Ethical Issues in the Novel "vanity Fair" Through the Character of Rebecca Sharp

Only the question of money and fortune made the difference between me and an honest woman. This statement of Becky Sharp, the protagonist of the novel, couldn't possibly introduce us better with her character. For her, morality is the question of status, where all your "sins" will be forgiven if you have enough money and fine reputation to expiate them with, that is why she strives hard throughout the whole novel to make her mark on the high society.

Becky lies, betrays, licks other's boots, flatters, devises schemes, every her step is cunningly planned in advance. She speaks in pitiful manner about herself to attract attention of people in power. In other words, she is a pure Machiavellian woman. Some would argue that a poor orphan of a low birth (as Becky herself was) had to opt for such an immoral conduct in order to survive but her immorality is so deep that she neglects her own child. A mother ( if she deserves to be called one) doesn't find her child boring and doesn't give more attention to her spaniel than her own son. Truth be told, she was occasionally tender to him, she was even knitting a sweater for her beloved son (but only when in the company of high society). It's unnecessary to mention that she did that when she spotted some advantage for herself in that motherly affection: Becky, seeing the tenderness was in fashion, kissed little Rawdon.

Her son Rawdon is just another object in her life that is ill used to help her improve her social status. And that is where her immorality reaches its peak. And while her other deeds might be justified, this one of completely abandoning a child certainly cannot.

Rebecca didn't only do things which are socially unacceptable, she, herself, is the walking immorality. The moment she set eyes on her friend Amelia's brother Joss and found out that he was rich and could lead her into polite society she made her conquest, while her affection towards Amelia doubled. Her next victim was Crawley family, she worshiped, humbly served and seduced Sir Pitt Crawley, a baronet, only to, later on, rob him an be elated with the news of his death. She gave false promises to his well-to-do sister, Miss Crawley, of devoting her whole life to serving her and " loving her more than anyone in the world" probably hoping that the old spinster would include her in her will. However, when she found out that it's her nephew who would inherit everything, lo and behold, Becky was already his wife. The married couple lived on nothing for three years. Do we smell some immoral deeds in the air? Rebecca borrowed money from all sides, making her providers believe that her husband was still an heir of Miss Crawley. Lets not be too hard on her and admit that she did pay her tenancy but with the money she received for her son. Her relationship with her husband was also full of depravity, and as the writer says: Rebecca looked at her husband as a