Battles for Property and the Awkward Rank: A Historical and Ideological Interpretation of Thackeray’s Vanity Fair

Shirui Feng

doi:10.6918/IJOSSER.202507_8(7).0034

Authors

Shirui Feng

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6918/IJOSSER.202507_8(7).0034

Keywords:

Vanity Fair: A Novel without a Hero; Marxist criticism; middle class; aristocracy; ideology.

Abstract

The research delves into the property battle between the two families, the Crawleys and the Osbornes, in Thackeray’s Vanity Fair. Undertaking a comprehensive analysis from both historical and ideological perspectives, this study aims to provide a Marxist interpretation of Thackeray’s portrayal of the middle class and illuminate their uneasy state of existence. Drawing on Marxist criticism theories, it explores the interplay of these ideologies against the backdrop of the conservative early 19th century. It also investigates the influence of Cultural Hegemony on the middle class. This study offers insights into the nuanced dynamics of class conflict during a pivotal period in history, emphasizing the enduring value of Vanity Fair in dissecting the socio-economic intricacies of the middle class.

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