteristics, kind, smiling, tender, gentle, and generous heart, made everybody love and like her and most of the people in the Mall feel that they had lost a good friend in the day when Amelia leaves.

–what a distinguee girl she was—how she could speak French better than the Governor-General’s lady herself—and what a sensation she would make at the Calcutta balls (Thackeray, 1954: 49).

From quotation on page 31 and 49, it can be seen that Becky could play music instrument beautifully. She was good as a linguist and she spoke French fluently. In fact her French was much better than the Governor—the general’s wife at that time.

A woman was ready to get married if she had some qualities, like being able to sing, play a musical instrument or have a special skill in language like

French or Italian . It can be seen from the quotation on page 23 that Amelia could fulfill the concept of an ideal woman in the Victorian Era. Besides, Amelia could sing like a lark and dance nicely or embroider beautifully but she also had an ability to spell a word like in a dictionary. Becky could also be considered as a woman who could fulfill the concept of an ideal woman in the Victorian Era because she could play a musical instrument nicely and she also could speak French fluently. Those characteristic are suitable to the concept of an ideal woman according to

A mother was to be submissive and fruitful. A woman should make a home comfort for their children and husband. A woman’s main duty was to bear a large family and to maintain a smooth family atmosphere

He had been brought up by a kind, weak, and tender woman, who had no pride about anything but about him, and whose heart was so pure and whose bearing was so meek and humble, that she could not but needs be a true lady. She busied herself in gentle offices and quiet duties; if she never 39

said brilliant things, she never spoke or thought unkind ones; guileless and artless, loving and pure, indeed how could our poor little Amelia be other than a real gentlewoman (Thackeray, 1954: 517).

The quotation from page 517 is discussing about Georgy, Amelia's son that grew up to be a gentleman. In this quotation it is clearly seen that Amelia became a gentlewoman. Amelia who had a kind, weak, and tender personality had succeeded in raising her son, Georgy. Amelia took care her son with full of love and tenderly. She had done a great job as a mother.

Oh, Aunt Jane, you are my mother! he said; and not—and not that one (Thackeray, 1954: 590).

The quotation on page 590 is when Becky’s son, Little Rawdon, made a reply to Lady Jane's letter. From the letter, it can be seen that Lady Jane had taken care of Little Rawdon nicely even though Little Rawdon was not her own son.

Little Rawdon wrote that Lady Jane was suitable to be his mother but not Becky.

Little Rawdon felt that he found the figure of a mother who was loving and charming inside Lady Jane, but not in his own mother.

From the quotation in page 517, it can be seen that Amelia could fulfill the concept of an ideal woman in the Victorian Era according to http://members.lycos.co.uk/HastingHistory/19/overview.htm. Amelia took care of her son, Georgy, with full of love and attention. Lady Jane could also be classified as an ideal woman in the Victorian Era because she could give attention to Little

Rawdon even though Little Rawdon was not her own son.

C. Becky’s Failures to be an Ideal Woman in the Victorian Era

Literature as a work of art has a close relation with the society. Wellek and

Warren state that literature is a social creation which represents life or social reality (Wellek and Warren, 1956: 102). Further they explain that literary work can play its role as a document that records social realities which are artistically portrayed by the author (Wellek and Warren, 1956: 102). It means when the work is made, the author is influenced by the social milieu and historical events around him. It is important because literary works are not made without any purpose; it usually conveys a significant idea, values are rules of the society in which it occurs (Rohrberger and Woods, 1971: 9-10). Thus, when the work is made, the author does not merely imitate the realities of his world, but all of those realities are already interpreted with his ideology, religion, motive, etc. Therefore, the author has a special purpose which is being expressed in his work. In other word, those literary works are bringing some missions that the author wants to convey to the reader.

In this sub-chapter, the writer wants to analyze how Rebecca Sharp

(Becky) failed to establish a form of an ideal woman in the Victorian age. Becky came from lower middle class. She wanted to ascend to the higher social ladder because se wanted to possess respectability which was then considered only owned by people of higher class. Besides to be rich, she had to fulfill higher class’ norms and values in her life. Becky’s attitude and action changed during the time progress. Her desire to be a high-class society made her to be dangerous and villainous. Becky had some characteristics that made her failed to be an ideal 41

woman in the Victorian Era, such as hypocritical and manipulate. These characteristics made her broke the idea of an ideal woman at that time to get her ambitions. Becky wanted to believe that she could ascend to the higher social class and then become respectable, but she forgot that respectability came with respectable deeds and her ways and deeds were in no way respectable.

1. Becky’s Failures to be an Ideal Mother

According to Arnstein in the book Britain Yesterday and Today 1830 to the Present, woman was most obviously and significantly the mother for her children. It was the home, in any event, that was felt to be the center of moral virtue and a refuge against the barbarism of the outside world (1988: 88).

The parting between Rebecca and the little Rawdon did not cause either partymuch pain. She had not, to say truth, seen much of the young gentleman since his birth. After the amiable fashion of French mothers, she had placed him out at nurse in a village in the neighbourhood of Paris where little Rawdon passed the first months of his life, not unhappily (Thackeray, 1954: 341).

His mother came out and struck him violently a couple of boxes on the ear (Thackeray, 1954: 412).

As seen on quotation on page 412, Becky came out and struck her son with boxes. This incident happened when Becky realized that her son knew about her relation with Lord Steyne. 42

From quotation on page 414-415, it is explained that when Becky took

Little Rawdon to the Lady Jane house, along the journey Little Rawdon sat outside the carriage with his father. Becky even told Rawdon to give a cigar if he wanted to. Becky also did not give Little Rawdon a shawl to avoid the cold. In fact, Miss Briggs wrapped Little Rawdon with the shawl to warm him. Becky sat inside the carriage full of comfort.

I like to dine here. I dine in the kitchen when I am at home, replied Rawdon Minor, or else with Briggs (Thackeray, 1954: 415).

From quotation on page 415, it can be seen that Becky did not care about

Little Rawdon in her home. Even her own son was taking a dinner in the kitchen with her servant.

Oh, Aunt Jane, you are my mother! he said; and not—and not that one (Thackeray, 1954: 590).

Little Rawdon wrote that Lady Jane was suitable to be his mother, not Becky.

Little Rawdon felt that he found the figure of a mother who was loving and charming inside Lady Jane, not in his own mother.

From the several quotations above it can be seen that Becky failed to be an ideal mother in the Victorian Era according to Amstein. Becky could not be the 43

most obviously and significantly mother for her child, Little Rawdon. It can be proved in the quotation on page 341. Becky gave no attention to her child since he was born. Becky did not take care her son even she put her son in the nursery in a village in the neighborhood of Paris, while she was busy with her own business.

Becky as a good mother should take care her of son since he was born and gave full attention to her son. In fact, Becky neglected her son and she was too busy to pursue her ambitions. The other proof is in the quotation on page 415. In this quotation, it can be seen that that Becky did not care about Little Rawdon in her home. Even her own son was taking a dinner in the kitchen with her servant.

Becky, as a good mother should have dinner with her son or accompany him in dinner. Becky’s failed to be an ideal woman also can be seen in the quotation on page 590. In this quotation, Little Rawdon wrote to Lady Jane that she was suitable to be her mother and not Becky.

Arnstein also writes that it was the home, in any event, that was felt to be the center of moral virtue and a refuge against the barbarism of the outside world

(1988: 88). Becky also failed to fulfill the concept of Ideal Mother according to

Amstein. It can be proved in the quotation on page 412, in this quotation Becky struck her son with boxes. Becky as an ideal mother should gives good example of moral virtue and avoid barbarism but in fact, she was doing something barbar to her son by throwing a box to him. Other example is in the quotation on page

414-415, in this quotation Becky told Rawdon to give a cigarette to Little

Rawdon. As a good mother, she should teach Little Rawdon not to smoke in his young age or forbid anyone else to give or teach Little Rawdon to smoke, but in 44

fact she tells Rawdon to give Little Rawdon a cigarette. From both proofs above, it can be concluded that Becky failed to fulfill the concept of an ideal mother according Amstein, because she could not give a good lesson of moral virtue and teach to avoid barbarism to her son, Little Rawdon.

2. Becky’s Failures to be an Ideal Wife

Miss Crawley canceled to inherit most of her fortune to Rawdon because she knew that Rawdon secretly married Becky. Because of this Becky’s feeling to

Rawdon changed. She started to flirt to other rich men to get more money to support all her needs.

From the quotation above, we can see that Becky used her charm to deceive

General Tufto, one of many people who became Becky’s admirers. Becky could receive many presents and expensive jewelry from many shops.

Becky used the term of “sheepdog” so Rawdon would not be suspicious. She did not mean that she need a dog literally. Sheepdog or watchdog means a guardian.

Becky need someone to help and present her to the society; in this case Lord

Steyne would be the right person to help Becky. As the return, she would do 45

anything that Lord Steyne asks, even committing adultery.

Rawdon opened the door and went in. A little tale with a dinner was laid out—and wine and plate. Steyne was hanging over the sofa on which Becky sate. The wretched woman was in a brilliant full toilette, her arms and all her fingers sparkling with bracelets and rings; and the brilliants on her breast which Steyne had given her. He had her hand in his, and was bowing over it to kiss it, when Becky started up with a faint scream as she caught sight of Rawdon’s white face (Thackeray, 1954: 492).

Rawdon caught up Becky and Steyne in that room holding hands when he entered the room. He found Becky wearing many jewelries. He also noticed that Steyne was going to kiss her.

According to , people will also put a negative view to a married woman who has another relationship to another man. In this case, Becky failed to be an ideal wife because as a married woman she still made a relationship with other men. It is proved in the quotation on page

276. In this quotation, Becky flirted with General Tufto to get money and jewelries. In fact she was still married to Rawdon. Another proof is in the quotation on page 350-351. In this quotation, Becky bluntly asked Lord Steyne to be her sheepdog. Becky used the term of “sheepdog” so Rawdon would not be suspicious. As the return, she would do anything that Lord Steyne asks, even committing adultery. This event happened when they were playing cards in the

Rawdon house. Becky asked Steyne in front of Rawdon and she still became

Rawdon’s wife. Another important proof is in the quotation on page 492. It can be seen that Rawdon caught in the affair between Becky and Lord Steyne in his own house. From three quotations above it can be seen that Becky failed to be an ideal wife in the Victorian Era according to the 46

. Because, though she became

Rawdon wife, she still flirted and made a relationship with other men.

3. Becky’s Failures to be an Ideal Member of Society

Becky was a very intelligent character who knew her goal and was aware of what the ways to achieve them. Being born of disreputable parents was the reason why she was treated with disrespect and often humiliated. She could not digest the unjust rules of society. She envied the girls who were treated with respect and politeness only because they were from affluent families. Years of humiliations filled her with the determinations to become a respectable woman and took her revenge to the society. It was because of her own deeds that made people have no respect on her. Most of people around her did not like her.

… and only a year before the arrangement by which Rebecca had been admitted into her house, and when Rebecca was sixteen years old, Miss Pinkerton majestically, and with a little speech, made her a present of a doll. … How the father and daughter laughed as they trudged home together after the evening party (it was on the occasion of the speeches, when all the professors were invited), and how Miss Pinkerton would have raged had she seen the caricature of herself which the little mimic, Rebecca, managed make out of her doll. Becky used to go through dialogues with it (Thackeray, 1954: 29-30).

From the quotation above, it can be seen that Becky was not a polite girl. She was never be able to respect what people had done for her. At that situation Miss

Pinkerton gave Becky a present a year before she joined in the Chiswick

Academy, but Becky despised Miss Pinkerton by imitating the way she spoke.

This made Miss Pinkerton angry because Becky did this at the occasion when all the professors were invited. 47

Not like the other students, Becky is not afraid to confront Miss Pinkerton when she disagreed with her. Once, the principal heard her practicing piano after her school was over. Becky played very well. Then Miss Pinkerton asked her to teach piano to the students, but she refused it. She did not agree with Miss

Pinkerton because she knew that Miss Pinkerton only took advantage of her. She had a quarrel with Miss Pinkerton over this.

A viper – fiddle stick, said Miss Sharp to the old lady, almost fainting with astonishment. You took me because I was useful. There is no question of gratitude between us. I hate this place, and want to leave it. I will do nothing here but what I am obliged to do (Thackeray, 1954: 31).

From her speech above, we can see that Becky had courageous to face Miss

Pinkerton when she disagreed with her, though Becky knew that Miss Pinkerton was the principle of Chiswick Mall. She often spoke in French in which Miss

Pinkerton did not know.

From the quotation above, we can see that Becky was impolite. First, when she read the letter about the death of Sir Pitt, she did not feel sad at all but on the contrary, she was so happy to hear that news. She also prepared herself to mourn 48

over in the funeral so that other people believe that Becky was in sadness. Second, she went to the funeral not to respect Sir Pitt but her purpose was to make herself introduced to the higher society by Lady Jane. Becky also hoped that Rawdon could get a position in the Parliament or other jobs that could earn a lot of money.

Friends are those who will always be there for their companions in both happiness and sad moments. In making friendship, one has to look for those who are good, have noble manners, piety, knowledge and good culture

. According to this quotation, Becky could not fulfill the concept of ideal Member of Society in the

Victorian Era. It can be proved in the quotation on page 29-30, 31 and 35-36. In those quotations, it can be seen that Becky did impolite thing to Miss Pinkerton.

As a good member of society, she should be polite to Miss Pinkerton as her teacher and older person that she had to respected. Becky should respect Miss

Pinkerton. Other proof is in the quotation on page 380. In this quotation Becky did not feel sad at all but on the contrary, she was so happy to hear that Sir Pitt was dead. She also yelled happily and got ready to act mourn at the funeral so that people would believe in her. As a good member of society in the Victorian Era, she should feel sad because Sir Pitt was still her relatives. She had to act like a noble and not like a little child who yelled happily with such news.

CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION

Thackeray’s Vanity Fair is a novel which tells a story about two contrasting women, Amelia Sedley and Rebecca Sharp (Becky). Amelia Sedley is the daughter of a rich businessman, John Sedley. She is blessed with all comfort of life and loved by everyone. Her family belongs to the upper middle class while

Becky’s comes from the lower middle class society. Her father is a poor artist and her mother is an opera dancer. The writer takes Becky, as the major character as the main concern of this study. She is described as a character whose behavior is controlled by her ambitious personality to be the high class society.

Becky was physically small, thin, and red-haired. She is a woman whose obsession is to raise her social status by her own wits. Here are characteristics of

Becky that have been analyzed in the chapter IV.

- Clever

It was proved by other characters that admired her cleverness. Her cleverness that had brought her in her victory amidst Middle Society forms her former Lower Class.

-Talented

She could play music instrument well such as piano. She had wonderful voice and could speak French fluently. This characteristic became her advantages to attract everyone’s attention.

49 50

- Independent

Being orphan, she was taught by her own experiences to trust in herself.

She believed that she was the only one who could determine her own life and it made her more independent than the other women in their ages. She was not afraid when her husband leaves her because of the war.

- Optimistic

She always thought something positive that nothing is impossible for her.

Even though she had to burden her heavy struggles in reaching her aims by herself, she was always optimistic that she would make all her dreams come true.

- Manipulative

Becky was a beautiful and charming woman but she used it to deceive people. She manipulated many rich men just to get their money. She also manipulated her friend like Amelia and Joseph Sedley.

- Hypocritical

Becky was a hypocritical woman. Once she was arrogant and in another time she became a person who was so kind and helpful to anyone else. She said to everyone that she loved and cared about her son, but in fact she hated, even she was cruel to him. She also gave less attention and affection to her son.

Next, the conclusion of the answer of second problem, the concept of an ideal woman in the Victorian era was pious, pure, loving and above all submissive. Women in the middle class and upper class were supposed to have no sexual conduct before marriage. A woman having a sexual intercourse before married was considered having a tragedy. A woman was considered ready to get 51

married if she had some qualities, like being able to sing, play a music instrument, or having a special skill in language like French or Italian. They had to also be innocent, virtuous, biddable, dutiful, and ignorant of intellectual opinion. A woman in the Victorian era should take care of their child full with love and attention. She should be able to make a comfortable home for her husband and children. Her main duties were to bear large family and to maintain a smooth family atmosphere.

According to the third analysis, Becky failed to be an ideal woman in the

Victorian Era. The following parts are the three Becky’s failures:

- Becky’s Failures to be an Ideal Mother

Becky gave no attention to her child since his born. Becky did not take

care her son even she put her son in the nursery in a village in

neighborhood of Paris, while she was busy with her own business. Becky

could not be the most obviously and significantly the mother for her child,

Little Rawdon.

- Becky’s Failures to be an Ideal Wife

Becky was failed to be an ideal wife because as a married woman she still

made a relationship with another man. Even when she became Rawdon

wife, she still flirted and made relationships with other men. She had a

secret affair with Lord Steyne, General Tufto.

- Becky’s Failures to be an Ideal Member of Society

She envied the girls who are treated with respect and politeness only

because they were from affluent families. Years of humiliations filled her 52

with the determinations to become a respectable woman and take her

revenge to the society. It was because of her own deeds that made people

have no respect on her. Most of people around her did not like her. She

could never respect what people had treated her.

In Vanity Fair, Thackeray depicts such ambitions in the character of

Becky. As the conclusion of this study, Becky was failed to fulfill the standard of an ideal woman in the Victorian Era. Becky took the wrong way to ascend the social ladders. In the end, Becky’s ambitions took her into miseries.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abrams, M. H. A Glossary of Literary Terms. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Win, 1981

Arnstein. Walter. L. Britain Yesterday and Today 1830 to Present: London, Heath and Company, 1988

Eastman, Richard M. A Guide to Novel. San Fransisco: Chandler Publisher, 1965

Estime, Merli. Prostitution in Victorian Era. Connecticut: Greenwood Press Inc., 1995

Gay, Peter. The Bourgeois Experience: Victoria to Freud. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1984

Langland, Elizabeth. Society in the Novel, North Carolina: The University of North Carolina Press, 1984

Little, Graham. Approach to Literature: An Introduction to Critical Study of Content and Method in Writing. Sydney: Science Press, 1981

Martin, Stephen. An Introductory Guide to English Literature. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996

Murphy, M. J. Understanding Unseen: An Introduction to English Poetry. London: George Allen and Unwin, 1972

Rohrberger, Mary and Samuel H. Woods. Reading and Writing about Literature. New York: Random House, 1971

Swisher, Clarice. Victorian England. California: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 2000

Thackeray, W. M. Vanity Fair: A Novel Without a Hero. London: Collin-Celar Type, 1954

Wellek, Renee and Austin Warren. Theory of Literature. New York: Harcount, Brace, and World Inc., 1956

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ONLINE REFERENCES

Abramshe, Lynn. Ideals of Womanhood in Victorian Britain. (March 26th 2007)

Bell, Heward. Papers of Heward Bell (1881-1964), Art Critic. (June 09th 2009)

Pauline, Thomas. A Woman Place in 19th Victorian History. (March 26th 2007)