Chapter 12: Miss Sharp Begins to Make Friends

Amelia Sedley

Gentle and wealthy, but perceived as intellectually inferior by Rebecca. She serves as the benchmark for Rebecca's envy and ambition; Rebecca vows to eventually prove her superiority over her.

Rebecca Crawley

Calculating, adaptable, hardworking, and intellectually superior; she uses hypocrisy and flattery as tools for social advancement. She systematically wins the confidence of the Crawley household by tailoring her behavior to each member's weaknesses, eventually becoming the Baronet's trusted confidante and assistant.

Miss Pinkerton

Pompous, authoritative, and easily outmaneuvered by Rebecca's defiance. She is described in flashbacks as having been defeated by Rebecca's refusal to teach music and her use of French to mock her.

Sambo

Cheerful and helpful servant. He delivers the 'death-warrant' note from Joseph to Amelia and is mentioned as being in love with the cook.

Miss Swartz

A wealthy, emotional, and generous parlour-boarder from St. Kitt's. She is devastated by Amelia's departure, falling into a fit of hysterical tears that requires medical attention.

Mrs. Sedley

Good-natured but socially conscious; she initially worries about Joseph marrying beneath his station. She is eventually persuaded to support the match but is later embarrassed and avoids Rebecca during the parting.

Miss Briggs

An envious pupil. Mentioned as someone who, despite her envy, never spoke ill of Amelia.

Joseph Sedley

Wealthy but easily frightened. Mentioned as Rebecca's 'misadventure' and a source of her temporary feeling of defeat.

George Osborne, Junior (the baby)

Arrogant, class-conscious, and free-handed; he possesses a 'proper pride' regarding his social station. He protects Amelia at Vauxhall but actively sabotages Rebecca's chances with Joseph because he considers her an 'upstart' and a 'nobody.'

Sir Pitt Crawley

Miserly, vulgar, and litigious; he values money over religious propriety and relies heavily on Rebecca for estate management. He spends his time walking the estate and playing backgammon with Rebecca, eventually preferring her company over his butler's.

Captain William Dobbin

Unselfish, modest, and protective; he finds joy in the happiness of his friends rather than his own interests. He acts as the 'shawl-bearer' and payer for the party at Vauxhall, later rescuing the intoxicated Joseph and tending to him during his hangover.

Lady Crawley

Indolent, void of character, and socially inconsequential within her own home. She is largely ignored by Rebecca and the rest of the family, spending her time in a state of passive indifference.

Lady Southdown

Wealthy, radical, hospitable, and worldly; she loves French culture and favors her 'blood' nephew Rawdon over the pious Pitt. She is described as the family's financial hope, whose upcoming visit causes Sir Pitt to order his son to cease his religious lectures.

Mr. Horrocks

The Baronet's former primary conversational partner. He is displaced by Rebecca as Sir Pitt's main companion at the dinner table.

Betsy Horrocks

A servant who is overdressed and shows open disdain for Rebecca. She attends family prayers and gives Rebecca a scornful look.

Reverend Bute Crawley

A parson who is currently ill and at odds with his brother, Sir Pitt. Mentioned in conversation between Sir Pitt and Hodson regarding his health and tithes.

Rawdon Crawley

A reckless, athletic, and brave military officer; fond of gambling, boxing, and dueling. He is described as his aunt's favorite, a man who has fought three duels and is considered a 'blood' in London society.

Lady Jane (Sir Pitt's wife)

The woman to whom Pitt Crawley is attached. Mentioned as the reason Pitt Crawley's interest in Rebecca is only 'friendly'.

Manager of the Performance

Self-aware and critical; he views himself as a fellow sinner among his audience. He interrupts the narrative to explain his authorial philosophy and his intent to punish his 'villainous' characters.

Tom Fool

A weary performer and family man who works as a tumbler. He is seen washing off his face paint and eating dinner with his family behind the scenes.

Jack Puddings

A child performer belonging to a family of tumblers. He sits behind the canvas with Tom Fool during dinner.

Becky Puppet

Described as uncommonly flexible in the joints and lively on the wire. Mentioned by the Manager as one of the lead puppets in the upcoming show.

Amelia Doll

Carved and dressed with great care, though she has a smaller circle of admirers than Becky. Mentioned by the Manager as a carefully crafted figure in the performance.

Wicked Nobleman

A richly dressed figure representing high-status villainy. Mentioned as a character who will be taken away by Old Nick at the end of the play.

Old Nick

A figure representing the devil or a collector of souls. Mentioned as the one who will fetch away the Wicked Nobleman.

Miss Jemima Pinkerton

Good-humored, foolishly kind, and generous. She is mentioned as the target of Rebecca's mockery despite her previous kindness.

Laura Martin

A young orphan student who is deeply attached to Amelia. She follows Amelia around and promises to call her 'Mamma' in her letters.

Miss Saltire

A high-born but somewhat shabby and haughty student. She asks Amelia to send letters to her via her grandfather to save on postage.

Doctor Johnson

A famous historical figure whose past visit to the school is the source of Miss Pinkerton's prestige. Mentioned as the author of the dictionary and the school's patron spirit.

Mr. Sharp

A clever, dissolute artist, prone to drunkenness and debt. Described in backstory as the man who taught Rebecca her wit and social survival skills before dying of delirium tremens.

Rebecca's Mother

A French opera dancer of humble origins. Mentioned as the source of Rebecca's French fluency and the subject of Rebecca's lies about noble Gascon ancestry.

Reverend Mr. Crisp

Infatuated and easily led. Mentioned in a backstory regarding a scandalous intercepted note he sent to Rebecca.

Bonamy

A member of the service in India. Mentioned by Joseph as an excuse to leave the house and avoid the ladies.

Mulligatawney

A magistrate at Budgebudge and a friend of Joseph. Mentioned in Joseph's story about a past romantic pursuit in India.

Mrs. Blenkinsop

Observant and protective of the family; she harbors a deep distrust of governesses. She gossips about the potential marriage and later informs Amelia of Rebecca's suspicious behavior, such as reading private letters.

Dr. Gollop

The family apothecary. Mentioned as attending to Joseph's severe hangover.

Reginald Cuff

A dashing, athletic, and arrogant school bully who is talented in Latin and French but uses his status to tyrannize younger boys. He bullies George Osborne and is subsequently defeated by Dobbin in a thirteen-round boxing match, later showing magnanimity by taking the blame.

Dr. Swishtail

The headmaster of the academy, described as somewhat intimidated by his top students. He presides over the school and awards Dobbin a prize-book for his academic progress.

Lady Dobbin

Socially active wife of the Alderman. Mentioned by Mrs. Sedley as being at Highbury with her daughters.

Mr. Brush

Solemn, correct, and grave; possesses the 'gravity of an undertaker.' He attends to the hungover Joseph and reports his master's wild behavior to George Osborne.

Pinner

Observant servant. Mentioned by Mrs. Blenkinsop as having seen Rebecca snooping through drawers.

Simpson

A well-known, simple-minded figure at Vauxhall. Mentioned as the presiding spirit of Vauxhall Gardens.

Mrs. Salmon

A singer. Mentioned as performing a cantata at the gardens.

Mrs. Tinker

Sullen, blunt, and accustomed to the Baronet's miserly ways; she acts as a servant and temporary companion to Sir Pitt. She fetches tobacco for Sir Pitt, shares a meal with him, and chaperones Rebecca during her night in London.

Walpole Crawley

A 'jolly fellow' and former baronet who was fined for peculation. Mentioned as the ancestor whose legal troubles and extravagance led to the family's current financial embarrassment.

Miss Rose Crawley

Fond of books and light literature; more studious than her sister. She reads French and English novels with Rebecca, often hiding the scandalous nature of the books from her brother.

Miss Violet Crawley

Rude, boisterous, and adventurous; a tomboy who enjoys riding colts and robbing nests. She is managed by Rebecca through a system of bribes and kept secrets regarding her various 'peccadilloes'.

Young Cantab

A student from Cambridge who is friendly and enjoys mocking Sir Pitt. He offers Rebecca his coat during the rain and takes over driving the coach to spite Sir Pitt.

Mr. Hodson

Sir Pitt's hind or farm manager. He rides in the carriage with Sir Pitt, discusses farm business, and whips two local boys for gathering sticks.

Peter Butt

A young man who turned to smuggling and poaching after being rejected by Rose Dawson. Mentioned as the man Rose gave up to marry Sir Pitt.

Lord Binkie

A nobleman and diplomat; grandfather and patron to Pitt Crawley. Mentioned as the person who introduced Pitt to public life and served as his employer.

Russell Square

The large, gloomy, and respectable residence of Mr. Osborne, filled with expensive plate and mournful echoes.

Great Gaunt Street

A gloomy London street characterized by tall houses with hatchments, where death seems to reign perpetual.

Queen's Crawley

The family estate of the Crawleys, featuring an old library filled with 18th-century literature and extensive grounds including shrubberies and farms.

Mudbury

A location four miles from Queen's Crawley where the family carriage meets the stagecoach.

Pumpernickel

A small German duchy located in a happy valley along the Pump River, known for its Court, mineral springs, and theatre.

Park Lane

Miss Crawley's London residence, currently darkened and silenced by Mrs. Bute's orders.

Vanity Fair

Chiswick Mall

Miss Pinkerton's Academy

Soho

Boggley Wollah

Vauxhall

Dr. Swishtail’s Academy

Thames Street

Vauxhall Gardens

Joseph Sedley's Lodgings

The Trafalgar Coach

Leakington