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Chapter 50
Themes
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
After her appearances at court and at Lord Steyne’s parties, Becky has finally established herself as a member of the upper class. Due to Lord Steyne’s approval, Becky starts getting invited to other fancy events. She also begins to host people from England and people from abroad. At first, Becky’s success thrills her, but she begins to find it boring after a couple years.
Ironically, while Becky’s close association with Lord Steyne could potentially sink her reputation (because of accusations of infidelity), she manages to manipulate the situation so that instead it becomes a credit to her name, showing her as an equal in status to Steyne. Time begins to pass more quickly as the novel goes on, and this passage notably skips right over a happy period of Becky’s to show the next time when she begins feeling restless.
Themes
Carriages of guests seem to always show up at the door to Becky’s small house on Curzon Street, often making the local paper. Most people are swept away by Becky’s charm, and Becky finds ways to outdo the few women who sometimes challenge her.
Similar to her court appearance, Becky cares less about being a good hostess and more about acquiring the reputation for being a good hostess.
Themes
Many wonder where Becky gets the money to pay for so much lavish entertainment. Some suspect it comes from Pitt Crawley. Others suggest that Becky gets loans from all of Rawdon’s friends, telling them she is desperate for money. Becky further stretches her money by trying to throw fewer parties but making sure people talk about the ones she does throw. Becky also makes use of Lord Steyne’s cellars and cooks, although the narrator warns readers not to believe any of the unkind rumors they’ve heard about Becky.
Themes
The narrator explains that while the time period Becky lived in (the 1820s) was different from the present (the 1840s), some things were the same, like the popularity of the game charades. Charades involves not just guessing words based on pantomime, but also short one-act plays in between guesses. Becky hosts a game of charades at Lord Steyne’s house, and the theme is ancient Greece.
Themes
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The charade game goes smoothly, with Becky’s distinguished guests all performing their charades well. Rawdon plays the role of the ancient Greek king Agamemnon, and Becky plays his wife, Clytemnestra, who kills him. Almost everyone agrees that Becky is a highlight, with her acting abilities drawing admiration, particularly Lord Steyne’s. Rawdon, however, is scared of how successful Becky seems to be.
After the party, Rawdon sends Becky home from Lord Steyne’s in a carriage and walks back himself. On the way back, three bailiffs stop him to arrest him for a debt he owes. Rawdon agrees to go with them peacefully to debtor’s prison.
Themes
