Vanity Fair · Chapter
In Which Amelia Invades the Low Countries explained
Amelia, accompanied by her brother Jos and Mrs.
What happens
Amelia, accompanied by her brother Jos and Mrs. O'Dowd, travels to Ostend and then to Brussels to join her husband George's regiment. Jos, attempting to appear military, grows a mustache and acquires a Belgian servant who calls him 'my lord.' In Brussels, George hosts a lavish dinner for the aristocratic Bareacres family, who treat Amelia with disdain. Meanwhile, General Tufto is seen buying a bouquet, signaling the arrival of the Crawleys, which unsettles Amelia.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Ambition
Jos's attempt to appear military and the Bareacres' condescension toward Amelia highlight the preoccupation with social rank and the pursuit of status.
Appearance vs. Reality
Jos's mustache and military pretensions contrast with his actual cowardice; the Bareacres' dignity is undercut by their willingness to accept George's hospitality while snubbing his wife.
War and Its Aftermath
The chapter sets the stage for the Waterloo campaign, with characters moving to Brussels and encountering military figures like General Tufto.
Characters to notice
- Amelia Sedley
Travels to Ostend and Brussels to join her husband; feels disheartened at the arrival of the Crawleys.
- Joseph Sedley
Escorts Amelia and Mrs. O'Dowd; grows a mustache and adopts military airs; suffers seasickness.
- George Osborne
Hosts a dinner for the Bareacres family in Brussels; spends lavishly despite Amelia's discomfort.
- William Dobbin
Assists with travel arrangements; laughs at Mrs. O'Dowd's boasts; angered by the Bareacres' rudeness.
- Mrs. O'Dowd
Travels with Amelia and Jos; boasts about her family's estate in Ireland.
- General Tufto
Seen buying a bouquet in Brussels; his arrival signals the presence of the Crawleys.
- Lady Bareacres
Attends George's dinner but treats Amelia with cold disdain.
- Lady Blanche Thistlewood
Dances with George and snubs Amelia at the dinner.
Key passages
“Meanwhile the gallant Jos had agreed to escort his sister and the Major's wife, the bulk of whose goods and chattels, including the famous bird of paradise and turban, were with the regimental baggage: so that our two heroines drove pretty much unencumbered to Ramsgate, where there were plenty of packets plying, in one of which they had a speedy passage to Ostend.”
Jos agreed to accompany his sister and Mrs. O'Dowd, whose belongings, including her fancy turban, were sent with the regiment. The two women traveled lightly to Ramsgate and took a fast boat to Ostend.
Describes the journey of Amelia and Mrs. O'Dowd to the continent.
“This festival, on which honest George spent a great deal of money, was the very dismallest of all the entertainments which Amelia had in her honeymoon.”
The dinner George hosted, though expensive, was the most miserable event of Amelia's honeymoon.
Highlights the failure of George's attempt to impress the aristocracy.
“The men are bearable, but their women—”
The men are tolerable, but their wives are not.
Lady Blanche expresses snobbery toward Amelia and other women of lower rank.
