Inspired by the recent movie version..
Sep. 3rd, 2004 12:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ceebeegeeI'm re-reading Vanity Fair online. Thank God for the Gutenberg project.
I remember not liking it that much before, although I thought the Fair metaphor was marvelously well-developed. But it's engaging me this time--it's not so precious, as tittering as I thought before. I liked this passage:
[Becky] took advantage, therefore, of the means of study the place offered her; 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.
The girl refused; and for the first time, and to the astonishment of the majestic mistress of the school. “I am here to speak French with the children,” Rebecca said abruptly, “not to teach them music, and save money for you. Give me money, and I will teach them.”
Minerva was obliged to yield, and, of course, disliked her from that day. “For five-and-thirty years,” she said, and with great justice, “I never have seen the individual who has dared in my own house to question my authority. I have nourished a viper in my bosom.”
“A viper--a fiddlestick,” 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.”
It was in vain that the old lady asked her if she was aware she was speaking to Miss Pinkerton? Rebecca laughed in her face, with a horrid sarcastic demoniacal laughter, that almost sent the schoolmistress into fits. “Give me a sum of money,” said the girl, “and get rid of me--or, if you like better, get me a good place as governess in a nobleman’s family--you can do so if you please.” And in their further disputes she always returned to this point, “Get me a situation--we hate each other, and I am ready to go.”
I've read comparisons to Gone with the Wind--Becky is supposed to be Scarlett; Amelia, Melanie. Jos. Sedley could be Charles Hamilton, and the Napoleonic wars, the War Between the States. Scarlett wasn't really a climber though--her father was, and Scarlett was pretty grasping, but she was well-born enough for the times. And Melanie was a lot smarter than Amelia--in general, I think the characters in GWTW are better-developed, probably because Thackeray was writing one long extended metaphor, rather than an actual novel (i.e., in the original sense of the word, a character study).
I remember not liking it that much before, although I thought the Fair metaphor was marvelously well-developed. But it's engaging me this time--it's not so precious, as tittering as I thought before. I liked this passage:
[Becky] took advantage, therefore, of the means of study the place offered her; 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.
The girl refused; and for the first time, and to the astonishment of the majestic mistress of the school. “I am here to speak French with the children,” Rebecca said abruptly, “not to teach them music, and save money for you. Give me money, and I will teach them.”
Minerva was obliged to yield, and, of course, disliked her from that day. “For five-and-thirty years,” she said, and with great justice, “I never have seen the individual who has dared in my own house to question my authority. I have nourished a viper in my bosom.”
“A viper--a fiddlestick,” 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.”
It was in vain that the old lady asked her if she was aware she was speaking to Miss Pinkerton? Rebecca laughed in her face, with a horrid sarcastic demoniacal laughter, that almost sent the schoolmistress into fits. “Give me a sum of money,” said the girl, “and get rid of me--or, if you like better, get me a good place as governess in a nobleman’s family--you can do so if you please.” And in their further disputes she always returned to this point, “Get me a situation--we hate each other, and I am ready to go.”
I've read comparisons to Gone with the Wind--Becky is supposed to be Scarlett; Amelia, Melanie. Jos. Sedley could be Charles Hamilton, and the Napoleonic wars, the War Between the States. Scarlett wasn't really a climber though--her father was, and Scarlett was pretty grasping, but she was well-born enough for the times. And Melanie was a lot smarter than Amelia--in general, I think the characters in GWTW are better-developed, probably because Thackeray was writing one long extended metaphor, rather than an actual novel (i.e., in the original sense of the word, a character study).
