Vanity Fair Summary

The novel opens at Miss Pinkerton's Academy for young women, where readers are introduce to Amelia and Becky, the novel's female protagonists. Amelia and Becky are friends, but they are nothing alike. Amelia is kind and innocent and comes from a family with money. Becky Sharp, on the other hand, is sharp and scheming and emerges from an impoverished situation. Miss Pinkerton, utterly disgusted with Becky's behavior, sets her up in a governess position at the Crawley estate.

Before she takes her position, Becky spends a little over a week at Amelia's home. She spends her time ingratiating herself with the Sedleys and wooing Amelia's brother Jos, an overweight, shy and vain tax collector on break from his job in India. Becky nearly succeeds in arranging the marriage, until George, Amelia's love interest, steps in and convinces Jos he has behaved like a fool. Jos, humiliated, abandons home and Becky, furious with George, moves on to her job. Becky once again attempts to woo Jos, but Dobbin warns him about Becky's true nature. Regardless, he agrees to take out a life insurance policy with Becky as a beneficiary; he dies months later of poisoning. Rawdon soon dies of yellow fever, and Sir Pitt passes away, leaving the estate to little Rawdon. Becky is then able to live comfortably off the money she took from Jos and the money sent by her son. The Crawleys are a rather despiccable bunch and nothing like what Becky suspected. They are all scheming for the inheritance of Aunt Matilda, who is ill. Becky once again ingratiates herself with the family and earns the particular affections of Sir Pitt and Rawdon, who both ask for her hand in marriage. She admits begrudgingly to Sir Pitt that she agreed to marry Rawdon in secret, and everyone in the family is outraged when they hear this news. Meanwhile, Amelia pines over George, who disrespects and disregards her while he is in the military. Dobbin, who is George's closest friend and who is also secretly in love with Amelia, begs him to treat her kindly. George eventually agrees to marry Amelia, but just as his father predicted, the Sedleys come to financial ruin because of Mr. Sedley's poor business decisions. George's father

disowns him in response to Dobbin's efforts to get him to accept the marriage. The Duke of Wellington has declared war on Napoleon's army; since all the men are in the military, everyone goes to Belgium to prepare for the war. When the husbands go off to fight, the general's wife takes care of the women who are left behind. Amelia worries about George, and Rawdon mourns having to leave Becky, but Becky seems unconcerned about her soon-to-be husband and instead appears to be developing something with George. Unfortunately, George dies in the Battle of Waterloo. Sir Pitt, in the wake of his second wife's death, takes up with his butler's daughter, causing scandal at the household. The young Pitt Crawley finds a sweet wife who manages to earn the approval of Aunt Matilda, who never thought much of the older of Sir Pitt's sons. Both Amelia and Becky give birth to sons, and for a while Becky and Rawdon manage to live well on very little money; Becky is skilled at avoiding payments. The Sedleys, on the other hand, continue to slip further into financial ruin. Amelia sends Georgy, her son, to live with the Osbornes because of her difficult situation. When Sir Pitt dies, young Mr. Crawley inherits the estate and Aunt Matilda's money, and he invites Becky and Rawdon and their son to come live with him. Becky ingratiates herself with a man named Lord Steyne, who brings her out into society, sends little Rawdon, her son, away from school, and generally distracts her from her husband. When she neglects to send money to get Rawdon out of prison, where he has landed himself for unpaid gambling debts, he decides to investigate her new relationship. When he returns home, he finds jewels in her belongings, and he decides to duel Lord Steyne. The fight is avoided, but Rawdon moves away. Dobbin returns to England, and he finds Amelia, who is still grieving the loss of George. Dobbins sticks around anyway to help Amelia care for her son. Mr. Osborne dies and leaves some of his money for Amelia and Georgy, and three of them go off to Europe, where they find Becky. Becky admits to Amelia that she had been developing a relationship with George, and Amelia finally comes to her senses, sees George for who he really was, and marries Dobbin

About Vanity Fair

Vanity fair was published as a series of installments beginning in 1847. Even before all of the installments had been published, the work was an enormous hit. Thackeray was hailed for his realistic satire. At the same time, Thackeray was criticized for his ruthless depiction of his characters. It is difficult to locate redeeming qualities in Vanity Fair; all seem totally consumed by social mobility and wealth. The novel's heroine, if she can be properly labeled as such, seems entirely devoid of conscience.

Thackeray derived the title from a reference made in John Bunyan's allegorical story, The Pilgrim's Progress. One of the towns encountered by the pilgrim is called Vanity, and it constantly hosts a fair, meant to call the reader's attention to humanity's excessive attachment to the material world. This story was widely read at the time, so the moral implications were not lost on his audience

Character List
Rebecca Sharp The protagonist of the novel, Becky is a strong-willed young woman obsessed with status and wealth. She attends Miss Pinkerton's academy as an orphan completely alone in the world. She makes only one friend, Amelia, who is friends with everyone. She frustrates everyone else, acting superior to them all, speaking French when she knows that no one understands and demanding pay to teach lessons. As soon as she is out of the school she begins her manipulations. She feigns attraction to Joseph Sedley because she understands the position and wealth marriage to him would earn her. She also appeals to Rawdon Crawley, whom she ends up marrying. Sir Pitt, the baronet, also falls for her. It is clear that men fall at her feet, but she doesn't ever express sincere love for them. She finds Rawdon stupid, sees Sir Pitt only for his status and money, and hates George for his interference in her plan to marry Joseph. Rebecca is also a compulsive liar. She has an affair with George behind Amelia's back. While she is with Rawdon, she flirts with men of status in order to steal their money. She tries her best to secure Aunt Matilda's estate by attending to her. She manages to get Joseph to sign an insurance policy handing over half of what he owned before he died.

Amelia Sedley Amelia is a good-natured girl, difficult to dislike. She makes many friends at Miss Pinkerton's school. However, she is easily manipulated and patronized when she emerges into society. George walks all over her, and his sisters are condescending to her. Yet she remains infatuated with George, convinced that he must love her in return. Her innocence is initially framed as something good, but soon the author reveals that this quality is also her curse. She is a victim of so many things; her family's designs, her family's financial ruin, Becky's ruthlessness, George's indifference, society's cruelty. Amelia is nevertheless a determined woman. Her son is her obsession, so she fights to keep and provide for him. She lets her family and herself starve and struggle so that he can have nice things. She resolves to commit suicide when he is taken from her, but instead, she spends all her time spying on the boy. Joseph Sedley Joseph, or Jos, is Amelia's elder brother. He is Boggley Wallah's collector in India. He is a relatively wealthy man, and he admires people only based on whether or not they come from the nobility. He dresses in ridiculous, extravagant clothing and is grossly overweight. His father constantly makes jokes at his expense, which frightens Jos. Jos is also frightened of women, which becomes especially evident when Becky tries to flirt with him and win his hand in marriage. He becomes easily deterred when he makes a drunken fool of himself and totally abandons the prospect. Jos goes to war as a civilian but dresses in military clothing to impress people. When the war starts, he decides to change back into civilian clothing so that he won't be noticed. The sound of bombs frightens him, and he buys horses from Becky at a ridiculous price so that he can escape. Even though his family is at the point of starvation, Jos only sends them a small yearly allowance from his paycheck. He refuses to buy his father's wine, even though it will help his business, because the wine is not any good. Near the end of the novel, he once again finds himself in Becky's snares, and he becomes another of her unsuspecting victims. George Osborne

George is a disrespectful playboy who happens to be Amelia's love interest and the man she has been promised to since childhood. He is obsessed with the chase and does not seem to have the capacity to love anything other than himself. He gambles, drinks, constantly buys things for himself, and takes advantage of Amelia's feelings for him and of Dobbin's loyal friendship. Eventually, he marries Amelia partly because she is so touchingly pathetic and partly because it makes him feel generous to be giving the girl her heart's desire. He also seems to enjoy the fact that he is defying his father. He seems to take his military responsibilities seriously, for he refuses the comfortable life his father offers him, and he dies in the Battle of Waterloo.

William Dobbin George's best friend, Dobbin is one of the characters not consumed by vanity. He is sincere and kind, and he does not expect recognition for his good acts. He is in love with Amelia, but he defers to George, and she doesn't even notice his affections for her. He plays an instrumental role in making their marriage possible. He is confused about this gesture, considering his strong feelings for Amelia. He is also extremely humble. There are several occasions in the book that he submits to George, even when it is clear that he is in the right. As often as he encourages George on the right path, at the end of the day, he never truly speaks up for himself. Sir Pitt Crawley Sir Pitt is Rebecca's wealthy employer. He is a baronet but has accrued enormous debt over the years and therefore hopes to be the beneficiary of his sister's fortune when she passes away. He is miserly and cruel, and he treats his wife with indifference. He has an inappropriate affinity for younger women. The current Lady Crawley is younger than he, and when she dies, he immediately seeks Rebecca's hand in marriage. When she refuses, he moves on to the young Ms. Horrocks, the daughter of his butler. The end of Sir Pitt's life is spent in embarrassing drunken debauchery. He reveals his true nature when he starts spending all his time with the common people, the friends of his servants, and

making passes at his butler's daughter. He feels more at ease with this crowd, which makes sense when considering the narrator's commentary on his rough, crude manner at the beginning of the novel. Young Pitt Crawley The older son of Sir Pitt, he is one of the contenders for Aunt Matilda's fortune. However, he stands in stark contrast to his irresponsible brother Rawdon. He is Lady Crawley's favorite; he is in fact the only one who even pays her any attention. He eventually marries the young Jane Sheepshanks and becomes the heir to Sir Pitt's estate. He treats Rebecca and Rawdon with kindness by inviting them to come stay at his residence. Eventually, he becomes the heir to Aunt Matilda's money as well. Rebecca sends her son, Rawdon, to live with him. He turns out to be the most responsible member of the Crawley family, and indeed he seems to benefit because of it. At the same time, he falls for Becky's lies, since he finds her more intelligent, interesting, and potentially useful than his own wife. Rawdon Crawley Rawdon is another of the novel's playboys. He doesn't care about education, he fights duels and he gambles. The first honest and honorable thing he does is marry Rebecca, with whom he falls dearly in love. He vows to take care of her. In a gesture of love, he purchases a house and furnishes it with credit, which indicates also that he is an incredibly irresponsible man. Rebecca's reflections make it clear that Rawdon is not very bright; he soon falls victim to her designs. She promises to take care of him, and naively, he takes her word for it. To earn money, he gambles, and Rebecca makes sure, using her feminine wiles, that he wins often enough to support them. He eventually lands himself in prison for not paying his debts, and when Rebecca doesn't bail him out, he finally becomes suspicious and uncovers all of the fraud she has engaged in over the years with various men. He walks out on her. Old Osborne Old Osborne is George's father. He used to be a friend and beneficiary of Mr. Sedley, but when the Sedleys fall into financial

ruin, he breaks off all ties with them and encourages his son to abandon their daughter. He also tries to push his son towards a wealthy heiress, encouraging him to forget his military duties and consider joining Parliament. John Osborne clearly does not have much integrity. He does feel a little remorse at turning his back on the Sedleys, but this does not change his actions. He disowns his son when George decides to marry Amelia, and when George dies, he is more worried about appearances it seems than about the tragedy itself. He is willing to wrest a son from his mother when Amelia is in financial trouble, as if exacting revenge for marrying his son. Lord Steyne Lord Steyne is a marquis from a long line of wealthy nobles. He ignores his wife and tries to drown his boredom in social gatherings. He has a son, George, whom he does not acknowledge because George is mentally ill. Lord Steyne is one of the many men who falls for Becky's schemes. He finds himself enamored of her, and he spends many evenings at her home. He gives her money and jewelry and hides this from her husband. He is quick to believe her lies, probably because he wants to believe them.

Glossary of Terms
amour-propre love of the self that is specifically informed by one's perception of the opinions of others bandy in reference to legs, exhibiting a curve outwards at the knee area baronet a British ranking directly below that of baron claret a red wine from the French region Bordeaux dawdle

to fool around and waste time diffident lacking self-esteem; shy dragoon European term for a cavalryman of a heavily armed troop ebullition an overflowing of emotion egad an interjection; used as an oath genteel having an aristocratic air; related to the nobility; refined, stylish gimcrack a flashy, useless trinket heathen someone who is irreverent, uncouth and inappropriate ingenue french for "ingenuous"; specifically refers to the role of an inexperienced and artless young woman jointure a piece of property given to a women in anticipation of marriage that she will own after her husband's death lexicographer someone who writes, edits or compiles dictionaries marchioness the wife or widow of a marquis; the feminine equivalent of marquis mulatto

a person of black and white heritage nabob a wealthy, influential or powerful person otiosity laziness, slothfulness; futility plenipotentiary a person who is authorizes to engage in business dealings on behalf of another person sate archaic past tense and past participle form of the verb "to sit" toxophilite a person who loves archery

Major Themes
Vanity Contained in the title of the book, vanity is a predominant theme in Thackeray's novel. Vanity is what classifies the society Thackeray satirizes. Vanity describes the motivations of most of the characters, because in Thackeray's view, this is the quality that motivates the bourgeoisie in reality. Vanity takes many forms in the novel, from Becky's flirtation with rich, noble men, to Jos' dress, to John Osborne's rejection of Amelia. Vanity appears most often in the novel in the form of excessive love of the self, or narcissism. Amelia, though often portrayed as a selfless victim, is guilty of this trait when she desperately takes whatever she can get from her rich and corrupt father-in-law. What vanity comes down to in the novel is an obsession with ephemeral, inevitably worthless things. This is best illustrated in Dobbin's obsession with Amelia, because even though he is the only character Thackeray does not consider "odious", he can only have the one thing he has always wanted after declaring that it is not worthy of his devotion. Heroism

The author tells his readers that this is going to be a novel without a hero. This is indeed an understatement, because most of his main characters behave far less than heroically. There is little selflessness, sacrifice, and courage in Vanity Fair. In the battle, George gets excited, but the author frames this as reckless abandon rather than heroism. Jos, in an extremely anti-heroic fashion, runs as soon as the violence begins. Sir Pitt, who seems to have heroic potential in his kindness towards Lady Crawley, changes his colors as soon as he comes into his inheritance. Additionally, Dobbin, the character who might be considered the most heroic, asserts himself only at the very end of the noble, only to come running back to what he deemed worthless as soon as she calls on him. Interestingly, on the original cover of the book, there was a character dressed in motley. Despite his comical appearance, he stared with great intensity into a mirror. He held this mirror as if he just picked it up for a moment but then could not put it down. This image tells us that the characters in this novel are not heroes, but they are also not comedians; there is an element of serious tragedy that pervades the work and cannot be found humorous. In this way, Thackeray's characters are, in a way, suspended between the comic and the heroic. Time Time is an interesting them because it is partly dependent on the way in which the book was published. Thackeray wrote this novel in a series of installments. He would publish a few chapters at a time, so every few chapters features a suspenseful conclusion that is then resolved in the following chapter. Thackeray relies on this format in part to keep his readers wanting more. It makes sense, then, that there are a number of flashbacks in the novel, and that even when the narrator claims he is not going to describe a character's past in order to bring the reader up to speed, he actually does. It was important to keep his readers updated when he was publishing a book in serial format. There is also the sense in the book that time is suspended. Even though people are moving forward and living their lives, there is a feeling that the same game is being played over and over again. This is the game of social mobility, of feigned appearances that Thackeray critiques in his novel. It gives his novel a sense of morbidity, because instead of a chronological progression towards

some worthy goal, Thackeray's characters are stuck in an empty, worthless exercise.

Death Because of the nature of the novel, it is easy to forget how much death there actually is in Vanity Fair. Vanity Fair is an extremely morbid place, but because so many people in the book die so naturally, the reader does not dwell on each passage. The reader focuses instead on Thackeray's humorous jabs at society. However, death is one of the author's tools for stressing his moral conclusions. Thackeray writes the book to implicate bourgeois "snobbery," and by letting the burden of death permeate his work, he makes his point that much more effectively. Death is seen in conjunction with greed and wealth, especially in the case of Aunt Matilda. The author is contrasting Matilda's belongings with the pall of her illness, telling us that while things are temporary, death is forever. Materialism Thackeray has a tendency to focus on objects in the book. He calls one of his titles "The Green Silk Purse" in reference to a purse that Becky has been weaving at the Sedley home. Jos Sedley's attire is often described with the greatest detail. Homes are packed with portraits, often portraying falsely the characters in them. Materialism is a symptom of bourgeois society, and therefore, Thackeray condemns it. This is most obvious because it is a conspicuous characteristic of Jos Sedley, whom the narrator constantly ridicules, often via other characters (his father, Georgy). But materialism afflicts most of the characters, because having a lot of things is a sign of wealth. Even Amelia is obsessed with the piano that Dobbin purchased for her; in this way, we see that things can blind people to the truth, since she is convinced that George is the one who bought it. Truth vs. Ideal Thackeray firmly proclaims many times in his work that he is devoted to revealing the truth, even though a true portrait of bourgeois society is not an appealing one. All of Thackeray's

characters struggle because they avoid truth. Becky deceives everyone but her schemes eventually turn on her. Amelia refuses to see the truth about George's playboy nature and his infidelity. Dobbin refuses to accept that Amelia does not love him, and he endures years of torment at her side. Rawdon refuses to acknowledge Becky's manipulations. But it is Thackeray's hope also to make a distinction between the things in life that are worth living for and the things that are ephemeral and do not matter. To this effect, he is constantly critiquing his characters, usually humorously, because they do not live up to his expectations. But are these his expectations? Here we find that there is a bit of thematic conflict, because the author clearly moralizes but does not provide a conclusion or solution that responds to his moral judgments. Motherhood Motherhood plays an important role in Vanity Fair. There are good mothers and terrible mothers, doting mothers and altogether absent mothers. It goes without saying that the maternal influence on a person is a great one. For instance, Becky's mother died when she was young and therefore was not an actor in Becky's life. In turn, Becky basically ignores her son while she plays Vanity Fair's games. Art There are many forms of art in Vanity Fair. There are the visual arts, drawing and painting. Becky and Amelia engage in the visual arts, and portraits abound in the homes of the wealthy. There is the art of writing; many letters appear in Vanity Fair. There are the performance arts, including dancing and singing, which play a large role in courtship and attraction. Becky, in a way, is the "daughter of art", since she was born to a painter and an opera singer. Indeed, it is through art that Becky manipulates others. One might even say that her manipulative practices themselves constitute an art form.

Quotes and Analysis

1. The world is a looking-glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own

face. Frown at it, and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly, kind companion; and so let all young persons take their choice. Narrator, 13 The narrator makes this remark in the context of introducing the reader to Becky Sharp. He discusses that she is a difficult, unkind young woman, and that in turn, the world treats her unkindly. His perspective is that in life, one gets what she gives, and thus, it is Becky's fault that she has a hard life. This plays out for the entire novel. She schemes constantly, but every time she schemes, she is either caught or her plan fails. The novel ends with her depending on funds she mooched from someone else and scorned by her friends and family. 2. Are not there little chapters in everybody's life, that seem to be nothing, and yet affect all the rest of the history? Narrator, 51 The narrator discusses the importance of the chapter on the visit to Vauxhall. He remarks that despite its brevity and seeming triviality, important events will happen in this chapter that have an effect on the rest of the story. He is specifically referring to Joseph's drunken display, which inevitably prevents the marriage between Jos and Becky, and which incites Becky's hatred of George. This quote is especially representative of Thackeray's style of writing. The book was written in serial format, which meant that chapters were published separately in sections, and so obviously each section would have to contain important, suspenseful, plot-changing elements in order to hold a reader's attention. In some ways, each element of the series would have to stand on its own as a piece of literature.

3.

But my kind reader will please to remember that this history has "Vanity Fair" for a title, and that Vanity Fair is a very vain, wicked, foolish place, full of all sorts of humbugs and falsenesses and pretensions. And while the moralist, who is holding forth on the cover (an accurate portrait of your humble servant), professes to wear neither gown nor bands, but only the very same long-eared livery in which his congregation is arrayed: yet, look you, one is bound to speak the truth as far as one knows it, whether one mounts a cap and bells or a shovel-hat; and a deal of disagreeable matter must come out in the course of such an undertaking. Narrator, 75 This passage follows Rebecca's letter to Amelia. It reveals the author's intent in writing Vanity Fair. He promises the unadulterated truth, even if that truth is unpleasant. And he does promise that his revelations will be unpleasant. His title is revealing, and Rebecca's letter, in which she focuses on silly, petty and generally insignificant criticisms, is also revealing. 4. Vanity Fair--Vanity Fair! Here was a man, who could not spell, and did not care to read-who had the habits and the cunning of a boor: whose aim in life was pettifogging: who never had a taste, or emotion, or enjoyment, but what was sordid and foul; and yet he had rank, and honours, and power, somehow: and was a dignitary of the land, and a pillar of the state. He was high sheriff, and rode in a golden coach. Great ministers and statesmen courted him; and in Vanity Fair he had a higher place than the most brilliant genius or spotless virtue. Narrator, 82 This quote characterizes Sir Pitt Crawley, Rebecca's employer. Because he is of the nobility, the author warns

that people will hold him in high regard in Vanity Fair, even though he possesses absolutely no virtues outside of his social rank. This is just another passage that condemns the society Thackeray ruthlessly satirizes in Vanity Fair. 5. These money transactions--these speculations in life and death--these silent battles for reversionary spoil--make brothers very loving towards each other in Vanity Fair. Narrator, 90 Money is one of the primary motivators in Vanity Fair. Becky's manipulations all inevitably aim at achieving wealth for herself. The Crawleys' dealings with Aunt Matilda all focus on her abundant estate. George and Rawdon, the novel's playboys, both suffer from the vice of gambling. The quest for material gain inevitably leads many of the characters to engage in shameful activity, such as pretending affection for those they really don't care for in the least. 6. I am very fond of Amelia; I adore her, and that sort of thing. Don't look angry. She's faultless; I know she is. But you see there's no fun in winning a thing unless you play for it. George, 113 George discusses his relationship to Amelia with Dobbin. The reader can tell from this passage that George cares only for the chase when it comes to women, and that he is not interested in a serious, settled marriage with Amelia. This section also highlights the great distance between George's expectations and feelings and Amelia's. 7. Oh, thou poor panting little soul! The very finest tree in the whole forest, with the straightest stem and the strongest arms, and the thickest foliage, wherein you choose to build and coo, may be marked for what you

know, and may be down with a crash ere long. What an old, old simile that is, between man and timber. Narrator, 115 This section emphasizes Amelia's infatuation with George and how short-sighted it is, considering that George does not have the same feelings for Amelia. The danger of nesting in a tree that seems sturdy but is not is an apt metaphor for Amelia's investment in George, since he does not intend to stay faithful to her. He seems the sturdy tree, because on the surface, he is handsome, welloff, charming, and acts as if he adores her. He further deceives her by returning to her and spontaneously marrying her, merely because he feels good about himself for doing it and because it angers his father. There is a great deal of dramatic irony where George is concerned, because the reader knows all along that he is one of those trees that looks sturdy but is surely one that will soon crash beneath her. Amelia believes until almost the very end of the book that he loved her and that he is a good man, while the reader discovers his true nature as early as the scene involving George in his barracks, embarrassed by Amelia's emotional letters. 8. Be cautious then, young ladies; be wary how you engage. Be shy of loving frankly; never tell all you feel, or (a better way still), feel very little. See the consequences of being prematurely honest and confiding, and mistrust yourselves and everybody. Get yourselves married as they do in France, where the lawyers are the bridesmaids and confidantes. At any rate, never have any feelings which may make you uncomfortable, or make any promises which you cannot at any required moment command and withdraw. This is the way to get on, and be respected, and have a virtuous character in Vanity Fair.

Narrator, 170-171 The employment of "virtuous" in this section is peculiar, because Thackeray uses the word in a way that seems opposite to how we would normally perceive it. The author implies that in this book, values are turned on their heads. What had happened? Was she guilty or not? She said not; but who could tell what was truth which came from those lips; or if that corrupt heart was in this case pure? All her lies and her schemes, all her selfishness and her wiles, all her wit and genius had come to this bankruptcy.
9.

Narrator, 538-539 Rawdon has just left Becky after discovering all of the money she has been hording over the past ten years. She realizes that all of her schemes have come to nothing, and that she has only a few trinkets to her name. This can probably be considered the climax of the book, because Rawdon finally sees her for who she is, and Becky is forced to come to terms with her crimes. But instead of feeling remorse for what she's done, the reader finds Becky insisting upon her innocence. The author asks his readers to consider whether this is a sincere belief, or whether Becky is simply being herself and perpetuating the lies she has built her life upon. 10. Which of us is there can tell how much vanity lurks in our warmest regard for others, and how selfish our love is? Old Osborne did not speculate much on the mingled nature of his feelings, and how his instinct and selfishness were combating together. He firmly believed that everything he did was right, that he ought on all occasions, to have his own way--and like the sting of a wasp or serpent his hatred rushed out armed and poisonous against anything like opposition. He was proud of his

hatred as of everything else. Always to be right, always to trample forward, and never to doubt, are not these the great qualities with which dullness takes the lead in the world? Narrator, 355 Old Osborne is angry because his son is buried in a common cemetery, even though Dobbin arranged to have him buried at that location because George had mentioned it as a nice place. John Osborne, as usual, thinks of nothing but pride. He does not mourn the state of his relationship with his son when he died. He does not mourn the widowed wife and fatherless son. Perhaps, it is his pride that acts as a defense in such a trying situation. The narrator mentions that feelings were combating one another. Perhaps John Osborne successfully distracts and consoles himself by being ruthlessly and aggressively righteous and particular. The narrator remarks that these are qualities with which he has made something of himself in the world. Indeed, he dismissed his friend without a thought because it challenged his reputation. It makes sense that he would dismiss his son in a similar context. 11. I wonder is it because men are cowards in heart that they admire bravery so much, and place military valour so far beyond every other quality for reward and worship? Narrator, 295 George is excited about going to war. Thackeray implicitly calls George a coward for his treatment of Amelia. Yet he is recklessly enthusiastic about risking his life to fight in battle. Here, the author emphasizes the great cost it is to these characters to engage honestly with one another, by contrasting it with what should be the greater cost, sacrificing one's life in war.

12. It became the fashion, indeed, among all the honest young fellows of the --th, to adore and admire Mrs. Osborne. Her simple, artless behaviour, and modest kindness of demeanour, won all of their unsophisticated hearts; all which simplicity and sweetness are quite impossible to describe in print. But who has not beheld these among women, and recognised the presence of all sorts of qualities in them, even thought they say no more to you than that they are engaged to dance the next quadrille, or that it is very hot weather? Narrator, 259 This is yet another of the author's subtle jabs at Amelia's personality. Although she is framed as one of the kindest and sincerest characters in the novel, the author criticizes her for her innocent simplicity and paints her in striking contrast to the witty and artful Becky. He also criticizes the men of the regiment for the unquestioned acceptance of this young woman, who is immediately met with approval because of George's reputation.

Chapters 1 - 6
Summary, Chapters 1 - 6 The book begins at Miss Pinkerton's academy for young ladies, on the day of Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley's departure. The letter prepared by Miss Pinkerton about Amelia commends her character and talents and recommends her highly for a position at the lexicographer's. This is due in part because she has a rich and influential father and in part because she is such a kind young woman. The note includes a short aside about Becky, who will accompany Amelia but who is to quickly move on to the family who expects her.

As the preparations come to a close, and Amelia tells everyone goodbye, Becky emerges inconspicuously. No one notices her step into the carriage, but tears and goodbyes abound for Amelia. When

Miss Jemima tries to slip Becky a dictionary as the carriage takes off, Becky flings it out the window to Miss Jemima's surprise. After Rebecca rants about Chiswick, the narrator launches into Rebecca's history. Rebecca's French mother, of whom she does not often speak, is dead. Her father is a starving artist and for a time taught drawing at Miss Pinkerton's school. He is a heavy drinker and was known to have beaten Rebecca and her mother. Despite this, Rebecca loves her father and misses living with him while she attends Chiswick. Rebecca picked up a saucy wit and an audacious, liberal nature from her impoverished situation and the countless conversations she had as a youth with her father's friends. Therefore, Chiswick is an environment that smothered her. Having nothing else with which to occupy herself, she excelled in her studies, and even managed to earn an invitation from Miss Pinkerton to teach a music course in addition to the French that she was already regularly teaching. She had a rather negative relationship with the headmistress, who at first misjudged Rebecca as meek. During Rebecca's time at Chiswick, Minerva Pinkerton did everything she could to try to best her pupil. Rebecca and Miss Pinkerton had common interests: they both hated that Rebecca was at Chiswick and wanted her to leave. So Miss Pinkerton recommended Rebecca for the position of governess for Sir Pitt Crawley's family. While at Chiswick, Rebecca eventually attached herself to Amelia, who was the only girl at the school her treated her kindly. Amelia invited Rebecca to come stay at her home for ten days before going off to begin her governess duties. When the ladies arrive at the house, Rebecca meets Joseph Sedley, who is extremely shy and thus ineptly handles her advances. Rebecca whispers loudly to Amelia that she thinks Joseph is handsome, because she has already decided that she wants to marry him. Joseph is a collector for the East India Company's Civil Service. At the dinner table, Rebecca pretends to be familiar with Indian food but is soon overwhelmed by the intense spices. Later, Joseph and his father reflect on Rebecca, and Mr. Sedley insists that she is interested in Joseph. This information makes Joseph uncomfortable, so he leaves the house and stays away for two days.

Meanwhile, Rebecca continues to endear herself to Amelia's family, and the young people plan a trip to Vauxhall. While Mr. Sedley thinks Rebecca would be a good match for Joseph, especially since she might be able to curb his conceit, Mrs. Sedley is less happy about the fact that Rebecca has designs on her son. One evening, while Mr. and Mrs. Sedley are away, the children decide to remain at the house rather than go to Vauxhall. George and Amelia retreat from the drawing-room, and so Joseph and Rebecca have the opportunity to talk privately. Rebecca, with her apparent interest in Joseph and his exploits in India, inspires a boisterous effusiveness in him, and he nearly proposes but is interrupted by dinner being served. The next morning, Joseph comes to the house much earlier than he normally would to see Rebecca and finds himself helping her make the green silk purse that she has been working on. The narrator then explores a period in the past of George Osborne, Amelia's childhood friend and love interest. He attended Dr. Swishtail's notable school, where he became friends with William Dobbin after the older boy defended him against the school bully, Cuff. From that day forward, Dobbin became the leader of the school and proceeded to thrive academically. He held George accountable for his improved circumstances and therefore permanently devoted himself to little George. Back in the present, George tells everyone that he has invited Dobbin, whom he respects as one of the best officers in the Regiment of Foot, to come to Vauxhall with them. When Dobbin arrives the next day, he happens upon Amelia singing, and he immediately falls in love with her. Everyone waits in heightened anticipation for Joseph to propose to Amelia. Meanwhile, his father continues to grow disdainful of him, thinking that because his son is obese, loud, "effeminate" and vain, he doesn't really care whom he ends up marrying. The five young people go off to Vauxhall. Dobbin is promptly forgotten when Amelia pairs off with George and Rebecca with Joseph. During their solitary walk, Rebecca and Joseph both feel that they have reached an important and climactic moment, but Joseph does not propose. The two couples then sit down to dinner

and Joseph proceeds to get ridiculously drunk. George recruits Dobbin to take care of him and get him home. The next morning, as Joseph is recovering from his encounter with the rack punch, George berates him for his behavior, denying that he was a "lion" and recounting that there was silly violence, singing, and an inability to stand involved. Joseph, utterly embarrassed, decides to flee to Scotland, leaving a note for Amelia and Rebecca apologizing for his abominable behavior. Rebecca, convinced that George is at fault for her dashed hopes, departs from the Sedleys'. Analysis, Chapters 1 - 6 There is a lot of foreshadowing in these first three chapters. Here, we get a taste of what Amelia and Becky are like and how the author uses each as a foil for the other. Becky is sassy and manipulative; she tosses out Miss Jemima's gift and then laughs when Amelia rebukes her. She can also employ a sweet and charming nature when she wants something, which is evident in her treatment of Jos. Thackeray also provides a full characterization of Amelia. He uses her reputation at school to indicate to his readers that this is a likable, simple girl. There is also a bit of foreshadowing in the fact that Amelia is the only one in the school who is willing to be friends with Becky. This prepares the reader for her continued blindness when it comes to Becky's conspicuous faults. Thackeray does create sympathy for Becky by talking about her past. She does not come from wealthy nobility and is therefore on her own to make a name for herself in the world. Thackeray makes it clear that Becky's past is a major factor in shaping the woman she becomes, even though it becomes something that she would much rather forget. Thackeray uses exposition liberally in these first three chapters as a way of introducing his characters. Instead of relying on dialogue to reveal information about them, he spends many paragraphs away from the actual story to explain their backgrounds. The author continues this throughout the book, often spending entire chapters on exposition. The author will also interrupt his story to alert the reader to certain opinions and observations, a method that fits very neatly with the novel's judgmental mood.

What Thackeray does with his characters can definitely be called metonymy, because each one is in his or her own way an embodiment of Vanity Fair. Vanity Fair is a place of selfishness and manipulation, obsession with appearances, materialism, and general ambition for all things considered ephemeral by the author. Even at the very beginning all of the characters are obsessed with their own images and place in society; each in his own way scrambles for a place in Vanity Fair, while the narrator ironically ridicules them for it. Again, the narrator takes a break from the storyline to describe how George and Dobbin became friends. This history is interesting because the reader finds out that at one point, Dobbin was the one that everyone admired, and that the only reason he allows George to walk all over him is that he considers him responsible for his success. Here, the author foreshadows Dobbin's obsessive sense of commitment, which will manifest itself in his relationship with Amelia. Rebecca continues to try to charm Jos, and it is clear that she is distancing herself more and more from her humble beginnings. She charms everyone in the household, and she does so without anyone really picking up on her scheming. Becky will continue to develop these skills as the story progresses. The narrator employs dramatic irony while he observes Becky's courting of Jos. He explains that Becky spent much of her time thinking about ways to reel in Jos Sedley and spent the rest of her time fantasizing about the life that she is going to have once they get married. Jos, on the other hand, never thinks of Becky in this way, always has petty things on his mind, and only finds that he is embarrassed when Becky is too forward. The title of Chapter 4 is "The Green Silk Purse." This is a telling title. Becky is knitting this purse, and on the night when she finally sits alone with Jos, the climax of his conversation with her ends up being a question about this purse. The purse itself is a symbol of the society in Vanity Fair. It is flashy and insignificant, yet it is a preoccupation of both Jos and Becky. Also, Becky replies that it is going to be for anyone who might want a purse, which means that it is up for grabs for any of the characters. The green of the purse might very well represent Becky's greed and indicates also the deception in her response. This

is just another one of her tools for trapping the Sedley family, and clearly, it doesn't take much.

Chapters 7 - 12
Summary, Chapters 7 - 12 Rebecca is excited about meeting a baronet but is disappointed to discover what Sir Pitt Crawley is actually like. She meets him and his housekeeper, Mrs. Tinker, at his town house on Great Gaunt Street. Sir Pitt Crawley is a boisterous, crude and stingy man, but he belongs to a house that is higher than that of the Sedleys. That night, Rebecca sleeps in the first Lady Crawley's death bed with Mrs. Tinker, fantasizing about her upcoming employment at the Crawleys'. But she soon realizes it is not going to be anything like she thought, and she writes to Amelia, criticizing the household.

The narrator the launches into descriptive portraits of the members of the family who have thus far been introduced. Sir Pitt Crawley enjoys the "low life", so to speak, and criticized his first wife for her high station and swore never to marry another of her sort. She died, and he married the beautiful Rose Dawson, but he got drunk too often and beat her. He lived in the debt incurred by his father, Walpole Crawley, who was also a drunk. He might have improved his position had he been able to acquire a position in law, but both his name and estate hampered his efforts, since it was considered inappropriate for a man of his station to work. He translates this unsatisfactory situation into bitterness, remarking, for example, that there would be no point to a Parliamentary position without the ability to make his creditors miserable. Lady Crawley, once Rose Dawson, is a tragic figure. She married Sir Pitt Crawley for his money and abandoned the man she loved, Peter Butt. She is scorned by the people in her new social rank because she was the daughter of an ironmonger, and she lost her old friends because they are not fit to be received by a woman of her station. She used to be an attractive woman, but in her grief, she lost her beauty. Mr. Crawley, Sir Pitt Crawley's eldest son from his first marriage, is a polite and proper gentleman. He became Lady Crawley's only friend and protector. He taught the servants of the home proper

rules and manners. He entered the diplomatic profession for a few years but then left and became more of a country gentleman. Later, he became involved in the "Negro Emancipation question" and eventually served as a magistrate and active religious speaker. His father owed him a large sum of money from "the jointure of his mother." Rebecca sets out to win favor among the members of the household. She knows that her plight as an orphan means that she must fend for herself. With Lady Crawley, she reads a number of English and French works. With the two girls, Violet and Camilla, she promises them that she won't tell their parents about their constant fighting and mischief. She consults Mr. Crawley about French passages that she already knows how to translate well. For Sir Pitt, she reads law papers, corrects his writing, and learns everything about his estate, so that eventually, she becomes his constant, indispensable companion. Sir Pitt's two sons, Mr. Crawley and Rawdon, hate each other and so are never at the house together. Their aunt has come to favor Rawdon and therefore paid for him to go to Cambridge. She also takes care of his debts after duels. She considers Mr. Crawley, on the other hand, a "milksop", and he, in turn, thinks of her as a godless woman who cavorts with "atheists and Frenchmen." She does indeed love everything French: philosophy, food, novels, wine. Bute Crawley, the baronet's closest neighbor, and his wife, Mrs. Bute, are nosy and greedy. They have their eyes set on the family fortune, and Mrs. Bute does some research on Rebecca's past life. Bute and Sir Pitt despise each other, but they are always on their best behavior when Miss Crawley visits. They are both interested in inheriting her money, and so they wait on her hand and foot, all the while anticipating her death with great excitement. They act exactly like Rawdon and Mr. Crawley, who also hope to win the bulk of the inheritance. Rebecca, meanwhile, has successfully managed to impress Miss Crawley and in so doing earns herself another fan in the house. She writes to Amelia about the goings-on in the household, which she jokingly refers to as "Humdrum Hall." She mentions that Rawdon seems to be paying her a great amount of attention. The butler mentions to Sir Pitt that Rebecca is a good match for Rawdon, implying silently that she'd be a good match for Sir Pitt as well.

The author turns his eye upon Amelia. He remarks that readers find her unimpressive; the author retorts by observing that criticism from other women is often the best compliment a woman can receive. In fact, things aren't going too well for her; George's sisters make fun of her, and George hasn't been around lately. Also, his letters are painfully brief and indifferent. Captain Dobbin feels sorry for Amelia and neglects to tell George's sisters that George has in fact not been visiting Amelia when they mention it. Amelia makes a visit to the Osbornes' and also keeps this bit of information to herself, and because it makes her so distraught, confirms the sisters' judgments by appearing stupid. Analysis, Chapters 7 - 12 Sir Pitt Crawley has no redeeming qualities, yet he is held in extremely high regard for the sole reason that he was born into a rich and noble family. The narrator is clear about his distaste, highlighting the man's interest in the "low life" as a way to suggest that that is in fact where the man belongs. He continues to moralize in the case of Lady Crawley. She is Sir Pitt's second wife, but she married him as a young and beautiful woman and is now aged beyond her years and thinks only of her lost beauty. This sad case is meant as a message from the author, since Lady Crawley married a rich man instead of the one she loved. It is in fact the loss of her young lover that she mourns, and the beautiful, youthful lifestyle she could have had with him. Marriage is a big theme in the novel, for the institution is very much a part of Vanity Fair's perpetual game. Marriage can either make or break you, and the narrator seems to think that you can hardly ever get everything you want out of marriage. It is also not something that is treated with any sort of reverence, and is instead considered somewhat of a business transaction. There is also the recurring image of the rich man with huge debts. The narrator seems to believe that being rich automatically incites an individual to an irresponsible lifestyle, and that the only thing that sustains a rich person after he spends all his money is his reputation. It seems that actual money is not as important as image in Vanity Fair, as the reader comes to see in the case of Becky.

There is also interesting foreshadowing in the image of Becky sleeping in the late Lady Crawley's bed. This tells the reader two things. The first is that Sir Pitt considers wives (and women in general) highly replaceable. Secondly, it tells the reader a little something about the development of the relationship between Becky and Sir Pitt. Becky's letter to Amelia about her new home is ruthlessly critical. She calls her new wards names and she passes judgment on Lady Crawley's insecurity. She also bemoans the inadequate reality of serving a baronet as compared to her expectations. The letter is very much in accordance with Becky's ambitious, merciless nature. Thackeray makes the association between objects and death with his introduction of Miss Crawley, or Aunt Matilda. The woman serves primarily as a source of wealth in the novel, and she spends her entire existence in the story as an ill woman. Miss Crawley is almost, in fact, death itself. "Picture to yourself--O fair young reader, a worldly, selfish, graceless, thankless, religionless old woman, writhing in pain and fear, and without her wig." This is Thackeray moralizing again; he is emphasizing the destructive power of greed. Thackeray emphasizes that destructive power in the relationships between Young Pitt and Rawdon and Bute and Sir Pitt. When Aunt Matilda is around, they are civil to each other in an effort to win her over. Otherwise, they hate each other and make no efforts to act like family. Thackeray also comments on the terrible way that women treat each other. He remarks that there is a great bit of deception in the way women behave, and for that reason, a compliment offered by one women to another cannot be trusted. George's sisters and their treatment of Amelia is a prime example of this. The author employs anthropomorphism to discuss what motivates his main characters. "We have talked of shift, self, and poverty, as those dismal instructors under whom poor Miss Becky Sharp got her education. Now, love was Miss Amelia Sedley's last tutoress, and it was amazing what progress our young lady made under that popular teacher." Dobbin is already showing signs of loving Amelia. When George's sisters ask about George and mention all the time he is spending at

Amelia's home, he neglects to mention that George is in fact not there at all. He does not want her to be embarrassed.

Chapters 13 - 18
Summary, Chapter 13 - 18 George is admired in the military for being a playboy. Dobbin becomes so irate his behavior that he blurts out that George is engaged to a nice young lady. George does not appreciate Dobbin's interference. Dobbin accuses George of being ashamed of Amelia and mistreating her. George rejects Dobbin's "sermonising" and comments on Amelia's affection for him, observing that there is no fun in a relationship if there is no chase involved. Dobbin's anger quickly abates, but he gives George money, begging him to do something nice for Amelia.

George returns to town and purchases a shirt-pin for himself rather than a gift for Amelia. Amelia is elated when he shows up at her house. He suggests that they dine with his sisters, and Amelia spends some time with them while George goes out on the town to gamble. They are surprised at her loquaciousness, thinking that George might be able to "make something of her."
Old Osborne, George's father, is a nasty, critical man. He is

disappointed to find Amelia in his home, and he does not wait for George to begin dinner. When he and George are alone, he tells him that he must not marry Amelia unless she brings with her 10,000 pounds. Old Osborne is worried about the state of Mr. Sedley's business, and even though George and Amelia have been promised since childhood, Osborne claims that he has sufficiently repaid Mr. Sedley for helping him improve his situation. Miss Matilda Crawley falls ill, and Becky leaves Sir Pitt to take care of her. She has become the only one the old woman trusts. Rawdon pays several visits to Matilda Crawley's home while she is ill, presumably to check in on his aunt. On one of her drives with Miss Crawley, Becky visits Amelia, whom she hasn't seen in several months. Miss Crawley likes both George and Amelia and invites them to her home. Rebecca's interaction with George is hostile, since she blames him for her failure with Joseph Sedley.

Meanwhile, no one notices that Lady Crawley, severely ill, passed away, except for her stepson Pitt. Sir Pitt, once again a widower, visits Becky at Miss Crawley's home and proposes marriage. Rebecca, in tears over yet another missed opportunity, informs him that she is already married. Sir Pitt informs his sister that Rebecca has refused his marriage proposal, while Rebecca, humiliaited and presumably disappointed over a lost opportunity, apologizes profusely. Confused, Aunt Matilda determines to discover the mystery man. Becky regrets turning down Sir Pitt. She reflects on what her life might have been like as the wife of a baronet. She also worries about her relationship with Aunt Matilda, who seems displeased about her decisions. She composes a letter to one "Eliza Styles," detailing what happened but assuring this friend that their inheritance is secure due to the already strong relationship they have built with Miss Crawley. The author reveals the recipient as Becky's husband, Rawdon Crawley. Rawdon is in love with Becky. He enjoys her wit, and he feels like an honest man for having married her. When they discovered that they were in love, they recruited Amelia to appear with them before a judge so that they could be married. Rawdon purchased a house by the military barracks and furnished it for his new bride so that they could live comfortably together. Becky plans to break the news to Aunt Matilda. She spends the entire day preparing, and as a result, Aunt Matilda encourages Becky to move in with her, arguing that she could never return to Queen's Crawley as a governess. The next day, one of Miss Crawley's maids comes across a letter Becky has left behind for Mrs. Briggs on one of her suitcases in Miss Crawley's home. She brings it to Mrs. Briggs, who, along with Mrs. Bute Crawley, who has just arrived, exposes the contents to Aunt Matilda. The letter confesses Becky's marriage to Rawdon. At first, Aunt Matilda believes this is one of Mrs. Bute's schemes to secure the inheritance for herself, but then Mrs. Bute rants about Becky's unsavory family and past, and Aunt Matilda faints. Sir Pitt arrives, discovers the news, and leaves in a rage, returning home to go through Becky's things. The Sedleys hold an auction because they have fallen into financial ruin. Amelia's piano is being sold, but Dobbin secretly buys it back and sends it to her. She comes to believe that this was George's doing.

Meanwhile, it has been a month since the wedding, and Mrs. Bute has taken Becky's place as caretaker for Miss Crawley. This troubles Rawdon and Rebecca because they think that she might ruin their chance at any part of the fortune. Also, they have not come out into society yet because in so doing, they have been able to avoid their creditors. Due to events in France, the Sedleys are suffering financially. Mr. and Mrs. Sedley both worry about what the news of their financial situation will do to Amelia. She has been quite lonely lately; George has been staying in town and ignoring her, Rebecca does not visit her, and George's sisters make fun of her. She spends much of her time sulking in her room. Meanwhile, George's father has discovered the Sedleys' situation, and though he feels guilty due to his reliance on Mr. Sedley for his success, he encourages George to break things off with Amelia. To help this cause, he sends a letter to the Sedleys accusing Mr. Sedley of swindling him and therefore destroying any chances for the marriage of his son to their daughter. Amelia accepts this news with surprising grace. While everyone has nothing to say but negative things about Amelia, Dobbin continues to defend her. He reminds his sisters, who are wont to mock her, that she and George have basically been betrothed since childhood and that she has no control over her situation. Mrs. Sedley has meanwhile noticed that Dobbin is in love with her daughter. George is actually rather upset that Amelia has returned all of the things he gave her, as instructed by her father. Dobbin remarks to George that Amelia is "dying." George's interest is piqued by the new, unavailable Amelia, and he resolves to get back together with her. Analysis, Chapters 13 - 18 George is incredibly narcissistic. He allows rumors to spread about his love life even though he is promised to Amelia. He cannot help buying himself a pin rather than a gift for the woman he is going to visit. And when he finally does see Amelia, he feels good about the way she depends on him. Sarah Rose Cole makes the argument that vanity manifests itself in homoeroticism among the men in the novel. It certainly seems like this applies to George and his many admirers in the military.

George's fine qualities are intensely superficial, but they set him above all of his peers. "He was famous in field-sports, famous at a song, famous on parade; free with his money, which was bountifully supplied by his father,. His coats were better made than any man's in the regiment, and he had more of them. He was adored by the men." The author seems as much amused by the relationship between George and Amelia as he is saddened by it. He exclaims, expressing his pity for poor Amelia, but one can only wonder when considering his tone and the use of simile, how seriously he approaches the matter. Perhaps his tone is a critical commentary on Amelia's naivete. "Oh, thou poor panting little soul! The very finest tree in the whole forest, with the straightest stem and the strongest arms, and the thickest foliage, wherein you choose to build and coo, may be marked fro what you know, and may e down with a crash ere long. What an old, old simile that is, between man and timber." It is difficult to determine the author's attitude towards a number of things, including the two main female characters. Even though Rebecca is as manipulative as Amelia is sweet and innocent, it is not always clear which character Thackeray lauds. "Rebecca patronised her with calm superiority: she was so much the cleverer of the two, and her friend so gentle and unassuming, that she always yielded when anybody chose to command..." The reader is left with a parody of a tableau at the end of chapter 14, which the author amusingly describes in the beginning of 15. "What can be prettier than an image of Love on his knees before Beauty? But when Love heard that awful confession from Beauty that she was married already, he bounced up from his attitude of humility on the carpet, uttering exclamations which caused poor little Beauty to be more frightened than she was when she made her avowal." Sir Pitt is as far from "Love" as any character in the novel, which makes this assessment of the even clearly humorous. Thackeray emphasizes here the fickle attitudes toward serious matters such as love and marriage in Vanity Fair. Thackeray foreshadows the lasting effect that Rawdon's marriage will have on his character. Because it seemed at the time a spontaneous and irresponsible decision on his part, it is important to note the narrator's commentary. "It seems to me...that Mr. Rawdon's marriage was one of the honestest actions which we shall have to record in any portion of that gentleman's biography." This

also serves to characterize Rawdon, who, as a gambler and dueler, is clearly not a man conscious of duty. The narrator remarks that Rebecca does not in the least bit admire Rawdon, and that it is her goal to do her best with what she has earned for herself. She does not believe that he has any "brains," and this displeases her, because it means that she will never be able to "make something of him." This tells the reader that in order to follow her ambitions, Rebecca is going to once again rely on herself for social advancement. Thackeray uses this opportunity to speak to the men in his reading audience, warning them that even the wives who seem to be pure domestic angels are actually deceptive and hypocritical. He warns that many wives do everything they can to manipulate their husbands. "How often those frank smiles, which they wear so easily, are traps to cajole or elude or disarm...Who has not seen a woman hide the dulness of a stupid husband, or coax the fury of a savage one?" In the beginning of chapter 18, Thackeray reminds his reader that this book is happening in the context of the Napoleonic wars. "Our surprised story now finds itself for a moment among very famous events and personages." Thackeray does this to emphasize that while his characters are obsessed with the minutia of their lives, larger and more important events are unfolding around them. At the same time, the wars rain destruction specifically upon the Sedleys, who lose their entire fortune because of the outbreak of the wars. But Thackeray seems to treat Amelia's situation sarcastically. "I say, is it not hard that the fateful rush of the great Imperial struggle can't take place without affecting a poor little harmless girl of eighteen, who is occupied in billing and cooing, or working muslin collars in Russell Square?" This remark is clearly rhetorical.

Chapters 19 - 24
Summary, Chapter 19 - 24 Mrs. Bute charms the servants in an effort to further ingratiate herself with Aunt Matilda. She tries her best to highlight Rawdon's sins, and she visits Miss Pinkerton to do more research into Rebecca's past, and she actually ends up on the street where she

grew up. She gathered that Rebecca's mother was an opera dancer, and that Rebecca danced herself. She learned about her father's drinking and money problems.

Mrs. Bute's care for Aunt Matilda eventually becomes too harsh according to Aunt Matilda's doctors. Thinking she can cause a stroke in the old woman, she takes her out one day for a ride in the carriage. They happen to pass Rebecca and Rawdon's carriage, but Aunt Matilda does not acknowledge them, which makes Mrs. Bute happy. But in order to avoid any more encounters, she decides to take Aunt Matilda to Brighton. Meanwhile Dobbin is pushing Amelia and George together. George is liking Amelia more and more, since she is so helplessly devoted to him. Dobbin speaks with Mr. Sedley, encouraging him to allow his daughter and George to marry. He also encourages the couple to elope. George apparently has a new admirer, Miss Swartz, a rich and beautiful heiress who is trying to seduce George with her money. Miss Swartz is a dull woman, but she is welcome at the Osborne residence because she is so fabulously wealthy. Old Osborne calls her the "Black Princess" (she is biracial). He contrives to get her and his son married, since he envisions an entirely different life for his son. He wants him to become a member of Parliament. George tries to remind him of his military duties after being reconciled with Amelia. Old Osborne responds by encouraging him to leave the military, to which George responds that he does not want to be the reason for the association of the Osborne name with cowardice. One afternoon, during one of the gatherings of the Osborne sisters, George and Miss Swartz, George asks Miss Swartz to play some music. She notices some sheet music at the piano that belongs to Amelia, and she asks about her. George's sisters chime, revealing that the Sedley family is bankrupt. George defends Amelia, saying it is not her fault and that she can't be blamed. Old Osborne enters the room, livid as he hears his son defend Amelia. They fight, and Old Osborne threatens to disown his son if he does not abandon Amelia. George replies that he doesn't want to marry a mulatto woman, that he doesn't "like the colour." He then storms out and goes to Dobbin, confessing that he means to marry Amelia the next day.

George and Amelia marry in a church near Fulham Road. Dobbin is the only attendant at their wedding. George and Amelia take their honeymoon in Brighton. Rawdon and Becky happen to be there at the same time. The couples meet up, and Becky apologizes to George for being rude to him before. He is surprised and impressed by her apology. Jos also shows up, and Rawdon actually wins a bit of money from him gambling. While Becky and Amelia are out for a ride, George and Rawdon scout the crowds for beautiful women. Jos disapproves of his married friends' behavior. Becky and Rawdon have been living off the riches they've maintained from avoiding their creditors. They still hope for Aunt Matilda's inheritance, however, so they continue to faithfully stalk the Crawleys' apartment. Dobbin suddenly shows up, cutting the fun short. He has apparently visited Old Osborne but does not reveal what was said. He does, however, let them know that the military has been called to Belgium. While George and Amelia are in Brighton enjoying their honeymoon, Dobbin is left behind to take care of George's business affairs. He resolves first to try to get George's sisters on his side. Unfortunately, the girls are not willing to defy their father. Also, Mr. Bullock convinces the girls that their dowries and therefore their value has gone up since George has lost favor with his father. This convinces them to think only for themselves and encourage George's defiant elopement. Dobbin's next order of business is to approach Mr. Osborne. They reach an impasse, at which point Dobbin confesses that he was responsible for bringing the couple together and then storms out of the office. Back at his house, Mr. Osborne finally admits to himself that his son is not coming home, and he has George's dinner setting removed from the table. He then retreats to his study, where he proceeds to look at his son's things and at the family Bible that is kept there. He takes his son's name off the record and burns a piece of paper. He has prepared himself to rework his will. Chopper, the man Dobbin has assigned to keep an eye on Osborne, is to be a signing witness to Osborne's new will. He also delivers a letter that Osborne has written Dobbin. Dobbin prepares to leave for Belgium, thinking only of Amelia. He encourages the rest of his regiment to say farewell to their families while they still have the chance. Meanwhile, Jane waits patiently at the Osborne house, thinking that Dobbin is going to come propose

to her. He never does, and Mr. Osborne tells his family that he does not want Dobbin at their house ever again. Analysis, Chapters 19 - 24
Vanity Fair is in many ways an extended metaphor. People in Vanity

Fair are constantly putting on a show, embodying various roles like actors in order to promote themselves in society. Thackeray does not stop at accusing his characters of being performers. He goes as far as to call them jesters. But in his accusation is a hint of sympathy. "Are there not moments when one grows sick of grinning and tumbling, and the jingling of cap and bells?" The letters are important in Vanity Fair. There are several of them; ones that the author includes in full, as well as some that are merely mentioned, the exact contents of which are never revealed. Letters are significant because as the author notes, "there are no better satires" in his novel. Letters help Mrs. Bute learn more about Rebecca when she visits Miss Pinkerton's academy. Chapter 20 begins with a telling title: "In Which Captain Dobbin Acts as the Messenger of Hymen." Hymen is the Greek god of weddings. This chapter begins with Thackeray assuring the reader that the marriage of George and Amelia would never have happened without Dobbin's help. And interestingly, Dobbin finds that he has no idea why he is encouraging the couple, seeing as he has feelings for Amelia. The reader sees that Dobbin is not only helpless when it comes to doing things for himself, he is actually self-destructive. And he ends up contributing to a relationship that almost destroys Amelia. Thackeray provides an example of female hypocrisy that he discussed in a previous chapter. Amelia is so happy with George that she has no chance to worry about anything that might challenge their relationship. Even Miss Swartz, the heiress George's father is pushing him to marry, does not pose a threat to Amelia. Yet she feigns "a great deal of pretty jealousy." Thackeray spends a good part of chapter 21 describing the wiles of George Osborne. He is one of Vanity Fair's most dramatic performers. "He would say it was a warm evening, or ask his partner to take an ice, with a tone as sad and confidential as if he were breaking her mother's death to her..." Thackeray employs an amusing bit of

metonymy when he describes George's ability to attract women, remarking that "his whiskers had made an impression on her." In the Osborne household, there is a particular clock that summons the household to dinner. This clock features a morbid scene rendered in brass. The scene is the sacrifice of Iphigenia, the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter to the wind god so that his boats could move to war. This clock is clearly symbolic of the rather cruel and sacrificial treatment of children in Vanity Fair. Osborne is guilty of it; he tries to force his son to marry an heiress. But deeper than that is the motif of male dominance and silent female submission. Maria Dibattista discusses how the clock and its scene signify this family dynamic, hinting at "classical and Freudian intuitions of the monstrous nature of man." Dobbin is one man in the novel who does not fit this dynamic. He is incredibly submissive, and Thackeray jokes that "if his parents had pressed him much, it is probable he would have stepped down into the kitchen and married the cook." Dobbin stays in London to take care of George's affairs while he enjoys his honeymoon with Amelia. Thackeray takes this opportunity to question our apparent contradictions. He wonders why people are often so reluctant to act for themselves when they contrarily work actively for others. "How credulous we are and how skeptical, how soft and how obstinate, how firm for others and how diffident about ourselves..." But Dobbin really is the only main character like this, even though Thackeray generalizes in his characterization. He calls it "friendship," so perhaps for once, he is admiring the behavior of one of his characters. On the other hand, he asks for analysis of this behavior from his "intelligent readers," implying that Dobbin's selflessness simply doesn't make sense. Perhaps Thackeray means to emphasize that in the context of Vanity Fair, this behavior is futile, since everyone else is selfish.

Chapters 25 - 30
Summary, Chapter 25 - 30 Dobbin worries about Amelia discovering the danger of going to war. She tries to get the soldiers to talk about it as if it is just the everyday. Amelia is annoyed by Dobbin; she finds him unattractive,

and his feelings for her make her uncomfortable. Becky also dislikes Dobbin, but here the feeling his mutual, because he senses how dishonest she is.

George reads the letter, which is from his father's lawyer, and he blames Dobbin for being a bad manager. He asks Dobbin how he is possibly supposed to live off 2000 pounds, which all that was left for him (a third of his mother's inheritance). Dobbin suggests living honestly off his paycheck, but George scoffs at that, remarking that he is used to a certain lifestyle and that he has already lost 140 pounds to Rawdon gambling. Becky and George are hitting it off, which is making Amelia extremely uncomfortable. Becky is actually just being nice and charming to George because she wants him to pay Rawdon before they go off to war. The women decide to accompany their husbands to war, which worries Dobbin, since he doesn't want Amelia in danger. Meanwhile, Mrs. Bute Crawley has had to leave Aunt Matilda's service because her husband broke her collar bone. Rawdon and Becky see this as an opportunity to ingratiate themselves, so Becky sends a letter to her. Aunt Matilda refuses to see them, but after much pressuring she agrees to a meeting between Rawdon and her lawyer. Rawdon, expecting a great deal of money, is frustrated to see that she has only left him twenty pounds through the lawyer. The friends return to London before going off the Belgium. George puts himself and Amelia up in a nice hotel room and goes off into the city to spend money. He confidently picks up the meager inheritance he was left and later sends his wife and her mother on a shopping trip. His military buddies wonder how he is going to sustain his lifestyle. Amelia, meanwhile, visits her family and frets about the budding relationship between Rebecca and her husband. George and Amelia go back to the hotel to meet his regiment. Amelia meets Mrs. O'Dowd and Major O'Dowd, who is the commander of the regiment. The two are from Ireland, and the men of the regiment make fun of them for their boisterous, loud ways. Mrs. O'Dowd takes an immediate liking to Amelia, and before they have even spent 30 minutes together, she manages to tell the young woman her entire history. Mrs. O'Dowd is actually interested in getting Jos to marry her sister, Glorvina.

Dobbin is the only one who is not cheerful at this event. He watches Amelia and George with increasing sadness. At night, when they return to their room, he watches the lights go on, and remains awake the entire night, unable to fall asleep because of his depression. The characters set off for Brussels. Jos has a terrible time on the boat, for he is constantly seasick. Dobbin, always the caretaker, makes sure to watch after his luggage, and when they finally arrive in Brussels, he procures for the extravagant man a servant who doesn't speak English. Many wealthy Britons have come over on boats to Brussels. The author describes the scene as a "military festival." They are all confident that the Duke of Wellington can win the war, as the Austrians, Russians and Prussians are on their way to join the forces. Meanwhile, Napoleon waits in his fortresses, ready to lay waste to the partying folks. The group of protagonists is having a grand time. Jos dresses up in military attire, even though he is a civilian, and causes an uproar. He is constantly drunk. Amelia and George go out every night; he takes her dancing, to the theater, drinking, to art galleries, etc. Amelia is as happy as can be, but George is his usual flirtatious self. She remains happy until the arrival of the Crawley regiment. The Crawleys and Osbornes meet each other in the park. The Crawleys, especially Becky, are doing their best to win the favor of General Tufto, who accompanies them on their ride. They pay little attention to the Osbornes. At the theater, Rebecca charms a Belgian noble, to whom she introduce George. George is excited to be meeting noblemen, and Rebecca believes that she has charmed and tricked both men. She gets George to escort her to the Osborne box, where she charms everyone, much to Amelia's dismay. Dobbin tries to tell George that Becky is dangerous, but George retorts that she is the nicest woman he knows. The Osbornes, Crawleys and Dobbin all receive invitations to the Duke's lavish ball. Rebecca is, of course, the star of the occasion; she spends much of the night dancing and flirting with George, criticizing Amelia for her behavior, and charming everyone with her perfect French. George, not interested in Amelia, sits her on a bench outside, alone. Amelia asks Dobbin to escort her back to her room. George, in the meantime, slips a note into some flowers that Becky takes home with her.

The orders to march are given while the ball is taking place. When George discovers that he is about to go off to war, he feels sudden shame, so he writes an apologetic letter to his father and attempts to apologize to Amelia. Rawdon is worried that he has not left his wife secure financially. He reflects on how happy Becky makes him, and notes that her company is the company he most enjoys. He regrets not having provided her with more so that she could have risen further in society. He wears his shabby uniform so that he can leave behind his new one for her to sell. He advises her to sell jewelry, furniture, and most importantly, horses for people interested in leaving Brussels. Becky remains quite stoic through all this, since she is only concerned about her financial security. Amelia, on the other hand, is depressed over her husband's departure. Dobbin is sad to see her this way, and he makes Jos give his word that he will look after his sister. Jos is confused as to why her husband is not the one telling him these things. George, on the other, hand is very enthusiastic about the upcoming war, and he bids farewell to his wife. Analysis, Chapters 25 - 30 George really reveals his true colors in the beginning of this chapter. Dobbin joins the group in Brighton, and when George sees how much money he is to receive from his father, he goes on a rant. He criticizes Dobbin for his poor handling of the transaction, and he also accuses Dobbin of getting him married in the first place, which is the cause of all his troubles. But Thackeray uses this opportunity to insert a bit of irony. Dobbin encourages George to calm down, assuring him that he might get a mention in the paper and therefore increase his chances of getting a larger income. George denies the possibility, saying he will only land himself in the paper as one of the dead or wounded. Thackeray once again criticizes Dobbin for his hypocrisy, even though it is in the interest of his friends. "Conducted to the ladies, at the Ship Inn, Dobbin assumed a jovial and rattling manner, which proved that this young officer was becoming a more consummate hypocrite every day of his life. He was trying to hide his own private feelings, first upon seeing Mrs. George Osborne in her new condition, and secondly to mask the apprehensions he entertained as to the

effect which the dismal news brought down by him would certainly have upon her." The cavalier attitude that the characters have towards the impending war further supports Thackeray's evaluation of society. Vanity Fair is all about deception and superficiality. Life is a constant play, and people are never true to themselves. Only the characters of Vanity Fair could so easily pass off a war. It is worth noting that Rebecca is not the only example of a dominant female in Vanity Fair. Peggy O'Dowd is another worthwhile example, and the author introduces her to his readers in chapter 27. Thackeray's characterization is not at all generous; he calls her an "odious" woman, and he criticizes Major O'Dowd for being "meek." It is interesting that in the chapters focused on the characters making their way to war, Thackeray decides to center on Amelia in his titles. Instead of the soldiers, Thackeray remarks that it is Amelia who "invades the low countries." Perhaps this is foreshadowing; George does not survive the excursion, while his poor neglected wife does. Perhaps Thackeray is making a joke at George's expense, which wouldn't be totally unanticipated, considering the pitying tone he consistently employs when discussing her sitatuion. Thackeray does not restrict his allegory to the title of his book. He is constantly reminding his reader that wherever his characters go, the society of Vanity Fair follows. When his characters go to Brussels, he remarks that "all the Vanity Fair booths were laid out with the most tempting liveliness and splendour." It is an allegory within an allegory. Hints of George's infidelity abound in these chapters. Rebecca flirts shamelessly with him at the Opera, and later, she gets him to admit that he was as jealous of General Tufto as the General was of him. Rebecca knows the perfect balance between indifference and flattery to ensnare George. Immediately after speaking about flirting and criticizing his wife, she claims that she cares about neither Amelia nor him. Dobbin is quite right; Rebecca is a "snake." Rebecca continues her flirting at the ball, where Amelia finds herself alone on a bench watching her husband dance the night away with her former friend. "'It is curious, when a man is bent upon play, by what clumsy rogues he will allow himself to be cheated,' Dobbin

said; and Emmy said, 'Indeed.' She was thinking of something else. It was not the loss of the money that grieved her." At the beginning of chapter 30, Thackeray reveals that he will not spend time detailing the war. "We do not claim to rank among the military novelists. Our place is with the non-combatants." This is an interesting perspective, considering his criticism of his character's avoidance of the impending war. However, Thackeray's admission is stingingly honest; war is utterly devoid of superficiality and deception. War is a place of harsh reality, and it has no place in Vanity Fair.

Chapters 31 - 36
Summary, Chapter 31 - 36 Becky flirts with Jos because she believes it might behoove her to be on good terms with him. He of course falls for her charms. Becky also looks in on the sick Amelia, who does not leave her room and does not eat because of her grief over George's departure. To Becky's surprise, Amelia lashes out at her for flirting with her husband and being an unfaithful wife. Becky, slightly touched by this display, tries to calm her down, but is forced to call in Mrs. O'Dowd to take care of her.

Meanwhile, news is that the Duke of Wellington's army has been defeated. Jos refuses to believe that this is possible. While Jos and Mrs. O'Dowd dine, they hear cannons, which disturbs them. Jos is frightened that the battle will come to them, and he is determined to leave Brussels. He dresses himself in civilian clothing in order to be mistaken as a clergyman and shaves. He gives his military uniform to Isidor to wear. He tries to convince Amelia to go with him, but she refuses, wanting to hear news about George. Rumors in Brussels are that the Belgian troops have suffered great losses and that the Britons behind them are now enduring major casualties. After hearing this, everyone is desperate to leave Brussels. But Becky has most of the horses and is determined to earn herself a hefty profit. Lady Bareacres, one of the nobles she was trying to charm, tries to buy a horse, but Becky refuses her. She finally sells her remaining two horses to Jos for an enormous sum.

It is then learned that the rumors are incorrect and that the Britons are successfully driving back the French troops. Amelia desperately seeks information, and she runs into a wounded ensign who reports that Major O'Dowd, George and Dobbin are all fine. Dobbin is the one who rescued the ensign and sent him to Amelia with the message that George is safe. Napoleon, who has been fighting the Prussians, plans on turning the battle to Brussels. While everyone worries, Becky fantasizes about the life she might have if Rawdon dies. Jos continues to entreat Amelia to leave with him; she refuses, wanting to wait for George. Jos leaves with his valet. The Britons manage to hold off and defeat the French at Waterloo. George dies in battle. The novel moves back to Queen's Crawley. Aunt Matilda has just learned that her nephew, Rawdon has earned honors in battle and has been promoted, but she can only think of how he married below him. Meanwhile, Sir Pitt has spiraled into a destructive lifestyle since Becky refused his hand in marriage. He embarrasses the rest of the family, spending much time in the company of the peasants who rent from them and also cavorting with the butler's daughter, Ms. Horrocks. Young Pitt is left to manage all of the household affairs. Young Pitt has been courting Lady Sheepshanks, the daughter of the scandalous Lady Southdown. He has himself become interested in Aunt Matilda's money, so he suggests enhancing the friendship to Jane and her mother. Lady Jane and Young Pitt visit her, and she encourages them to visit often, for she likes Lady Jane. Mrs. Bute, jealous of the proceedings, sends her handsome son from Oxford to charm Aunt Matilda. James does indeed manage to charm her; in fact, she invites him to stay with her at her home. Young Sir Pitt is jealous of this, since his aunt has never invited him to live with her. He joins James for some wine, and as they get progressively drunk, he encourages him to do all sorts of unsavory things and convinces him that Aunt Matilda will appreciate him for it. So the following day, James speaks his mind, compliments and drinks far too much of her wine, and finally, smokes a pipe inside the house. This incites Matilda to throw him out. Becky and Rawdon have been living the high life in Paris. Becky is a smashing success in Parisian society. She has been dropping Aunt Matilda's name in order to promote herself. She gives birth to a boy in March 1816, and Rawdon names him as his heir. Matilda, nervous

about the new baby, encourages Young Pitt and Lady Jane to marry. She promises them a yearly allowance as well as the bulk of her fortune when she dies. The Osbornes receive news of George's death. Old Osborne treats it as judgment being passed for his son's behavior. Dobbin delivers the letter George left for his father, which entreats him to think of Amelia should he die. When John Osborne notices a memorial to George in church, he decides to go to Brussels to visit his son's burial site. Dobbin has chosen the site because George mentioned once that it would be a nice place to be buried. John Osborne is upset that his son is buried in a common cemetery. While on his tour of the battlegrounds, John notices Amelia and Dobbin, but he ignores them and hurries on his way. Amelia has been sick with grief and living in Brussels since the passage of her husband. But when her son Georgy is born, everything changes. He reminds her of George, so she is able to come to life again. However, she is quite paranoid about the child, not wanting anyone near him but Dobbin. Dobbin tries to get John Osborne to support the child, but Osborne refuses. Dobbin, Amelia and the baby return to England to live with the Sedleys. Dobbin brings everyone gifts every day. But soon he is overwhelmed by his love for Amelia and realizes he cannot stay with her anymore. He informs her that he is leaving with the military. Becky remained at the height of Parisian society, which Rawdon ignored because he does not know how to speak French. Rawdon spent his time gambling, which he was quite good at, but which made Becky nervous because of all the IOUs he had to write when he did not win. Mrs. O'Dowd warns her husband not to gamble with Rawdon, and Becky argues with her about her interference. Becky solicits General Tufto for help with gambling debts. Becky is a terrible mother to her son. She sends him away to a nursemaid because she cannot stand the mess he makes. Rawdon, however, is quite the doting father; he manages to visit his son every day. In order to leave Paris and go back to England, Rebecca invents outrageous lies about Aunt Matilda and is only held accountable for a portion of their debts. Analysis, Chapters 31 - 36

Thackeray opens chapter 31 with an amusing portrait of Jos' valet, Isidore. It appears that Vanity Fair does not exclude the servants. Isidor is a greedy, thieving man, and the narrator describes his fantasies about what he plans to do with his master's finery. "As he helped Jos through his toilsome and complicated daily toilette, this faithful servant would calculate what he should do with the very articles with which he was decorating his master's person. He would make a present of the silver essence-bottles and toilet knicknacks to a young lady of whom he was fond; and keep the English cutlery and the large ruby pin for himself. It would look very smart upon one of the fine frilled shirts, which, with the gold-laced cap and the frogged frock coat, that might easily be cut down to suit his shape, and the Captain's goldheaded cane, and the great double ring with the rubies, which he would have made into a pair of beautiful earrings, he calculated would make a perfect Adonis of himself, and render Mademoiselle Reine an easy prey." Rebecca moves on to flirting with Jos as soon as the rest of the men go off to war. At first his common sense makes him reluctant to believe that Rebecca is actually interested in him. But as soon as she begins discussing her husband's jealousy, Jos convinces himself that she is a "victim of his attractions." Jos' vanity permits him to believe that Rebecca, who flirts with every man of even slight influence, is actually interested particularly in him. Thackeray uses Jos to highlight the destructive consequences of vanity and the ways in which it blinds his characters to reality. Much in accordance with her character, Rebecca uses the outbreak of war to promote a business venture. While Amelia worries over her husband's absence, Rebecca feels grateful that her husband left his horses behind, since they will be in high demand as people flee the country. Chapter 32 ends in tragedy for Amelia, though she does not know any of it yet. Her husband has been corresponding inappropriately with Rebecca, and he lies dead with a bullet in his chest on the battlefield. The title of chapter 33 is "In Which Miss Crawley's Relations are Very Anxious about Her." This is of course not the literal truth. Aunt Matilda's relations are indeed anxious, and this is indeed because

she is ill. However, the concern is focused on the woman herself but on the fortune she is leaving behind. The end of the chapter discusses Young Pitt's relationship with his new fiancee's mother, who is a connoisseur of miracle cures. Despite Young Pitt's negative relationship with his aunt, it appears that since Aunt Matilda's disappointment in Rawdon, Pitt might have a chance at the fortune. Mrs. Bute Crawley continues to plot about the fate of Aunt Matilda's fortune. She considers sending her son, Jim, who is educated and accomplished. When her husband suggests sending their daughters, Mrs. Bute refuses because they are not pretty enough. The girls are talented and intelligent, but Mrs. Bute is convinced that Aunt Matilda will be displeased by their ugliness. "But what avail all these accomplishments, in Vanity Fair, to girls who are short, poor, plain, and have a bad complexion?" Pitt shows that he is capable of scheming when he notices that James might earn himself a part of Aunt Matilda's fortune. Thackeray gives Pitt the nickname "Machiavel," alluding to the philosopher Machiavelli, who wrote about power and the intricacies of governing. This nickname, if anything, gives the message that Pitt is not someone to be underestimated; Machiavelli speculated that for someone in power, it is better to be feared than loved. Meanwhile, Rebecca is very successful in Parisian society, while her "stupid" husband, who was recently promoted in the army, sits idly by, watching her rise in the ranks. Aunt Matilda, rather than being impressed by this news, is disgusted, and she decides to leave all of her fortune with Pitt and Lady Jane. Old Osborne receives the news of his son's death, and rather than forgiving him, he stubbornly persists in his disappointment. Like Aunt Matilda, he is upset over a marriage he deems below his son. His vanity is so strong that he cannot forgive his son, even in death. At the memorial service, his daughters wath his "stern" face, wondering if he will ever come around. Thackeray begins chapter 36 in an expository manner, as he has returned to the story of Rebecca and Rawdon in Paris. He attempts to explain how a family can live on almost no income, and he uses an example from his own experience to substantiate his point. He then goes on to explain the methods taken by Rebecca and Rawdon (mostly Rebecca) to remain afloat. Rawdon does a lot of gambling, but it is Rebecca's relationships with men that save them from

having to pay their debts. "If Rebecca had not gone on her knees to General Tufto, Crawley would have been sent back to England; and he did not play, except with civilians, for some weeks after."

Chapters 37 - 42
Summary, Chapter 37 - 42 Rawdon and Rebecca live in a mansion that the Crawleys' former butler, Mr. Raggles, whom they extort and eventually drive to financial ruin. Becky again works her way up in society. She becomes quite popular with many of the noblemen, including Lord Styne.

Aunt Matilda finally dies. She leaves 5000 pounds to the Bute Crawleys, only 100 pounds to Rawdon, and the rest to Young Pitt. Becky encourages her husband to make amends with her brother, and she is convinced that Lady Jane will be her ticket into society. Lady Jane does in fact encourage Young Pitt to give half of the inheritance to his brother, but he refuses. While Rawdon and little Rawdon are walking in the park, they notice a man with a child about little Rawdon's age. They discover that this is in fact John Sedley and his grandson, Georgy. The two boys become fast friends. The story turns back to Jos, Amelia, the Sedleys and Dobbin. Jos decides not to return to London, perhaps because he is ashamed of his flight from Waterloo. He returns to India instead, where he spins numerous tales about his adventures in the Battle of Waterloo. He sends 120 pounds to his family every year, which is their only means of support. John Sedley is not working, but he is doing everything he can to get back his job in the stock market. Dobbin helps Mr. Sedley promote his wine business but ends up buying most of the wine. Amelia is so obsessed with her son that she is totally oblivious to all the men who are falling in love with her. She receives many proposals, but she refuses them all, still mourning her beloved George. All this time, Dobbin has been taking care of her. He paid for her living accommodations in Belgium and now in London, and he sends gifts constantly. He arranged George's funeral and burial,

and he even fabricates 500 pounds that George had left from his inheritance. John Sedley, suspicious, questions Dobbin about this, and Dobbin confesses that George died debt-ridden, but he maintains that the money is not from him but in fact pooled by a group of George's close friends. Amelia's family tries to convince her that Dobbin is in love with her, but she refuses to discuss the matter. The Osborne daughters visit her at one point to tell her that Dobbin is getting married to Glorvina O'Dowd. She claims to be happy about this news, but to her surprise, she finds that she is tearing up. This chapter returns to the story of the Crawleys. Sir Pitt has fallen into complete ruin. He has let his mistress, Ms. Horrocks, take over the estate. She has made new appointments, and he dresses her up in his dead wife's clothing. He will not allow her to take the jewelry, however. Mrs. Bute, meanwhile, is panicked about the meager portion of the inheritance that she received. She has four daughters she has to marry off, and she was hoping for the entire 30,000 pounds. She visits Sir Pitt one day only to find Ms. Horrocks rummaging through his things, trying to steal the jewelry he denies her. Mrs. Bute runs her off, threatening to have her arrested. By this time, Sir Pitt has become ill from his excessive drinking, and Mrs. Bute and Young Pitt decide to stay with him. He never recovers, and passes away, leaving Young Pitt in control of the estate. Rebecca and Rawdon receive the news of Sir Pitt's death, and the new Sir Pitt invites them to the funeral. Lady Southdown is opposed to this maneuver, since Becky is involved, but since she has nowhere else to live, she is forced to deal with the arrangement. Rawdon is not excited about the visit, since it will cost them money to go back and forth, but Becky is excited about the prospects such a visit might offer. She fantasizes about getting that seat in Parliament for Rawdon and about the advancement in society getting closer to Sir Pitt might earn her. Meanwhile, the author notes that Ms. Briggs, Aunt Matilda's former servant, has come to live with Rawdon and Rebecca. She has given them much of her life savings, and they have promised (falsely) to invest it. She remains at home with little Rawdon while they go off to the funeral.

Lady Jane and Becky get along, and Lady Southdown is predictably cool towards the couple. Becky tries to warm up Lady Southdown by telling her that she is ill so that the Lady will share with her some of her medicines. Becky and Lady Jane were earlier speaking about her obsession with medications, and Lady Jane confessed that she feels they all might be better off without them. Becky agrees to take one of Lady Southdown's concoctions. Before Becky and Rawdon leave, Lady Jane offers them many gifts for little Rawdon. Pitt notices that Rawdon's marriage has made him a better person, so he offers to pay for little Rawdon's education. Becky begins, for the first time, to regret her lifestyle, wishing she had the means to pay back all the people that she owes. Mr. Osborne has become more and more bitter over time. He treats his daughters extremely poorly. He negotiates aggressively the marriage between his daughter Maria and Mr. Bullocks. Mr. Bullocks originally demands that he won't marry Maria unless she brings with her half of her father's fortune. Maria ends up despising her father for this and does not want him in her home. His daughter Jane has secretly been seeing her art tutor, Mr. Smee. Mr. Osborne finds out about the affair, and he is enraged. He fires the artist and tells Jane that she is never to see the man again. Further, she is not allowed to have any relationships at all, and she must grow up alone, watching over the house with her father. Dobbin tries desperately to restore the relationship between Mr. Osborne and his grandson and daughter-in-law. So he sends his sisters to visit with the Osborne women. He encourages Amelia to send Georgy out with them, and reluctantly, she listens to his advice. She grows more jealous over his impending marriage. Jane, charmed by Georgy, remarks to her father that he looks just like George. Mr. Osborne is extremely shaken by the comment. Analysis, Chapters 37 - 42 Rebecca's flirting is a major part of the support that she provides for Rawdon and herself. One night, while sitting around with a bunch of gentlemen, she makes a joke about needing a sheepdog to keep the wolves away from her. One of the men encourages her, asking if the

shepherd is not enough. Playfully, she responds that he is always away playing cards at his clubs. Rebecca is of course referring to Rawdon and suggesting that one of these men become her new companion. But Rawdon does not pick up on the metaphor. Indeed, even if he were to notice that she was making fun of him, there isn't much he can do about it; he has admitted to himself that everything he has earned in his marriage he owes to Rebecca. Amelia's situation is growing steadily worse. She accuses her mother of poisoning little George when she tries to secretly administer "Daffy's Elixir" to the child. Amelia obviously did not mean to call her mother a murderer, though Mrs. Sedley is determined to interpret it that way. It is clear that the family is at its breaking point. And it does not help matters that Jos only sends a small amount every year. Once again, the narrator clearly wants his readers to pity the poor Amelia and her family, because he entreats his readers to imagine that at one point, they might fall into financial misfortune. He paints a rather pathetic picture of Mr. Sedley, who has only become prouder in his poverty. Amelia's obsession with her child is a reflection of her infatuation with her husband and her inability to let him go. She spends the dates of her marriage and widowhood as she would religious holidays, locked up in her room, "consecrating them." Because she does not have George around to pamper, she pampers their child instead, even though this requires her to live much beyond her means. Dobbin continues in his hypocritical ways, even though George is dead. Despite his love for Amelia, he does not reveal any of the truths of her late husband's characters. He does his best to help the Sedleys and pay George's debts so that they do not have to know how very irresponsible he was in life. "Sedley was very contrite and humbled, though the fact is that William Dobbin had told a great falsehood to the old gentleman; having himself given every shilling of the money, having buried his friend, and paid all the fees and charges incident upon the calamity and removal of poor Amelia." It is interesting that the Sedleys never think to ask how it is possible that all these things were taken care of; perhaps they fear what awaits them in reality.

In chapter 39, Sir Pitt's behavior finally catches up to him. He has been cavorting with his butler's daughter, Miss Horrocks, who has basically taken over his household. Mrs. Bute catches the young woman trying to steal some of his diamonds, while the butler is upstairs trying to bleed Sir Pitt, who has just suffered from a stroke. When Young Pitt discovers that his father has died, he does not grieve. He immediately begins to calculate the division of the estate. His reaction is incredibly mechanical. "What was it that made Pitt's pale face flush quite red? Was it because he was Sir Pitt at last, with a seat in Parliament, and perhaps future honours in prospect?" But it is noteworthy that the author does leave room for speculation about Pitt's attitude. At the same time, it is possible that his question is humorously rhetorical. When the new Sir Pitt decides to reach out to his brother, Lady Jane's mother disapproves. She refuses to listen to him dictate the letter to Lady Jane. The author takes this opportunity to allude to Shakespeare by calling her the "Lady Macbeth." Lady Macbeth is the wife of the protagonist in Shakespeare's Macbeth. She becomes the Queen of Scotland after her husband commits regicide, partly due to her goading. The parallel is clear; Lady Southdown wants to be the queen of the estate and does not want another family intruding on her power. Lady Jane dismisses Briggs, Aunt Matilda's former servant, as soon as she gets the opportunity, and Briggs, finding herself with no other choice, ends up with Rebecca. "Briggs was the house-dog whom Rebecca had provided as guardian of her innocence and reputation." It is interesting that the people in Rebecca's life are more than once in the book referred to as dogs. It indicates the dynamic of the relationship she has with many people: they are beneath her, yet they for some reason remain hopelessly devoted and faithful to her. Rebecca and Rawdon go back to the Crawley estate for the funeral of Sir Pitt. Despite apprehensions about their visit, Rebecca manages to make the best impression on her former wards, Rosalind and violet, and on Lady Jane, who falls for her charms while they discuss theirs and their children's ailments. Rebecca is doing what she does best: earning herself the trust of people she hopes to manipulate.

Thackeray does not reserve the most flattering words for Sir Pitt's funeral. "As long as we have a man's body, we play our Vanities upon it, surrounding it with humbug and ceremonies, laying it in state, and packing it up in gilt nails and velvet; and we finish our duty by placing over it a stone, written all over with lies." To him, even the reverence accorded the dead at a funeral is a despiccable manifestation of Vanity Fair.

Chapters 43 - 48
Summary, Chapter 43 - 48 Dobbin and his regiment are doing well in India, and Glorvina flirts with him constantly. But Dobbin cannot get Amelia out of his head. He receives a letter from her, in which she writes that she is happy for him that he is getting married, which makes him extremely upset. Then he receives a letter from his sister. It says that Amelia is to marry an old reverend, and that Mr. Osborne is going to have custody of Georgy. Dobbin, instigated by these developments, prepares to go back to London.

Rebecca decides to renovate her house on Great Gaunt Street. She believes that this will help her rise in society. Sir Pitt visits the home and comes to like Becky more as he sees her doing fine work with the renovations. At one point, she hints that she and Rawdon are in need of money. Rebecca often entertains noblemen at her home, and the servants are actually starting to become suspicious of her behavior. While she is singing to the marquis one day, her son walks in on them, and she hits him for spying on her. But little Rawdon is quite charming, especially with Lady Jane at Christmas, when he reveals sweetly that his mother makes him eat in the kitchen. Becky offers Sir Pitt a great deal of help, for she counsels him and talks with him about his pamphlets and speeches. He thinks to himself that she understands him much more than his wife does, in that she senses his "commanding talents" and "secret ambition." Indeed, the Lady Jane and Rebecca are beginning a rivalry. Lady Jane has become wary of Rebecca. One evening, Rebecca, in an attempt to show affection for her son in front of everyone, kisses his cheek. In response, Rawdon asks her why she never kisses him

when they are at home. This just makes Rebecca hate him even more. Things are not going well for the Sedleys. Jos has stopped sending money and Amelia's pension money is running out. There is hardly any food to eat. Amelia does not notice the extreme poverty of her family; all she sees is George. For a while she tries to homeschool him, but eventually she sends him to Reverend Binney's school, where he does quite well. The Osbornes are not doing well either. John Osborne is still a bitter old man, and Jane is miserable living with him. She wishes Georgy could visit more. However, John Osborne is angry that she gave Georgy a gold watch and chain and he demands that she go out and buy herself a new one. Maria visits the house with her new child. The Osborne daughters are generally jealous of Amelia for her uncomplicated way of life. Georgy eventually meets his grandfather, and John Osborne offers Amelia a deal. He wants Georgy to be the heir his son should have been. He offers her the chance to remarry, and he encourages her to give the child to him so that Georgy can have a proper childhood. He demands, however, full custody of Georgy and very limited visiting rights for Amelia. Amelia is so upset that she refuses to respond to his correspondence. At Christmas, Amelia spends extravagantly on Georgy, which enrages her mother. Tom Eaves, a man who knows everyone in London, tells the narrator about Lord Steyne and his wife. Lord Steyne comes from hundreds of years of nobility, as does his wife. His wife broke with the Catholic faith in order to marry him, and she feels that this has become a curse upon her. One of the manifestations of this curse was her son, George. He inherited the family's mental illness. Lord Steyne made his own son his enemy. He tried to drown his worries in drinking and socializing, but every night before going to sleep he would fret about why his son had contracted it while he had not. The family kept up the facade that their son went to Europe proper, and then to Brazil, but in reality, he just disappeared. Sir Pitt rises to the position of High Sheriff of the County, and he decides that he wants to present Becky at Court. Meeting the king is the climax of social mobility, and so Becky is ecstatic that she has

achieved her life's ambition. Lady Jane and Sir Pitt present her. She wears an extravagant dress, for which she has stolen pieces of material from Sir Pitt's house while she was helping him with renovations. Rawdon looks shabby next to her in his old, tight military uniform. Lady Jane inquires about her beautiful jewels; Becky, ashamed, because they were given to her by Lord Steyne and Sir Pitt, lies and claims that she rented them. Becky's presentation makes the papers. All Becky can talk about is her presentation at Court. In response to this great honor, the Marchioness of Steyne and Countess of Gaunt have invited her to dinner. Lord Steyne worries that Becky cannot hold her own against these women without a lot of money, and he is concerned that she will never be able to hold a place in Vanity Fair. He tells her this, and encourages her to get rid of Miss Briggs. But Becky confesses that she owes the woman money and manages to get Lord Styne to give her double what she needs. She puts most of the money away in her secret box. Analysis, Chapters 43 - 48 Dobbin is rather like Amelia in the sense that he has an extremely one-track mind. Chapter 43 discusses Glorvina's attempts to woo Dobbin, but even though she is an attractive, talented woman, she cannot sway him. The author notes that he has in his head one idea of a woman, and that is Amelia. Amelia's letter congratulating Dobbin on his engagement is strangely forceful, as if she had a difficult time writing it but does not know exactly why. Amelia is used to having Dobbin fawn over her; the idea of another woman coming first in his life is probably rather foreign and uncomfortable for Amelia, even though she does not recognize any sort of love for the man. Letters are a very important motif in Vanity Fair. They exemplify to the extreme everything that Vanity Fair is about, and at the same time, they are important plot-movers. This letter from Amelia inflames his passions in a rather negative way, and he begins to despise Glorvina and the female sex in general. But then a letter arrives informing him of Amelia's impending marriage to a Reverend, and this is enough to get him on a boat from India to England. Even though both letters mentioned are falsely composed, they set important events of the plot in motion that might not have happened without their influence.

Becky begins to weave her dangerous web around Sir Pitt by entertaining him while Miss Briggs and little Rawdon do inventory at the Crawley estate. In so many ways, Becky is once again the puppet-master; she is in theory the chief of renovations at the Crawley estate, managing from afar by sending her son and servant to take care of it. And she courts the malleable Sir Pit, who begins to despise his brother and his wife for not being able to live up to this brilliant creature. "How mum and stupid his own wife was compared to that brilliant little Becky. Becky had hinted every one of these things herself, perhaps, but so delicately and gently that you hardly knew when or where." However, there is a hitch in her plotting. Because she is so busy scheming to capture the men, she does not pay attention to her son, who confesses to his aunt that he has to eat in the kitchen while he is at home. His evaluation of the Crawley estate as a place of "enchantment and wonder," despite being hyperbolic, hints at events yet to unfold. Not only does Lady Jane begin to notice how Rebecca treats her son, but she also begins to notice the relationship developing between Mrs. Rawdon and her husband. She worries because they seem to discuss subjects that Sir Pitt would never bother to bring up with her, and she worries mostly because she realizes that while Rebecca is witty and interesting, she would have nothing to say. This is rather reminiscent of Amelia, who would watch Becky flirt and engage with her husband in her own home. And like Amelia, Lady Jane is becoming miserable at the thought. "In these quiet labours and harmless cares the gentle widow's life was passing away, a silver hair or two marking the progress of time on her head and a line deepening ever so little on her fair forehead. She used to smile at these marks of time." But time has never been Amelia's friend. She was forced to wait for George when he shunned her, too proud to reveal that they were an item with his military friends. And then as soon as they got married, she had absolutely no time to be happy. Before she knew it, Rebecca was upon them, and then war, and then death. But little Georgy is a way for Amelia to turn back time. He is a way for her to seize all the happiness that was taken away from her by

George's death. So she devotes her life to making sure that he has the best of everything and indulging his every wish. And like George, he exhibits very little gratitude for her sacrifices. The introduction of Lord Steyne affords the author another opportunity to encapsulate the defining characteristics of his Vanity Fair. "So there was splendour and wealth, but no great happiness perchance, behind the tall caned portals of Gaunt House with its smoky coronets and ciphers." The follies of Vanity Fair come to a peak in chapter 48, in which Rebecca is presented to the king of England. This is a necessary achievement for anyone who wants to be anyone in society, and so upon earning it, Rebecca is ecstatic. And of course to show her elation, she wears a most gaudy and outrageous dress, for which the narrator remarks that she is remembered years later. It is preposterous to think that one's legacy might ride upon a dress worn at one occasion, but in Vanity Fair, this is possible. Lord Steyne is Rebecca's current victim. She manages to put him in place as her benefactor, fretting dishonestly about the money she owes her servants and her lack of finances. She earns herself an invitation to his house to dine and some money, most of which she hides away for herself.

Chapters 49 - 54
Summary, Chapter 49 - 54
Lord Steyne approaches the women who are planning the dinner

party on Friday. He finds that they are not willing to invite Becky. He is outraged at this news. He becomes excessively cruel, and tells Lady Gaunt that she is worthless, that her husband doesn't love her, that she is unable to have children, and the only woman in her company who doesn't want her dead is Lady George. He praises Becky and his wife's innocence, and then compels the women to invite Becky because he is the master of the house.

The ladies at the party have conspired to make Becky feel uncomfortable, especially the Lady Bareacres, who is a member of the family that snubbed and was snubbed by Becky in Brussels. At the dinner table, they speak in French, thinking that they can exclude Becky from the conversation. However, being more fluent

than they, Becky infuriates the group by responding in French more skillfully. Becky, of course, charms the male guests, then manages to charm Lady Steyne by singing her religious songs. Lord Steyne is for once proud of his wife while she admiringly listens to Becky. Chapter 50 turns back to the Sedleys, who are still suffering from financial ruin and are near starvation. Amelia tries desperately to earn money so that she doesn't have to send her son away. She tries selling her paintings, but she is not a very good artist, so they don't bring in any money. She tries being a governess, but no one brings their children to her. She asks her brother, Jos, for some money, since she thinks he has stopped sending it. Her father confesses to her that he has been taking the yearly allowance and paying his creditors with it. She realizes that there is no hope and that she must turn over Georgy to his grandfather. Georgy moves in with his grandfather at Russell Square. It does not take long for him to adjust to his new lifestyle. In no time, he is acting just like his grandfather, being snobbish and even criticizing his own mother. Meanwhile, Amelia stalks her son, lingering outside the Osborne residence and watching them while they are in church. Becky is becoming increasingly popular in aristocratic social circles. She becomes a favorite at the French Embassy, but then she appeals more and more to Lord Steyne by making fun of their English. The author then provides a short list of people that are considered "the best" of people, remarking that once they accept others, these people they bring into their social circles gain approval without question. One of these people, Lady Fitz-Willis, visits Becky's home, and so she attains another of her ultimate life goals. The narrator remarks that having achieved everything she ever wanted is making Becky bored. Some of the aristocrats start to wonder how Becky can afford to throw all her extravagant parties and fund her lavish lifestyle. The narrator remarks that Becky does not spend much money at all. She gets her alcohol from Lord Steyne, the game for food from Sir Pitt, and she charms all the musicians and artists at the parties she goes to so that they will perform for her and give her lessons. The narrator asks his readers not to judge, for he observes that most rich people have some sort of debt at some point in their lives. Becky encourages Lord Steyne to start throwing charades parties, since they are all the rage in France. At one of these parties, Becky

plays Clytemnestra, shocking everyone with her stunning performance and her bare arms. All of the men talk about how perfect she is, and Rawdon becomes increasingly distressed by the distance growing between Becky and him. He decides to walk home rather than ride in the carriage with her, and on the way, he is arrested for not paying his debts. Chapter 52 flashes back before Rawdon's arrest. The narrator is interested in enlightening the reader about what happened to lead up to that moment in the story. Lord Steyne has offered to finance little Rawdon's education at a fine boarding school. Even though Rawdon is reluctant to see his son go, he knows this is in the boy's best interest, so he allows it. Becky, of course, is glad to see her son go, and she doesn't even kiss him goodbye. Rawdon misses his son terribly, but whenever he has the chance, he visits him. He takes him and his friends to plays and pampers the boy. He and Lady Jane spend a lot of time together with the children. Becky and Lady Jane grow to dislike each other even more, since they differ so much on how they view the proper treatment of children. Becky feels that she can't be bothered with raising a son when she has so many social obligations. Lord Steyne becomes suspicious when Miss Briggs is still in the Crawley house, and he decides to investigate what happened to the money he gave Becky to pay her off. Through his investigating, he finds out that Becky asked for double the sum that she needed. He confronts Becky, and she blames Rawdon for the whole thing, claiming that he forced her to ask for the money. Rawdon writes to Becky to send him money so that he can get out of prison. He needs 100 pounds and does not have enough. She writes him back, claiming that she is ill and will have to wait until the next day to bail him out. Rawdon does not want to spend the entire weekend in prison, so he writes to his brother. Lady Jane comes to his rescue, and he expresses to her how much her kindness has changed his life. Rawdon is surprised to find many of the lights on in the house. It is as if Becky has people over and is entertaining. He finds her and Lord Steyne in the dining room holding hands. She is wearing gobs of diamond jewelry, which Lord Steyne gifted to her. Rawdon begins to accuse her, and in response, she claims her innocence. Then Lord

Steyne accuses her, and Rawdon strikes him. He then strips of the jewelry and hurls it at the marquis. Rawdon demands Becky's keys. She gives them to him, and he uses them to open her secret box. Inside are numerous love letters, thousands of pounds, and a good deal of jewelry as well. Rawdon is scandalized, for Becky has been allowing them to live in debt while she horded all this wealth in secret. Rawdon walks out on Becky while she continues to announce her innocence, and she realizes that she has lost everything. Rawdon goes over to his brother's house and tells him the story of what he discovered in his home and requests that he look after his son for him, since he is going to be fighting Lord Styne in a duel. Rawdon then goes to Captain Macmurdo to ask him to be his second in the duel. Captain Macmurdo has long been Rawdon's close friend and second, so he agrees immediately. Macmurdo is not surprised to learn about Becky, remarking that many people have suspected Becky of foul play from the beginning. Rawdon is angry that none of his friends told him about her, but he admits that despite all this, he is still desperately in love with her. Analysis, Chapters 49 - 54 These are an important three chapters in the book. Thackeray is very concisely yet complicatedly exposing his theme and the society in which his characters play their games. From the argument over whether or not Rebecca is going to be invited to the party to the game of charades, Becky goes from the bottom to the top and back to the bottom of the social chain. Lord Steyne compels his wife to invite Rebecca, defending her honor while all the other ladies criticize her. This has been Rebecca throughout the entire book. She appeals to the men because she flirts, and she angers the women because she attracts their men. Though this usually offers her success for a time, it usually leads to her downfall. Despite Becky's appeal, many of the people she engages with start to question how she is maintaining her extravagant lifestyle. Thackeray includes this skepticism because he is setting up the reader for the eventual exposure.

And then Thackeray brings in the very important symbol of charades. Charades becomes increasingly popular among the nobility and has been imported from France. So of course, Rebecca has to incorporate it as one of her hobbies. So she does, and she plays the very scandalous Clytemnestra. This is important on several levels. Charades is a perfect game for Vanity Fair, because it is all about embodying roles. The game is also perfect for Rebecca because she is constantly pretending to be someone that she isn't. And Clytemnestra is a perfect role for her to play, because Clytemnestra is a manipulator of men; she eventually kills her husband, Agamemnon. Rebecca has, for all intents and purposes, abandoned her husband for dead. She does not bail him out of jail, and for the longest time, she gave him up so that she could have a social life. Indeed, as indicated in the previous chapters, Rebecca's status starts to plummet. Lord Steyne remembers that he has a head on his shoulders and decides to look into Rebecca's life. He finds out that she swindled him and is only barely won over when she claims that it was all Rawdon's doing. Meanwhile, Rawdon realizes that his wife is not going to be the one to get him out of jail. Lady Jane comes to his rescue. He arrives home to find Rebecca entertaining Lord Steyne, when she claimed that she was too ill to help him. This can be considered the climax for Rebecca and her dangerous life. Both Lord Steyne and Rawdon discover the truth about her, a truth that was long right under their noses but that they were not willing to confront. But they no longer have any choice to confront it, and they decide to duel. This does not seem appropriate, considering that Rebecca is the one in the wrong. And indeed, as Rawdon discusses the situation with the second he has chosen for his duel, he reveals that despite everything she has done, he is still in love with Rebecca. He wants to fight for her honor, so it appears that Rebecca has managed to hang on by the slenderest of threads.

Chapters 55 - 60
Summary, Chapter 55 - 60

When Becky wakes, late the next morning, she runs over to Sir Pitt and begs him to help her reconcile with Rawdon. She claims that she was only holding the money because Rawdon is a spendthrift and can't be trusted with it. Also, she claims that she only courted Lord Steyne in order to get a governorship for her husband. Lady Jane walks in on Becky kissing Sir Pitt's hand, and she screams at her husband, demanding that he make a choice between the two women. After his wife leaves, he promises that he will help Becky.

Rawdon is breakfasting with Macmurdo when his friends approach him with congratulations. They say he is in the paper, and he checks, finding that he has been awarded a governorship by Lord Steyne. Mr. Wenham arrives, Lord Steyne's messenger, and he attempts to convince Rawdon of Becky and Lord Steyne's innocence. Rawdon refuses to believe him and demands a duel. Macmurdo steps in, encouraging Rawdon to take the position and forget about the duel. He finally agrees and moves to Coventry Island. Little Rawdon goes to stay at Queen's Crawley over the holidays, and Rebecca has disappeared. Georgy is the boss at his new home and at school. He is intelligent, demanding, and wears very fine clothing. He becomes best friends with a Mr. Todd. John Osborne hopes to marry Georgy to one of the Todd daughters. Georgy visits his mother often and gives her a portrait of himself, which she keeps under her pillow. Mrs. Sedley dies, and Amelia is left to spend all her time caring for her father. Georgy throws a fit about having to attend his grandmother's funeral, since he will have to miss a play in order to go. One day, Jos and Dobbin come to visit, and Georgy confesses to Dobbin that his mother, Amelia, talks about Dobbin all the time.
Old Osborne tells little Georgy terrible things about his mother's

family. He calls his former friend, Mr. Sedley, and old bankrupt. He claims that the only reason the Sedleys can get by at this point is that because he pays Amelia a steady allowance. Georgy rejects his grandfather's mutterings. Dobbin, on his way back from India, has a fever, and he spends the entire time on the boat talking about Amelia to Jos Sedley. Jos convinces Dobbin that Amelia is not getting married, and it is this news that motivates Dobbin back to health.

Dobbin insists that they go to the Sedley residence immediately, But Jos wants to get a good night's sleep in the hotel that they are staying at. The next day, Dobbin trembles as he approaches the Sedleys' door. Ms. Polly Clapps, the landlord's daughter, answers, and she recognizes Dobbin. She used to call him Major Sugarplums. Too afraid to ask whether or not Amelia is married, Dobbin asks Polly to take him to her. Polly tells him Amelia and Mr. Sedley are at Kensington Gardens. They walk over, and on the way, they run into Reverend Binney and his wife, Miss Grits. Dobbin is overjoyed to see the man Amelia was supposed to marry with another woman. Amelia and Dobbin enjoy a very pleasant reunion, during which they hold hands, and Amelia talks endlessly about Georgy. Mr. Sedley is nervous about seeing his son. He wakes up very early, puts on his best suit, and tries to get his business papers in order. Meanwhile, Jos is making sure that he doesn't lack for anything on his way to London. He buys a number of expensive vests, arranges for servants, and stops everywhere he can to eat and drink. Amelia has argued with Polly, who is convinced that Dobbin is in love with Amelia. Jos finally arrives at his home on the third day. His father tells him that his mother died, and the family grieves together. Then Jos, who has been encouraged by Dobbin, assures his family that he will take care of them from now on. The Sedleys find a new house. The only furniture that Amelia takes with her is the piano that Dobbin secretly bought for her at auction. Later, Amelia realizes that it is possible she is wrong about the piano, and that perhaps it was Dobbin who bought it for her. Dobbin finally confesses his love for Amelia. Amelia apologizes for not being able to love him back, explaining that she only has one husband and can never stop loving him. She tells Dobbin that she thinks of him as a brother and that she is grateful for all the things he has done for her over the years. Amelia asks him to continue to be a friend to her and to her son. The Sedleys experience a bit of good fortune. Jos Sedley moves into a small, but well-furnished, home. Georgy meets Dobbin and Jos. Georgy becomes very fond of Dobbin, but he has fun joking at the expense of Uncle Jos, who does not like the young boy's humor. "George had a way of blowing out his cheeks, and putting his hands

in his waistcoat pockets, and saying 'God bless my soul, you don't say so'," just like Jos. Amelia reenters society. According to the narrator, "we are glad...to introduce her into a polite circle; not so grand and refined as that in which our other female friend, Mrs. Becky, has appeared, but still having no small pretensions to gentility and fashion." People who used to visit her come to see her once again. She reconnects with Dobbin's sisters and George's sisters. She also begins to entertain Jos's associates, and in so doing, she learns a great deal about politics and business. Dobbin worries at first about her having male callers, but then he reassures himself that she is a virtuous woman. Analysis, Chapters 55 - 60 Somehow, Rebecca manages to negotiate a governorship for Rawdon. Because Rebecca is seen pleading with Sir Pitt to help her, it can be assumed that with his help, she has managed to secure a future for her husband and an end to the fighting. Lady Jane catches the two talking, and requests that her husband choose between them. Amazingly, he agrees to help Becky even after all the scandal and even after this ultimatum. Thackeray has continued to reveal to the reader that Becky is a force of nature. She is found, at the beginning of chapter 55, in bed late in the morning. A few hours later, she has approached a very influential man with a plan, and a few hours later, everything has blown over. And she has left town. The story moves back to the Osbornes and the Sedleys. Old Osborne is his same bitter self, telling Georgy awful things about his family. It appears that he has not gotten over the relationship he had with his late son. Thankfully, Georgy is bright enough, or perhaps just proud enough, to ignore what his grandfather tells him. Georgy is also smart enough to mention to Dobbin that Amelia talks about the major all the time. And Jos convinces Dobbin that Amelia is not getting married. The narrator seems to be setting up his readers for the eventual coming together of Amelia and Dobbin. The piano that Dobbin secretly purchased for Amelia is a consistent symbol of Dobbin's private devotion to her. It reappears at the end of the novel, in a rather timely fashion, for Dobbin soon after

reveals his love for Amelia. But Amelia is not ready to give up George yet, so she has to turn Dobbin down. At the same time, these three chapters are positive ones for Amelia. She and Dobbin finally reveal their feelings openly to one another. Jos comes home, realizes his family's impoverished condition, and decides to step up and take care of them. Amelia returns to society. It appears that the factor driving this improvement is revelation and truth. The Sedleys had managed to keep their condition rather private, especially from Jos, who could easily have helped them. Dobbin had clearly felt something for Amelia, but he has not been able to tell her until now. And it can be argued that it is this confession that acts as a crucial turning point in Amelia's life. The extent of vanity in this book is revealed in Jos and Mr. Sedley's behavior. Mr. Sedley has turned around completely in his view of his son since he lost all his money. He is actually nervous about seeing him, despite the fact that he used to make fun of him. Jos is nervous, too; he makes sure to buy some new fancy outfits before he goes to visit his family. Vanity is also evident in Amelia's reintroduction into society. The people who used to be friends with Amelia begin to visit her again. It seems that she lost all of her company with her family's money.

Chapters 61 - 67
Summary, Chapter 61 - 67 Mr. Sedley passes, telling his daughter before he dies that he is sorry wasn't fair to her. Mr. Osborne is also doing his best to reconcile with those he mistreated. He tells Georgy that Mr. Sedley was a much better man than he. He even sends a letter to the late Mr. Sedley. Dobbin visits him, and it is revealed that Dobbin supported Amelia and Georgy all these years. Mr. Osborne dies from a stroke before he can make amends with Amelia.

Mr. Osborne, much to his son-in-law Mr. Bullocks' dismay, has left half of his inheritance to Georgy, and the other half he has split equally between his daughters, Jane and Maria. He has given Amelia an allowance and custody over Georgy and has made Dobbin executor of his will. He has also given Dobbin enough money for a

promotion to colonel. Amelia finds out that Dobbin has been taking care of her all these years, but she still cannot love him. Jos, Amelia, Dobbin and Georgy decide to take a pleasure trip to Europe. On many occasions, people assume that Amelia is Mrs. Dobbin. She does in fact start to appreciate Dobbin more while they are on this trip, and it seems that they are both the happiest they have ever been. Amelia discovers opera, enjoys painting, and for the first time, begins to let go of George's memory. They settle in Germany, where they are very happy. One night, the group is out at a festival, and Georgy slips away from his babysitter to join the gambling table. He ends up sitting next to a masked woman dressed in black, who is losing quite a bit. Recognizing Georgy, she asks him to play for her, and he wins the round. Dobbin notices what Georgy is up to, grabs him away from the table, and gives him a harsh scolding. Meanwhile, Jos has joined the table, and he recognizes the woman in black. It is Becky Sharp, who has been masquerading as Madame de Raudon. Becky asks Jos to walk with her. The narrator claims that he does not want to go over the details of Becky's absence, because everything she has been engaged in has been unpleasant. However, contradicting his intentions, he proceeds to provide an account of Becky's activities up until her encounter with her old friends. Rawdon divorces Becky, and he leaves her with a small alimony. She tries to regain Sir Pitt's favor, but Lord Steyne has sent his messenger to inform Pitt about the person Becky really is, and he does not forgive her. She is forced to leave the continent because of her bad reputation and in order to escape creditors. She tries to stay in hotels, but many turn her away, remarking that hotels are meant for respectable people. She meets her grandmother in Paris but is disgusted by her poverty and abrasive disposition. She tries several times to reform a social circle, but always she is found out by someone who is connected to the people who know about her reputation. In Rome, she attends a ball and runs into Lord Steyne, who tells her that if she doesn't leave, she will be in danger. She finds out later that he has died in Naples. Becky has been staying in the bohemian hotel, living quite modestly. Jos listens to Becky weave a false tale of her trials and

tribulations. She inevitably blames her friends for everything. Jos is moved by her story, but for a while, he does not confess to the others that he has run into Becky. Finally, he tells the rest of the group about her being in Pumpernickel, and he exhorts them to go see her. At first, they refuse, butJos persists, finally mentioning that the terms of the divorce demanded that Becky's son be taken away from her. This is what finally moves Amelia, since she cannot stand the thought of a mother losing her child. She decides to go see Becky with Dobbin. The two women are quite emotional when they see each other. Amelia asks questions about Becky's son, which Becky can't really answer. Becky then launches into a fabrication. She claims that the marriage to her husband was looked upon as a disgrace, and that she suffered because of it. She claims that her sister-in-law treated her terribly, and that Rawdon demanded that she engage inappropriately with Lord Steyne just so that he could further himself. She claims that she was eventually forced to ask him for a divorce. Meanwhile, Dobbin speaks with two men in the hotel lobby about Becky, and his fears are confirmed: she is once again up to no good. Since Amelia believed Becky, she tells Dobbin she wants Becky moving in with them. Dobbin is outraged, making the mistake of alluding to the fact that Becky is clearly no friend of Amelia's since she had an inappropriate relationship with her deceased husband. Amelia, furious that he would allude to such a thing and taint her husband's good name, storms out of the room and shuts herself up in her bedroom. Dobbin leaves to find out everything he can about Becky. She arrives at Amelia's place and Amelia sets up the guest room for her. When Dobbin returns, he attempts to tell Amelia everything that he found out, and he desperately warns Jos and Amelia about her. But they still refuse to believe him. Dobbin takes Amelia into a room and gives her a long speech about how terrible it is that she is not able to make a distinction between honest and dishonest people. He tells her how painful it has been to love someone who cannot see him for what he is and see the people who have abused her for the disgraceful characters they clearly are. Dobbin prepares to leave, and Amelia does not stop him. She won't

even let Georgy say goodbye, but he sneaks away. Becky, who listened to the speech at the door, feels bad, and she gives Georgy a note for Dobbin. When Becky and her friends move in, Amelia feels threatened and writes to Dobbin to come back. Becky finally repents and gives Amelia the letter that George wrote to her on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo. In it, George asks Becky to run away with him. Amelia finally realizes what her dead husband was like, and she realizes that she is in love with Dobbin. He returns and they get married. They have another child, Janey. Becky, meanwhile, tries to manipulate Jos Sedley. He is terrified of her, but somehow, she ends up getting most of his money. He also dies prematurely, and it is suggested that Becky had something to do with it. Rawdon and Sir Pitt also die. Little Rawdon becomes the master of Queen's Crawley. Amelia and Dobbin move in next to Little Rawdon and Lady Jane, and the families become close friends. No one associates with Becky any longer, but her son sends her an allowance. Analysis, Chapters 61 - 67 The archway that hints at death to come is another of Thackeray's symbols. This time, his expository break from the story at the beginning of the chapter is meant to foreshadow events within the story. Mr. Sedley and Mr. Osborne pass away. Mr. Osborne very neatly makes up for all of his wrongs before he dies from a stroke. Like a married family, Dobbin, Amelia and Georgy all go off to Europe. Thackeray does some foreshadowing here as well. He discusses how happy the couple is, and people are constantly mistaking Amelia as Mrs. Dobbin. Thackeray shows his reader his humorous side in the names he chooses for characters he wishes to make fun of. The man who offers miracle cures for Jos' obesity is Lord Tapeworm, and the woman who wants to date Jos is Fanny de Butterbrod, a name that hints at her appearance. It is interesting also that Becky takes a name that closely resembles her ex-husband's name. Becky has always played with fire, and perhaps this is just another example of this dangerous attitude. Or perhaps this is Thackeray's way of saying that she hasn't let him go.

Indeed, he was very much in love with her and would have remained faithful to her, but it just was not enough for the conniving, ambitious Rebecca. It is also extremely unlikely that the characters would meet up in Germany. Rebecca has been on the run, and the rest are on vacation, yet Georgy happens to run into Becky in a gambling club. As unlikely as it is, Thackeray needs it for his plot, so he makes it happen. Rebecca is not finished meddling in their lives yet. Rebecca has not changed a wit since she was last seen, snubbed by both her husband and Lord Steyne. As always, she does what she needs to in order to survive, some of which the narrator confesses is too unpleasant to discuss. And when she runs into her "friends" once again, she sets out to manipulate them. She lies about her situation, then she regains Amelia's trust. But then she realizes that it is love of George that is preventing Amelia from moving on and from living happily with Dobbin. So she ends the charade to save her friend. It might seem that Rebecca has turned a new leaf, but she still has to survive somehow. So she manipulates Jos out of a great deal of his insurance money, and he fortuitously dies soon after. The narrator remarks that Rebecca eventually becomes a church-goer, but she is inevitably alone, for all of her "friends" refuse to see her. Even her son is content never seeing her again and sending her an allowance. All of the husbands die by the end of the book. Rawdon dies on Coventry Island of yellow fever, Jos dies under mysterious circumstances, and Sir Pitt dies, leaving the estate to Rawdon. The book ends as it began, focusing on the fates of Amelia and Rebecca. And just as a moralizing book is expected to end, Amelia has found happiness while Rebecca is alone. At the same time, the Thackeray's last words call this into doubt. "Ah! Vanitas Vanitatum! which of us is happy in this world? Which of us has his desire? or, having it, is satisfied?--come, children, let us shut up the box and the puppets, for our play is played out." "Vanity of Vanities!" cries out the author. Because all of his characters live in Vanity Fair, Thackeray reminds his readers that it is

impossible ever to know if they are expressing their true feelings. Life is a play, for which everyone has his role. But at least there are a few lessons to be gleaned from the show.

Thackeray's Employment of Greek Mythology

Greek mythology is a treasure trove of allegorical tales and colorful characters. Thackeray makes good use of a few of these characters in order to better highlight certain qualities of his own characters. He derives his comparisons from stories told by Aeschylus, the Greek tragedian, and Ovid, the Roman poet.

Clytemnestra Becky famously and scandalously plays Clytemnestra in charades. In ancient Greek mythology, Clytemnestra was the sister of Helen and the wife of King Agamemnon. She was upset with her husband for the murder of their daughter, Iphigenia, and for his absence during the Trojan War, so she conspired with her lover, Aegisthus, to kill him and his new mistress, Cassandra. The connection between Becky and Clytemnestra is clear; both are femmes fatales of a sort, and both deceive and destroy the men in their lives. Iphigenia Thackeray notes that in Chapter 23, there is a loud ticking of an Iphigenia clock in the Osborne house. This is the chapter in which Old Osborne is making plans for his daughters, plans that don't have anything to do with what they actually want. Iphigenia is the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. Agamemnon is trying to get to war with Troy, to help his brother Menelaus get his wife back, but the winds will not blow to move the ships. A priest tells Agamemnon that in order to get the winds, he must sacrifice his daughter. Agamemnon concedes. Adonis Adonis is a beautiful youth with whom Venus, the goddess of love, falls in love. Jos' valet, Isidor, imagines himself as Adonis when he is fantasizing about all the finery he is going to steal from his master.

Suggested Essay Questions

1. What evidence in the book hints at the original serial format of the novel? Thackeray is constantly interjecting, sort of informally, his own thoughts in the novel, reflecting on its developments. There are times when he actually starts a chapter referencing the suspense he created by cutting off the story in the previous chapter. There are also clearlydefined sections in the book, framed important events. Vanity Fair is packed with less-thanimpressive characters. Why do you think the author chooses to write a book without heroes and heroines, and instead, portray men and women the way that he does? Additionally, can all his characters be read at face-value? Or are there important redeeming qualities to be considered?
2.

Thackeray portrays the characters the way he does to satirize the bourgeoisie of Victorian England. Therefore, his characters are rather prototypical and commit often ridiculous acts for the sake of their reputations and fortunes. He does create sympathy, however by making his characters subtly complex. Rebecca is manipulative and ruthless, but Thackeray reminds his readers that she did not grow up in the easiest circumstances, and there are a few moments when she exhibits that she might have a conscience. She cries when she is presented with the drawings from the school, because they remind her of her father, with whom she was extremely close. She tries to get Amelia and Dobbin together. 3. Compare and contrast the characters Amelia Sedley and Rebecca Sharp, Thackeray's female protagonists. On the surface, Rebecca and Amelia are opposites. They come from radically different backgrounds. Rebecca is witty and conniving, while Amelia is sincerely kind and innocent. Rebecca assumes the worst in people; we see this in the letter that she writes to Amelia about the Crawley estate and its residence. Amelia, on the other

hand, wants to believe that people are inherently good; she defends Rebecca when she is caught stealing and she continues to believe (possibly in an effort to protect herself). At the same time, they are both interested in securing a husband at all costs. 4. Reflect on the significance of Rebecca playing the character Clytemnestra, Agamemnon's scorned wife, in a game of charades. Clytemnestra, Agamemnon's wife, was left behind for 20 years at their home while her husband was off fighting a war she didn't approve. When he returned, he was accompanied by his war prize, Cassandra, the prophetess no one believed. Clytemnestra was not a woman to be snubbed, so she schemes with Aegisthus, who has taken her as his mistress, to have her husband murdered.

5.

Is there any character evolution in Vanity

Fair? There seems to be very little character evolution in the novel. Rebecca is probably the best example of that; she manipulates everyone from beginning to end, and she never stops doing everything she can to secure herself a good financial situation. She does, however, confess her affair with George to Amelia at the very end of the novel, which she thinks will motivate Amelia to forget George and move on to Dobbin. Dobbin continues to subordinate himself to George throughout the entire novel. He continues to want George's wife, rather than accepting her infatuation with his friend and moving on to find a woman who could appreciate him. He even takes up George's cause of speaking against Rebecca. Amelia eventually comes around to love Dobbin, but that seems more like a convenient choice than one made out of love. Analyze the humorous implications of the names in Vanity Fair.
6.

The best example is probably the group of Crawleys. The name implies something base, and indeed, the family is characterized by its scheming, pettiness, dishonesty, and

general vice. There is also Sheepshanks, the wife of Young Sir Pitt, whom the author derides via other characters in the novel. Lord Tapeworm suggests a miracle cure for Jos Sedley's obesity. And Jos' girlfriend in Pumpernickel is Fanny de Butterbrod, which gives some indication of what the girl looks like. 7. Describe situations in the novel when characters behave dishonestly, especially those that emphasize Thackeray's focus on the theme of vanity and greed as the primary motivators of human action. The competition over Aunt Matilda's estate features a number of actors who feign appearances in order to appeal to Miss Crawley. Rawdon and Young Sir Pitt pretend to like each other when she is around, as do Bute and Sir Pitt. Rebecca cares for the old woman when she is ill. Joseph Sedley is also an example of this, when he completely abandons his intention to propose marriage to Rebecca simply because George tells him that he made a drunken fool of himself at dinner. What is Thackeray's conception of motherhood in Vanity Fair?
8.

Rebecca's mother is absent from the beginning of the book, and it seems that she is haunted by this lack of a motherly figure. Miss Pinkerton, who could have stood in her mother's place, simply rejected Rebecca out of what might be termed as jealousy. Thackeray seems to think one's experience of motherhood as a child influences how one acts as a mother later in life; Rebecca, unsurprisingly, treats her son with indifference, while Amelia exhibits strong concern for Georgy, even at her own expense. 1. Miss Rebecca Sharp's final act upon leaving Miss Pinkerton's Academy is

tearfully saying goodbye to Miss Jemima stealing a crystal candle holder from the study tossing Miss Jemima's gift in the garden

leaving a thank you note for Miss Pinkerton

2. Rebecca is placed with Miss Pinkerton at her academy

when the convent she lives in burns down upon being orphaned when her father dies because of her family's insistence she become fluent in French as a result of her status as Miss Amelia Sedley's mistress

3. Meeting Amelia Sedley's older brother Joseph for the first time, Rebecca

faints feigns attraction to gain his attention is overly disgusted by his appearance ignores his romantic overtures

4. The reaction Rebecca has to drawings Amelia had sent from the Academy can best be described as

indifference fondness for those depicted in the drawings sadness in remembering her father anger at the torment she received while living there

5. The dinner party at the Sedley house attended by Amelia, Rebecca, Joseph and George Osborne featured all of the following, except

tales of India told by Joseph singing by Rebecca and Amelia a thunderstorm a proposal of marriage

6. William and George Osborne become friends

only after fighting each other while growing up in Manchester

while stationed in the same army company in India while attending Dr. Fishtail's school

7. The party at Vauxhall featured

a marriage proposal Dobbin's stories of military successes in India Joseph's inebriation Amelia singing

8. Joseph Sedley leaves town following the party

after Rebecca rebukes him on direct orders from his father to accept a military commission after George describes his behavior

9. Amelia reacts to being told Rebecca has stolen items from her by

defending her telling her father to throw Rebecca out of the house confronting Rebecca about it instructing the housekeeper to spy on her

10. At Rebecca's first meeting with Sir Pitt Crawley

they discussed her duties at lunch the coachman introduces her she is impressed by his stately manner none of the above

11. Rebecca's first letter to Amelia after settling with the Crawleys describes

Lady Crawley's beauty the reservations she has of George Osborne's character

the miserly nature of Sir Pitt Crawley the beautiful mansion and estate where she now resides

12. Soon after entering the Crawley household, Rebecca

is pursued romantically by Young Pitt Crawley becomes a favorite of Sir Pitt Crawley began her duties as governess to the young Crawley boys none of the above

13. Reverend Bute Crawley can best be described as

the drinking, gambling, fun-loving, debt-ridden brother of Sir Pitt a miserly man obsessed with maintaining his estate a pious man of the cloth the spiritual advisor to Rebecca

14. All of the following can be said of Rawdon Crawley, except that

he graduated from Cambridge he fought three duels he dances with Rebecca he is his rich aunt's favorite nephew

15. Which of the following relationships can be described as the strongest?

Young Pitt and Miss Crawley Miss Crawley and Rebecca Sir Pitt and Bute Crawley Young Pitt and Rawdon Crawley

16. George's sisters thought of Amelia with

fondness

contempt jealousy all of the above

17. Amelia and George's relatinship was discovered by his mess-room companions when

George mentioned her to the assistant-surgeon Cackle Dobbin defended Amelia's honor at breakfast George blurted out her name while drunk Correspondence from Amelia was mistakenly delivered to Ensign Stubbles

18. George's father is opposed to the marriage of his son and Amelia

after finding out her mother was in the theater unless she has a large dowry after finding out about George's gambling because he hopes to marry him off to his friend's daughter

19. Rebecca refuses Sir Pitt's proposal of marriage

because she thinks he is a disgusting old man because she is the daughter of paupers and confesses her marriage to another man none of the above

20. Miss Crawley disinherits Rawdon due in large part

to the efforts of Mrs. Reverend Bute's wife to the efforts of Reverend Bute to her mental illness none of the above

21. Upon hearing the news that his son is married and has been ordered to Belgium, Mr. Osborne

disinherits George reconciles with George duels Mr. Sedley takes steps to get George out of the army

22. Amelia's reaction to the news of her husband's disinheritance is

to run into the arms of William Dobbin anger at George's failure to convince his father to support them happiness in belief that money is the root of their problems to return to her parents' house

23. Miss Crawley agrees to meet with Rawdon only after

both a and b receiving a leffer from Amelia and him neither a nor b Mrs. Bute leaves the house to tend to her injured husband

24. Upon receiving money from his father shortly after the wedding, George instructs Amelia to

hide the money from his creditors invest the money travel to see her parents buy some clothes and other goods

25. Amelia's mood changes in Brussels primarily due to

guilt over overtures made by William Dobbin her fear for her husband's safety the arrival of Rebecca and Rawdon the arrival of George's father