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Billiards represents the addictive vices of the upper-class characters in Vanity Fair, many of which revolve around greed. Billiards is especially important for George, who is so eager to potentially make money that he continues to accept challenges to play against Rawdon, even though Rawdon beats him every time. Rawdon himself has learned how to use other men’s vices to his advantage, pretending to be a worse player than he is so that his opponents feel at ease, then hustling his opponents to take their money. Although Rawdon succeeds for a time in making good money off billiards, most of his opponents aren’t as gullible as George, and so he must continually seek out new partners to play with.
In many ways, Rawdon’s billiards money-making schemes resemble the actions of his wife, Becky, who also tries to trick men out of their money. She turns flirting into a game, and, just like Rawdon’s billiards-playing, her efforts bring short-term success but often isolate her from the people around her. And so, ultimately, billiards represents how the members of the upper-class interact with each other; while life might seem like a fair game, those who are willing to use deception can gain an advantage, at least in the short-term.
Billiards Quotes in Vanity Fair
The Vanity Fair quotes below all refer to the symbol of Billiards. 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:
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Chapter 13
Quotes
‘Only I wish you had sown those wild oats of yours, George. If you could have seen poor little Miss Emmy’s face when she asked me about you the other day, you would have pitched those billiard-balls to the deuce. Go and comfort her, you rascal. Go and write her a long letter. Do something to make her happy; a very little will.’
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Chapter 36
Quotes
On nothing per annum then, and during a course of some two or three years, of which we can afford to give but a very brief history, Crawley and his wife lived very happily and comfortably at Paris. It was in this period that he quitted the Guards and sold out of the army. When we find him again, his mustachios and the title of Colonel on his card are the only relics of his military profession.
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Billiards Symbol Timeline in Vanity Fair
The timeline below shows where the symbol Billiards appears in Vanity Fair. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 13
George leaves Amelia with Jane Osborne and Maria, goes to play 11 games of billiards, then comes back half an hour late for dinner. While George is out, his father,...
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Chapter 14
...realizes that also knows George because he won a lot of money from him at billiards.
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Chapter 22
...days of his marriage, he manages to temporarily solve his money problems by winning several billiards matches against George. One day in Brighton, as the men are walking around, they happen...
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Chapter 36
...gets his money. Over time, Rawdon has become a true master at hustling others at billiards. He is similarly good at tricking people into thinking he’s bad at cards, then winning...
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Chapter 52
...on hints from Lady Jane and Pitt Crawley, Rawdon begins spending less time out at billiards and more time at home to keep an eye on Becky. Rawdon convinces himself that...
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