Vanity Fair · Chapter
XV: In Which Rebecca's Husband Appears for a Short Time explained
Rebecca Sharp, now secretly married to Rawdon Crawley, faces a crisis when Sir Pitt Crawley proposes to her.
What happens
Rebecca Sharp, now secretly married to Rawdon Crawley, faces a crisis when Sir Pitt Crawley proposes to her. She refuses him, revealing she is already married, which shocks Miss Crawley. Rebecca writes to Rawdon, plotting how to win over Miss Crawley's forgiveness and secure her inheritance.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Ambition
Rebecca's ambition to rise from governess to lady is thwarted by her secret marriage, yet she schemes to secure Miss Crawley's fortune.
Marriage as Transaction
Sir Pitt's proposal and Rebecca's marriage to Rawdon are both strategic moves for financial and social gain.
Appearance vs. Reality
Rebecca presents herself as a tearful, devoted figure while calculating her next move; her secret marriage contrasts with her innocent facade.
Characters to notice
- Becky Sharp
Reveals her secret marriage to Rawdon Crawley after Sir Pitt proposes; writes a letter to Rawdon plotting their future.
- Sir Pitt Crawley
Proposes to Rebecca and is refused; learns of her marriage and reacts with coarse humor.
- Miss Crawley
Discovers Sir Pitt's proposal and Rebecca's refusal; is bewildered and scornful.
- Rawdon Crawley
Revealed as Rebecca's secret husband; receives her letter through a coded correspondence.
- Miss Briggs
Eavesdrops on Sir Pitt's proposal and reports it to Miss Crawley.
- Firkin
Eavesdrops with Miss Briggs and helps spread the news of Sir Pitt's proposal.
Key passages
“What good mother is there that would not commiserate a penniless spinster, who might have been my lady, and have shared four thousand a year?”
Any caring mother would pity a poor unmarried woman who nearly became a lady with a large income.
The narrator satirizes society's obsession with wealth and status.
“I might have been my lady! I might have led that old man whither I would. I might have thanked Mrs. Bute for her patronage, and Mr. Pitt for his insufferable condescension.”
Rebecca regrets losing the chance to become Lady Crawley and control Sir Pitt, while getting revenge on her rivals.
Reveals Rebecca's ambitious and vengeful thoughts.
“She is so fond of him, Rebecca thought, that she will forgive him anything: she is so used to me that I don't think she could be comfortable without me.”
Rebecca believes Miss Crawley's affection for Rawdon and her own presence will ensure forgiveness.
Shows Rebecca's calculated assessment of Miss Crawley's character.