The History of Pendennis (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: William Makepeace Thackeray
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Social satire
- Time of Work: Mid-nineteenth century
- Setting: England
- Genres: Long fiction, Satire
- Subjects: Maturation or coming of age, Values, Adolescence, Love or romance, Nineteenth century, Social issues, England or English people, Upper classes, Pretensions, Victorian era or Victorianism
- Locales: England
Characters Discussed
Arthur “Pen” Pendennis, a young Englishman of semi-aristocratic background whose essential nature is kind and gentle. Throughout the course of the novel, he moves from a childish infatuation with an actress, to an academically and financially disastrous career at the University of Oxbridge, to a dandified life in London, to the career of a journalist, to a seat in Parliament, and to a happy and successful marriage. During this time, he grows more sophisticated and somewhat snobbish, but he still retains the essential goodness of his original...
[The entire page is 1689 words long]
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