Social Traits Character Analysis of Rebecca Sharp

33 She came like vivified figure out of the Magasin des Modes – blandly smiling in the most beautiful new clothes and little gloves and boots. Wonderful scarfs, laces, and jewels glittered about her. She had always a new bonnet on: and flowers bloomed perpetually in it: or else magnificent curling ostrich feathers, soft and snowy as camellias 381. 4.1.3. Personality Traits 4.1.3.1. Cunning As mentioned before, Becky is a beautiful and charming woman. She uses her charms to deceive people. Though she is not rich, Becky always wears expensive jewelry and best dresses. She often gets many gifts from her admirers. General Tufto is one of her admirers. He gives Becky many presents. ... the General, her slave and worshipper, had made her many very handsome presents, in the shape of cashmere shawls bought at the auction of a French general’s lady, and numerous tributes from the jewelers’ shops, all of which betokened her admirer’s taste and wealth 294. When she thinks that the time has come for her to enter the London Court, she needs somebody to take care of her. She needs someone who can help her finance and her arrival to the court. She knows that she cannot depend on Rawdon anymore because he cannot adapt easily with the society. One day, when Lord Steyne visits the Crawleys for playing cards with Rawdon, Becky asks him to be her “sheepdog” 378. She uses the term sheepdog so Rawdon will not be suspicious. She does not mean that she needs a literary dog. Sheepdog or watchdog means a guardian. Becky needs someone to help and present her to the society. As a return, she will do anything that Lord Steyne asks, even committing adultery. She rose up from her sofa, and went and took his coffee-cup out of his hand with a little curtsey. “yes”, she said, “I must get a watchdog. But he 34 won’t bark at you.” And, going into the other drawing-room, she sat down to the piano, and began to sing little French songs in such a charming, thrilling voice that the mollified nobleman speedily followed her into the chamber, and might be seen nodding his head and bowing time over her 380. When she lives in exile, Becky does not have many friends. Thus, when she finally meets her old friend, Amelia, she is very happy. She really needs a friend. To get Emmy’s heart, she even makes false story about the reason why Rawdon leaves her. She says that she is not guilty and she is as loyal as a wife should be. She tells that Lady Jane, Rawdon’s sister-in-law, has poisoned Rawdon’s mind to take Rawdy, their son. By lying that her beloved son is taken away form her and she is not allowed to see him anymore, Becky wins Amelia’s heart. She knows that Amelia is fragile when it deals with a son. Becky knows that Amelia lost her son once 668-9. They are friends once more. Amelia shares her house with Becky. Becky lives and eats well there. Amelia also allows Becky to use her possessions, such as her carriages, jewelry or dresses. Amelia even tolerates Becky to have parties in her house though she is never really comfortable in a party 684-7. Becky also deceives Jos, her old admirer, with the same story. Becky cleverly uses Jos’ old picture that she had. Becky says that she is never apart with the picture and she never forgets him. Jos believes every single of her word. He believes that Becky is really in love with him. Jos is in fact the one who struggle to convince everybody that Becky is a good woman. He often says “I swear to you on the Bible, that she is as innocent as a child” 697. Becky wins his heart. They PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 35 travel together. Whenever Jos gets away, Becky is always at his side. She eventually controls Jos’ life and money.

4.1.3.2 Clever

Becky is a smart girl. In order to be able to live independently, she learns as much as she can in Chiswick Mall. Music and linguistics are considered important for women at that time, therefore she learns music and linguistics which become her strengths. Through her thoughts, the readers may see that she is already able to plan her own life. She determined at any rate to get free from the prison in which she found herself, and now began to act for herself, and for the first time to make connected plans for the future. She took advantage, therefore, of the means of study the place offered her; and as she was a musician and a good linguist, she speedily went through the little course of the study 18. Then, she makes an agreement with Miss Pinkerton to give her recommendation as a governess of Sir Pitt Crawley’s daughters. In Queen’s Crawley, Miss Crawley praises Becky as a smart woman. Through her conversation with Becky, Miss Crawley says “You, my love, are a little paragon – positively a little jewel – You have more brains than half of the shire – if merit had its reward you ought to be a duchess – “104. Another quotation is taken from conversation between Miss Crawley and her servant, Miss Briggs. They are talking about Becky’s refusal on Sir Pitt‘s proposal. Miss Crawley says “Well, Becky would have made a good lady Crawley, after all. She has brains in plenty much more wit in her little finger than you have, my poor 36 dear Briggs, in all your head.” 147. Miss Crawley assumes that even a woman as smart as Becky has also a romantic feeling. She thinks that Becky must be in love with some apothecary or painters. In fact, Becky has already married with Rawdon Crawley, Sir Pitt’s youngest son. So, when Sir Pitt comes to propose her as a wife, she refuses him. Her marriage with Rawdon is not accepted by the Crawleys, especially Miss Crawley. Miss Crawley does not support Rawdon’s finance anymore. In chapter 36, how to live well on nothing a year, Becky shows her intelligence to survive with small amount of money and to face her debts. Thackeray uses Becky’s reaction and mannerism to show her cleverness. She does not panic when she faces the problems. They live happily and comfortably in Paris. Rawdon has already retired from army at that time, so he earns money from gambling with his friends and he is good at it. Apparently, Rawdon’s friends are tired of playing and losing games with him. Becky then uses her charms to entertain her husband’s friends so that they are comfortable and willing to come back for another game. To support Becky’s passion of parties and glamorous life, they owe many people in both Paris and London. They owe the landlord of the hotel, the shop where Becky often buys bracelets and watches, and even to their son’s sitter. It is only because of her name, Mrs. Crawley, that she can still owe to everybody. Indeed, it is because of the Crawleys’ wealth and high social status that the creditors still respect them. So, when they hear Miss Crawley is dying, Becky, Rawdon, and the creditor as well are so excited that her inheritance will be Rawdon’s. They are planning to get back to London. Instead of going to London directly, Becky asks