23 reveal the characterization of the characters. This theory provides the definition
and techniques of characterization. Though not all, these techniques can be used to discover the characterization of the characters. Theory of critical approaches is
used to determine the most appropriate approach in analyzing and interpreting the novel.
To answer the second problem, theory of satire, the relation between society and literature, and review on the British society of the early Victorian era
are utilized. Theory of satire gives information about what a satire is, and what the function of satire in a literary work. The relation between society and literature is
used to know what is meant by society and the correlation between literature and society. This theory is also used to get proves that readers can really know the
perception of the British society in the early Victorian era through the characters of the novel. The review on British society provides the information about the
governmental, economic, social condition and moral values at that era. Besides getting better understanding about the society, by knowing this information, the
readers can also get the social criticisms that the author tries to express in his novel.
24
CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY
There are three parts that are discussed in this chapter, namely: the subject matter, the approach of the study, and the method of the study. Subject matter of
the study describes the novel that is going to be studied and a brief summary on what the story is about. Approach of the study gives information about the
approach employed in this study. Method of the study explains what kind of research that is used in this study, what sources are used, and steps taken in
analyzing the novel.
3.1. Subject Matter
The novel that was discussed in this study is called Vanity Fair. It was written by William Makepeace Thackeray in 1847. It took more than a year for
him to finish it in monthly parts from January 1847 until July 1848. The novel used in this study was published by Everyman and edited by Pat Rogers in 1997.
It is six hundred and ninety nine pages long and divided into sixty seven chapters. Entitled Vanity Fair: a Novel without a Hero, this was considered as one of the
best novels that Thackeray ever wrote. Even Charlotte Bronte dedicated her
second edition of Jane Eyre to Thackeray, praising him as “the first social regeneration of the day”. Thackeray, who was born in Calcutta, 18 July 1811,
wrote several other famous novels, such as Pendennis 1840-1850, Henry Esmond 1852, The Newcomers 1853-1855, The Virginians 1857-1859, The
Adventures of Phillip 1862.
24 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
25 Vanity Fair told about the story of two best friends. Becky Sharp, the
penniless orphaned of an artist and a French opera dancer, and Amelia Sedley, the sheltered child of a city Merchant. The two have been educated at Miss
Pinkerton’s academy. Becky having failed to attract Amelia’s brother, Jos Sedley, became a governess to the children of Sir Pitt Crawley. She becomes a favorite of
Miss Crawley, Sir Pitt’s rich spinster sister. When Becky confessed that she had married with Rawdon Crawley, Sir Pitt’s youngest son, the young couple abruptly
fell from favor with Miss Crawley. They had to live without Miss Crawley’s financial help and dependent on Becky’s wits.
Meanwhile, Amelia’s father had lost all his money and her engagement with George Osborne had been broken off by George’s father, John Osborne. John
did not want his son to marry a poor woman from lower class. However, the two were married without the permission of John Osborne.
Amelia and Becky accompanied their husband to Belgium for war. Becky and Rawdon are apart after Rawdon discovered his wife with Lord Steyne. Becky
led an increasingly disreputable life on the continental. Rawdon who had become a governor of Coventry Island, died of fever Adapted from The Concise Oxford
Companion to English Literature 669.
3.2. Approach of the Study
As mentioned in Chapter II, there are five approaches that Rohrberger and Woods offer. Among them, the one to be applied in this study was the
sociocultural-historical approach. The main concern of this approach was the attitude and the action of society in which a work was created. A product of art
