The Bonfire Of The Vanities

The Bonfire of the Vanities

Tom Wolfe's 1987 novel "The Bonfire of the Vanities" is a satirical masterpiece that skewers the excesses and superficiality of New York City's high society in the 1980s. The novel follows the intersecting lives of three characters: Sherman McCoy, a wealthy investment banker; Maria Ruskin, a young Black woman falsely accused of a crime; and Peter Fallow, a journalist who covers the case.

Sherman McCoy is the embodiment of the "Masters of the Universe" who dominated Wall Street in the 1980s. Arrogant, entitled, and driven by greed, McCoy lives a life of luxury in his Park Avenue penthouse. However, his world comes crashing down when he is involved in a hit-and-run accident in the Bronx. The victim is Maria Ruskin, a young woman who is carrying her infant daughter in a stroller.

Maria Ruskin is a poor, single mother who is trying to make a better life for herself and her daughter. She is falsely accused of attacking McCoy, and her life is turned upside down. The media sensationalizes the case, and Maria becomes a symbol of the division between the wealthy and the poor in New York City.

Peter Fallow is a cynical journalist who is assigned to cover the McCoy case. He is initially skeptical of Maria's innocence, but as he investigates the case, he begins to question McCoy's motives. Fallow becomes increasingly disillusioned with the corrupt world he exposes, and he ultimately resigns from his job in disgust.

"The Bonfire of the Vanities" is a powerful indictment of the greed, corruption, and social inequality that plagued New York City in the 1980s. Wolfe's novel is a cautionary tale about the dangers of pursuing wealth and status at all costs. It is also a reminder that the divide between the rich and the poor is a real and pressing issue in our society.

The novel's title is taken from a passage in the Book of Isaiah in the Bible. The passage describes the destruction of Babylon by fire, and it is used by Wolfe to symbolize the destruction of the superficial and materialistic values that dominate New York City's high society.

Wolfe's novel was a critical and commercial success, and it has been adapted into a film and a television series. It remains one of the most important and influential novels of the late 20th century.