Vanity Fair Summary

The story begins with Becky Sharp, a penniless yet cunning woman, and her friend Amelia Sedley, a naive middle-class girl. After their education, they venture to London where Becky gets employed as a governess on the Crawley estate. She quickly enchants everyone including Sir Pitt Crawley, his son Rawdon, and his affluent half-sister, Miss Crawley. Eventually, Becky secretly marries Rawdon, infuriating Miss Crawley. Concurrently, Amelia's father loses his wealth, causing her fiancé George's father, Mr. Osborne, to end their betrothal. Amelia's admirer, William Dobbin, aids her to elope with George, leading George to be disowned by his father. War breaks out and Dobbin, George, and Rawdon are dispatched to Belgium. George perishes in battle, leaving Amelia to return to England with their son, Georgy.

Becky and Rawdon relocate to Paris until they hear of Miss Crawley's terminal illness and rush back to London with their son, Rawdy. Despite not inheriting Miss Crawley's wealth, they manage to maintain a lavish lifestyle and Becky befriends the influential Lord Steyne and her brother-in-law, Pitt Crawley. Becky's manipulative ways and neglect towards her family become apparent and she also deceives Lord Steyne about using borrowed money to settle debts. Rawdon is imprisoned for debt and after Becky fails to help him, he finds aid in his sister-in-law Lady Jane. On his unexpected return, he finds Becky and Lord Steyne in a compromising situation and after a confrontation, Lord Steyne arranges a job for Rawdon on a remote island. Rawdon leaves his son with Pitt and Lady Jane, while Becky leaves England due to her tarnished reputation.

Meanwhile, Amelia lives in poverty with her son and parents, spoiling Georgy until financial difficulties force her to surrender his upbringing to his grandfather for an allowance. After the death of her parents, Dobbin and Amelia's brother Jos return to England and ensure Amelia and Georgy's well-being. Amelia and Dobbin confess their feelings for each other and marry, settling near the Crawley estate. At the same time, Becky roams the Continent, gambling and escaping her past. She reunites with Jos and Amelia, living with them despite Dobbin's objections. After Jos's mysterious death, Becky benefits from his will and relocates to England, posing as a philanthropic lady. The story concludes with a chance encounter between Amelia’s family and Becky at a charity event, where Amelia and her family hastily retreat without uttering a word.