Sexual Innuendo in William Thackery´s Vanity Fair

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Recommended: Gender and sexuality in literature

The French and the English are different in many ways. Throughout history the two have been separated by beliefs, life styles, and the different cultures they’ve adapted to. When reading over the semester the first two novels presented to were French and in it the sexual references were known. Not necessarily in an inappropriate manner, but it was acknowledged by the author, whereas the English were a little more subtle with their sexual references. In Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray, the reader would have to decipher if certain passages suggests sexual advances. Although the novel carries the famous slogan “a novel without a hero” it can be assumed that Rebecca Sharp is the strongest and most powerful character in the novel. This is not because of her wealth, which although was nonexistent in her childhood thrived in her adult life, but she was powerful because she knew how to manipulate people. In the 18th and 19th century women didn’t have the pleasure of having rights or a voice for that matter, instead they had to manipulate men to obtain that power. Since Rebecca Sharp didn’t have a well-established family or wealth she had to use her intelligence and beauty as a woman to get men to do what she wanted. It is because of the tricks she used, that sexual desires can be presented as the men respond to her. There are three good examples within Vanity Fair that capture these desires. The first is with Joseph, when under the influence of rack punch, makes some skeptical advances at Rebecca. Next came George who although on the brink of battle, can’t help but slip Rebecca a note. Finally it is when Rawdon catches Lord Steyne and Rebecca with their candlelight chat that the reader can assume the sexual desires the men carr...

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...y there is a certain derogatory term that could be used for this instance, when a man is blocked from having any type of sexual activity with a woman, and it is very evident that, that is what happened for poor Steyne.
Thackeray is an amusing writer. For upon reading the first chapter his voice is persistent and loud within the novel. Despite having a flavorful approach to writing, he was restricted by his location to make any sexual desires more obvious. However if the reader isn’t completely ignorant of sexual desires themselves, then they will be able to pick up on the slightly subtle advances the gentlemen make in the novel. Although the sexual desires weren’t as obvious as Balzac’s in Cousin Bette or Laclos in Dangerous Liaisons they were done in a tasteful manner that offered diversity in the literature realm that other novels weren’t successfully able to do.

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