Vanity Fair is a novel about a young girl Rebecca wanting to move foward in society. Although she is a very accomplished, bright young lady, she is constantly ignored because of her family's social class and because of her job as a governess. Rebecca tries to increase her rank in society by trying to marry a rich bachelor and winning over the affections of "important figures" with her charming personality.
In those days, governesses were looked down upon even though they were very learnt and educated. The wealthy and the nobility thought of them as "high class wannabes" and ignored them. Yet it was okay for a boy from a middle or low class family to move up the class ladder. This is shown through the life of another character in this novel. I think this mindset is ridiculous and sexist. What makes it okay for men to move up the social ladder without anyone lashing out at them, but not for women? Why is this profession not acknowledged? Women have to learn and master subjects in all areas (not just academics, but cooking, sewing, etc). I think this is a much bigger accomplishment then learning just one trade or living off of family fortune's.
1 comment:
It is interesting how far women's rights have come, isn't it? When was this story set?
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