Vanity Fair: Chapter 32 Summary & Analysis

Everyone in Brussels scurries to prepare for Napoleon’s army, which they feel could arrive at any minute. Jos is full of champagne, but even all the alcohol doesn’t give him the courage to act. He talks about getting the carriage ready to flee, but Peggy thinks it would be better for Amelia to stay in bed. Peggy refuses to leave until Major O’Dowd gives her an order.

A Belgian soldier named Regulus, who is the sweetheart of one of Jos’s maids, brings back news that the Belgian army has fallen to Napoleon, and it seems like without the Belgians, the British are falling too. Isidor relays the message to Jos that the English are losing. Amelia is frightened and has no idea what to do. Jos gives Isidor his military jacket and tells him to shave his mustache. Although Regulus claimed to be the only survivor of a massacre, other Belgians soon come back to town, though there’s no sign of the French quite yet.

Jos realizes he doesn’t have horses for his carriage, so he makes Isidor go out to look for some. Jos initially considers walking but recoils at the thought of so much exertion. Meanwhile, word gets out that Rawdon left behind some horses with Becky; she starts getting requests to use them, which she declines. Eventually Jos makes his way over to her, and Becky teases him for wanting to flee instead of fighting bravely in battle.

Becky agrees to sell Jos two horses, although she warns him that they aren’t trained to pull a carriage. She charges such a high rate that Jos has to ask for more time and get back to her, but he eventually pays. It’s now past midnight, in the very early morning, and there are still conflicting reports about which side is winning or losing, with no immediate sign of the French.

When dawn breaks, an injured Stubble returns with news of George. He says that George, Rawdon, and Dobbin are all safe, although their regiment suffered heavy losses. Stubble got lanced in the leg, but he says that George killed the French soldier who wounded Stubble. He also praises Dobbin’s leadership in battle. Still, Stubble fears that Britain and its allies are at a disadvantage against Napoleon.

More people leave Brussels, and Jos feels he should use his new horses to escape. Meanwhile, Becky decides not to visit Amelia, instead admiring a letter and some flowers she  received from George. She feels lucky to have Rawdon instead of George, although she considers that if Rawdon dies, at least he had the good sense to leave behind his horses.

The next day, Peggy notices that both Amelia and Stubble are feeling better. She prays for the health of Major O’Dowd. Jos again gets the idea that he should leave immediately, so he goes to find Amelia and tell her to come with him. Amelia, however, doesn’t want to leave without George, so at last Jos goes without her.

Cannons go off that whole day. They suddenly stop after dark. The narrator says that surely the reader already knows what happens now, since both French and English people love to boast about killing each other. The British hold the line and stop the French from advancing, then when the French army retreats, the British army chases them. All is silent in Brussels as Amelia prays for George, who has died from a bullet to his heart.