Gentle and suffering due to her family's sudden poverty. She is mentioned as living in a small cottage with her parents following their ruin.
Cynical, observant, and manipulative; she maintains a facade of domestic virtue to please her husband. She attends the auction with Rawdon, attempts to buy her old piano, and mocks the 'vultures' at the sale while secretly managing her husband's household on credit.
Pompous and formal headmistress. She exchanges letters with Mrs. Bute Crawley, providing a disparaging account of Rebecca's parentage.
Honest and smiling. He receives the Park Lane carriage at Russell Square.
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.
The recipient of charity from her husband's former clerks. She lives in the small cottage with John and Amelia.
Sentimental and easily shocked; she serves as the primary recipient of Rebecca's dramatic revelations. She discovers Rebecca's elopement letter and breaks the news of the marriage to Miss Crawley and Sir Pitt.
Self-indulgent and distant; prefers his comfort in Cheltenham over facing the family crisis. He sends money to his parents from Cheltenham but refuses to visit them in their distress.
Socially ambitious; his promotion to Captain is noted in the Gazette. His promotion is read by Rawdon, prompting the Crawleys to seek him out.
Vulgar and prone to violent rages; he is driven mad by the realization that his son married the woman he wanted for himself. He arrives in London to take Rebecca back to Queen's Crawley, only to find she has married his son, leading him into a blind fury.
Humble, loyal, and deeply devoted to Amelia's well-being. He attends the Sedley estate auction and outbids Rawdon and Rebecca for Amelia's old piano so he can return it to her anonymously.
Feeble and lonely; she 'sold her heart' to marry Sir Pitt. She dies in the country, neglected by everyone except the younger Pitt Crawley.
Sentimental and easily swayed by flattery, yet prone to hysterical fits when her expectations are thwarted. She is initially touched by Rebecca's 'devotion' but suffers a series of hysterical fits upon learning of Rawdon's secret marriage to the governess.
The butler who observes the family's scandals. He discusses Rawdon and Rebecca's behavior with Sir Pitt.
Daughter of the butler at Queen's Crawley. Mentioned as taking some of Rebecca's abandoned belongings after Sir Pitt's rampage.
A tall, stately, popular man who loves boxing, horse-racing, and good dinners; he is perpetually in debt and resentful of his brother. He expresses his deep disdain for his nephew Rawdon and his brother Sir Pitt while obsessing over his sister Matilda's future legacy.
A 'fire-eating' warrior and gambler who is now a submissive, doting husband living on credit. He accompanies Rebecca to the auction, buys a portrait of Joseph Sedley on an elephant, and expresses a desire to gamble with George Osborne again.
The woman to whom Pitt Crawley is attached. Mentioned as the reason Pitt Crawley's interest in Rebecca is only 'friendly'.
Opportunistic and judgmental; she views the scandal as a way to turn Miss Crawley against Rawdon. She arrives from Hampshire and immediately takes charge of the household and the nursing of Miss Crawley following the scandal.
A servant who maintains strict household hierarchies. She announces Mrs. Bute's arrival and observes the chaos following the elopement.
Observant and cautious. Speculates that Mr. Osborne's bad mood is due to the falling funds.
A young banker from a reputable firm; he is considered a 'respectable' match due to his wealth. He dances with Amelia at a party, causing a stir of jealousy and fake delight among the Osborne sisters.
Talkative and fond of gossip and whiskey-toddy. She spreads the news of George's engagement to her sister and the rest of the regiment.
Young officer who views George as an 'Apollo'. Participates in the mess-room gossip regarding George's love life.
The confidential butler. Mentioned in relation to his footman assisting Mrs. Bute with her trunks.
A professional wag and bidder. He heckles the auctioneer during the sale of the elephant portrait.
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.
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.
A child performer belonging to a family of tumblers. He sits behind the canvas with Tom Fool during dinner.
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.
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.
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.
A figure representing the devil or a collector of souls. Mentioned as the one who will fetch away the Wicked Nobleman.
Good-humored, foolishly kind, and generous. She is mentioned as the target of Rebecca's mockery despite her previous kindness.
A young orphan student who is deeply attached to Amelia. She follows Amelia around and promises to call her 'Mamma' in her letters.
A high-born but somewhat shabby and haughty student. She asks Amelia to send letters to her via her grandfather to save on postage.
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.
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.
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.
Infatuated and easily led. Mentioned in a backstory regarding a scandalous intercepted note he sent to Rebecca.
A member of the service in India. Mentioned by Joseph as an excuse to leave the house and avoid the ladies.
A magistrate at Budgebudge and a friend of Joseph. Mentioned in Joseph's story about a past romantic pursuit in India.
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.
The family apothecary. Mentioned as attending to Joseph's severe hangover.
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.
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.
Socially active wife of the Alderman. Mentioned by Mrs. Sedley as being at Highbury with her daughters.
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.
Observant servant. Mentioned by Mrs. Blenkinsop as having seen Rebecca snooping through drawers.
A well-known, simple-minded figure at Vauxhall. Mentioned as the presiding spirit of Vauxhall Gardens.
A singer. Mentioned as performing a cantata at the gardens.
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.
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.
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.
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'.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A country surgeon who is easily rebuffed. He proposes marriage to Rebecca and is promptly rejected.
A local baronet who wheezes at dinner. He attends the dinner parties at the Hall and is slighted by Miss Crawley in favor of Rebecca.
An eighteen-year-old scholar proficient in many languages including Syriac. Recommended by Miss Pinkerton as a potential governess for Lady Fuddleston.
A twenty-nine-year-old scholar with red hair and a pitted face. Recommended by Miss Pinkerton as a less 'objectionable' (less attractive) governess option.
Rawdon's servant. Mentioned as causing trouble in the housekeeper's room.
A military man and social companion of George Osborne. Mentioned as the person George is playing billiards with while Amelia waits for him.
Young officer who admires George's reputation. Speculates about George's secret female correspondent in the mess-room.
Gossip-monger. Insults the reputation of George's correspondent, prompting Dobbin's outburst.
Experienced and knowledgeable about the City's financial state. Provides George with money and advises Mr. Osborne on the poor state of Sedley's affairs.
Formal and obedient. Serves the disastrous dinner at the Osborne household.
Benevolent-looking but cynical. Winks at his colleague regarding Mr. Sedley's financial 'no go' status.
Cynical clerk. Confirms the dire financial status of Mr. Sedley to Mr. Quill.
A man with yellow hair and illegible handwriting who died years ago. Mentioned as the object of Miss Briggs's long-lost affection.
Obsequious and socially calculating. Mentioned by the narrator as an example of the social climbing found in Vanity Fair.
Poor but of good family. Mentioned as the target of Miss Toady's flattery due to her grandfather's health.
A simple maid from Hampshire who is easily bribed. She discovers Rebecca's empty room and the letter on the pincushion, having been bribed by Rebecca to assist in the secret arrangements.
Loud, eloquent, and persuasive. He conducts the auction of the Sedley estate with theatrical flair.
A kind-hearted stockbroker who was once fond of Amelia. He and his partners purchase silver for Mrs. Sedley as a gesture of gratitude for past kindness.
An agent or bidder. He acts as the agent who secures the piano for Captain Dobbin.
The large, gloomy, and respectable residence of Mr. Osborne, filled with expensive plate and mournful echoes.
A gloomy London street characterized by tall houses with hatchments, where death seems to reign perpetual.
The family estate of the Crawleys, featuring an old library filled with 18th-century literature and extensive grounds including shrubberies and farms.
A location four miles from Queen's Crawley where the family carriage meets the stagecoach.
A small German duchy located in a happy valley along the Pump River, known for its Court, mineral springs, and theatre.
Miss Crawley's London residence, currently darkened and silenced by Mrs. Bute's orders.
The location of the small, comfortable lodgings where Rawdon and Rebecca live in secret.