Vanity Fair

The narrative commences as two young ladies, Amelia Sedley and Rebecca Sharp, depart from Miss Pinkerton's academy. Amelia, a gentle and universally adored heiress, leaves amidst a shower of gifts and fond farewells. In stark contrast, Becky, an orphaned, penniless, yet remarkably intelligent and cunning girl, exits without ceremony. The daughter of a struggling artist and a French opera-dancer, Becky possesses a sharp wit and a cynical worldview, forged by poverty. She harbours a fierce ambition to ascend the social ladder, viewing the world as her oyster.

During her stay with the Sedleys, Becky wastes no time in assessing her opportunities. While Amelia offers genuine friendship, Becky’s focus is on a more strategic goal: securing a wealthy husband. She quickly targets Amelia's brother, Joseph Sedley, a portly, vain, and socially awkward but affluent official from the East India Company. Employing her considerable charm, she feigns a deep interest in India and its culture, a calculated manoeuvre designed to captivate the painfully shy bachelor. This episode provides an early glimpse into her manipulative yet resourceful character.

The group's excursion to the famous Vauxhall Gardens marks a critical juncture in Becky's scheme. Having successfully enchanted Joseph with her wit and feigned vulnerability, he is on the precipice of proposing marriage. The moment is ripe with potential that could secure Becky's future. However, Joseph's overindulgence in punch renders him boisterously drunk, and the opportunity is squandered amidst his comical ineptitude. The evening, which began with such promise for Becky, dissolves into a fiasco, leaving her matrimonial ambitions unrealised and her future once again uncertain.

George Osborne, Amelia's fiancé, proves to be the decisive obstacle in Becky's plan. Appalled by the idea of a governess marrying into the Sedley family, he mercilessly ridicules Joseph for his drunken antics at Vauxhall. Deeply shamed, Joseph abandons any thought of proposing and flees to Scotland to recover his dignity. This interference dashes Becky's hopes for a swift and advantageous marriage. Consequently, she departs from the Sedley household to assume her position as a governess to the children of Sir Pitt Crawley, embarking on a new chapter.

At Queen's Crawley, Becky quickly proves her indispensability. She navigates the eccentric Crawley family with remarkable skill, winning over the coarse baronet, Sir Pitt, by acting as his secretary and confidante. More importantly, she charms his immensely wealthy and influential sister, Miss Matilda Crawley, a formidable woman who values wit and spirit. It is here that she also encounters Sir Pitt's youngest son, the dashing army captain Rawdon Crawley, a favourite of his aunt, who soon becomes captivated by the clever governess.

After the death of his second wife, Sir Pitt astounds Becky by proposing marriage. He is, in turn, shocked to learn that she has already secretly married his son, Rawdon. The news infuriates Miss Matilda Crawley, who immediately disowns her beloved nephew for marrying a woman of no fortune or social standing. This act of defiance costs Rawdon his inheritance and leaves the couple financially destitute. Having aimed for security, Becky finds her marriage to Rawdon has instead plunged them both into a precarious financial situation.

Amelia’s comfortable world is shattered when her father's disastrous financial speculations lead to bankruptcy. The family is ruined, a devastating blow that has immediate consequences for her future. Her fiancé's father, the proud and snobbish Mr. Osborne, seizes the opportunity to forbid the union, citing the Sedleys' fall from grace. He cruelly demands that the marriage be called off unless an impossible settlement is paid. Heartbroken, Amelia is forced to end her engagement, facing a future of poverty and despair.

In an act of rebellion, George Osborne marries Amelia against his father's wishes and is promptly disinherited. The newlyweds travel to Brighton for their honeymoon, where they encounter Becky and Rawdon. A complicated dynamic soon develops. George, quickly growing bored with his sweet but simple bride, becomes increasingly infatuated with the vivacious and engaging Becky. He begins to squander his modest inheritance, losing large sums to Rawdon at cards, while Amelia watches with a growing sense of unease and jealousy as her husband's affections stray.

As Napoleon's army advances, the characters find themselves in Brussels. At a magnificent ball on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo, George, in a moment of reckless passion, passes a note to Becky, imploring her to elope with him. The next day, the battle rages, and George is killed, leaving Amelia a destitute and pregnant widow. Rawdon, however, survives the fighting and his bravery earns him a promotion to Colonel. The battle proves to be a dramatic turning point, sealing one man's fate while elevating another.

In the aftermath of the war, the Crawleys live a seemingly glamorous life in Paris, sustained by Rawdon's gambling wins and accumulating debt. Becky gives birth to a son, Rawdon Jr., but shows little maternal affection, preferring her vibrant social life. Meanwhile, Amelia resides in London in genteel poverty, her entire existence revolving around her son, Georgy, and the idealized memory of her fallen husband. Throughout these difficult years, she is watched over and supported by the unwavering and selfless Major William Dobbin.

Upon returning to London, Becky orchestrates a brilliant ascent into high society, a feat made possible by her influential patron, the powerful and predatory Marquess of Steyne. As her social star rises, she becomes increasingly estranged from her husband, Rawdon, and almost entirely neglectful of their son. Her lavish lifestyle is financed by mysterious means, leading to speculation and gossip. While Becky revels in her success, Rawdon becomes isolated and suspicious about the true nature of his wife's relationship with her wealthy benefactor.

The story reaches its dramatic zenith when Rawdon is arrested for debt. Released through the kindness of his sister-in-law, he returns home unexpectedly to find Becky entertaining Lord Steyne alone. Discovering a hidden bank-note for a thousand pounds—a gift from Steyne—Rawdon's suspicions are confirmed. He violently confronts the Marquess and abandons his wife. This scandalous affair destroys Becky's reputation and ends her marriage. Rawdon accepts a governorship on a remote island, leaving Becky to face a disgraced and solitary future.