Chapter 3: Rebecca Is in Presence of the Enemy

This chapter
Characters 40
Places 10
Rebecca Sharp begins her campaign to secure a husband by targeting Amelia's wealthy but incredibly shy brother, Joseph Sedley, during a visit to the Sedley home. During a family dinner, Rebecca endures the extreme heat of an Indian chili to impress Joseph with her feigned love for all things Indian, while Mr. Sedley mocks his son's vanity. Despite being flattered by Rebecca's attention, Joseph's intense shyness eventually drives him to flee the house for the theater rather than face the ladies in the drawing-room.

On stage

Joseph Sedley He meets Rebecca Sharp for the first time, becomes the target of her flattery, and is tricked into eating a chili with her during a dinner where he is both fascinated and terrified by her presence.
Rebecca Sharp She begins her 'conquest' of Joseph Sedley by flattering his appearance and feigning interest in India, even enduring the pain of a hot chili to maintain her persona.
Amelia Sedley She introduces Rebecca to her brother Joseph and playfully teases him about his shyness and his gifts.
John Sedley He teases Joseph about his appearance and watches Rebecca's attempts to charm his son with amusement and skepticism.
Mrs. Sedley She hosts the dinner, prepares Joseph's favorite curry, and observes Joseph's shyness with concern.
Sambo He serves dinner and provides water to Rebecca after she eats the chili.

Mentioned

Bonamy_of_our_service Mentioned by Joseph as someone he was supposed to dine with.
Mulligatawney Mentioned by Joseph in a story about his time in India.
Dr. Gollop Mentioned as the person Joseph tells his stories to.
Sophy Cutler Mentioned in Joseph's anecdote about his past romantic escapes.
Cutler of the Artillery Mentioned in Joseph's anecdote.
Lance Mentioned in Joseph's anecdote.
Quintin Mentioned in Joseph's anecdote.
Brummel_the_buck Mentioned as a standard of fashion that Joseph compares himself to.

Settings

Russell Square The Sedley family home in London.
Boggley Wollah A lonely, marshy district in India where Joseph Sedley serves as collector.
Ramgunge A location in India where a magistrate is stationed.
Billingsgate A famous fish market in London.
Piazza Coffee-House_in_Covent_Garden A coffee-house in London where Joseph often dines alone.
Main 8

Amelia Sedley

Also known as: Emmy, Mrs. George, Mrs. Osborne, the Widow Osborne, Mrs. George Osborne

A kind, gentle young lady and daughter of John and Mrs. Sedley. She is very attached to Rebecca Sharp and tries to facilitate a connection between her brother and her friend.

John Sedley daughterMrs. Sedley daughterMiss Pinkerton pupilMiss Jemima Pinkerton pupil and friendBecky Sharp friend and schoolmate +7 more
Chapters 1, 2, 3

Rebecca Sharp

Also known as: Becky Sharp, Miss Sharp, the person, Mrs. Rebecca, Mrs. Rawdon Crawley, Mrs. Crawley, The Nightingale, Madame de Raudon, Madame Rebecque, Lady Crawley

A nineteen-year-old orphan and former pupil at Miss Pinkerton's academy. She is highly intelligent, calculating, and a skilled mimic and musician. Having no parents to arrange a marriage for her, she has determined to find a husband herself. She is described as having green eyes and a 'virgin-like' modest exterior that masks her ambitious and strategic nature.

Amelia Sedley friend and schoolmateMiss Pinkerton pupil and antagonistMiss Jemima Pinkerton pupilMr. Sharp daughterJoseph Sedley potential romantic target +7 more
Chapters 1, 2, 3

Sambo

A black servant of the Sedley family.

Amelia Sedley servantJohn Sedley servantMrs. Sedley servantRebecca Sharp admirer of her politeness
Chapters 1, 2, 3

John Sedley

Amelia's father, a wealthy London merchant and stockbroker. He is a 'wag' who enjoys practical jokes and teasing his son Joseph. He is observant enough to notice Rebecca is 'setting her cap' at Joseph.

Amelia Sedley fatherMrs. Sedley husbandJoseph Sedley fatherRebecca Sharp benefactor
Chapters 1, 2, 3

Mrs. Sedley

Amelia's mother. She is kind-hearted and, like many mothers of the time, is constantly scheming for the successful marriage settlement of her children.

Amelia Sedley motherJohn Sedley wifeJoseph Sedley motherRebecca Sharp hostess
Chapters 1, 2, 3

Miss Briggs

Also known as: Arabella, Miss B.

A student at the academy.

Amelia Sedley friendRebecca Sharp rival
Chapter 1

Joseph Sedley

Also known as: Jos, Waterloo Sedley, Jos, Waterloo Sedley

Amelia's brother, twelve years older than her. He is a 'nabob' in the East India Company's Civil Service, specifically the collector of Boggley Wollah in Bengal. He is very stout, vain, and incredibly shy, especially around women. He suffers from a liver complaint and is a bon-vivant who loves eating and drinking. He dresses in flamboyant, tight-fitting clothes to try and appear youthful and thin. Despite his wealth, he is lonely and spends much of his time in London alone or at coffee-houses.

Amelia Sedley brotherJohn Sedley sonRebecca Sharp target of her matrimonial schemesMrs. Sedley sonDr. Gollop patient
Chapters 2, 3

Sir Pitt Crawley

Also known as: Mr. Crawley

A family in need of a governess, to whom Miss Pinkerton recommended Rebecca.

Rebecca Sharp future employerLady Crawley husband
Chapter 2
Secondary 8

Miss Pinkerton

Also known as: The Semiramis of Hammersmith, Minerva

The majestic and pompous headmistress of the academy at Chiswick. She has a Roman nose and wears a turban. She prides herself on her authority and was eventually outmaneuvered by Rebecca Sharp's defiance and French-speaking tactics. She recommended Rebecca to Sir Pitt Crawley just to get her out of her house.

Miss Jemima Pinkerton sisterAmelia Sedley teacherRebecca Sharp teacher and antagonistDoctor Samuel Johnson friendMrs. Chapone correspondent +1 more
Chapters 1, 2

Miss Jemima Pinkerton

Also known as: Miss Jemmy

The soft-hearted and nervous sister of Miss Pinkerton. She was kind to Rebecca, giving her gifts and food, though Rebecca mocked her in return by making a doll in her likeness.

Miss Pinkerton sisterAmelia Sedley teacher and friendRebecca Sharp teacher and benefactor
Chapters 1, 2

Miss Swartz

Also known as: Rhoda Swartz

A rich, woolly-haired mulatto student from St. Kitt's and a parlour-boarder at the academy. She is very emotional and prone to hysterics.

Amelia Sedley friend
Chapter 1

Miss Saltire

A student at the academy and granddaughter of the Earl of Dexter. She is described as "high and mighty" and somewhat shabby.

Amelia Sedley friend
Chapter 1

Laura Martin

A young orphan student at the academy who is very attached to Amelia.

Amelia Sedley friend and 'child' figure
Chapter 1

The fat coachman

A fat man in a three-cornered hat and wig who drives the Sedley family coach.

John Sedley servant
Chapter 1

The dancing-master

A teacher who arrives for a lesson just as the girls are leaving.

Chapter 1

The young officer of the Life Guards

A young officer who notices Amelia as the carriage passes.

Chapter 2
Mentioned 24
Doctor Samuel Johnson He is frequently mentioned by Miss Pinkerton to bolster her own status.
Mrs. Chapone Mentioned as a distinguished correspondent of Miss Pinkerton.
Miss Birch Mentioned as one of the few occasions Miss Pinkerton wrote a personal letter.
Dr. Floss Mentioned as being sent for to treat Miss Swartz.
Jones Mentioned as a hypothetical neighbor whose ability to make ends meet is a source of wonder.
Mr. Sharp Described in a flashback regarding Rebecca's upbringing and how he secured her position at Chiswick.
Rebecca's mother Her supposed noble lineage is used by Rebecca to gain social standing with Pitt Crawley.
The Reverend Mr. Crisp Mentioned in a flashback as an example of Rebecca's early romantic entanglements.
Mrs. Crisp Mentioned as the person who ended the affair between her son and Rebecca.
Miss Swindle Mentioned as the original owner of the doll Rebecca used for mockery.
The Reverend Mr. Flowerdew Mentioned as the person Mr. Crisp served under.
Miss Crump Mentioned as a potential (but rejected) heroine for the book.
Miss Hopkins Mentioned as a potential (but rejected) heroine for the book.
The old gentleman of sixty-eight Used as an example of how school-day terrors can last a lifetime.
Dr. Raine Mentioned in the old gentleman's dream.
The tart-woman Mentioned as the person who intercepted/delivered the note in the Crisp affair.
Bonamy_of_our_service Mentioned by Joseph as someone he was supposed to dine with.
Mulligatawney Mentioned by Joseph in a story about his time in India.
Dr. Gollop Mentioned as the person Joseph tells his stories to.
Sophy Cutler Mentioned in Joseph's anecdote about his past romantic escapes.
Cutler of the Artillery Mentioned in Joseph's anecdote.
Lance Mentioned as Sophy Cutler's husband.
Quintin Mentioned in one of Joseph's stories.
Brummel_the_buck Mentioned as a standard of fashion that Joseph compares himself to.
Main 3

Miss Pinkerton's Academy

A stately old brick house with a great iron gate and a brass plate, located on Chiswick Mall. It serves as an academy for young ladies.

  • Amelia Sedley and Becky Sharp prepare to leave the school.
  • Miss Pinkerton delivers a formal farewell to Amelia.
  • Becky Sharp defies Miss Pinkerton in the drawing-room.
  • The students and servants gather in the hall for a tearful goodbye.
Chapter 1

Russell Square

The Sedley family home in London.

  • Mentioned in Miss Pinkerton's letter as Becky's destination.
  • The carriage arrives here at the end of the chapter, and Amelia welcomes Rebecca into her home.
  • Rebecca meets Joseph Sedley for the first time.
  • The family and Rebecca have a dinner featuring Indian curry and chilis.
  • Rebecca sings at the piano while Joseph sneaks out to the theater.
  • Rebecca charms the family and servants.
  • Joseph and George visit.
  • A thunderstorm keeps the young people at home while the parents go out to dinner.
  • Rebecca and Joseph share a moment over a green silk purse.
  • The characters gather for dinner before going to Vauxhall.
  • Captain Dobbin arrives and meets the adult Amelia for the first time.
  • The party prepares for Vauxhall.
  • Amelia and Rebecca wait for Joseph's return.
  • Rebecca receives Joseph's rejection letter and leaves the house.
  • Amelia spends her time here dreaming of George and writing him letters.
  • Captain Dobbin visits and finds Amelia alone and sad.
  • Amelia dines with the Osborne family in a tense and gloomy atmosphere.
  • Mr. Osborne tells George he will not allow the marriage unless Amelia's dowry is paid.
  • Miss Crawley and Rebecca visit Amelia here in her carriage.
  • Rebecca uses a visit here as an alibi for her secret wedding.
  • John Sedley reveals the family's ruin to his wife here.
  • The house is seized and the furniture sold.
  • Mentioned as the home of the 'black-browed old tyrant' John Osborne.
  • Mr. Osborne flatters Miss Swartz and bribes Mrs. Haggistoun.
  • Miss Swartz discovers Amelia's name on a music book.
  • George and his father have a violent confrontation over dinner regarding Amelia and Miss Swartz.
  • Captain Dobbin visits the house to speak with Jane Osborne and reveal the secret of George's marriage.
  • The family shares a silent, gloomy dinner after the news of the marriage.
  • Mr. Osborne retires to his study to burn his will and alter the family Bible.
  • Mr. Osborne receives George's final letter here.
  • The family lives in seclusion following the news of Waterloo.
  • Mr. Osborne and Jane live here in silence and tension.
  • Jane Osborne meets her nephew Georgy here (or nearby) and later tells her father about him.
  • Mr. Osborne meditates on his grandson and sends a proposal for adoption.
  • Maria Bullock visits her father to ask for money.
  • Mr. Osborne receives Amelia's letter and triumphs over her surrender.
  • George's old room is reopened and prepared for his son.
  • Georgy arrives to live with his grandfather.
  • Georgy establishes himself as the heir and master of the house.
  • Mr. Osborne hosts dinners where Georgy's precocious behavior is displayed.
  • Georgy fights Master Toffy in the square.
  • Mr. Osborne dies of a fit here.
  • Amelia and Georgy visit the empty house before it is closed up.
Chapters 1, 2, 3

Boggley Wollah

A lonely, marshy district in India where Joseph Sedley serves as collector.

  • Described as the place where Joseph lived in isolation for eight years.
  • Mentioned in Joseph's stories and reminiscences.
Chapter 3
Secondary 7

Chiswick Mall

The street in London where Miss Pinkerton's academy is located.

Chiswick

The location of Miss Pinkerton's academy for young ladies.

Soho

A district in London where Rebecca's father lived and where she grew up among artists.

Kensington turnpike

A turnpike passed by the carriage on the way to London.

Ramgunge

A location in India where a magistrate is stationed.

Billingsgate

A famous fish market in London.

Piazza Coffee-House_in_Covent_Garden

A coffee-house in London where Joseph often dines alone.

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