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The Book of Snobs
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More by William Makepeace Thackeray
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A clearer way to understand The Book of Snobs through themes, characters, and key ideas
This reading guide highlights what stands out in The Book of Snobs through 4 core themes, 3 character profiles. It is meant to help readers decide whether the book fits their taste and deepen the reading once they begin.
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What the book is doing
William Makepeace Thackeray's "The Book of Snobs" is a trenchant mid-19th-century satirical collection of essays that meticulously dissects the pervasive phenomenon of snobbery across all strata of Victorian society. Through a series of humorous observations and critical commentaries, Thackeray, adopting the persona of "Mr. Snob," exposes individuals obsessed with status, privilege, and public perception, from the military and university to the domestic sphere. The work serves as both a witty social critique and a call for self-reflection, inviting readers to recognize their own potential for snobbish behavior. Its enduring relevance lies in its timeless exploration of human vanity and the superficialities inherent in social interactions, making it a seminal work in the tradition of English social satire.
Key Themes
Snobbery and Social Hierarchy
This is the central, overarching theme of the entire work. Thackeray meticulously explores the nature of snobbery as a pervasive social disease, defining it as the worship of meanness and the constant striving for perceived social superiority. He demonstrates how Victorian society was rigidly structured by class, and how individuals at every level engaged in snobbish behavior, either by looking down on those below them or by fawning over those above.
Hypocrisy and Pretension
Closely linked to snobbery, this theme examines the gap between outward appearance and inner reality. Thackeray's snobs are often hypocritical, pretending to be more refined, intelligent, wealthy, or well-connected than they truly are. Their actions are driven by a desire to impress others and maintain a facade of superiority, often at the expense of honesty or genuine human connection.
“I am a Snob; I know it. I can't help it. I am a Snob by nature, and I have done my best to cultivate the faculty.”
How does Thackeray define 'snobbery,' and do you think his definition still holds true in contemporary society?
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