Chapter 2 & 3 At the Sedley's
After tossing the "Dixionary" out the carriage window, Becky and Amelia sit back and try to enjoy the scenic trip through the country on their way to the Sedley's house. Thackeray uses this moment to give a little insight into Becky's family background: her father was an artist with a drinking problem and her mother was a French heiress/opera singer. After Becky's mother died, her father wrote a long letter to Ms. Pinkerton of Chiswick and begged her to take his daughter in as part servant/part student.
Becky hated Chiswick, but decided to make the best of it and used her talent in music and French to educate the younger ones at the school. She even bribed one of the other school mistresses to pay her money to teach the little kiddies to play the piano, because after all she was saving the school money over having to hire another teacher. Becky seems to be an astute business woman early on.
Before the carriage ride ends, Becky makes note of Amelia's lovely cashmere shawl (of which she had two) and discreetly asks about her brother Joseph and what he does and how much money he has.
Chapter 3 begins with a disturbing vision of Joseph: "A very stout, puffy man, in buckskins and Hessian boots, with several immense neckcloths that rose almost to his nose, with a red striped waistcoat and an apple green coat with steel buttons ..." SCREAM AND RUN girl! But Becky stays put and with a demure look in her eye whispers loudly to Amelia how handsome she thinks he is.
The rest of the chapter goes on about Joseph and how much fun he has in India and how lonely he is back home. He is an extremely shy fellow, but also extremely vain considering his wardrobe and the fact that he changed his outfits several times a day. It seems like he can't bear the thought of too much human contact, and uses his clothes and food to mask anyone from getting to close.
Becky hated Chiswick, but decided to make the best of it and used her talent in music and French to educate the younger ones at the school. She even bribed one of the other school mistresses to pay her money to teach the little kiddies to play the piano, because after all she was saving the school money over having to hire another teacher. Becky seems to be an astute business woman early on.
Before the carriage ride ends, Becky makes note of Amelia's lovely cashmere shawl (of which she had two) and discreetly asks about her brother Joseph and what he does and how much money he has.
Chapter 3 begins with a disturbing vision of Joseph: "A very stout, puffy man, in buckskins and Hessian boots, with several immense neckcloths that rose almost to his nose, with a red striped waistcoat and an apple green coat with steel buttons ..." SCREAM AND RUN girl! But Becky stays put and with a demure look in her eye whispers loudly to Amelia how handsome she thinks he is.
The rest of the chapter goes on about Joseph and how much fun he has in India and how lonely he is back home. He is an extremely shy fellow, but also extremely vain considering his wardrobe and the fact that he changed his outfits several times a day. It seems like he can't bear the thought of too much human contact, and uses his clothes and food to mask anyone from getting to close.
posted by H at 2:18 PM
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