Vanity Fair: A Novel Without a Hero

Reverend Bute’s wife, Martha Crawley, is determined to convince Matilda to name her as the main beneficiary of her will. Reverend Bute is a country gentleman who enjoys hunting and gambling, making him popular in his constituency. His wife often writes his sermons and appreciates his tendency to dine at his friends’ houses, as this saves money. Martha provides the servants in the Pitt house with alcohol so that they will pass her gossip from the family home. Becky’s arrival and popularity concern Martha, who was also a student at Chiswick. Martha writes a fawning letter to Miss Pinkerton, mentioning the new governess at the Pitt house. In her reply, Miss Pinkerton criticizes Becky’s appearance, family, and her mother’s questionable reputation.

Becky writes to Amelia. She invents the nickname “Humdrum Hall” (112) for the Pitt house. She has received and rejected a proposal from a doctor who came to treat Lady Crawley. She describes the recent arrival of Matilda Crawley at the home, noting the Pitt family’s desire for money. Matilda is aware of their aspirations, but she is happy to accept their falsely kind treatment. Rawdon Crawley has timed his visit to coincide with that of his favored aunt, Matilda. Becky is struck by the talkative, charming soldier. Becky notes at the end of her letter that the gowns Amelia gave her are growing worn.

At the rectory, Bute and Martha share the hope that Matilda will soon be dead, and they worry that Rawdon might inherit her money. Meanwhile, Becky charms Matilda. They exchange gossip. Matilda talks about her progressive political beliefs, including the idea that a person’s birth should not determine their merit. Becky also spends more time with Rawdon. They conspire to run into each other, which is noted by Sir Pitt.

The narrator switches focus to Amelia, noting his awareness that she does not compel people as much as Becky. He describes the way in which her beauty and personality affect people’s treatment of her as interesting. Amelia is looked down upon by George’s sisters, who view her as unintelligent; in turn, Amelia finds herself acting unintelligently in their company. She does this to alleviate her boredom with them. The sisters resent Amelia for George’s unavailability, but George is often playing billiards with his friends. Dobbin recognizes Amelia’s loneliness. When news of peace arrives, Amelia is delighted, as George will not be called to war. She has idealistic views of married life and of George.

George is indifferent to Amelia’s displays of adoration. He lights a cigar with one of her letters. He does not tell his friends about their potential marriage, as he enjoys his reputation as a philanderer. His friends notice the influx of letters, however, and speculate about the identity of the sender. Dobbin accidentally discloses Amelia’s existence to the others; he cannot help but praise George’s fiancée as “one of the most charming young women that ever lived” (133). The other men are shocked, and George is furious with Dobbin. They argue, with Dobbin asking his friend if he is ashamed of Amelia. Though George insists that he is in love with her, he wants to enjoy “a little fling” (135) before settling down. Dobbin encourages George, at the very least, to write a letter to her, even going so far as to offer George money to buy Amelia a present. George takes the money but buys something for himself instead. He visits Amelia, and she forgives him. According to the narrator, George is still not ready to settle down. Meanwhile, Amelia would not enjoy life as the wife of a soldier.

On numerous occasions, George chooses to spend time with his friends over Amelia. Amelia is left alone, being forced to dine with George’s dull sisters and his daunting father. George arrives late and then favors his father with his attention. He hopes his father will give him money. George’s father, John, arranged for his son to marry Amelia years before, but now, he encourages his son to marry better. He fears that Amelia’s father may be suffering from financial difficulties. This conversation only endears Amelia to George. The narrator questions whether he pities her or worries about losing her.

Matilda complains of feeling unwell. When Rawdon hears that she is sick, he travels to see her. He sees Becky through a window and is further intrigued. Later, Becky eats with Miss Briggs, a friend and companion of Matilda Crawley. She is upset that Matilda has refused to see her. Though she is friendly, Becky hints that she is in the best position to care for Matilda. After, Miss Briggs tells her friend, Mrs. Firkin, that Becky seems to have replaced her in Matilda’s social world. Mrs. Firkin responds that the she seems to have charmed everyone around her. Becky jokes about Miss Briggs with Matilda. The doctors are surprised by the speed of Matilda’s recovery.

Rawdon wants to spend more time with Matilda and takes leave from the military. Soon, he falls in love with Becky. He confesses this to Matilda, who warns him not to encourage Becky’s affections. Rawdon realizes that his own father is also in love with Becky. When he says as much to Becky, she dismisses his concern, insisting that she knows and can handle her own affairs. The narrator is unsure whether Matilda is aware of Becky’s cynical plans. Nevertheless, Matilda makes many gifts to Becky for helping her recover.

As soon as she is well enough, Matilda travels to the Sedley house with Becky. In their months apart, Becky and Amelia have grown distant. Their reunion is stilted, though they feign familiarity. That evening, Rawdon realizes that he knows Amelia’s fiancé, George Osborne. He does not have a high opinion of Osborne, who gambles heavily and is a desperate social climber. Rawdon plans to invite George to his house. On the same day, Becky sends an invitation to Amelia. They gather together in the same house; Becky outmaneuvers George’s attempts to patronize her with social etiquette, as well as chastising his sisters, who never acknowledged that she and Amelia were friends. George is surprised by how successfully Becky embarrasses him. He leaves before Amelia learns what has happened. Privately, he warns Rawdon about Becky. When Becky finds out that George has warned that she is dangerous, she becomes even more distrustful of him. Amelia has noticed a budding relationship between Rawdon and Becky, so she is horrified when George shares his true feelings about Becky. Sir Pitt’s wife dies. He pays a visit to Becky, who is living with Matilda. He proposes to her. Becky uncharacteristically begins to cry, admitting that she is already married.

Sir Pitt is angry to hear that Becky has already married. He cannot believe that anyone would want to marry a poor girl like her. Becky, feeling overwhelmed, thanks Sir Pitt for his help. Suspecting that she may have been abandoned by her husband, Sir Pitt says she can keep her job as governess. Thanks to eavesdropping by Mrs. Firkin and Miss Briggs, Matilda has learned about the failed proposal. She enters the room, asking Becky whether she believes herself too good to marry into the Pitt family. Matilda suspects that there is another man in Becky’s life and resolves to learn his identity. Becky cites Sir Pitt’s age as her reason for turning down his proposal. Matilda continues to press Becky for the identity of her supposed lover. Becky privately feels frustrated at not being able to accept the proposal and become Lady Pitt. She did not know that Sir Pitt’s wife would die in the near future when she agreed to marry Rawdon. She writes to him, asking to meet in the “usual place” (173) and telling him what has happened.

The narrator defends the marriage between Rawdon and Becky, as many aristocrats have married comparatively poor spouses. For once, the narrator says, Rawdon has acted honorably. Rawdon is deeply in love with Becky. Since he is easily pliable, he quickly agrees to her suggestion as to when they reveal the engagement. That evening, Matilda promises to keep Becky in her service. The amicable relationship between the two women, the narrator suggests, means this would have been the perfect moment to seek Matilda’s blessing for the marriage, but Becky does not mention it. Instead, she leaves a letter, which is discovered the next morning by Miss Briggs. In the letter, Becky explains that she has gone to live with Rawdon. She asks Miss Briggs to pass the news along to Matilda. At that moment, Martha Crawley arrives and hears what has happened from Miss Briggs. She insists that Becky has always seemed to be “an artful little hussy” (181). Martha tells Matilda the news, and she becomes hysterical with disbelief. When he learns what has happened, Sir Pitt is furious. Rawdon and Becky settle into a new home. If Matilda never forgives them, Becky assures Rawdon that she will make his fortune for him.

The Sedleys hold an auction for all their possessions. Dobbin attends the sale. He is disappointed to see Becky with Rawdon. Even though he does not know how to play, he bids on a small piano. Becky and Rawdon have still not received Matilda’s blessing. She refuses to respond to their letters and requests to visit. Privately, Becky doubts Rawdon’s intelligence, but she flatters him by closely listening to him tell jokes and stories.

Amelia continues to focus her attentions on George, though her mother recognizes knows George’s distance is due to their troubles. Mrs. Sedley plans a party to stop the rumors about the family. When Mr. Sedley admits that they are ruined, she comforts her husband. She knows that Amelia will be distraught. At this time, Amelia is becoming increasingly conscious of Goerge’s selfish and uncaring disposition. To this end, George’s father is one of her father’s chief creditors. John Osborne aggressively chases this debt, telling George to end his engagement to Amelia as part of this business dispute.

Dobbin is Amelia’s fiercest defender. Soon, news reaches England that Napoleon Bonaparte has escaped from exile in Elba. As soldiers, George and Dobbin are summoned to fight. George mocks Amelia to others, showing the gifts he sent to her that she has now been forced to return. Dobbin pities Amelia. He also notes that the piano he bought at her family auction, which he sent to her as a gift, was also returned to George, as she mistook it as a gift from him. Deep down, George feels guilty for the way he treated Amelia during their engagement. He writes to her, deciding to deliver the letter himself.

As Matilda is still unwell, Martha Crawley takes over as her caregiver. She is helped by Miss Briggs and Mrs. Firkin, who have spent many years passing gossip to Matilda. The two servant women spurn Rawdon, who was rude to them on many occasions. Martha knows that her own children are too charmless to replace Becky in Matilda’s life. As such, she insists that Matilda is too sick to receive visitors. She gives her too much medication so that Matilda will remain docile and bedridden. She reads religious scripture to her to instill an existential dread in Matilda. She regrets that her husband Reverend Bute is not smart enough to use his religious leanings to convince Matilda that she needs to disown Rawdon in favor of the Crawley children. Instead, she sits beside Matilda’s bed, recalling all Rawdon’s mistakes, inventing extra sins to emphasize her point. She also remarks on Becky as a “queer little wild vixen” (214), citing Jemima Pinkerton’s criticisms of the young girl. Martha tries too hard, however, and her efforts nearly kill Matilda. Dr. Squills and the local apothecary, Mr. Clump, warn Martha that Matilda needs company and fresh air. Martha worries that Matilda will forgive Rawdon if she sees him. Martha insists that Matilda stay in her house. Mr. Clump, understanding Martha’s motivations, hints that Matilda may not live long enough to rewrite her will if this treatment continues. Later, Clump and Squills agree that Matilda may die within months if Martha continues to treat her. Martha becomes desperate and decides to allow Matilda out of the house, though she tries to select the least likely place to run into Rawdon and Becky. While out, Martha continues her constant criticisms of Rawdon. Privately, Matilda has grown to hate Martha. While out, they happen to spot Rawdon and Becky. Matilda does not respond when Rawdon greets her, and Martha is pleased.