Vanity Fair: A Novel Without a Hero

William Dobbin is an ill fit for Vanity Fair. Surrounded by the immorality and the decadence, his character simply does not conform. His physical awkwardness is an extension of his moral unsuitability for the parties and dinners of high society; Dobbin is a good, honest man. This set him apart from everyone around him but makes him the moral core of the narrative. Dobbin does not learn to be good. He is introduced to George Osborne when they are at school. He defends George from a bully and brings about a friendship which will shape the rest of his life. Dobbin’s refusal to allow one rich boy to be a bully shows his refusal to accept unfairness and immorality in the world around him. Dobbin is devoted to George from this moment onward, but his devotion has a tragic air to it. Dobbin is in love with Amelia, but he refuses to betray his friend and expose George’s many faults and infidelities to Amelia, even though doing so might secure the love that he desires. He sacrifices his own happiness for the happiness of his friend, even though George does little to merit this sacrifice. Even after George dies, Dobbin appoints himself the guardian of his dead-friend’s memory. He pays for Amelia and Georgy’s survival, setting aside what he can to support them even though he is not beholden to them. He even strives to repair the relationships between George and his family. Dobbin, more than any other character, operates with a strong moral core which makes him seem almost alien to others.

Dobbin is not appreciated in high society, but he finds his niche in a different social institution. The military is a parallel to the decadent Vanity Fair. While the attendees of the Fair may view Dobbin as awkward, foolish, and alien, the men of the military respect Dobbin as an honorable and intelligent man. He wins the respect of his fellow officers and rises through the ranks of command. Dobbin’s success in the military suggests that the competing social institution is a viable alternative to the decadence of high society. While those caught up in the luxuries of the Vanity Fair might not be able to imagine any other lifestyle, Dobbin’s military successes show that another form of social institution can operate in this society. Ironically, the praise given to Dobbin by his fellow officers is in line with the qualities which the people of the Fair are meant to revere. He is honest, self-sacrificing, and dedicated. No one in Vanity Fair holds these values, as they are almost entirely hypocrites bent on their own indulgence. Dobbin’s military identity provides an additional critique of the supposed values of the British elite by showing their disdain for the ideals that they supposedly value.

Dobbin’s life is shaped by his love for Amelia. The self-sacrifice of his youth ends with the death of George. After George’s death, he believes that Amelia will never be able to love another man. He fully commits to his military career and exiles himself to India, where he cannot bring himself to love anyone else. When he hears a rumor that Amelia is going to marry, he rushes back to England. Quickly, he learns that this was untrue but he is reunited with Amelia. They begin a platonic courtship which ends with Dobbin declaring his love for Amelia. She rejects him. Only when Dobbin realizes that Amelia is not worthy of the love and dedication which he has devoted to her is he able to move on. He grows as a character by abandoning the idealized version of love which has guided him. Ironically, Dobbin is reliant on Becky—the immoral woman who he has scorned for so long—to finally consummate his relationship with Amelia. His declarations and her actions help Amelia to understand reality, showing her that Dobbin is a man worthy of her love. 

Amelia was never destined for greatness. She may have been born into wealth and privilege, but her ambitions never amounted to anything other than loving her husband and modestly accepting whatever life threw at her. In this sense, she functions as the antithesis of Becky, and a foil. Though they grew up together, though their lives have been closely intertwined, the women could not be more different. Their graduation from Miss Pinkerton’s academy exemplifies this: Becky is criticized for her refusal to conform, and Amelia is given top marks in everything expected of a polite young lady. She can sing, dance, and embroider, never to a particularly high standard, but enough to fit into society. While Amelia is a functional member of society, her life has no real shape or substance. She lacks backbone, dedicating her life to a man who does not love her and perpetuating a system of social values which does not benefit her. Amelia’s unflinching devotion to George—who tries to elope with Becky—mirrors her devotion to her society. When the Sedley family fall on hard times, Amelia accepts her poverty with meek stoicism. She never complains or rebels against the system as Becky might have done. Rather, she remains the passive, compliant figure who bears whatever burden life thrusts upon her.

When George dies and her family is ruined, Amelia dedicates her life to raising her spoiled son. Amelia is unable to see the faults in her son’s character, just like she was unable (or unwilling) to acknowledge George’s flaws. Similarly, she is unable to acknowledge Dobbin’s love for her. Despite the many kindnesses Dobbin shows to Amelia, she refuses to love anyone else. Though she is publicly insistent that she will never love anyone other than George, the middle-aged Amelia begins to show signs of self-indulgence. She and Dobbin form a close friendship, and she is keen to talk about him with anyone who will listen. They are married in a platonic sense, an arrangement which indulges Amelia’s lingering devotion to George’s memory while still allowing her the pleasure of Dobbin’s company. In an ironic twist, Becky’s brutal cynicism becomes a necessary component of Amelia’s happiness. Only when Becky reveals the truth about George’s past is Amelia willing to give up his memory. She marries Dobbin, but her relationship with Becky is unfixable. For her own happiness, Amelia becomes dependent on Becky’s rebellious character, as Becky is willing to acknowledge the truths that hold Amelia back from happiness.