Vanity Fair

A beautiful, cunning social climber who uses charm and scheming to secure wealth and status. Her willingness to manipulate lovers and family circles drives much of the plot, and her rapid shifts in fortune reveal the mercenary nature of high society. Becky’s resilience mask her moral compromises as she navigates a world that rewards appearance over substance.

A wealthy and loyal friend who embodies propriety and steadfastness. She endures heartbreak and social pressure, yet remains committed to the memory of her late husband and to stable, respectable paths for the future. Amelia’s evolving loyalties and judgment of Becky anchor the moral center of the story.

Becky’s initial lover and later husband, impulsive and financially reckless. His volatile relationship with Becky and mounting pressures expose the fragility of their union and the consequences of pursuing pleasure over prudence.

Amelia’s brother and a target for Becky’s early schemes. He represents the entanglement of family alliances and romantic opportunism within the upper-crust circle. His actions and relationships help propel Becky’s power plays and the plot’s twists.

Amelia’s fiancé/husband who dies in a horse-riding accident years before Becky’s full ascent. His past presence and memory influence Amelia’s decisions and the dynamics of social circles Becky gravitationally moves through.

An old-fashioned aristocrat who resents Becky and expels her and Rawdon from his house after discovering their affair. His pride and moral stance establish a stern boundary between wealth, lineage, and behavior.

Amelia’s wary mother who distrusts Becky’s intentions. Her protective instincts and social scruples reflect the concerns of a respectable family drama against Becky’s disruptive schemes.

A steadfast suitor to Amelia who embodies loyalty and steadiness. His patience and moral steadiness contrast with Becky’s manipulations, making him a counterbalance to the social whirl around them.