# XLII: Which Treats of the Osborne Family explained — Vanity Fair > Chapter companion for Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray. ## What happens This chapter focuses on the gloomy and oppressive life of old Mr. Osborne and his unmarried daughter, Jane, in the wake of George Osborne's death. Mr. Osborne's temper has worsened with age and disappointment; he tyrannizes over Jane, who lives a lonely, restricted existence. The chapter also details the marriage of Maria Osborne to Frederick Bullock, a union driven by financial calculations and social ambition, and the strained relationship between the sisters. Meanwhile, Amelia's life is touched upon through the visits of the Misses Dobbin, who report on her poverty and her son Georgy, and through a letter she writes to Major Dobbin, congratulating him on his marriage. ## Themes in this chapter ### Social Class and Ambition The marriage of Maria Osborne to Frederick Bullock is a calculated social and financial transaction, with both families seeking to elevate their status through connections with the 'nobs at the West End.' ### Marriage as Transaction Frederick Bullock's marriage to Maria is explicitly negotiated over her dowry, with the match nearly broken off over financial terms, illustrating the mercenary nature of such unions. ### Family and Betrayal The Osborne family is fractured by George's death and disinheritance; Mr. Osborne's tyranny over Jane and the growing distance between the sisters reflect deep familial dysfunction and betrayal. ### Appearance vs. Reality Despite the outward grandeur of the Osborne household—fine carriages, plate, and servants—the reality is one of gloom, loneliness, and emotional poverty for Jane Osborne. ## Character check-ins ### Mr. Osborne Now a bitter, lonely old man, his temper worsened by gout and his son's death; he tyrannizes over his daughter Jane and lives a life of gloomy routine. ### Miss Osborne Jane Osborne lives a dreary, restricted life as her father's housekeeper, denied the chance to marry and subjected to his harsh rule. ### Maria Osborne Now Mrs. Frederick Bullock, she has married into a wealthy City family and grows distant from her sister Jane, moving in a higher social sphere. ### Frederick Bullock Married Maria Osborne after a difficult negotiation over her dowry, ultimately accepting twenty thousand pounds and the prospect of more from Mr. Osborne's will. ### Amelia Sedley Living in poverty with her parents, she is visited by the Misses Dobbin and writes a grateful letter to Major Dobbin, congratulating him on his marriage. ### Georgy Osborne Amelia's young son, who is described as a noble little boy and is allowed to visit the Misses Dobbin at Denmark Hill. ### William Dobbin The Major in India, godfather to Georgy, whose sisters encourage Amelia and hope to reconcile Mr. Osborne with his grandson; Amelia writes to him congratulating him on his marriage. ### Miss Wirt Former companion to Miss Osborne, she was dismissed after being involved in an attempted romantic intrigue between Miss Osborne and an artist, Mr. Smee. ## Key lines > He had proposed for Miss Swartz, but had been rejected scornfully by the partisans of that lady, who married her to a young sprig of Scotch nobility. Mr. Osborne had asked Miss Swartz to marry him, but her supporters refused him contemptuously, and she instead married a young Scottish nobleman. _Highlights Mr. Osborne's failed attempt to remarry and the social climbing involved._ > The little charity-girls at the Foundling, the sweeperess at the crossing, the poorest under-kitchen-maid in the servants’ hall, was happy compared to that unfortunate and now middle-aged young lady. Even the most impoverished girls in London were happier than the now middle-aged Jane Osborne, despite her wealth. _Emphasizes the profound unhappiness of Jane's life despite her material comforts._ > Frederick insisted that the half of the old gentleman’s property should be settled upon his Maria, and indeed, for a long time, refused, 'to come to the scratch' on any other terms. Frederick Bullock demanded that half of Mr. Osborne's wealth be legally set aside for Maria, and for a long time he refused to marry her unless this condition was met. _Illustrates the transactional nature of the marriage arrangement._ > Jane Osborne kept her bedroom for many days. She was not allowed to have a companion afterwards. Her father swore to her that she should not have a shilling of his money if she made any match without his concurrence; and as he wanted a woman to keep his house, he did not choose that she should marry. After the incident with Mr. Smee, Jane stayed in her room for days. Her father then forbade her from having a companion and threatened to disinherit her if she married without his permission, since he needed her to manage his household. _Shows Mr. Osborne's control over his daughter's life and his selfish motives._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xlii-which-treats-of-the-osborne-family - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/vanity_fair_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters