Summary This installment begins with a description of the style of living practiced by George and Amelia. When Amelia wants to visit her mother, George goes to the theater. Here Thackeray interposes an essay on mothers. Amelia, married nine days, feels apprehensive rather than happy. “Something which, when obtained, brought […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 26-29Summary and Analysis Chapters 23-25
Summary An essay on friendship explains why Dobbin is so bold for George’s interest, whereas he does nothing for himself. In time, now, the reader goes back to Dobbin before his arrival in Brighton. Dobbin’s nervous behavior when he has visited Russell Square has made Miss Lane Osborne think that […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 23-25Summary and Analysis Chapters 19-22
Summary Thackeray contrasts Mrs. Bute Crawley’s flattery of the servants with Rawdon’s blunt treatment, and concludes that soft words take a person further than unkind ones. Mrs. Bute Crawley establishes herself in Miss Crawley’s house, makes friends of Firkin and Briggs, and digs in for battle, suspecting that Rawdon will […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 19-22Summary and Analysis Chapters 15-18
Summary The mystery of Becky’s refusal of Sir Pitt, her consequent embarrassment and tears, the deepening attachment of Miss Crawley’s household for the poor child, start this number off with excitement. The author shows the pace by an essay on the probability of a gentleman’s marrying a maidservant. “If people […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 15-18Summary and Analysis Chapters 12-14
Summary Following the publication of the preceding chapters, some readers wrote that they could see nothing in Amelia. Thackeray says this is the greatest compliment one woman can pay another. With men around, no woman gives another credit for anything. The Osborne girls are jealous of their brother. Miss Maria […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 12-14Summary and Analysis Chapters 8-11
Summary Rebecca writes to Amelia describing her sadness at their separation, relating in detail the coach trip, and ridiculing Sir Pitt. She describes the Crawley family, dwells on Sir Pitt’s crudeness and stinginess, saying that he even counts the grapes on the vines. At the close of the letter, the […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 8-11Summary and Analysis Chapters 5-7
Summary This installment begins with a flashback about Dr. Swishtail’s school. Students have snubbed William Dobbin because his father is a retail grocer. Dobbin has crossed Cuff, the bully of the school, when he tries to take Dobbin’s letter away from him. Later Dobbin stops Cuff from beating George Sedley […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 5-7Summary and Analysis Chapters 1-4
Summary Miss Amelia Sedley and Becky Sharp prepare to leave Chiswick Mall for Amelia’s home. Miss Pinkerton, who runs the academy, autographs a copy of Dr. Johnson’s dictionary for Amelia, whose father is rich. The orphaned Becky, having neither money nor position does not rate one. Miss Pinkerton writes Amelia’s […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 1-4About Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair, a satirical novel of manners, was published (1847-48) in serial form without sufficient time for revisions by Thackeray. Occasionally, time sequences are not clear. Names are not always consistent; for example, Mrs. Bute Crawley is sometimes Martha, sometimes Barbara. Glorvina, sister of Peggy O’Dowd, is also called Glorvina […]
Read more About Vanity FairBook Summary
Amelia Sedley, of good family, and Rebecca Sharp, an orphan, leave Miss Pinkerton’s academy on Chiswick Mall to live out their lives in Vanity Fair — the world of social climbing and search for wealth. Amelia does not esteem the values of Vanity Fair; Rebecca cares for nothing else. Rebecca […]
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