English Literature books summary

English Literature books summary

him all the foolish things he (Jos) had done the previous night. Thoroughly

ashamed he flees to Scotland, in order to avoid Becky.

This completely crashes all of Becky’s attempts and with all her

pretense at work she bids a tearful goodbye to a dejected Amelia and gifts

the purse to Mr. Sedley. Becky is sure that George Osborne has a hand in

her misery and is therefore determined to take her revenge.

Chapter 7 Crawley of Queen’s Crawley

The narrator traces the history of the Crawley family. Sir Pitt

Crawley first marries Grizzel who bears him two sons-Pitt and Rawdon. Many

years after her demise, Sir Pitt marries Rose Dawson. The job that Becky

gets at Queen’s Crawley, is to look after the two daughters of Sir Pitt and

Rose Dawson.

Rebecca, dusting off her disappointment at the Sedley’s, becomes

excited at the prospect of living with a Baronet. Sir Pitt Crawley is a

dirtily dressed, foul-mouthed old man. He has very crude manners and a

heavy Hampshire accent. The old house too seems almost dilapidated. Sir

Pitt is to take Becky to Crawley’s mansion the next day.

Chapter 8 Private and Confidential

Becky writes a detailed letter to Amelia, describing Sir Pitt Crawley;

her adventures during her journey as she was made to sit outside in the

rain, for a passenger wanted an inside place in Sir Pitt’s coach, the

Crawley estate, and finally the old-fashioned, red-brick mansion. Becky

also gives her an account of the family members: Lady Crawley, who

constantly weeps for the loss of her beauty; Pitt Crawley who is lean with

‘hay colored whiskers’ and dresses with the pomp of an undertakes; the two

girls Rose and Violet who are simple and nice and of course Sir Pitt who

drinks in the company of Horrocks, his butler.

Chapter 9 Family Portraits

Sir Pitt Crawley with his taste for low life marries Rose, daughter of

an ironmonger. He gets drunk more than often and beats his pretty Rose. He

has a brother, a Rector, Bute Crawley, whose wife refused to call on Lady

Crawley because she is the daughter of a petty tradesman. After giving

birth to two daughters, Lady Crawley remains as a mere machine in the

house. She is only faintly attached to Pitt Crawley who is a polite, gentle

and disciplined man. He is also an ambitious and industrious person.

Sir Pitt gets great pleasure in making his creditors wait and go from

court to court. He asks, "What is the good of being in Parliament if you

must pay your debts?"

Sir Pitt has an unmarried half sister, Miss Crawley, who has a large

fortune. She helps the Crawleys often, to pay their debts. The members of

her family love and respected her because of her vast bank balance.

Chapter 10 Miss Sharp Begins to make friends.

Rebecca’s main aim is to make herself agreeable to her benefactors.

She knows that to survive in the world she has to fend for herself. She

easily pleases Lady Crawley and her daughters. Her respect and obedience

towards Pitt Crawley wins her, his good opinion. She finds ways to be

useful to Sir Pitt and within a year, she becomes indispensable to him. She

becomes his constant companion.

Rawdon Crawley of the LifeGuards Green does not get along with his

brother Pitt and pays a visit to the house, only when the aunt comes to

stay with them. He is a favorite of his aunt and there is mutual contempt

between Pitt and Miss Crawley.

Miss Crawley is a rich woman, who loves everything associated with

France. She enjoys life (though Pitt considers her to be ‘godless’) and

loves to pamper her nephew, Rawdon.

Chapter 11 Arcadian Simplicity

Bute Crawley and his wife form the nearest relatives and neighbors of

Sir Pitt. The two brothers are entirely against each other. Mrs. Crawley

keeps a close watch on the Crawley house for news. She is quite suspicious

about Rebecca’s growing influence over the Crawleys. Therefore she writes

to Miss Pinkerton to enquire about her past for which Miss Pinkerton gladly

fills in the information that her parents had been disreputable.

Becky writes a letter to Amelia informing her about the perfect peace

and happiness in the house due to the arrival of Miss Crawley. The two

brothers make best chaperons for her while they wait for her to kick the

bucket. Becky also gives an account of Rawdon Crawley who lives a lavish

life under the favor of his aunt. She does not forget to mention how he

constantly showers attention over her while he is around.

Besides charming Mrs. Bute Crawley, Rebecca also has Miss Crawley tied

to her little finger in no time, (who is immensely impressed by her) and

becomes her constant companion.

Chapter 12 Quite a sentimental chapter.

Sisters of George as well as of Dobbin believe that Amelia is not

worthy enough for a charming man like George. They feel that George is

making a great sacrifice in loving Amelia. George plays truant and in the

evenings is neither at his own house nor at Amelia’s. Amelia is heartbroken

waiting for George. She writes frantic letters to George, who replies in

very few words - in a soldier like manner.

Chapter 13 Sentimental and otherwise

While Amelia suffers in George’s absence, George is busy enjoying in

the company of other women. Unable to hear people talking about George and

his lady in a light manner, Dobbin, to the great displeasure of George,

blurts out the truth about George’s engagement with Amelia. Dobbin also

rebukes George for neglecting the angelic Amelia. George, with some

hesitation, accepts money from Dobbin to buy a gift for Amelia. But he is

driven by self-love, and buys a diamond shirt pin for himself. Amelia is

euphoric to see George.

George’s father, John Osborne, is worried about John Sedley’s

business. He makes it clear to George that he is not to marry Amelia unless

she brings along ten thousand pounds.

Chapter 14 Miss Crawley at Home

Miss Crawley falls severely ill and is transported back to her house.

Rebecca nurses her throughout her illness. Miss Crawley refuses to be

looked after by anyone else, not even her old loyals, like Miss Briggs and

Mrs. Firkin. These two companions are greatly threatened by Becky’s

presence. Rawdon comes regularly to ask Becky about the improvement in the

patient.

After great caring and watching over on Becky’s part, Miss Crawley

recovers. Becky keeps her entertained and accompanies her on drives. On one

such drive they pay a visit to Amelia, which again Amelia returns after a

few days. Amelia is invited for dinner in which George Osborne is also a

guest. George tells Rawdon to be careful of a desperate flirt like Becky.

Sir Pitt becomes a widower again. Throughout the time of Miss

Crawley’s convalescence, he writes frantic letters to Rebecca to return to

Queen’s Crawley. One day, he personally comes to fetch her and proposes

marriage to her. Rebecca has only tears to shed at this marriage proposal;

she confesses between her sobs that she is already married.

Chapters 15 & 16 In which Rebecca’s husband appears for a short time

and the letter on the Pincushion

Miss Crawley is astonished to know that Rebecca has turned down Sir

Pitt’s proposal. After much explanation to Miss Crawley, Becky admits that

she loves someone else. Becky is a little remorseful that she has missed

the position of a Lady, but she has enough ‘resolution and energy of

character,’ to not continue mourning for what is lost.

She writes a letter to her secret husband, who is none other than Rawdon,

and plans an elopement. Becky is sure that Miss Crawley will be hysterical

for a while and then forgive her two favorites. She runs away leaving a

letter for Miss Briggs, who does not have a clue about how to break the

news and sends for Mrs. Bute Crawley. Together they inform Miss Crawley,

who is frantic. Sir Pitt is furious. All this while Becky and Rawdon,

together, are hoping that Miss Crawley will sooner or later come around and

forgive them.

Chapter 17 &18 How Capt. Dobbin bought a piano and who played on the

piano Capt. Dobbin bought.

Mr. John Sedley goes bankrupt and the family moves to a modest house

in Fulham Street. There is an auction in their old house where Rawdon and

Becky buy a painting of Jos Sedley on an elephant and Dobbin buys the old

piano and sends it to its previous owner, Amelia.

Jos arranges financial help for his parents but does not come down to

meet them. After his marriage, Rawdon Crawley is a much-altered man. Becky

just avoids the ruined Sedleys.

Everybody is sure that George Osborne will not marry Amelia and speaks

ill about her. Aware of this fact, John Sedley asks the heartbroken Amelia

to return all the gifts that George had given her and break the

relationship. George is moved by Amelia’s letter and, on Dobbin’s

insistence, goes to meet her.

Chapter 19 Miss Crawley at Nurse

Mrs. Bute Crawley tries every way to make Miss Crawley despise Rawdon

and Becky. For this, she reminds Miss Crawley of every vice of Rawdon and

takes Miss Crawley to Miss Pinkerton’s, who helps them trace Becky’s

earlier life. Thus, she fortifies the Park Lane house against the enemy.

Seeing Miss Crawley weak, Mrs. Bute Crawley presses upon the old woman

to alter her will but does not succeed. At a drive in a park, Miss

Crawley’s carriage passes by Rawdon’s carriage, who acknowledges the party

but is coldly spurned. For Mrs. Bute it is a sure triumph. She plans to

take Miss Crawley to Brighton to avoid such encounters in the future.

Chapters 20 & 21 In which Capt. Dobbin acts as the messenger of Hymen

and Quarrel about on heiress.

Dobbin volunteers to convince Mr. Sedley about Amelia’s marriage.

Amelia is as happy as she can be. George tells Amelia that his parents and

sisters have formed a new acquaintance with a Miss Swartz, who is an

extremely beautiful and rich heiress. John Osborne plans to get George

married to Miss Swartz and he keeps giving his son, hints about this wish

of his.

Miss Swartz is invited home for dinner where George is ordered to be

present. During the meetings instigated by the foul words of his sisters

towards Amelia, George declares to Miss Swartz that he loves Amelia and

even rises against his father to defend her. His father is enraged and

warns him not to argue with him if he wants to remain in the family. George

defies his father’s orders and tells Dobbin that he will marry Amelia the

very next day.

Chapter 22 A marriage and part of a Honeymoon.

Like a typical patriarch, Old Osborne is sure that George will return

the moment his supplies fall short. Amelia and George tie the knot at a

chapel near Fulham Road. Immediately after the marriage, the couple leaves

for Brighton. Dobbin stays back to overcome his depression caused due to

Amelia’s marriage and also to inform Mr. Osborne.

At Brighton, the young couple, later joined by, Jos meets the Crawley

couple, who is enjoying their stay. However, the Crawley couple is also

worried about Miss Crawley’s acceptance as she still refuses to yield.

Dobbin too joins them later, bringing the news that all the soldiers are

ordered to Belgium.

Chapters 23 & 24 Capt. Dobbin proceeds on his canvass and in which Mr.

Osborne takes down the family Bible.

Dobbin tries very hard to convince George’s sisters, to be supportive

of his marriage to Amelia. Miss Osbornes are moved, but they dare not

oppose their father. Sure about the fact that, George will lose his share

of the property, Mr. Fredrick Bullock, a businessman, at heart becomes more

interested in Miss Maria Osborne. This is because; he realizes that now she

is worth thirty thousand pounds more.

Very gradually, Dobbin breaks the news about George’s marriage to Mr.

Osborne, who is shattered, angry and deeply disappointed. He decides to

disown George and disinherit him. He sends a letter for George through

Dobbin.

Chapter 25 In which all the principal personages think fit to leave

Brighton.

George is panic struck, the moment he reads the letter, from his

father’s lawyer, disinheriting him from his father’s property. He rudely

blames Dobbin for (George’s) his being out of favor of his father, then

later ‘generously’ forgives him. Within a week of marriage, George begins

to neglect Amelia for the company of others, especially the Crawleys. The

regiment is next commissioned to Brussels.

Before leaving town, Becky insists on getting back a sum lent to

George, which he does, and appeasing Miss Crawley. The latter becomes easy

as Mrs. Bute Crawley, the only great obstacle, rushes to her home because

Mr. Bute Crawley had injured himself. Rebecca seizes the opportunity and

sends feelers through honest Miss Briggs. Becky also dictates a letter to

Rawdon for Miss Crawley. Miss Crawley refuses to see Rawdon. On further

insistence, she asks him to see her lawyer. On following her instruction,

Rawdon is shocked to see that she leaves a meager sum of twenty pounds for

him!

Chapters 26, 27 & 28 Between London and Chatham, in which Amelia joins

her Regiment, in which Amelia invades the Low Countries.

On their way to Brussels, George, Amelia, Jos and Dobbin stop at

London. George keeps Amelia in the lap of luxury, but does not spend time

with her. He is back to his vices, of gambling and flirting. A happy Amelia

pays a visit to her parents. George meets his father’s solicitor for the

final little sum of 2000 pounds that his father has spared for him.

At Chatham, Amelia meets George’s regiment. They are all impressed by

Amelia’s sweet and kind nature and George feels proud of her. Amelia takes

a liking for the garrulous and imposing Mrs. Peggy O’Dowd, who is the wife

of Mayor O’Dowd, the commander of George’s regiment.

The regiment is transported by water to Ostend. Before the war can

begin, there is great merriment in the regiment. In such parties, Amelia is

extravagantly dressed, Jos, excessively drunk and George extremely

flirtatious.

Chapter 29 Brussels

Following the others, the Crawley couple arrives at Brussels. George

enjoys in their company but Amelia is jealous of the admiration Rebecca

receives from George. George continuously loses his money to Rawdon, at

gambling and loses his heart to Becky.

On June 15, 1815 a noble duchess hosts a lavish ball in which

Crawleys, Osbornes and Dobbin are invited. Amelia, half- expecting what

would happen, is quite without enthusiasm.

George, as usual, chaperones Rebecca, dances with her and in the end, gives

her a piece of paper crumpled in her bouquet. Amelia, totally neglected,

requests Dobbin to take her back to her room.

George Osborne is having a great time at the ball when Dobbin

announces that their regiment is to march to the battlefront. George, the

brave soldier, is excited. On his way to his room, he bitterly regrets his

behavior towards Amelia and wonders what will happen to her and their

unborn child if he were to die in the war. He feels guilty for his

ingratitude towards his father and writes a farewell letter to him.

Chapter 30 "The girl I left behind me"

Major O’Dowd, Rawdon, George, and Dobbin prepare to leave for the

battlefield. Rawdon is worried about the debts he is leaving behind and

gives Becky all his savings and valuables out of which she can make a

little fortune and live comfortably if he were to die. Rawdon is

overwhelmed with emotions while Rebecca bears it all with ‘Spartan

equanimity.’

Before leaving, Dobbin extracts a promise from Jos Sedley that he will

not leave Amelia alone and will take care of her while George is away.

After a brief parting with Amelia, George rushes to join the march, full of

enthusiasm and overflowing with excitement.

Chapter 31 In which Jos Sedley takes care of his sister.

Jos is comfortable while Amelia is very ill and disturbed in George’s

absence. Becky comes to pay Amelia a visit, but Amelia is furious at her

and behaves rudely towards her. In a fit of rage and jealousy, she assures

Becky that George loves only her (Amelia) and that none of Becky’s tricks

would work. For the first time, Amelia gathers enough courage to confront

Becky, who is stunned. She leaves Peggy to take care of Amelia.

Before this confrontation with Amelia, Becky flatters and praises an

impressed Jos Sedley so that she can use him whenever she needs to. While

Jos and Peggy are at dinner, they hear cannons being fired and it perturbs

them.

Chapter 32 In which Jos takes flight and the war is brought to a

close.

With the noise of cannons, there are rumors that the French will

overpower the British army. Mrs. O’Dowd courageously consoles Amelia while

Jos is mortally frightened. He puts forth his plan to flee to Ghent but his

servant Isidor informs him that all the horses are gone. Pauline’s (the

cook’s) lover, Regulus returns from the battlefield bringing the news of

the war that, the British army was butchered. They are all scared. Jos

plans to shave his moustaches so that no one will mistake him for an army

man.

Like Jos, even the Bareacres are panic struck and wish to flee but a

paucity of horses prevents them. Rebecca has two horses to sell but she

doesn’t sell them to the Lady Bareacres, as she is angry with the Lady for

ignoring her at the parties. She sells the horses to Jos at a very high

price.

The news of victory arrives. Amelia is even more hysterical. She spots

an injured ensign and mistakes him for George. This ensign, Tom Stubble,

brings news that George and Dobbin are fine. He tells them how Capt. Dobbin

had carried him to the surgeon and has sent him back with a message for

Mrs. Osborne that her husband is well.

When all are at peace, they hear the cannons of Waterloo strike again

and this scares Jos very much. Jos once more implores upon Amelia to leave

with him, but when she refuses, he goes away with his servant. After the

roaring of cannons all day, the British are finally triumphant. While

Amelia is praying for George, he lies dead with a bullet through his heart.

Chapter 33 In which Miss Crawley’s relations are very anxious about

her.

Miss Crawley reads about Rawdon’s bravery and learns that he has been

honored with the title of Colonel. She receives a letter and tokens of war

from his nephew Rawdon from Paris. Mrs. Bute Crawley is disappointed, for

her absence has resulted in her losing her hold over Miss Crawley and her

household.

After Becky leaves Queen’s Crawley, Sir Pitt does not care to mend his

lifestyle. He drinks with the peasants and showers attention on his servant

Miss Horrocks.

Mr. Pitt is to marry Lady Jane, daughter of Countess Southdown. Mr.

Pitt Crawley, together with Lady Southdown and Lady Jane, decides that he

must cultivate Miss Crawley’s friendship and win her favor as well as her

fortune.

Chapter 34 James Crawley’s pipe is put out.

Miss Crawley instantly likes Jane and asks her to visit her often.

Mrs. Bute Crawley, immensely jealous of the improvement Pitt is making with

Miss Crawley, sends her son James Crawley to please the rich lady. Miss

Crawley asks James to live in her house. Pitt is envious of James for Miss

Crawley had never invited him to stay with her. So he tries various ways to

make Miss Crawley fed up of James. One day, he instigates James to smoke a

pipe in the house. This pollutes the atmosphere of the home and results in

Miss Crawley bidding farewell to James.

Meanwhile, Becky creates a place for herself in the Parisian society.

She delivers a boy and Miss Crawley immediately orders for the marriage of

Pitt and Lady Jane. They come and stay with Miss Crawley and decide to give

them (Pitt and Jane) a thousand pounds a year till she lives and all the

bulk of her property after her death.

Chapter 35 Widow and mother.

Old Osborne and his family is wholly shaken and shattered at the news

of George’s death. His heart melts, when he reads the letter that George

had written to him on the eve of the battle. He goes to see his son’s tomb.

He sees Amelia in her sorrowful widowhood but remains unmoved and refuses

to accept her as his son’s widow.

Amelia lives a passive and melancholic life till the arrival of her

son, which brings life back into her. Dobbin is the godfather of the little

George and takes care that he does not lack anything. One day, Dobbin comes

and informs Amelia that he is leaving and will not be back for a long time.

She promises to write to him about little George.

Chapters 36 & 37 How to live well on nothing a year & the subject

continued.

Rebecca and Rawdon live comfortably on debt, in Paris, for 3 - 4

years. Rebecca becomes a favorite in the aristocratic circle. Rawdon has a

lucky hand at gambling but their rising debts compel them to return to

England. Becky makes the scene pretty easy in England, by appeasing

Rawdon’s old debtors. By promising them a fairly good dividend on the

previous debt, Becky gets ten times more from them.

The news of Miss Crawley’s death arrives. In London, Becky and Rawdon

stay in Raggles’ house at Curzon Street, Mayfair. Raggles is an old loyal

of the Crawley family. He was their (Crawley’s) butler, who had spent all

his hard-earned money to buy the apartment, which he now lends Becky. Becky

and Rawdon never pay him anything, and in time, poor Raggles becomes a

ruined man.

Miss Crawley leaves Bute Crawley five thousand pounds, Rawdon inherits

only a hundred pounds, and the rest of the fortune is left to Pitt. Rebecca

advises Rawdon to keep a friendly relationship with Pitt and his wife.

Rebecca is a failure as a mother. In fact, she finds little Rawdon a great

botheration, but father and son share a special bond.

Rebecca totally overshadows Rawdon. While Rawdon is busy with his son,

Becky charms rich men like Lord Styne. One day, while playing at a park,

Rawdon and his son meet John Sedley and Georgy.

Chapter 38 A Family in a small way

Jos Sedley goes to India, straight from Brussels, without meeting

anyone. He sends his parents a small sum of money, which is their chief

income. Amelia develops into a possessive mother and hurts her own mother

by suspecting that she wants her Georgy to be poisoned. Reverend Mr.

Binney, who offers to teach Georgy Latin, proposes marriage to Amelia,

which she turns down kindly. She refuses to send her son away to school and

creates havoc if he falls ill.

Dobbin writes frequently and sends numerous expensive gifts for

Georgy, Amelia, and her parents. Her parents are sorry about the fact that

she does not want to marry Dobbin. Georgy grows up to be pompous and proud

like his father. Sometimes, Dobbin’s sisters take Georgy out for a ride in

their carriage or to spend a day with the ladies. One day they inform

Amelia that Dobbin is about to marry Glorvina O’Dowd at Madras. Amelia

expresses a great deal of happiness at the news.

Chapter 39 A Cynical chapter

Lady Jane and Pitt pay a visit to Sir Pitt, soon after their wedding.

Sir Pitt’s condition is lamentable, so is the state of his house. Miss

Horrocks rules the entire home. Mrs. Bute Crawley, with her close eye on

Queen’s Crawley, catches Miss Horrocks red handed as she is trying to

steal. She brings along her husband and James to bear witness. While Miss

Horrocks is busy robbing, her father and a doctor try to murder Sir Pitt,

but Bute Crawley foils their plan and throws them out of Queen’s Crawley.

Chapters 40 & 41 In which Becky is recognized by the family and in

which Becky revisits the halls of her ancestors.

The news of the death of Sir Pitt makes his son Pitt secretly

delighted, as now he will be Sir Pitt Crawley with a seat in the

Parliament. He quickly communicates the news to Rawdon. Rawdon and Rebecca

rush to Queen’s Crawley, dressed correctly to the occasion, leaving little

Rawdon with Miss Briggs who has been living with them since Miss Crawley’s

demise.

Becky and Rawdon’s homecoming is warm. Pitt notices that marriage to

Becky has made Rawdon a better person. Pitt volunteers to pay for little

Rawdon’s education. Becky is touched by the goodness of Lady Jane. Knowing

that Pitt is at odds with Bute Crawley and his family, Becky gladly blames

Mrs. Bute Crawley for her marriage to Rawdon and their eventual falling out

of Miss Crawley’s favor.

Becky and Rawdon leave for London with many gifts from Lady Jane.

During their short stay Rebecca pleases everyone at the house, while Rawdon

misses his beloved son and keeps track of his activities back home.

Chapters 42 & 43 Which treats of the Osborne family and In which the

reader has to double the cape.

Maria Osborne is married to Fredrick Bullock, the greedy materialistic

man, and they are almost cut off from the family due to their social

superiority. Miss Jane leads a monotonous life with her tyrannical father.

One day, she meets Georgy and gifts him a gold watch and a chain. Her

father begins to flush up and tremble at the news.

Amelia writes to Dobbin wishing him and his wife all the best. It is

believed that, Dobbin will marry Glorvina, sister of Peggy O’Dowd, but he

is too involved with Amelia to even think about the match. So he is deeply

hurt to read Amelia’s letter, blessing the couple, and yearns to go back to

England. Soon, he receives his sister’s letter informing him that Amelia

may be marrying a Reverend Mr. Binney. With this knowledge, Dobbin rushes

to England.

Chapters 44 & 45 A roundabout chapter between London and Hampshire and

between Hampshire and London.

Becky is to take care of the renovation of the Great Gaunt House of

Sir Pitt. Sir Pitt comes for a short stay with them, during which Becky

impresses him with everything she does. Sir Pitt realizes that, Rawdon was

supposed to inherit the money that he has, and so helps him with small sums

every now and then. The frequent visits of men like Sir Pitt and Lord Styne

helps Becky to extract more credit, for the creditors believe that if she

stays in such rich company, she can surely return their debts. During this

time Rebecca gets more and more estranged from her son.

While Sir Pitt frequents Becky’s house, Rawdon and his son spend a

happy time with Lady Jane and her children, who they are very fond of. Sir

Pitt is elected as a Member of the Parliament. Becky dislikes Lady Jane for

being a simple and good woman. Becky also introduces Sir Pitt to Lord

Styne.

Chapter 46 Struggles and trials.

Amelia is too possessive to send Georgy to school, therefore she

teaches him at home. After one of the rides in the Dobbin’s carriage,

Georgy tells his mother that an old man had come to see him. Old Mr.

Osborne sends his attorney to get Georgy in his custody with the following

proposal: Amelia is to get a fair allowance, which will not be withdrawn,

even if she marries again. She will be allowed to see her son sometimes but

at her own residence. Amelia is furious at the attorney for bringing such a

proposal.

The monetary condition of the Sedley family goes from bad to worse.

Amelia has no money to gift Georgy on Christmas, so she sells one of the

exquisite shawls that Dobbin had sent for her from India. She buys new

clothes and books for Georgy from the money obtained. But her mother is

thoroughly disappointed. According to her, Amelia should not spend lavishly

on her son’s books and on providing him with other luxuries, when they

don’t have enough money to live. The main reasons for this poor financial

condition of the Sedleys are; the money sent by Jos does not arrive,

Amelia’s pension is insufficient, and Mr. Sedley’s business always incurs

losses.

Amelia soon begins to feel guilty for her selfishness. She knows that,

Georgy will be provided for in a better manner in his grandfather’s house.

She realizes that she cannot do very much for her son and is afraid that

she may have to part with him.

Chapter 47 Gaunt House

Tom Eaves, an inhabitant of Vanity Fair, tells the narrator about the

history of Lord Styne’s family. Lord Styne an extremely affluent man, has a

brief unhappy married life and due to a low- spirited wife, he is lured by

pleasures and merriment. His son George loses his mental balance due to a

disease that runs in their family and of which Lord Styne is petrified. To

escape his fears, he throws lavish balls and invites everyone. In spite of

all his notorious and immoral escapades, everyone belonging to the high

society attends his parties.

Chapter 48 In which the reader is introduced to the very best of

company.

Becky is rewarded with a chance to go to Court with Sir Pitt and Lady

Jane. She is dazzling in her best clothes and large diamonds which Sir Pitt

secretly gives her. Rawdon goes in his old shabby uniform, which is now too

tight for him. Becky therefore achieves her aim in life.

Lord Styne is a frequent visitor at Rebecca’s place, but he feels

uneasy in the presence of Miss Briggs. He asks Becky to send her away, but

Becky replies that she will not be able to do so, as she owes Miss Briggs

some money. Becky then quotes almost double the amount. Later, Lord Styne

sends her a check and an invitation for dinner. Rebecca buys Briggs a

beautiful, silk gown and pays Raggles and her coachman fifty pounds each to

silence them for sometime. The rest she keeps for herself.

Chapter 49 In which we enjoy three courses and a Dessert.

Lord Styne receives great opposition from his family, for wanting to

invite Rebecca Crawley for his party. His mother-in- law being Lady

Bareacres, this opposition is not surprising. Rebecca is eventually

invited. Though in the former part of the evening she is not very

successful, she enchants Lady Styne by singing sweetly for her.

Chapter 50 Contains a vulgar incident.

After a lot of pondering, Amelia decides to send Georgy to his

grandfather. At this decision, Mr. Osborne sends her a hundred pounds.

Georgy is excited to go to his new lavish home. After he is gone, Amelia is

sad and depressed. He comes often to meet her and on other days, she walks

up to his house and watches the window of his room.

Amelia still does not know that it is not Jos who has stopped sending

money, but it is her father who has already sold away Jos’s future

allowances for his unsuccessful businesses.

Chapter 51 In which a charade is acted which may or may not puzzle the

reader.

Becky gets more and more popular in the aristocratic circle. In a

party at Gaunt House, Becky participates in the charades. The audience is

spell bound with Becky’s performance. After the charade, Becky is placed at

a grand exclusive table, with all the distinguished guests, and eats out of

a gold plate.

At the end of the party, Becky leaves by carriage while Rawdon prefers to

walk. On the way, he is arrested on account of an unpaid debt.

Chapter 52 In which Lord Styne shows himself a most amiable light.

This chapter is a flashback. Due to the generosity of Lord Styne,

little Rawdon is sent to a very good school. His father misses him during

his absence and longs for him to return home on Saturdays. Rawdon’s

relationship with Becky is growing more and more estranged.

One day Lord Styne, in a conversation with Miss Briggs realizes that

Becky had told him a falsehood and taken double the amount she needed,

giving none of it to Miss Briggs. When he questions Becky about this, she

tells him another lie, where she puts the entire blame on Rawdon’s greed

and his constant bullying asking her to ask Styne for money.

Lady Jane warns Rawdon to keep an eye on Becky’s activities. Lord

Styne gives Miss Briggs a better place, that of a housekeeper at Gauntly

Hall. Rawdon orders Becky to refuse invitations, which are only for her and

where he is not on the guest list. Becky agrees and they live in each

other’s company and to Rawdon, this feels like the blissful days, just

after their marriage.

Chapter 53 A rescue and a catastrophe

Rawdon, who has been arrested, writes to Becky asking her to arrange

for a hundred pounds to bail him out (for he has only seventy pounds).

Becky writes a sympathetic letter, in, which she makes an excuse of her bad

health and puts off his rescue to the next day. A furious Rawdon sends a

letter to Sir Pitt asking for help. Lady Jane comes to his rescue.

Rawdon rushes home and is enraged to see Becky and Lord Styne spending

a great evening together. Becky is bedecked with numerous diamond trinkets,

which Lord Styne has presented to her. Rebecca is mortally scared on being

caught red handed. Rawdon strikes Lord Styne, who claims to have paid large

sums of money to his wife. Rawdon makes Becky open her secret drawer and

finds a thousand-pound note from Lord Styne. Becky only screams that she is

innocent. Rawdon, in a fit of rage, goes away.

Chapters 54 & 55 Sunday after the battle and in which the same subject

is pursued.

Fuming with anger, Rawdon goes over to Sir Pitt and informs him about

what has happened. He assures Pitt that he has come just to request him to

take care of his son whom he loves dearly.

Then he goes to Gaunt House and leaves his card for Lord Styne, expressing

his wish to meet him. He goes to Captain Macmurdo (Mac) and asks him for

help, which the latter gladly extends. Mac takes the responsibility of

returning Styne’s note back to him.

At Curzon Street, Becky’s maid robs her of all her jewelry and her

servants harass her for money. Now that they know that she is out of favor

of both Lord Styne and Rawdon, they are worried about their repayments.

Becky meets Sir Pitt and convinces him of her innocence by saying that she

was entertaining Lord Styne so that she could acquire a good employment for

Rawdon. Lady Jane is furious to see Becky in her house.

In the meanwhile, Rawdon is spending his time with Mac, when two

acquaintances inform him about his appointment as the Governor of Coventry

Island. He has obtained this position due to the patronage of Lord Styne.

Rawdon meets his emissary, Mr. Wenham. Styne’s emissary tries to prove to

Rawdon that Becky is innocent, but Rawdon refuses to believe him. Capt. Mac

hands over the note (given by Lord Styne to Becky) to Wenham and the ex-

col. accepts the job on the insistence of Mac and Sir Pitt. Sit Pitt

however, is unable to bring about a reconciliation between Becky and

Rawdon.

Rawdon fixes an annuity for his wife, writes regularly to his son and

sends Lady Jane all the possible goodies Coventry Island has to offer.

Rawdon also repays all his debts and takes Capt. Mac with him as his

secretary.

Chapter 56 Georgy is made Gentleman

Georgy lives with his grandfather, in great comfort and luxury. He has

the best of everything. Old Osborne is as proud of him as he was of his

dead son. He exceedingly pampers Georgy and the little boy playfully

bullies the entire household. He regularly comes to visit Amelia. One day,

while Georgy is taking lessons, Dobbin and Jos Sedley come to meet him.

Georgy instantly recognizes one to be Major Dobbin, about whom his mother

had always spoken to him.

Chapters 57 & 58 Eцthen and our friend the major.

Amelia’s mother dies. She now looks after her ill father with the help

of the money given by Old Mr. Osborne. Dobbin proceeds for England, but he

falls seriously ill. His peers wonder if he would survive. Jos Sedley is

traveling back

home on the same ship as Dobbin and, in one of his conversations, assures

Dobbin that Amelia has no plans of marrying. After this assurance Dobbin

begins to recover and becomes more and more excited at the prospect of

seeing Amelia.

Amelia is very happy to see Dobbin and talks to him in very buoyant

spirits about Georgy. He is greatly relieved to see Mrs. Binney (the wife

of the man whom he thought Amelia was marrying). Dobbin also informs them

of Jos’ arrival.

Chapter 59 The old Piano

While watching over the shifting of the Sedley household to a better

place, Dobbin tells Amelia that he is glad that she has still kept her old

piano. Amelia does not realize at first, but later it strikes her that,

perhaps it was not George but Dobbin who had sent it for her. She

apologizes to Dobbin for attributing the kind deed to her dead husband.

Dobbin tells her how much he loves her and has loved her since the

first time he saw her. She reminds him that George is and would always be

her husband. But at the same time, she requests Dobbin to be a friend to

both her and Georgy.

Chapters 60 & 61 Returns to the genteel world and In which two lights

are put out.

Amelia’s good fortune makes her friends happy for her. Georgy is very

fond of Dobbin, while there is no great attachment between Jos and Georgy.

Jos and Amelia become a part of the genteel society. Jos invites his

friends home for frequent parties and himself goes to Court.

John Sedley dies after a prolonged illness, during which he was loved

and cared for by Amelia. He too is very fond of Amelia in his last days,

even more than when she was a little girl. After Mr. Sedley’s death,

Osborne invites Jos to his house, saying that he has nothing against him.

Dobbin also implores Mr. Osborne to reconcile with Amelia and he agrees for

a meeting. Unfortunately, the old patriarch dies soon but he leaves half

his property to Georgy, an annuity of 500 pounds for Amelia and restores

Georgy to his mother. Dobbin too is left a sum, sufficient to buy him his

commission as Lieutenant Colonel. Affluent people from all quarters,

including the haughty Maria Bullock, (nee Osborne) come to pay a visit to

Mrs. Osborne owing to the knowledge of her newly acquired nobility. Jos,

Amelia, Georgy, and Dobbin plan a foreign trip.

Chapter 62 Am Rhein

Jos Sedley, Amelia, Georgy, and Dobbin leave for Pumpernickel for a

pleasure trip. They enjoy themselves and

most of all Amelia begins to brim with excitement and radiance of

happiness. Dobbin is glad to see her so. She sketches the beautiful

mountains and is enchanted by musical performances, which they attend.

Chapter 63 In which we meet an old acquaintance.

Lord Tapeworm, the heir and nephew of one of Major Dobbin’s late

Marshal, accompanies Jos and the rest of the party as their friend.

Tapeworm suggests a doctor for Jos to loose weight, who plans to stay and

get treatment. They move in aristocratic society and attend their

festivities.

One day, Georgy meets a mysterious woman at a gambling house, for whom

he plays and wins. Jos recognizes her to be Rebecca. Dobbin extracts a word

from Georgy that he will never gamble again.

Chapter 64 A vagabond chapter.

After separating from Rawdon, Becky is left with a bad reputation,

which compels her to leave the country. Before quitting England, she writes

to little Rawdon, to which he replies as per his duty. First she goes to

Bologne. Soon she feels the pangs of loneliness. She is driven out of the

hotel in which she lives, as she is deemed unfit to stay there.

Every time Becky makes her little circle of friends, some past

acquaintance pours cold water on her efforts. She begins again from square

one. She realizes that Amelia and the other people she knew are kind

people. Bored of all her show of being a respectable lady, she throws all

her guard and her taste for low life grows more remarkable. She travels all

over Europe and mingles with coarse men. At Rome, she finds Lord Steyne at

a ball and hopes to reestablish their acquaintance, but a warning from his

confidential man forces her to flee to save her life, as Steyne is livid

about his confrontation with Rawdon.

The news comes later, that Lord Steyne has died is Naples, due to a

series of fits, as a result of the downfall of French Monarchy at the

French Revolution.

Chapter 65 Full of business and pleasure.

Jos goes to see Becky at her dingy room in the ‘Elephant’ Hotel. Becky

succeeds in winning his favor and tells him the saddest story of her life,

which is absolutely false. Jos, much affected, reports about her condition

to Dobbin and Amelia. Initially, Amelia is unmoved, but as soon as she

learns that Becky’s son was torn from her arms, she instantly leaves to see

her dear friend. Becky watches Amelia and Dobbin approach, yet pretends to

give a shriek the moment she sees them at her door.

Chapter 66 Amantium Irae

In spite of repeated polite warnings from Dobbin, Amelia and Jos are

determined to bring Becky home with them. Dobbin is opposed to this view

because he overhears the two boys with whom she comes from Leipzig, talk

very lightly about her. Dobbin is the only one who can see through all of

Becky’s pretensions. Finally, Dobbin tries to remind Amelia of Becky’s

behavior with George, before the battle. This infuriates her and she

refuses to see Dobbin anymore. Dobbin too, angry with her for the first

time, admits to himself as well as her that, she is and never was worth all

the devotion he has given her, and he leaves, never to return. Georgy is

very sad to hear that Dobbin is leaving. When he goes to bid Dobbin

goodbye, Becky sends him a note imploring upon him to stay, which Dobbin

tears in spite.

Chapter 67 Which contains births, marriages, and deaths

While Amelia is silent and depressed due to her behavior towards

Dobbin, Becky takes charge of the house. She becomes popular in society

because of her wit and talents. The news of Dobbin re-joining the service

arrives. The party (Amelia, Becky, Jos and Georgy) moves to Ostend on Jos’

health grounds. Becky has many low acquaintances there, who forcefully

impose themselves upon her and pay tipsy comments on Amelia. Amelia yearns

to go back, but Jos cannot discontinue his treatment. Amelia writes to

Dobbin. When Becky’s luggage arrives from Leipzig, she impresses Jos by

showing him his portrait, which she has preserved, and the letter, asking

Becky to elope, which George had written to her and given her at the ball

just before the war. Amelia is even more determined to marry Dobbin and she

does. Becky roots her anchor on Jos and follows him wherever he goes. After

his marriage to Amelia, Dobbin leaves the service and they live in

Hampshire, close to Queen’s Crawley. Lady Jane and Amelia become great

friends and Georgy and Rawdon study together and both fall in love with

Lady Jane’s daughter. Dobbin and Amelia have a daughter who is named after

her godmother Lady Jane.

Jos Sedley dies, leaving half of his money to Mrs. Crawley, who is

suspected as the cause of his death. Col. Rawdon Crawley dies of yellow

fever in Coventry Island, six weeks before the death of Sir Pitt. As Sir

Pitt’s son had died in infancy, Rawdon is made the next Baronet. He makes

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