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Money/Thackeray & Carlyle

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An 8 page research paper. Nineteenth century British writers William Thackeray and Thomas Carlyle each address the topic of money and the role that financial status played in English society in their tests, respectively, Vanity Fair and Past and Present. The stances that these authors take are similar in that both of them picture the extreme emphasis that Victorian society placed on the accumulation of wealth as detrimental to the good of society, as well as to the human soul. Where Thackeray and Carlyle differ is that Carlyle pictures an alternative path for human relations that is founded on his socially progressive ideas. Thackeray, in contrast, does not picture an alternative, as he leaves his characters still trapped within their negative values and concepts. No additional sources cited.

Page Count:

8 pages (~225 words per page)

File: D0_khthcar.rtf

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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:

tests, respectively, Vanity Fair and Past and Present. The stances that these authors take are similar in that both of them picture the extreme emphasis that Victorian society placed on the accumulation of wealth as detrimental to the good of society, as well as to the human soul. Where Thackeray and Carlyle differ is that Carlyle pictures an alternative path for human relations that is founded on his socially progressive ideas. Thackeray, in contrast, does not picture an alternative, as he leaves his characters still trapped within their negative values and concepts. "Vanity Fair," Thackeray tells his readers early on, is a "very vain, wicked, foolish place" where money and wealth reign supreme (Thackeray). This is evident in a number of ways, most notably with the obsession of Rebecca "Becky" Sharp, an enterprising orphan who is determined to gain entrance to Vanity Fair, that is, to wealth and social standing. However, the dominant social class in the novel is not the aristocracy or the extremely wealthy, but rather the English middle class and their obsessive interest in and valuation of money. Thackerays characterization of Mr. Osborne demonstrates this feature. When Mr. Sedley, father to Beckys friend Amelia, loses his fortune, Mr. Osborne equates this with some sort of moral degradation and turns against him. On the other hand, Mr. Osbornes immediately approval of Miss Swartz perfectly satirizes the way in which the middle class tended to idealize anyone associated with money. Thackeray comments that "People in Vanity Fair fasten on to rich folks quite naturally...(as) the simplest people are disposed to look not a little kindly on great Prosperity" (Thackeray). Furthermore, Thackeray goes on to explain how he is aware of "respectable people" who never "indulge in friendship" with anyone who is not of a "certain competency or place ...

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