Vanity Fair

Vanity Fair

by

William Makepeace Thackeray

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Lord Steyne Character Analysis

Lord Steyne is one of the wealthiest and noblest characters in the story, but he is also one of the most corrupt, seemingly planning to have an affair with Becky and letting other nobles use his house for their own secret affairs. Eventually, after Rawdon walks in on Becky and Lord Steyne alone together, Lord Steyne abandons Becky, feeling that she has tried to trick him out of his money. His immoral behavior contrasts with his noble title, highlighting the hypocrisy of the British upper class.

Lord Steyne Quotes in Vanity Fair

The Vanity Fair quotes below are all either spoken by Lord Steyne or refer to Lord Steyne. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Greed and Ambition Theme Icon
).
Chapter 47 Quotes

His wife and family returned to this country and took up their abode at Gaunt House. Lord George gave up his post on the European continent, and was gazetted to Brazil. But people knew better; he never returned from that Brazil expedition—never died there—never lived there—never was there at all. He was nowhere; he was gone out altogether. ‘Brazil,’ said one gossip to another, with a grin—‘Brazil is St. John's Wood. Rio de Janeiro is a cottage surrounded by four walls, and George Gaunt is accredited to a keeper, who has invested him with the order of the Strait-Waistcoat.’ These are the kinds of epitaphs which men pass over one another in Vanity Fair.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), Lord Steyne, Lady Steyne, George Gaunt
Page Number: 549
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 51 Quotes

‘Mrs. Rawdon Crawley was quite killing in the part,’ said Lord Steyne. Becky laughed, gay and saucy looking, and swept the prettiest little curtsey ever seen.

Related Characters: Lord Steyne (speaker), Becky Sharp , Rawdon
Page Number: 598
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 53 Quotes

All her lies and her schemes, and her selfishness and her wiles, all her wit and genius had come to this bankruptcy.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), Becky Sharp , Rawdon, Lord Steyne
Page Number: 625
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 64 Quotes

If we were to give a full account of her proceedings during a couple of years that followed after the Curzon Street catastrophe, there might be some reason for people to say this book was improper. The actions of very vain, heartless, pleasure-seeking people are very often improper (as are many of yours, my friend with the grave face and spotless reputation—but that is merely by the way); and what are those of a woman without faith—or love—or character? And I am inclined to think that there was a period in Mrs Becky's life when she was seized, not by remorse, but by a kind of despair, and absolutely neglected her person and did not even care for her reputation.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), Becky Sharp , Amelia, Dobbin, Rawdon, Lord Steyne
Page Number: 748
Explanation and Analysis:
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Lord Steyne Quotes in Vanity Fair

The Vanity Fair quotes below are all either spoken by Lord Steyne or refer to Lord Steyne. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Greed and Ambition Theme Icon
).
Chapter 47 Quotes

His wife and family returned to this country and took up their abode at Gaunt House. Lord George gave up his post on the European continent, and was gazetted to Brazil. But people knew better; he never returned from that Brazil expedition—never died there—never lived there—never was there at all. He was nowhere; he was gone out altogether. ‘Brazil,’ said one gossip to another, with a grin—‘Brazil is St. John's Wood. Rio de Janeiro is a cottage surrounded by four walls, and George Gaunt is accredited to a keeper, who has invested him with the order of the Strait-Waistcoat.’ These are the kinds of epitaphs which men pass over one another in Vanity Fair.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), Lord Steyne, Lady Steyne, George Gaunt
Page Number: 549
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 51 Quotes

‘Mrs. Rawdon Crawley was quite killing in the part,’ said Lord Steyne. Becky laughed, gay and saucy looking, and swept the prettiest little curtsey ever seen.

Related Characters: Lord Steyne (speaker), Becky Sharp , Rawdon
Page Number: 598
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 53 Quotes

All her lies and her schemes, and her selfishness and her wiles, all her wit and genius had come to this bankruptcy.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), Becky Sharp , Rawdon, Lord Steyne
Page Number: 625
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 64 Quotes

If we were to give a full account of her proceedings during a couple of years that followed after the Curzon Street catastrophe, there might be some reason for people to say this book was improper. The actions of very vain, heartless, pleasure-seeking people are very often improper (as are many of yours, my friend with the grave face and spotless reputation—but that is merely by the way); and what are those of a woman without faith—or love—or character? And I am inclined to think that there was a period in Mrs Becky's life when she was seized, not by remorse, but by a kind of despair, and absolutely neglected her person and did not even care for her reputation.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), Becky Sharp , Amelia, Dobbin, Rawdon, Lord Steyne
Page Number: 748
Explanation and Analysis: