Vanity Fair Summary

A cunning, ambitious, and manipulative orphan determined to climb the social ladder.

Becky Sharp is the central figure of the novel, an orphaned governess with no fortune but an abundance of wit, charm, and ambition. She is highly intelligent, speaks French and German fluently, and possesses a remarkable talent for art and music. Driven by a relentless desire for social advancement and financial security, Becky is a master manipulator, using her charms to captivate men and women alike. She is amoral, often putting her own interests above all else, yet she possesses a certain resilience and a sharp understanding of human nature, particularly its follies. Her journey is a constant struggle against the constraints of her birth, embodying the novel's satirical view of social climbing.

Relationships: Amelia Sedley (Childhood friend, but often seen as a rival or a means to an end); Rawdon Crawley (Husband, whom she loves in her own way but ultimately betrays); Lord Steyne (Powerful patron and lover, instrumental in her social ascent and downfall); Jos Sedley (Early target for marriage, later her wealthy companion and victim); Pitt Crawley (Brother-in-law, whom she attempts to charm for influence); Miss Crawley (Wealthy aunt-in-law, whose favor she initially secures)

A gentle, kind-hearted, and naive young woman, often a victim of circumstances.

Amelia Sedley is the foil to Becky Sharp, representing traditional Victorian femininity and virtue. She is sweet, compassionate, and deeply sentimental, especially in her unwavering devotion to her husband, George Osborne, even after his death and despite his flaws. Amelia's excessive sentimentality and naivety often make her vulnerable to the manipulations of others and blind her to the true character of those around her, particularly George and Dobbin. Her life is marked by tragedy, poverty, and a prolonged period of grief, yet she embodies enduring affection and maternal love, ultimately finding happiness with Dobbin after a long period of suffering.

Relationships: Becky Sharp (Childhood friend, whose manipulative nature she largely fails to perceive); George Osborne (Husband, whom she idealizes and mourns deeply); William Dobbin (Devoted friend and eventual husband, whose love she initially ignores); Georgy Osborne (Beloved son, for whom she makes many sacrifices); Jos Sedley (Brother, whom she loves but often worries about)

A loyal, honorable, and long-suffering army officer devoted to Amelia.

Colonel William Dobbin is the moral compass of the novel, an unassumingly noble and honorable man. Despite his awkward appearance and social shyness, he possesses immense integrity, kindness, and unwavering loyalty. He secretly loves Amelia Sedley from their youth and dedicates his life to her well-being and that of her son, Georgy, often sacrificing his own happiness and career prospects. Dobbin's selflessness and patience are remarkable, standing in stark contrast to the self-serving characters around him. He is the embodiment of true, unrequited love and quiet heroism, eventually winning Amelia's heart through sheer persistence and his undeniable goodness.

Relationships: Amelia Sedley (Unrequited love, later husband); George Osborne (Close friend, whom he tries to guide and protect); Georgy Osborne (Godfather and surrogate father, whom he protects and educates); Rawdon Crawley (Fellow officer and acquaintance)

A handsome, vain, and selfish young officer, Amelia's first husband.

George Osborne is Amelia's first husband, a handsome but deeply flawed character. He is vain, self-centered, and easily swayed by external appearances and social status. Despite his initial affection for Amelia, he is prone to flirting and is easily bored by domesticity. He disobeys his father to marry Amelia, but his intentions are mixed with pride and a desire to spite his domineering father. His death at Waterloo leaves Amelia a widow and forms the central tragedy of her early life. George represents the superficiality and moral weaknesses often found within the upper-middle class, and his memory becomes an idealized burden for Amelia.

Relationships: Amelia Sedley (Wife, whom he initially loves but quickly takes for granted); William Dobbin (Close friend, who often covers for his misdeeds); Becky Sharp (Object of flirtation and temptation); Mr. Osborne (Dominant and wealthy father, who disinherits him)

A dashing but simple-minded army officer, Becky's devoted husband.

Rawdon Crawley is a younger son of Sir Pitt Crawley, a dashing but intellectually limited army officer and a notorious gambler. He is fiercely devoted to Becky, whom he genuinely loves, and is largely blind to her manipulative nature and her deeper schemes. Rawdon is a man of honor in his own way, particularly when it comes to defending his wife's reputation, as seen in his confrontation with Lord Steyne. Despite his lack of foresight and his spendthrift habits, he possesses a certain rough charm and a capacity for genuine affection, especially for his son, Little Rawdon. His military career and eventual post as governor of Coventry Island highlight his dependence on others for advancement.

Relationships: Becky Sharp (Wife, whom he loves deeply despite her betrayals); Sir Pitt Crawley (father) (Distant and disapproving father); Pitt Crawley (brother) (Rival for inheritance, later takes care of his son); Miss Crawley (Wealthy aunt, who disinherits him after his marriage to Becky); Little Rawdon (Son, whom he eventually adores and provides for)

Amelia's wealthy but timid and gullible brother, a Collector from India.

Jos Sedley, Amelia's elder brother, is a portly, timid, and immensely vain man who made his fortune as a Collector in India. He is known for his excessive eating and drinking, his sartorial flamboyance, and his general lack of courage and resolve. Jos is easily manipulated by stronger personalities, particularly Becky Sharp, who targets him early in the novel as a potential husband and later as a source of financial support. Despite his wealth, he is a figure of ridicule, representing a certain type of indolent, self-indulgent individual in society. His ultimate fate at Becky's hands underscores his extreme gullibility and her ruthless opportunism.

Relationships: Amelia Sedley (Sister, whom he cares for in his own way); Becky Sharp (Early love interest, later companion and victim); Mr. Sedley (father) (Father, whose financial ruin he survives)

A powerful, wealthy, and morally corrupt nobleman who becomes Becky's patron.

The Marquis of Steyne is a powerful, immensely wealthy, and influential nobleman who embodies the moral decay and hypocrisy of the upper echelons of society. He is cynical, sophisticated, and utterly without scruples, using his power and money to indulge his desires. Lord Steyne becomes Becky Sharp's primary patron and lover, instrumental in her social ascent in London. He provides her with financial support, jewels, and access to the highest circles, but his patronage comes with a heavy price, ultimately leading to Becky's downfall when Rawdon discovers their affair. Steyne represents the corrupting influence of unchecked power and privilege.

Relationships: Becky Sharp (Patron and lover); Rawdon Crawley (Cuckolded husband, whom he casually disregards)

George Osborne's proud, domineering, and wealthy father.

Mr. Osborne is George Osborne's wealthy and autocratic father, a self-made man who takes immense pride in his social standing and financial success. He is domineering, stubborn, and obsessed with social appearances and wealth. He forbids George from marrying Amelia once her family loses its fortune and disinherits his son when George defies him. Mr. Osborne represents the snobbery and materialism prevalent in society, valuing money and status above all else, even his own son's happiness. His eventual softening towards his grandson, Georgy, shows a glimmer of humanity, but he remains largely a symbol of social rigidity.

Relationships: George Osborne (Son, whom he disinherits); Amelia Sedley (Daughter-in-law, whom he despises for her lack of fortune); Georgy Osborne (Grandson, whom he eventually spoils and plans for)

A wealthy, eccentric, and invalid aunt of the Crawley family.

Miss Crawley is the wealthy, invalid aunt of Sir Pitt and his sons, Rawdon and Pitt. She is a sharp-witted and opinionated woman who enjoys being entertained and dislikes dullness. She is initially charmed by Becky Sharp's intelligence and vivacity, making Becky her companion and intending to leave her fortune to Rawdon. However, her will changes frequently, and she ultimately disinherits Rawdon after his secret marriage to Becky, favoring the more respectable Pitt. Miss Crawley represents the capriciousness of wealth and the power dynamics within aristocratic families, often serving as a key figure in the characters' pursuit of inheritance.

Relationships: Rawdon Crawley (Favorite nephew, whom she disinherits); Pitt Crawley (Nephew and eventual heir); Becky Sharp (Companion, whom she initially adores but later dismisses)

The elder, respectable, and calculating son of Sir Pitt Crawley.

Pitt Crawley is the elder son of Sir Pitt Crawley and Rawdon's brother. Unlike Rawdon, Pitt is respectable, studious, and politically ambitious. He is a Member of Parliament and a man of strong religious and moral principles, though these are often tinged with self-interest and a desire for social advancement. He inherits the baronetcy and the family estate, Queen's Crawley, upon his father's death, and eventually secures Miss Crawley's fortune. Pitt represents the more conventional and outwardly virtuous path to success in Victorian society, contrasting with Becky's more audacious methods. He is less susceptible to Becky's charms than his father or brother.

Relationships: Sir Pitt Crawley (father) (Father, whose estate he inherits); Rawdon Crawley (Brother, whose son he later cares for); Miss Crawley (Aunt, whose fortune he inherits); Lady Jane Crawley (Wife, a kind and supportive woman)