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Chapter 55
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Vanity Fair, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Greed and Ambition
Vanity
Social Class and Character
Gender
Inheritance and Family Life
Summary
Analysis
Now living in Russell Square with Mr. Osborne, Georgy continues to win his grandfather’s heart. Mr. Osborne indulges him in ways that he didn’t indulge George. While previously Mr. Osborne used to complain about scholars, now he wants nothing but the best education for Georgy. As they talk about what they’re reading, Georgy soon learns that Mr. Osborne is not very well educated himself. Georgy learns how to make the most of Mr. Osborne’s softness.
Although Mr. Osborne is proud, he realizes that he made mistakes in being so harsh with George, and so he tries to fix these mistakes by doing the opposite with Georgy and indulging him. While Georgy was an obedient son for Amelia, with Mr. Osborne, he begins to show some signs of rebellion, suggesting that perhaps his influence is being influenced by his parent, with Georgy becoming more judgmental when he's under the care of the judgmental Mr. Osborne.
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Georgy lives in comfort, which helps him bear his separation from Amelia, even as she continues to grieve his absence. At age 11, he starts dressing more like a man, and Amelia is pleased to see from a distance that he still looks well as he grows up. One day during a visit with his mother, Georgy gives Amelia a miniature of himself, which greatly pleases her. She still thinks Georgy is the best child in the world.
Georgy’s miniature represents how Amelia only has a little bit of Georgy left to her now: she can watch him at a distance and occasionally see him during visits. The fact that Amelia is overjoyed even with the miniature shows yet again how devoted she is as a mother. The gift of the miniature also shows that, as much as Georgy wants to be a man to fit in at his new home, he still thinks of his mother sometimes.
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Georgy begins issuing commands around the house, which pleases Mr. Osborne but which annoys some of his visiting friends, particularly when they see the 11-year-old Georgy getting tipsy. He plays pranks at dinners and gets in fights with other boys in the neighborhood, all with Mr. Osborne’s encouragement. Mr. Osborne sends Georgy to a tutor who advertises that they don’t use corporal punishment.
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At Georgy’s new school, a reverend named Mr. Veal teaches Georgy and a handful of other boys from wealthy families. When he talks, Mr. Veal likes to use the longest words he knows. Georgy begins to mock this style of speaking right to Mr. Veal’s face. Amelia makes friends with Mrs. Veal so that she can become closer to Georgy. She doesn’t understand many of the new things Georgy says, but she figures that must mean he’s getting a good education.
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Mr. Veal sends home complicated weekly reports that reassure Mr. Osborne that Georgy is getting a good education. Georgy also shows a natural talent for being a leader, easily dominating just about everyone around him. His resemblance to his dead father, George, is part of what causes people to defer to him, and his gentlemanly attitude and appearance also sways people.
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Mr. Osborne turns Georgy against Mr. Sedley, always calling Mr. Sedley a broke pauper. Meanwhile, Amelia has been taking care of Mrs. Sedley, which kept her occupied in Georgy’s absence. Eventually, Mrs. Sedley dies, and Amelia and Mr. Sedley are both stunned and full of grief.
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One day, two gentlemen come to see Georgy at Mr. Veal’s school. The messenger announces “a fat one and a thin one.” Everyone is intrigued, and Mr. Veal gives Georgy permission to go out and see them. He goes to the reception room and finds the big man (Jos) with Dobbin. Dobbin asks if Amelia has ever mentioned him, and Georgy says she has, hundreds of times.
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