Who is happy in Vanity Fair? Who has not a desire in Vanity Fair? This is a world of charades. The subtitle of the novel “A novel without a hero” appears to be apt as all the characters appear to be flawed to a greater or lesser degree. Among all of them Rebecca Sharp is the greatest achievement of the novelist. Thackeray may be criticized for his moralistic interpolations and genteel observations upon the manners of his characters. But they are interesting and candid. What redeems them is the abundant sympathy the author shows for the vanities of humanity. The tone and tenor is not sordid or scathing or sarcastic. At the end of the novel he says ‘Common readers let us shut the box and close the puppets, for the play has come to an end and we have played our part.’ The novelist draws upon the behavior of the day. The theme of the novel is vanity, recurring throughout the novel. Every character is affected by it except perhaps honest Dobbin, Amelia Sedley and Lady Jane Crawley. George Osborne and Joseph Sedley are the faithful examples of personified vanity; one is an embodiment of elegance and genteelness, who would be pleased to be seen in the company of Lords and Duchesses: the other is a weak, dull-spirited, although extremely peevish dandy. Joseph Sedley spends an extraordinary amount of time with his elaborate toilette. Old Osborne and old Sedley are also vainglorious; as are Osborne’s daughter Lady Bullock and Sedley’s wife. Old Osborne epitomizes the English upper class attitude. He would pay any amount of money to purchase the title of a Lord for his son. Old Sedley is quite disillusioned with the loss of his property and turns out to prattling about his erstwhile days of facile richness. He is not forgetful of his days of wealth and still assumes the air of a genteel Russell Square merchant. Vanity as the author repeatedly remarks is the bug that catches everyone.
Sir Crawley who aims at nothing more than a clergyman’s life or at giving sermons, turns out to be quite a dandy himself after he bequeaths the property of his aunt. He becomes a nobleman aspiring for a career in the ministry. His manners assume gentility. From a quiet, unperturbed kind of a man who is generally aloof from all, he turns out to be a good host and an eager guest. He is vain too; vain to be associated with Becky Sharp, aka Mrs. Rawdon Crawley who is the definition of fashion and genteelness. Old Mrs. Crawley is another one of those proud characters who populate the novel. She is dismissive, rather contemptuous of any opinion other than her own. She amuses herself by picturing the oddities and peculiarities of her work folk. Becky sharp is a great hit with her. But even Becky cannot get the old woman to be reconciled with her nephew whom she disowns for his foolish, disreputable marriage. Rawdon Crawley is one character who is the marked opposite of the vanities of his society, along with William Dobbin and Amelia Sedley.
Rawdon is boisterous and fun loving; gentleness and irony will not do for him. He knows to speak only in the simplest of terms and the commonest of styles. He takes Becky for a wife; Becky who is the web of complexity, a spider who revels in the intricacy of her wit and conversation. Rawdon Crawley comes to the point quickly. Although he is a co-conspirator in all of Becky’s schemes initially; he has a honest conscience and is seen revolting against Becky’s schemes of double-dealing and swindling later. Rawdon’s pleasures are the pleasures of a lusty, fiery young man; betting, gambling, horse-riding, brawls,duels etc.
If he does not go to church he does not say artful, false prayers either. He is altogether artless in the expression of his love and throughout his life is flexed and commanded by Becky, by her charm or by her wicked intelligence. He redeems himself in his love for the child Rawdon. He knows that Becky has not shown enough maternal affection for the child but keeps to himself acknowledging a thousand and one commitments on her part and her unstinting hardship to put him in a comfortable position and to pull on their little establishment which has no honorable sum to draw upon.
Rawdon Crawley is distraught when he discovers Rebecca in the company of Lord Steyne at his apartments. This is a great blow to him as is his discovery of money in Rebecca’s protected chests and drawers and which she has just refused to part with to save Rawdon from the debtors prison.
In fact he suspects it to be her machination to keep him away during the time of her pleasurable company with Lord Steyne. He goes away on his Governorship to a colony refusing to patch up with Rebecca in spite of the admonitions of Sir Crawley.
Amelia is portrayed as a meek, gentle being; harmless and guileless to the core. Indeed she is a babe among wolves or a creature who needs to be protected always. If not for William Dobbin’s steadfast devotion she may have had to disappear in some sad plight of agony and tears.
The author has chosen to reserve the best happiness in life for Amelia Sedley after her marriage with William Dobbin. George does not realize the purity of Amelia’s affection. Although he is aware of her worth, he is captivated by the charming Rebecca Sharp. And which man in the novel does not fall; in fatal attraction for her except William Dobbin.
George Osborne wrecks Amelia’s heart, Rawdon Crawley is scorned and defamed, Lord Steyne has to nurse an injured pride; Joseph Sedley dies a mysterious death forever afraid of his little companion Becky. All the multifarious minor characters are defenseless against this high priestess of fashion, wit, intellect, humor and guile. She deceives everyone equally with a smile and copious tears.
Amelia remains attached to George’s memory in spite of the faint suspicion of his carelessness for her affection during their stay in Brussels. Dobbin’s constant attention to her only strengthens her resolve to never bury her love for George. Indeed this is what effects old Osborne’s reconciliation to his son’s widow. She also sees George’s living image in her son; who is no less a dandy and a braggart but who is nevertheless immensely attached to Mum and to Mr.Dobbin his God father or Mr.Sugar Plums as the Irish girl calls him.
It is in fact fascinating that the greatest happiness of Amelia’s life is provided for by Becky’s greatest good gesture throughout the novel. This is perhaps one flash of kindness; an abstraction in an ocean of artifice.