Sambo is the “black” (African or Asian) servant of Mr. Sedley and Mrs. Sedley. Today, “Sambo” is an offensive term, and although this character is not necessarily the main origin of the term, he nevertheless embodies the racial stereotype of an oppressed minority who is willing and happy to serve his masters.
Get the entire Vanity Fair LitChart as a printable PDF.
Sambo Character Timeline in Vanity Fair
The timeline below shows where the character Sambo appears in Vanity Fair. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
...happy about going home but sad about leaving the school behind. Amelia’s family’s “black” servant Sambo begins loading her belongings into the coach. Meanwhile, as everyone prepares to Amelia to leave,...
(full context)
Chapter 3
...she accepts it, mistakenly believing it will be cold. She cries out for water, and Sambo brings it. Jos finds this all funny, but the ladies don’t smile quite as much.
(full context)
Chapter 6
The next day, Sambo comes to Becky and Amelia with a letter from Jos. In the letter, he asks...
(full context)
Chapter 18
Most of the Sedley’s servants, including Sambo, leave after the bankruptcy. Some of Mr. Sedley’s old friends and his creditors all turn...
(full context)
