Who Becky Sharp is
Becky Sharp leaves Miss Pinkerton's Academy with a governess position waiting for her and little else to depend on. The daughter of a poor artist and a French opera dancer, she grows up among cheap lodgings and creditors. She learns to please people she privately despises, turning that skill into a means of advancement.
What Becky Sharp wants
Becky wants the security and standing that money brings, and she treats marriage as one possible route toward them. When she meets Amelia's wealthy brother Jos Sedley, she flatters him and listens eagerly to his stories. Her ambition also draws attention to a society that trades in marriages, friendships and good names.
Becky Sharp and the others in the story
Amelia is warm and trusting, while Becky is calculating and quick to see what other people can offer. At Queen's Crawley, Becky wins favour by helping Sir Pitt Crawley with his letters and accounts. She also charms his wealthy half sister, Miss Crawley, whose fortune attracts the attention of the whole family.
Questions
Is Becky Sharp an orphan?
Yes, Becky is an orphan whose parents are a poor artist and a French opera dancer.
What does Becky Sharp want?
She wants wealth, social rank and a comfortable life, using her intelligence and charm to pursue them.
Is Becky Sharp good or bad?
Becky is clever and resourceful, but she is also selfish and willing to use others. Thackeray shows both her energy and the harm her ambitions can cause.