The Bonfire of the Vanities

Discuss the treatment of women characters in the novel, including Maria Ruskin and Judy McCoy. How does their depiction differ from that of the main male characters?

What is the role of media and journalism in the novel? How does media shape public perception and influence legal outcomes?

How does Wolfe use satire to critique the excesses of 1980s Wall Street? Analyze specific examples from the text in your response.

Analyze the characterization of Reverend Bacon. How do his motivations and goals contrast with his public persona? What role does his morally dubious characterization play in the text, and what problems might there be with this characterization? Use specific examples from the text to support your argument.

Sherman and Kramer function as foils for each other, and their fortunes in the novel have opposite trajectories. How are Sherman and Kramer similar, and how are they different?

How does Wolfe use dramatic and situational irony to heighten tension throughout the novel? Analyze specific scenes from the text in your response.

How do male vanity and entitlement operate in the novel? Consider the words and conduct of Sherman, Kramer, and Fallow in your response.

Discuss the portrayal of New York City in the novel. How does the setting shape the novel’s themes and plot?