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Chapter 55
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
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.
Themes
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.
Themes
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.
Georgy’s comfortable lifestyle seems to be making him spoiled. The humor in this scene is that it suggests that many gentlemen are not so different from 11-year-old boys, giving orders they don’t understand and drinking too much for their own good.
Themes
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.
Veal is made from calves (young cattle). And so, Mr. Veal’s name is humorous for a teacher of children, perhaps suggesting that he is preparing children to be killed like young calves (by giving them an education that doesn’t prepare them well for the future). His love of long words indicates that he wants to appear smart, but his actions reveal that he isn’t an effective teacher.
Themes
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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.
Mr. Osborne isn’t particularly well educated, but he fancies himself something of a scholar, so he pretends to understand Mr. Veal’s elaborate reports (even though young George himself can sense that Mr. Veal himself isn’t as smart as he puts on).
Themes
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.
Although Georgy represents a chance for Mr. Osborne to make up for how he treated George, one of Georgy’s other purposes is to get revenge on the Sedleys (because Mr. Osborne blames them in part for leading George away from him). This is why Mr. Osborne tries to turn Georgy against his other grandfather. Meanwhile, Mrs. Sedley’s death shows how Amelia and Mr. Sedley’s declining fortunes continue to get worse.
Themes
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.
The return of Jos and Dobbin marks a turning point, perhaps suggesting that Amelia’s suffering won’t last much longer. As usual, the chapter ends on a cliffhanger, leaving it a mystery as to how Jos and Dobbin made it back to England and found out where Georgy was.
Themes
