Humanity Through Thackeray's Lights

William Makepeace Thackeray's narrative lenses areanalyzed in three novels: Vanity Fair Pendennis andThe Newcomes. Vanity Fair exhibits a panorama of theworld through the vision of two women who developtheir own strategies for survival against their fatedcircumstances. Pendennis is a journey of anindividual. The narrative lenses focus on a youngboy's quest for the definition of a gentleman. Through the defined philosophies of a handful of menin the novel Thackeray reveals his personaldefinition of a gentleman. The narrative lenseswiden again in The Newcomes to incorporate a familywho are part of an emerging middle-class. Thackerayshows us a slice of society through a domestic dramawhile highlighting the plight of the Victorian woman. Through the world in Vanity Fair an individual inPendennis and a family in The Newcomes Thackeraydisplays his views on man woman and the world. Indissecting humanity Thackeray also reveals himselfhis gentleness sadness despair and love for hisfellow human-being.