Vanity Fair: A Novel Without a Hero

George argues with his father about his relationship with Amelia. At this time, John Osborne has encouraged his daughters to become friendly with Miss Swartz, hoping she might marry George. He has investigated Miss Swartz’s finances and reached out to her guardian, Mrs. Haggerston, with the promise of a dowry-like payment. John Osborne orders his son to marry Miss Swartz, even though George has now fallen in love with Amelia. They argue bitterly about the matter until George insists that his military duties must take him away. John tells his son that he is foolish to abandon such an enticing financial prospect. He orders his son to attend a dinner the following night. By this time, Miss Swartz is developing feelings for George. She naively believes that people like her personality rather than her fortune. After spending the day with Amelia, George attends the dinner. Miss Swartz is happy to hear that her old classmate from Chiswick, Amelia, is near. Any mention of the Sedley family is quickly snubbed out by John Osborne, though George defies his father by praising Amelia to Miss Swartz. Later, father and son reignite their argument in private. George insists that he loves Amelia. He resents his father for spreading malicious rumors about the Sedley family. John threatens his son with being cut off from the family money unless he does as he is ordered. George storms out of the house, telling Dobbin that he and Amelia will elope.

John Osborne is sure that George will do as he is told, as George is financially dependent on his family. Several days after the argument, an exhausted but handsomely dressed George meets with an anxious Dobbin at the coffee house used by Mr. Sedley as an office. They collect Jos in a carriage and head to the chapel, where George and Amelia marry. As Dobbin waves the happy couple away, he feels heartbroken. George and Amelia head to Brighton, where they spend their honeymoon with Jos, Becky, and Rawdon. While Becky and Amelia visit the shops, the men spend their time watching passing women. Amelia is worried about what will happen when George’s father discovers what has happened. Becky dismisses concerns that she and Rawdon are being pursued by creditors; Rawdon’s family allowance has stopped. Dobbin arrives several days later, sharing that the army will be sent to Belgium the next week.

Dobbin thinks hard about how to tell the Osborne family about the marriage between George and Amelia. Hoping that women will react better, he attends a ball where he knows George’s sisters will be. After dancing with them, he asks Jane Osborne to meet him in Russell Square the following day. Jane has convinced herself that Dobbin means to propose. Jane’s sister Maria and the governess, Miss Wirt, eavesdrop on the meeting. He shares the army’s plans to deploy to Belgium in the coming days. Dobbin suggests that Jane’s father would not want his son to leave for war on bad terms. He believes that Jane and Maria want their brother to be happy and that they pity Amelia. Jane admits to pitying Amelia, but she knows that her father will never change his mind. Dobbin quickly breaks the news of the marriage and exits. He is confident that George’s sisters will tell the news to everyone. As soon as he is gone, Maria and Jane tell Miss Wirt the “whole wonderful secret” (256). They praise Amelia’s bravery. Maria’s romantic interest, Frederick Bullock, visits. He hears the news and makes fun of George for marrying a woman from a poor family rather than Miss Swartz. He suggests that this choice leaves more of the Osborne fortune for the two sisters.

Dobbin visits John Osborne’s city office to break the news. He has been asked to report John’s reaction to George. Dobbin is greeted warmly because Mr. Osborne is convinced that he bears George’s apology. The news of the army’s deployment, plus Dobbin’s suggestion of reconciliation, sours John Osborne’s mood. Osborne refuses to reconcile. Dobbin points out that no gentleman can marry only for money, nor can a gentleman honorably break off an engagement. Osborne is furious that Dobbin would mention the Sedley family. He insults Amelia, prompting Dobbin to defend her. Amid his defense, he admits the truth: George and Amelia are married.

At dinner that evening, John Osborne casts an ominous mood. He demands that a place be set for an absent George and, after the meal, stays alone in his study, locking the door. Inside, he inspects the memorabilia he has kept from his son’s life. He reads the Osborne Bible, which contains details of every birth and death in the family, whereupon he “carefully obliterated” (266) his son’s name. Next, he burns his will. He sends a letter with a servant. The following day, Dobbin eats with his fellow soldiers. The men have been told to bid farewell to their loved ones. Dobbin thinks about Amelia, but also writes to John Osborne, reiterating the importance of reconciliation. Other soldiers write to their loved ones, and Dobbin comforts them. Rather than remind George of their imminent deployment, he allows the couple one final night together. The narrator mentions that Jane still expects a proposal from Dobbin. Rather than meet her, however, he visits his family to make sure his affairs are in order. The narrator believes that his proposal might have led John to forgive his son. Instead, John denounces Dobbin and bans him from the Osborne home. Jane gives up hope of the proposal. When Frederick pays a call to Maria, he unexpectedly spends the evening consoling a “visibly shattered” (272) John Osborne.

Dobbin is back in Brighton. Because he loves Amelia, he cannot be honest about the dangers that face him and George. When he speaks to the inexperienced George, however, he does not hide that they are in great danger. Becky closely watches the others. She can discern that Dobbin loves Amelia, but also that Amelia does not love Dobbin. Becky’s observations also reveal that, unlike other men, Dobbin is too “honest” (274) to succumb to her cynical charm. She is worried to meet someone she cannot manipulate, but she is always friendly and polite with him. In private, Dobbin hands George a letter from a lawyer who works for his father. In the letter, Mr. Osborne announces his intention to cut George completely out of the family. George will be forced to make do with a small allowance from the estate of his late mother. George angrily blames Dobbin for mismanaging the situation. George does not want to change his luxurious lifestyle, but Dobbin assures him that his father will eventually relent if George proves himself during the war.

Becky and Rawdon prepare for a dinner. Unlike the upset Amelia, Becky does not need to worry. Since Rawdon is aide-de-camp to General Tufto, he will not be in harm’s way. George owes Rawdon a number of gambling debts, and Becky suggests that Rawdon collect the money quickly. Becky was involved in these debts, having convinced George to continue playing against her husband. Elsewhere, Amelia notes how different she seems from Becky. She is already concerned that her new husband believes she is boring. She is sure that his father will forgive him, but she is secretly pleased to be “sharing poverty and privation” (280) with George, who arrogantly declares that he is more than happy to endure financial hardship. He says he is more concerned about how Amelia will survive in the barracks with the soldiers. Amelia quietly accepts the burden she must bear. She has already endured bankruptcy with her family, so she believes that George’s allowance of £2,000 a year is more than enough. At the dinner, Amelia finally realizes that George will soon be sent to Belgium. She insists on accompanying him, much to Dobbin’s horror. George arranges for Mrs. O’Dowd to accompany his wife. Rawdon, following Becky’s suggestion, asks George for the money he is owed. The following day, Jos returns to London with Dobbin and George. Rawdon stays with Becky in Brighton, as Becky wants to be near the recuperating Matilda.

Becky aims to reconcile with Matilda. She meets with Miss Brigg and gossips about Martha, whom they both loathe. Becky flatters Miss Brigg and Mrs. Firkin. After, she tells Rawdon exactly how to write a letter asking to see Matilda before he is deployed. However, Matilda knows that Becky is behind the letter, as Rawdon is a poor writer. She agrees to meet only with Rawdon. Rawdon attends the meeting and feels for his recovering aunt. The meeting is short, hindering Becky’s plans to work her husband into Matilda’s will and make herself a baronet’s wife. She is upset by Rawdon’s failure. The typically calm Rawdon responds angrily. Matilda, meanwhile, is unimpressed with Rawdon’s seemingly slovenly and vulgar appearance. Via Miss Briggs, she writes and says that she cannot see him again. The narrator believes that she is aware of her imminent death and does not want to waste her time with people who are only vying for a place in her will. As a parting gift, she tells Rawdon that he can collect a check from her clerk in London. He collects the check, which is for just £20. Becky is amused, knowing that Matilda figured out her scheme.

On their return to London from Brighton, George frets about the price of the hotel. Amelia is upset when George refuses to meet with her mother. She goes alone, realizing how much has changed in just nine days since she last saw her mother. She comes to regret having taken her parents’ love for granted. The narrator cites Amelia’s nerves regarding her past and her future. Her story is not over, even though she is now married. The narrator wonders when she will finally see George for who he is, rather than who she imagines him to be. George visits his father’s lawyers. He wants to collect the rest of the money left to him by his mother, though he is still sure that his father will eventually forgive him. Amelia and her mother go shopping to prepare Amelia to travel to Europe with George. They do not seem alarmed that war is the reason behind the trip, treating the deployment as a vacation.

On reaching Chatham, Amelia spots Dobbin. He introduces her to the rest of George’s regiment, and she quickly charms the men. Mrs. O’Dowd, who is married to Major O’Dowd, the leader of the regiment, invites Amelia to a small gathering that evening. She talks to Amelia about her family’s past and provides a warm welcome. She gives Amelia background knowledge about the other wives who have accompanied their husbands to the regiment. They also attend the party, where they are envious of the way Amelia charmed their husbands.

Jos accepts the challenge of escorting Amelia to France and Belgium as she follows the regiment. The army is confident, which relaxes civilians like Amelia and Jos. Meanwhile, George loathes having to share his regiment with lower-class soldiers, though Amelia is amused by the other men. Despite the war, life in the military camp is normal. Amelia is pleased to finally visit a foreign city. George spends money, spoiling his wife with frivolous gifts. George spots General Tufto, and Amelia suspects that this means Rawdon and Becky may be nearby. She surprises herself by feeling uneasy at this thought.

Becky is in Brussels with Rawdon. She runs into Amelia and George, who confesses to Rawdon that he is still not reconciled with his father. Rawdon reveals that Matilda is similarly still annoyed. At the opera, George uses his friendship with Becky as a way to introduce himself to General Tufto. He is surprised at the General’s dismissive attitude, sensing that the General envies George’s relationship with Becky. The General watches closely as George walks with Becky to the box he is sharing with Amelia. Later, Dobbin says to George that Becky was acting friendly with the General as a way to get his attention. George defends Becky.

George continues to gamble with Rawdon. George argues with Amelia because she does not want to spend time with Becky and Rawdon. Becky continues to act friendly with Amelia, but hints to George that perhaps Amelia envies her position. George convinces himself that Becky is saying such things as a way to impress him. Since this flatters his ego, he allows Becky to insult his wife. George leaves Amelia at home to spend time with Becky and Rawdon gambling. The narrator wonders whether Becky is deliberately conspiring with her husband by flirting with George to convince him to continue gambling.

An exclusive ball is held. George soon abandons Amelia to socialize with his friends. Becky makes a memorable entrance, then approaches Amelia with stinging comments about her outfit and appearance. She chides Amelia for allowing her husband to gamble so much money away. When George finally returns, he adds insult to injury by inviting Becky to dance. After the dance, George collects Becky’s shawl, hiding a note. Amelia asks Dobbin to escort her home. George stays at the ball to gamble. When Dobbin returns to the ball, he seeks out George and reveals that their regiment is set to head to the front line in just a few hours. George returns home, reflecting on his decision to marry Amelia against his father’s wishes. After writing to his father, he studies his sleeping wife. He is struck by her innocence. She stirs and hugs him, reconciling just as George is summoned to the front.