The Statement Tactics Of "Vanity Fair" By Thackeray

1. Contrast statement in characters .Contrast description and statement make similar or opposite elements appear correspondingly, so the extent and the satiric power that the works reveal have been developed and improved . In the novel , characters , social positions and destiny of different figures become clear in contrast and they also reveal the similarity in difference , different figures are described in"Vanity Fair"1.1 Rebecca and AmeliaRebecca , clever and pretty , was born in a penniless family , she dreamed of getting rid of poverty and racked her wits in entering high society . While Amelia , dear and gentle , was born in a rich family , she was satisfied with God's will and projected all her feelings into George Osborne's loveThe novel began with the leave of these two girls from Pinkerton's Academy . Their destiny contrasted each other , but different behaviors"enlarged"their characters dramatically . The author did not want to contrast the good and the evil , but to reveal the truth through these two figures–"everybody is right, and the world is a rogue."The two girls were different from each other not only in characters but also in destiny, but people in bad luck were not necessarily at the end of their rope and people in good luck may not necessarily obtain happiness , just as the author's thoughts :"Ah, Vanitas Vanitatum , which of us is happy in this world ? which of us has his desire ? or , having it , is satisfied ?"Different roads led to the same destination , such an ending certainly should be considered as a vivid satire1.2 Dobbin and GeorgeGeorge Osborne was vain and worthless , Dobbin ,his friend, was honest and unselfish , he had true feelings and looked different in such a cruel and egotistic world . He was most willing to be Amelia's protector and slave but many years passed , he finally realized his passion of love toward Amelia and was bored with his role . Even such a"different person"in Vanity Fair could not get a good repayment from life , his ending seemed to be good , but actually not , he couldn't became a"hero".Thackeray often reminded the readers that if people in worldly society were eager to become heroes and have perfect lives , it was maybe only a self-deceiving vision or a dream that those romantic authors made up2. Contrast in talks and behaviorsSelf-opposite looking and feeling could be shown through the contrast of figures'talks , attitudes and behaviors , which made readers observe figures with sharp eyes . It was found that everyone in Vanity Fair was wearing a mask by comparing presentation with fact , they schemed and plotted against one another , thought in one way and behaved in another , and they would have different attitudes when in different situations , and held different opinions toward people in different situations .The author could avoid enforcing his judgement upon readers directly and arbitrarily with contrast . It was not only a direct disclosure toward their vain characters , but a presentation of living rules in Vanity Fair , in the meantime strong satiric effect was shown3. Meaningful statement angle of viewThackeray used a know-all statement angle of view in"Vanity Fair", most of time narrator knew everything and was capable of doing anything , but sometimes the narrator gave up his privilege consciously and left the statement gap and he would give comments and communicate with readers occasionally.Narrator became the God when introducing characters , opening up plots , the characters'social position , growing experience , hobbies were introduced in detail, their talks and behaviors were described vividly , so were the feelings .But sometimes narrator would give up his absolute power of know-all angle of view and leave some statement gap consciously , the"gap"on one hand , can make readers think over and then see light suddenly ,on the other hand, let readers participate in plots .In addition , the narrator would introduce another narrator , it made contents vivid , or a vague boundary of"real"and"fictitious"by exchanging angle of view at will.4. Narrator's intervening statementThere were some narrator's statement in"Vanity Fair"these comments sometimes were to explain , sometimes to deliver feelings and thoughts , communicate with readers and sometimes to discuss the writing techniques that had nothing to do with plots .4.1 Theme's deepening and nature's presentation The nature of real life that hid behind the character's performance was presented by inserting narrator's comments, which guided us to think before complicated plotsThe sigh from narrator's real inside feelings was directed to every characters , the vain social fashion and the life itself . The active intervenor put the personal experience among readers , characters and plots through those comments which showed Thackeray's strong desires to discover the truth of the world .4.2 Arousing readers'imagination and judgementNarrator would communicate with readers, put questions to them , guide them to think and judge .And narrator would list some behaviors under common situations to make readers distinguish and see themselves. Voice of comments had an effect on the suspend of plot statement, which made readers maintain the distance from characters and plots and aroused profound and calm self-examination .4.3 .Making readers embarrassed and annoyedNarrator sometimes put forward ideas according to"Vanity Fair"on purpose , and sometimes seemed to stand by the readers but actually the narrator was tempting readers to find themselves in"Vanity Fair".Thackeray made figures in Vanity Fair appear at the same time through contrast description , which made their characters clear .Readers were led to think and find out the"truth"of Vanity Fair ."Vanity Fair"was a reflector of the society.