18 had no chance to make a better life. Betsky says that the aristocrats or high class
society and middle class society were the people who obtained the benefits from this economic revolution in England.
2.2.3. Social Condition
Generally, there are three social classes that occur in the Victorian Era, namely high class society, middle class society, and lower class or working class
society. Each social class has its own characteristics.
2.2.3.1. High-Class Society
The high class society or the aristocrats was the richest class that had power upon the economic, politic, military, and intellectual policies. This class
had the best houses, food, clothes, education, and entertainment. They went to park or party for entertainment and social activities. Palaces, vast lands, luxurious
carriages, and other properties were their possession. They also had many servants to serve them fully. They were considered as having high social status, and it was
ascribed from family root. Their children went to high quality school built for high class families only. For children who did not go to school, their parents asked
a teacher or a governess to teach them at home McKay, Hill, and Buckler 846. The areas of their jobs in the society were the Church, government, navy or the
army Encyclopedia Britannica Volume 19 949. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
19
2.2.3.2. Middle-Class Society
The middle classes were much larger groups and much less wealthy than the lower class. They were composed mostly of the most successful business
families, such as those who worked in the industry, banking, and large commerce. These middle class families were the main beneficiaries of modern industry and
scientific progress. They had a number of servants as an indication of wealth and they spent food mostly since a dinner party was this class’ favorite social
occasion. They also had big interest in education by sending their children to better advanced education. People from the middle class pretended to be good in
the society. The middle class consisted of independent shopkeepers, small traders, and manufacturers McKay, Hill, and Buckler 847.
2.2.3.3. Lower-Class or Working-Class Society
The lower class society, or often called working class society, was the people whose livelihoods depended on physical labor and who had low levels of
living and education. They lived in slums, and they are not appropriately dressed. Their characterizations were lack of properties and dependence on wages. These
conditions were associated with low levels of living and education, restricted opportunities for leisure and cultural activities, and exclusion from the spheres of
important decision making The New Encyclopedia Britannica Vol. XVI 949.
2.2.4. Moral Values
Victorians, according to Arnstein, may be generalized as prudery, hypocrisy, and stuffiness. They often failed to be said thrift, seriousness of
character, respectability, hard work, and self help. Prostitute in London was PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
20 notorious. Drunkenness disgraces the large town. Yet they tried. There was a
famous maxim at that era said “honesty is the best policy”. Especially in business world, this statement was strongly remembered. A merchant or an industrialist
established his reputation by gaining reliability of others rather than sharp trading. A bankruptcy was a horror for businessmen, since “bankruptcy was regarded not
merely as financial but as a moral disgrace” Arnstein 76-7. Victorian remained as “old-fashioned” when referring to attitudes toward
sex. It was taboo at that time to talk about sex. Ideally sex was never to be referred to in conversation or in print. ”The reproduction of the species became the only
acceptable justification for sexual activity” Arnstein 78. The Victorian family was a patriarchal family, meaning that although a wife was not equal with a
husband, but she was fully responsible in taking care of her children. Divorce equaled with bankruptcy can be a source of social disgrace.
It is true that the Victorian has a perfect rule to conduct the life of the society. Unfortunately, the society was deficient in sight and sympathy.
Furthermore, it was too easy for the people to degenerate into sins. In fact, there were so may people who broke the social law. It had become a common thing day
by day. For on stance, drinking and gambling were kinds of games for some people. The Victorians did these activities to have fun while they were known
very well that they were forbidden in this country. People who cared tried to find a way for Victorians who did wrong behaviors to leave the bottle, but this was a
very long term solution while the Victorian wanted a prompt and effective answer to this problem.
21
2.3. Criticism
This criticism was written by Pat Rogers, a professor of Liberal Arts at the University of South Florida. He wrote the introductory part and edited Vanity
Fair, where this criticism was taken from. He started with commenting the title. It referred to John Bunyan’s picture of the world as a crowded market place of
temptation. Originally entitle with Vanity Fair: A Novel without a Hero, its subtitle also served as another provoking endless interpretation.
The position of a hero is replaced with a heroine. So, it is a novel about a heroine, not a hero. The plot revolves around Amelia and Becky. Rogers also
quoted in Chapter 30, “if this is a novel without a hero, at least let us claim to a heroine”, to show that it was Becky that acted like a heroine while she helped her
husband calmly preparing his leaving for battlefield. According to Rogers in his introduction to Vanity Fair, there are some
questions concerning the plot of Vanity Fair. On the other hand, the book’s characterization is praised in many ways. One character that is considered
successful in achieving the readers’ attention is Becky Sharp. “There can be few readers who would fail to recognize the triumph which is Becky Sharp” xxvii.
Rogers describes that Thackeray depicts Becky’s character with persuasive consistency.
Thackeray knows that Becky is a heartless, self-centered and evil woman, and spares no pains to make sure that we are aware of this. But she is also
admirable in more limited ways, on account of her courage, independence, and clear-headed realism xxvii.
He shows that Thackeray clearly describes Becky from two sides, virtues and vices. Rogers also says that another interesting point from Becky is his position of
