# X: Miss Sharp Begins to Make Friends explained — Vanity Fair

> Chapter companion for Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray.

## What happens

Rebecca Sharp, now a governess at Queen's Crawley, strategically ingratiates herself with the Crawley family. She wins over the children by allowing them freedom, charms Mr. Crawley with flattery and feigned piety, and becomes indispensable to Sir Pitt by assisting with estate management and legal papers. She also learns about the wealthy Miss Crawley, who favors Rawdon Crawley over his brother Pitt, and adapts her behavior to secure her position.

## Themes in this chapter

### Vanity and Hypocrisy

Rebecca feigns piety and humility to gain favor, while Mr. Crawley's religious pretensions mask his worldly ambitions.

### Social Class and Ambition

Rebecca, an orphan with no fortune, uses her intelligence and charm to climb socially, contrasting with Amelia's secure position.

### Appearance vs. Reality

Rebecca presents herself as grateful and devout, but her actions are calculated for self-advancement, and Mr. Crawley's piety is a facade.

## Character check-ins

### Becky Sharp

Rebecca, now a governess at Queen's Crawley, uses her wits and charm to win over the family, managing the children, flattering Mr. Crawley, and assisting Sir Pitt with estate matters.

### Sir Pitt Crawley

Sir Pitt grows fond of Rebecca, sharing estate business with her and preferring her company over the butler's at dinner.

### Pitt Crawley

Mr. Crawley, the elder son, is impressed by Rebecca's supposed high breeding and piety, and he helps her with French and religious texts.

### Rawdon Crawley

Rawdon, the younger son and a dragoon, is favored by his wealthy aunt Miss Crawley and rarely visits Queen's Crawley except when she does.

### Miss Crawley

Miss Crawley is the rich aunt who favors Rawdon, lives a worldly life, and dislikes Pitt's preaching. She has a house in Park Lane and radical views.

### Lady Jane Crawley

Mentioned as the object of Mr. Crawley's attachment, though she does not appear in this chapter.

## Key lines

> I am alone in the world... I have nothing to look for but what my own labour can bring me; and while that little pink-faced chit Amelia, with not half my sense, has ten thousand pounds and an establishment secure, poor Rebecca (and my figure is far better than hers) has only herself and her own wits to trust to.

Rebecca reflects on her disadvantaged position compared to Amelia, vowing to use her intelligence and appearance to secure a better future.

_This reveals Rebecca's ambition and resentment toward Amelia's inherited wealth._

> She was almost mistress of the house when Mr. Crawley was absent, but conducted herself in her new and exalted situation with such circumspection and modesty as not to offend the authorities of the kitchen and stable.

Rebecca effectively runs the household in Mr. Crawley's absence, but remains humble to avoid upsetting the servants.

_Highlights Rebecca's strategic humility and growing influence at Queen's Crawley._

## Links

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