book report

Extensive Reading final report

1912002 Ishibashi Ken

Vanity Fair

     The writer is William Makepeace Thackeray(1811~1863).  He is one of the representative novelists in the Victorian era. This story is set in 19th century London. Using sarcastic and humorous words, he criticized people who live in the rich and aim at the upper class.

     In this novel, many characters appear, so it's hard to memorize all the member's names. However, the story goes while bringing Becky Sharp (Rebecca) into focus. She was born in the poor and tries to advance to the upper class with her inborn beauty and talent. In spite of her character that is liar and greedy, most people are easily deceived due to her excellent act.

     In chapter 1, the differences between the two young ladies are depicted. The story begins in an academy for young ladies. Amelia 'Emmy' Sedley is of a rich family, who is honest and earnest. Besides she is good at many things so loved by everyone in the academy. By contrast, Rebecca 'Becky' Sharp has a rebel spirit and ambition to climb the social ladder. Her parents had already died and she is hired there as a teacher of French by the headmistress. However, she is not satisfied with the current situation. After graduating from the school together, Becky stays at Amelia's home for two weeks. There, she meets Amelia's brother Joseph and she makes eyes at him to get married to him. Though he falls in love with, he is too shy to tell his love. In addition, he made a big blunder over drinking much and then had left home. So she got fed up with Joseph and quickly left Sedley's house to another house.

     Next, she went to Queen's Crawley to work as a governess. Though she was warmly adapted, she felt dull of the life there. One day, the baronet of the house Sir Pitt's Crawley's sister Miss Matilda Crawley came to him. Then, watching how noblemen and noblewomen behaved, she understood that money and a person's place in society are more important than honesty and kindness. She knows Amelia has many charms and is certain that they will bring her a rich husband. Becky swore that she finds a husband and a house of her own by her wits, and have a higher place in society than Amelia. Becky was liked by Miss Matilda Crawley and became her favorite companion. What is more, she meets Captain Rawdon Crawley who is the favorite nephew of Matilda and will inherit half of her money. So, she flirted with him and ran away, believing that Miss Matilda would forgive them. However, she doesn't forgive them and discides not to inherit her money.
     When it comes to Amelia, due to the situation of war between the United Kingdom and French, Amelia's father had gone bankrupt and her fiancee's father didn't help Sedley's family although Mr. Sedley had once helped George's family when they were poor, so he refuged the marriage of Amelia and George. Despite, both of them got married without Mr.Sedley's permission and have gone to their honeymoon.

     As I wrote above, reading whole this book, I found that there is no one whose heart is truly pure and kind except Amelia Sedley. All the people have any ambitious and ill will but Amelia doesn't have them, so she can't recognize and is hurt often. In contrast to Amelia, Rebecca Sharp has them and understands well. She taps into her own charm and talent to get a higher place in society and happier life than Amelia. Although there are many extreme expressions of people's ugly characters, this book is very interesting. (602 words)

George Eliot's English Travels

     This time I read "George Eliot's English Travels". Written by Kathleen McCormack(1943~), Professor of English at Florida International University in North Miami.

     This book is fun but too long for me to finish reading.

"When Marian Evans and George Henry Lewes returned from their German elopement in the spring of 1855, they could scarcely have faced a more daunting combination of scandal, slander, and ostracism."
    I'm a bit surprised because I think elopement in past age doesn't be accepted usually.

"George Eliot's scattered two- and three-day excursions away from London"
     I like this expression "scattered"


"They spent, indeed, about a quarter of the twenty years remaining to them traveling abroad"
     It's so amazing that they spent about 3 years for traveling!

Vanity Fair

     This time I read "Vanity Fair". The writer is William Makepeace Thackeray(1811~1863).  He is one of the representative novelists in the Victorian era. This story is set in 19th century London. Using sarcastic and humorous words, he criticized people who live in the rich and aim at the upper class.

     In this novel, many characters appear, so it's hard to memorize all the member's names. However, the story goes while bringing Becky Sharp (Rebecca) into focus. She was born in the poor and tries to advance to the upper class with her inborn beauty and talent. In spite of her character that is liar and greedy, most people are easily deceived due to her excellent act.

"His bulk caused Joseph much anxious thought and alarm"
     Joseph is a plump man and worries about it very much. However, he can't put it down.

""The children must have someone with them," cried Mrs. Sedly.
"Let Joe go," said his father laughing,”
      It's a scene that one person suggests to go to a park. Joseph's father makes fun of him and as I wrote, Joseph cares it terribly.                                                 
"Like many wealthy people, it was Miss Crawley's habit to accept as much service as she could get from her inferious"     
     Miss Crawley is a very rich old woman, and she is too ungrateful to leave others when she founds them useful.