Money and Marriage at Vanity FairIn his novel Vanity Fair, William Thackeray exposes and examines the vanities of 19th century England. Its characters seek wealth, power, and social status, often through marriage or marriage. The present essay examines Thackeray's use of the institution of marriage in Vanity Fair to comment on how these vanities often come at the expense of the true emotions of passion, devotion, and love. Parental Ambitions In Vanity Fair, money is at the heart of almost all of the characters' relationships. Thackeray linked England's merchant families, gentry, and upper aristocracy through money and marriage, and parents were often the primary negotiators in these business transactions. Mr. Osborne is perhaps the most miserly parent in the novel; Money and social eminence are very important to Mr. Osborne, and he is willing to sacrifice his children's happiness to associate his family name with these vanities. He forbids his daughter Jane from marrying an artist with whom she has fallen in love, swearing "that she would not have a shilling of his money if she married without his consent" (p416). For Mr. Osborne, love has little to do with marriage, and marriage is simply a transaction that should increase the family's wealth and prestige. This concept was by no means uncommon in the 19th century: the rise of industrialism and colonialism meant an influx of wealth into England, and marriage was seen by many as a means of either increasing one's status or cementing commercial links. This latter theme is echoed in Mr. Osborne's interference in his son George's relationship with Amelia. Their attendance is arranged, the "two young people [having] been raised by their parents" (p38) ...... middle of paper ...... and them, and do not look inside. She escaped from them, and despised them - or at least she took the other path from which retreat was now impossible. (p410-11) Thackeray points out that Becky could have led a simple and happy life, without her incessant desire for wealth and social status. However, she never realizes this and, through Rebecca, the author shows us how our vanity desires can blind us to truer and simpler emotions. ConclusionThe marriages and misalliances of the characters in Vanity Fair show us the folly and futility of chasing wealth, power and social eminence at the expense of love and passion. Thackeray's novel reminds us that there are often hidden costs when we enter into such a transaction, and that the true expense is often more than we can afford. Works Cited Thackeray, William (18). Vanity Fair.