Vanity Fair

The narrative revolves around the contrasting characters of Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley as they navigate the complexities of Victorian society after graduating from an all-girls academy. While Amelia embodies innocence and privilege, Becky is determined and cunning, eager to ascend the social ladder. Thackeray's satire critiques the moral ambiguities and societal ambitions of his time, drawing parallels to John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress." Set during the Napoleonic Wars, it challenges traditional notions of heroism, presenting a world immersed in vanity and materialism.