The novel opens at Miss Pinkerton's Academy for young women, where readers are introduced to Amelia and Becky, the novel's female protagonists. Amelia and Becky are friends, but they are nothing alike. Amelia is kind and innocent and comes from a family with money. Becky Sharp, on the other hand, is sharp and scheming and emerges from an impoverished situation. Miss Pinkerton, utterly disgusted with Becky's behavior, sets her up in a governess position at the Crawley estate.

Before she takes her position, Becky spends a little over a week at Amelia's home. She spends her time ingratiating herself with the Sedleys and wooing Amelia's brother Jos, an overweight, shy and vain tax collector on break from his job in India. Becky nearly succeeds…

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• Vanity Fair Summary
• About Vanity Fair
• Character List
• Glossary of Terms
• Major Themes
• Quotes and Analysis
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 1 - 6
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 7 - 12
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 13 - 18
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 19 - 24
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 25 - 30
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 31 - 36
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 37 - 42
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 43 - 48
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 49 - 54
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 55 - 60
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 61 - 67
• Thackeray's Employment of Greek Mythology
• Related Links on Vanity Fair
• Suggested Essay Questions
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 1
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 2
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 3
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 4
• Author of ClassicNote and Sources

• Vanity Fair: Major Themes
• Vanity Fair: Questions
• Vanity Fair: Purchase the Novel and Related Material
• William Makepeace Thackeray: Biography