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Vanity Fair · Character

John Sedley

A once-prosperous London merchant whose comfortable world of turtle dinners and champagne collapses into ruin, embittering the family he adored.

supporting

Also known as old John Sedley, Mr. Sedley, Good old John Sedley

First appearance: ii in which miss sharp and miss sedley prepare to open the campaign

As a supporting figure in Vanity Fair, John Sedley is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The jovial father who teases Joseph and welcomes Rebecca into the family home.
In the storyRebecca Is in Presence of the EnemyOpen this moment free

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In Rebecca Is in Presence of the Enemy: The jovial father who teases Joseph and welcomes Rebecca into the family home. Later, in The Green Silk Purse: Warns his wife about Rebecca's designs on Joseph; dismisses…

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The fuller portrait of John Sedley sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See John Sedley in ii in which miss sharp and miss sedley prepare to open the campaign

Character Web

28 connections

A slice of how John Sedley sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

SASamboMEMr. EavesLGLady GauntMHMr. HodsonPCPitt CrawleyJSJohn Sedley

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Social climbers and soldiers
  • Minor characters and servants

+23 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

SetupAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

This is the dramatic climax because it marks the psychological breaking point for Jos Sedley, whose cowardice…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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In the story

John Sedley appears across 17 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for John Sedley unlock in the free preview.

See John Sedley in ii in which miss sharp and miss sedley prepare to open the campaign