Previous
Allusions
Chapter 34
Explanation and Analysis—Dinner with James:
In Chapter 34, Miss Crawley invites her nephew, James Crawley, to dinner with Lady Jane and Pitt Crowley. James is a young Oxford student, awkward and a bit brash, and Thackeray stuffs his dialogue with a combination of dialect and allusion in order to satirize his behavior:
“Come, come,” said James, putting his hand to his nose and winking at his cousin with a pair of vinous eyes, “no jokes, old boy; no trying it out on me. You want to trot me out, but it’s a no go. In vino veritas, old boy. Mars, Bacchus, Apollo virorum, hay? I wish my aunt would send down some of this to the governor; it’s a precious good tap.”
Related Themes:
Chapter 55
Explanation and Analysis—Raggles's Dialect:
In Chapter 55, Becky's household staff and landlord confront her about her financial situation: in order to continue living the high life in London, she has neglected to pay either party. Thackeray uses dialect to highlight the class disparity between Becky, the erstwhile socialite, and Raggles, her landlord—and formerly the butler for Becky's husband's family:
Unlock with LitCharts A+‘O Mam,’ said Raggles, ‘I never thought to live to see this year day, I’ve known the Crawley family ever since I was born. I lived butler with Miss Crawley for thirty years; and I little thought one of that family was a goin’ to ruing me – yes, ruing me’ – said the poor fellow, with tears in his eyes. ‘Har you a goin’ to pay me? You’ve lived in this ’ouse four year. You’ve ’ad my substance: my plate and linning. You ho me a milk and butter bill of two ’undred pound, you must ’ave noo-laid heggs for your homlets, and cream for you spanil dog.’
Related Themes:
