Catherine

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The narrative centers on Catherine Hayes, an 18th-century criminal executed for her husband's murder, as Thackeray critiques the glorification of crime in contemporary literature. By choosing Hayes, he aims to present a starkly unflattering portrayal, contrasting with the romanticized depictions found in the works of authors like Bulwer-Lytton and Dickens. Thackeray's intention is to challenge the moral implications of crime fiction, offering a more realistic and harsh view of criminality, thereby marking a significant departure from the prevailing literary trends of his time.