Character guide

Amelia Sedley

major

Also known as Miss Sedley, Miss Amelia Sedley, Emmy, Mrs. George Osborne, poor Amelia

Sweet-natured daughter of a wealthy merchant, devoted to George Osborne and later her son.

Becky Sharp

major

Also known as Rebecca Sharp, Mrs. Rebecca Crawley, Miss Sharp, Becky, Mrs. Rawdon Crawley

Ambitious, clever orphan who schemes her way into high society through marriage and wit.

George Osborne

major

Also known as Mr. Osborne, George, Captain Osborne, young Osborne

Handsome, vain son of a wealthy merchant who marries Amelia despite his father's opposition.

William Dobbin

major

Also known as Captain Dobbin, Major Dobbin, Dobbin, honest Dobbin, Major William Dobbin

Loyal, kind-hearted army officer secretly in love with Amelia, her steadfast friend through life.

Joseph Sedley

supporting

Also known as Joseph, Mr. Sedley, Joe, Jos, old Sedley

Pompous, wealthy civil servant from India, Amelia's brother, easily manipulated by Becky.

Rawdon Crawley

supporting

Also known as Rawdon Crawley, Captain Rawdon, Colonel Crawley, the Colonel

Brave but foolish army officer who marries Becky, later becomes a colonial governor.

Sir Pitt Crawley

supporting

Also known as Sir Pitt, Pitt Crawley, old Sir Pitt, Honest Sir Pitt

Rough, miserly baronet of Queen's Crawley who proposes to Becky after his wife dies.

Miss Crawley

supporting

Also known as Old Miss Crawley, Miss Crawley, the rich Miss Crawley

Wealthy, eccentric spinster aunt whose fortune is courted by all the Crawley relatives.

Mr. Osborne

supporting

Also known as old Osborne, Mr. Osborne of Russell Square, the elder Osborne

Proud, vengeful merchant who disowns George for marrying Amelia and later regrets it.

Lady Jane Crawley

supporting

Also known as Lady Jane, Jane, Lady Jane Sheepshanks, the gentle Lady Jane

Kind, gentle wife of Pitt Crawley who becomes a mother figure to young Rawdon.

Pitt Crawley

supporting

Also known as Mr. Pitt, Mr. Crawley, Pitt Crawley, Young Pitt

Elder son of Sir Pitt, a pious, ambitious politician who inherits the baronetcy.

Lord Steyne

supporting

Also known as Steyne, the Marquis of Steyne, old Steyne

Powerful, cynical marquis who becomes Becky's patron and protector in high society.

Mrs. Sedley

supporting

Also known as honest Mrs. Sedley, good Mrs. Sedley, Mrs. Sedley

Amelia's warm-hearted mother who dotes on her children and suffers financial ruin.

John Sedley

supporting

Also known as old John Sedley, Mr. Sedley, Good old John Sedley

Amelia's father, a once-prosperous merchant who loses his fortune and becomes embittered.

Bute Crawley

supporting

Also known as Mrs. Bute Crawley, Bute, the Reverend Bute Crawley

Sir Pitt's brother, a clergyman whose wife schemes to inherit Miss Crawley's fortune.

Mrs. Bute Crawley

supporting

Also known as Even Mrs. Bute Crawley, the amiable Mrs. Bute Crawley, the triumphant Mrs. Bute

Ambitious wife of Bute Crawley who schemes to control Miss Crawley and her money.

Miss Briggs

supporting

Also known as poor Briggs, Briggs, honest Miss Briggs, the gentle Briggs

Miss Crawley's devoted companion, easily dominated by stronger personalities like Becky.

Georgy Osborne

supporting

Also known as little Georgy, Georgy, Master Georgy, George Sedley Osborne

Amelia and George's son, a spoiled but charming boy doted on by his mother and grandfather.

James Crawley

minor

Also known as Jim, James, Mr. James Crawley, young James

Younger son of Bute Crawley, a good-natured but reckless young man who disappoints his family.

Lady Southdown

minor

Also known as the strong-minded Lady Southdown, old Southdown, my Lady Southdown

Pious, domineering mother of Lady Jane who meddles in the Crawley household.

Major O'Dowd

minor

Also known as O'Dowd, Major O'Dowd, Sir Michael O'Dowd, Mick

Brave Irish army officer who commands the regiment, loyal friend to Dobbin and Amelia.

Mrs. O'Dowd

minor

Also known as Mrs. Major O'Dowd, Peggy, the excellent Mrs. O'Dowd

Major O'Dowd's formidable, talkative Irish wife who mothers the young officers.

Miss Swartz

minor

Also known as Swartz, honest Swartz, the impetuous and woolly-headed Miss Swartz

Wealthy, kind-hearted heiress of mixed race, courted by George Osborne for her money.

Miss Osborne

minor

Also known as Miss Jane Osborne, Jane, old Jane, Dear Miss Osborne

George's spinster sister who lives with their father and later befriends Amelia.

Maria Osborne

minor

Also known as Miss Maria, Maria, Polly, lovely Polly

George's younger sister who marries Frederick Bullock against her father's wishes.

Frederick Bullock

minor

Also known as Mr. Bullock, Frederick, Frederick Augustus, young Bullock

Wealthy merchant who marries Maria Osborne for her dowry, later regrets the match.

Miss Pinkerton

minor

Also known as the orthodox Miss Pinkerton, Miss Jemima Pinkerton, Jemima

Headmistress of Chiswick Mall academy where Amelia and Becky were educated.

Miss Jemima Pinkerton

minor

Also known as sister Jemima, Jemima, poor Jemima

Miss Pinkerton's kind but timid younger sister who helps run the school.

Mr. Cuff

minor

Also known as Cuff, Mr. Reginald Cuff

School bully at Dr. Swishtail's academy who torments Dobbin and later becomes a soldier.

Glorvina O'Dowd

minor

Also known as Miss Glorvina O'Dowd, Miss O'Dowd, that Miss O'Dowd

Major O'Dowd's sister, a flirtatious Irish beauty who sets her cap at Dobbin.

Rawdon Minor

minor

Also known as little Rawdon, Rawdy, Rawdon Crawley the younger

Becky and Rawdon's son, neglected by his mother but loved by his father and Lady Jane.

Lady Bareacres

minor

Also known as the Lady Bareacres, Bareacres, the frigid old Bareacres

Proud, cold-hearted aristocrat who snubs Becky but later needs her help in Brussels.

Lord Bareacres

minor

Also known as Bareacres, George Earl of Bareacres, the Earl of Bareacres

Aristocratic husband of Lady Bareacres, a gambler and debtor in high society.

Peggy O'Dowd

minor

Also known as Peggy, old O'Dowd, that odious Peggy Malony

Major O'Dowd's formidable mother who disapproves of his marriage and military life.

Wenham

minor

Also known as Mr. Wenham

Lord Steyne's sly, manipulative secretary who helps manage the marquis's affairs.

Firkin

minor

Also known as Mrs. Firkin, even Firkin

Miss Crawley's loyal, gossipy maid who reports on household intrigues.

Bowls

minor

Also known as Mr. Bowls

Miss Crawley's butler, a dignified servant who witnesses the family's scheming.

Sambo

minor

Also known as Mr. Sambo, black Sambo, honest Sambo

The Sedley family's loyal black servant who serves them through prosperity and ruin.

Betsy Horrocks

minor

Also known as Miss Horrocks, Horrocks, Betsy, Elizabeth

Sir Pitt's maid who becomes his second wife after Lady Crawley's death.

Raggles

minor

Also known as Mr. Raggles, poor Raggles, old Raggles, honest Raggles

Former butler to Miss Crawley who rents his house to Becky and Rawdon.

Captain Macmurdo

minor

Also known as Macmurdo, Mr. Macmurdo, comrade Captain Macmurdo

Rawdon's friend and second in his duel with Lord Steyne, a bluff army officer.

Lady Steyne

minor

Also known as my Lady Steyne, the Lady Steyne

Lord Steyne's pious, long-suffering wife who endures his infidelities in silence.

Lord Gaunt

minor

Also known as Lord George Gaunt, George Gaunt, Master George Gaunt

Lord Steyne's eldest son, a dissolute nobleman who dies young.

Lady Gaunt

minor

Also known as the Lady Gaunt, Gaunt

Lord Gaunt's wife, a cold, proud aristocrat who snubs Becky in society.

Mr. Wagg

minor

Also known as Wagg

A fashionable novelist and wit who appears in high society circles.

Mrs. Clapp

minor

Also known as Clapp

The Clapps' mother, a humble woman who rents rooms to the Sedley family in poverty.

Mary Clapp

minor

Also known as little Mary Clapp, Miss Clapp, Molly, Polly

The Clapps' daughter, a kind friend to Amelia during her years of poverty.

Mr. Clapp

minor

Also known as Old Mr. Clapp

The Clapp family patriarch who rents his house to the Sedleys.

General Tufto

minor

Also known as Sir George Tufto, George, the present Sir George Tufto

A vain, elderly general who commands the regiment and flirts with Becky.

Ensign Stubble

minor

Also known as Stubble, little Stubble, Tom Stubble

A young, enthusiastic ensign in the regiment who dies at Waterloo.

Ensign Spooney

minor

Also known as Spooney

A young, foolish ensign in the regiment, friend of Stubble.

Isidor

minor

Also known as Monsieur Isidor

Joseph Sedley's French valet who helps him flee Brussels during the Waterloo panic.

Kirsch

minor

Also known as Mr. Kirsch, the bustling Mr. Kirsch

Joseph Sedley's German valet who serves him in later years.

Mrs. Tinker

minor

Also known as Tinker, old Tinker

Sir Pitt Crawley's housekeeper at Queen's Crawley.

Mr. Horrocks

minor

Also known as Horrocks

Sir Pitt's butler at Queen's Crawley, father of Betsy Horrocks.

Mr. Moss

minor

Also known as Moss, Mr. Moses, Moses

A Jewish moneylender and sheriff's officer who arrests Rawdon for debt.

Mr. Chopper

minor

Also known as Chopper

Mr. Osborne's clerk and confidant who advises him on family matters.

Mr. Hammerdown

minor

An auctioneer who sells the Sedley family's possessions after their bankruptcy.

Dr. Squills

minor

Also known as Squills

A doctor who attends the Sedley and Osborne families, a practical man.

Mr. Veal

minor

Also known as the Rev. Mr. Veal, old Veal, Reverend Lawrence Veal

A clergyman who appears in the Crawley family circle.

Mrs. Veal

minor

Wife of the Reverend Veal, a minor figure in the Crawley social world.

Lady Emily Hornblower

minor

Also known as Lady Emily, poor Emmy, Emily, the Right Honourable the Lady Emily Hornblower

A minor aristocratic figure mentioned in the Crawley family's social circle.

Lord Southdown

minor

Also known as young Lord Southdown, Little Lord Southdown, Southdown

Lady Southdown's son, a young nobleman in the Crawley orbit.

Mademoiselle Fifine

minor

Also known as Fifine, Mademoiselle

A French maid in the Crawley household, involved in minor intrigues.

Mr. Fiche

minor

Also known as Fiche, Monsieur Fiche

Lord Steyne's confidential agent who handles delicate financial matters.

Lady Blanche Thistlewood

minor

Also known as Lady Blanche, Blanche, the Lady Blanche Thistlewood

A fashionable society lady who appears in the charade scene at Gaunt House.

Mr. Trotter

minor

Also known as Trotter

A minor character in the novel's social scenes.

Captain Bragg

minor

Also known as Bragg

An army officer mentioned in the social circles of the regiment.

Mr. Binny

minor

Also known as the Reverend Mr. Binny

A clergyman who marries Amelia and Dobbin in the novel's later chapters.

Mr. Pestler

minor

Also known as Pestler

An apothecary who attends the Sedley family during their illnesses.

Mrs. Blenkinsop

minor

Also known as Blenkinsop, Honest old Mrs. Blenkinsop

The Sedley family's housekeeper, a loyal servant through their changing fortunes.

Mr. Smee

minor

Also known as Smee

A portrait painter who paints the Crawley family.

Mr. Eaves

minor

Also known as Eaves, this sardonic old Eaves

A gossipy old man who knows everyone's secrets in London society.

Tom Eaves

minor

Also known as little Tom Eaves, Tom

A minor character in the novel's social scenes, possibly related to Mr. Eaves.

Mrs. Winkworth

minor

Also known as poor Mrs. Winkworth

A minor figure in the Sedley family's social circle.

Miss Wirt

minor

Also known as the elegant Miss Wirt

A governess in the Crawley household, a minor character.

Mr. Hodson

minor

Also known as Hodson, a Mr. Hodson

A minor character mentioned in the novel's social scenes.

Mr. Creamer

minor

Also known as Creamer

A minor character in the novel's social scenes.

Mr. Lewis

minor

A minor character mentioned in the novel's social scenes.

Mr. Brown

minor

Also known as Brown

A generic name used for minor unnamed characters in the novel.

Mrs. Brown

minor

Also known as Brown

A generic name used for minor unnamed female characters.