Vanity Fair · Chapter
In Which the Reader Has to Double the Cape explained
The narrative transports the reader to the military station of Bundlegunge in Madras, where Sir Michael O'Dowd commands the regiment and Lady O'Dowd rules with her characteristic energy and domineering kindness.
What happens
The narrative transports the reader to the military station of Bundlegunge in Madras, where Sir Michael O'Dowd commands the regiment and Lady O'Dowd rules with her characteristic energy and domineering kindness. Her sister-in-law Glorvina, a handsome young lady, sets her sights on Major Dobbin, but he remains indifferent to her charms, still pining for Amelia. When a letter from Amelia arrives, giving him her blessing for a supposed new marriage, Dobbin is thrown into despair, feeling that his faithful devotion has been met with coldness and misunderstanding.
Themes in this chapter
Vanity and Hypocrisy
Glorvina's efforts to attract Dobbin through her appearance and accomplishments, and Dobbin's own despair over the vanity of his life, highlight the theme of vanity and the emptiness of worldly pursuits.
Appearance vs. Reality
Amelia's letter appears to give Dobbin her blessing, but the reality is that she misunderstands his feelings, causing him pain. Glorvina's outward charms fail to reflect Dobbin's true inner devotion to Amelia.
War and Its Aftermath
The characters are still shaped by their experiences at Waterloo, with Dobbin and O'Dowd now serving in India, a common posting for veterans of the Napoleonic Wars.
Characters to notice
- Major O'Dowd
Now Colonel Sir Michael O'Dowd, commanding the regiment at Bundlegunge, still stout and good-tempered, enjoying his meals and hookah.
- Mrs. O'Dowd
Now Lady O'Dowd, as domineering and kind as ever, a tyrant over her husband and a mother to the young men, determined to see Glorvina marry Dobbin.
- Glorvina O'Dowd
A handsome, fresh-coloured young lady who sets her cap at Major Dobbin, but fails to win his attention despite her efforts.
- William Dobbin
Now Major Dobbin, second in command, still devoted to Amelia and indifferent to Glorvina's charms; deeply affected by Amelia's letter giving him her blessing for a supposed marriage.
- Amelia Sedley
Mentioned in Dobbin's thoughts and in her letter; she writes to give Dobbin her blessing on his supposed new marriage, unwittingly causing him great pain.
- Georgy Osborne
Mentioned in Amelia's letter as sending his love to his godpapa Dobbin.
Key passages
“The astonished reader must be called upon to transport himself ten thousand miles to the military station of Bundlegunge, in the Madras division of our Indian empire, where our gallant old friends of the —th regiment are quartered under the command of the brave Colonel, Sir Michael O'Dowd.”
The reader is asked to imagine traveling far away to the British army post at Bundlegunge in India, where the regiment is now led by Colonel Sir Michael O'Dowd.
Opens the chapter by shifting the setting to India.
“She curled her hair and showed her shoulders at him, as much as to say, did ye ever see such jet ringlets and such a complexion? She grinned at him so that he might see that every tooth in her head was sound—and he never heeded all these charms.”
Glorvina tried to attract Dobbin by displaying her curly hair, bare shoulders, and perfect teeth, but he paid no attention.
Illustrates Glorvina's vain efforts to win Dobbin's affection.
“O Amelia, Amelia, he thought, you to whom I have been so faithful—you reproach me! It is because you cannot feel for me that I drag on this wearisome life.”
Dobbin reflects bitterly that Amelia, despite his faithfulness, cannot understand his feelings, leaving him to endure a tedious existence.
Reveals Dobbin's deep emotional pain and unrequited love.
