Piano Symbol Analysis

The piano represents Dobbin’s unselfish love for Amelia. When Mr. Sedley goes bankrupt and has to move his family to a smaller house, many of the Sedley family possessions go up for auction at an estate sale. Dobbin knows that Amelia always loved the piano, so he buys it for her so that she can still have it at her new house. Amelia, however, mistakenly believes that her fiancé, George, is the one who bought her the piano. Dobbin cares so much for Amelia and is so loyal to George that he decides it’s best to say nothing and let Amelia believe that George bought her the piano. This isn’t the first time that Dobbin has helped George in his relationship—when Mr. Osborne tried to convince George not to marry Amelia, Dobbin convinced George to go through with the marriage anyway. Another time, Dobbin lends George money to help him afford a present for Amelia, only for George to go and spend the money on a pin for himself.

When Amelia initially learns that it was Dobbin who bought the piano for her, she becomes angry and doesn’t want the piano—she doesn’t like this new information because it shatters her idea of George as the perfect husband. But when Becky provides Amelia with undeniable proof that George was planning to cheat on her, Amelia finally finds a way to let go of the past. She comes back to the piano and can finally appreciate it as the selfless gift it is, symbolizing how she is ready to acknowledge Dobbin’s unselfish love for her and accept him as her new husband.