# Joseph Sedley — Vanity Fair character guide > Joseph Sedley in Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Joseph, Mr. Sedley, Joe, Jos, old Sedley **First appearance:** 0002-ii-in-which-miss-sharp-and-miss-sedley-prepare-to-open-the-campaign ## Snapshot A pompous, self-satisfied East India collector and Amelia's elder brother, Joseph Sedley is a vain bachelor destined to be prey to any determined woman. ## Who they are Joseph returns from Boggley Wollah a wealthy, liver-afflicted nabob who fancies himself a man about town and relishes telling his Indian stories. Vain, easily flattered, and timid before women, he becomes the first target of Becky's matrimonial ambitions during her visit to Russell Square. His comic vulnerability — the family's fear that 'the first woman who fishes for him, hooks him' — makes him a recurring pawn in the novel's marriage market. ## Relationships ### [Amelia Sedley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters/amelia_sedley) _family_ Amelia is Joseph's indulgent younger sister, often trying to manage his indecisiveness and protect his reputation. ### [Becky Sharp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters/becky_sharp) _romantic_ Becky flirts with and nearly marries the wealthy but cowardly Joseph Sedley for his fortune, later rekindling his interest. ### [William Dobbin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters/william_dobbin) _friendship_ Dobbin is a patient friend to the vain and lazy Joseph, often helping him out of social and financial scrapes. ### [Becky Sharp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters/becky_sharp) _romantic_ Becky flirts with and nearly marries the wealthy but cowardly Joseph Sedley for his fortune, later rekindling his interest. ### [Amelia Sedley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters/amelia_sedley) _family_ Amelia is Joseph's indulgent younger sister, often trying to manage his indecisiveness and protect his reputation. ### [Amelia Sedley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters/amelia_sedley) _family_ Amelia is Joseph's indulgent younger sister, often trying to manage his indecisiveness and protect his reputation. ### [Becky Sharp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters/becky_sharp) _romantic_ Becky flirts with and nearly marries the wealthy but cowardly Joseph Sedley for his fortune, later rekindling his interest. ### [William Dobbin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters/william_dobbin) _friendship_ Dobbin is a patient friend to the vain and lazy Joseph, often helping him out of social and financial scrapes. ### [William Dobbin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters/william_dobbin) _friendship_ Dobbin is a patient friend to the vain and lazy Joseph, often helping him out of social and financial scrapes. ## In the story ### [In Which Miss Sharp and Miss Sedley Prepare to Open the Campaign](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/ii-in-which-miss-sharp-and-miss-sedley-prepare-to-open-the-campaign) Mentioned as Amelia's unmarried brother; becomes Rebecca's target for marriage. ### [Rebecca Is in Presence of the Enemy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/iii-rebecca-is-in-presence-of-the-enemy) A stout, vain, and shy bachelor who is easily flustered by Rebecca's attention and compliments. ### [The Green Silk Purse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/iv-the-green-silk-purse) Returns after his panic; is drawn into a flirtation with Rebecca; resolves to propose at Vauxhall. ### [Dobbin of Ours](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/v-dobbin-of-ours) At dinner, tells tiger-hunting stories, helps Rebecca to food, drinks heavily, and is noted by Osborne as 'priming himself' for the Vauxhall outing. ### [Vauxhall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/vi-vauxhall) Expected to propose to Rebecca at Vauxhall, but after a heavy supper he falls ill and flees to Cheltenham, sending a letter of apology and effectively ending the courtship. ### [XII: Quite a Sentimental Chapter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xii-quite-a-sentimental-chapter) Mentioned as being away at Cheltenham, besieged by an Irish widow, leaving Amelia alone. ### [Who Played on the Piano Captain Dobbin Bought](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xviii-who-played-on-the-piano-captain-dobbin-bought) Not directly mentioned in this excerpt, but his earlier role in the family's story is implied through the general context of the Sedley downfall. ### [In Which Captain Dobbin Acts as the Messenger of Hymen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xx-in-which-captain-dobbin-acts-as-the-messenger-of-hymen) Mentioned in the context of his past love-passages with Rebecca Sharp and his escape from her. ### [A Marriage and Part of a Honeymoon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxii-a-marriage-and-part-of-a-honeymoon) Visits Brighton in grand style; flirts with maidservants and plays billiards, affecting a military air. ### [Between London and Chatham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxvi-between-london-and-chatham) Dines with George and Dobbin, enjoys turtle soup, and later sleeps off the meal before returning to his lodgings. ### [In Which Amelia Joins Her Regiment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxvii-in-which-amelia-joins-her-regiment) Arrives in his fine carriage, is cordial to Dobbin, and later tells his tiger-hunt story at the mess and soirée. ### [In Which Amelia Invades the Low Countries](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxviii-in-which-amelia-invades-the-low-countries) Escorts Amelia and Mrs. O'Dowd; grows a mustache and adopts military airs; suffers seasickness. ### [Brussels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxix-brussels) Hires a carriage and horses, drives about Brussels with Amelia, and is flustered by the presence of high-ranking officers. ### [The Girl I Left Behind Me](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxx-the-girl-i-left-behind-me) Sleeps through the early morning bugles; is roused by Dobbin for a farewell handshake. ### [In Which Jos Sedley Takes Care of His Sister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxi-in-which-jos-sedley-takes-care-of-his-sister) Takes charge of the household in Brussels, enjoys George's absence, and is susceptible to Rebecca's flattery. ### [In Which Jos Takes Flight, and the War Is Brought to a Close](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxii-in-which-jos-takes-flight-and-the-war-is-brought-to-a-close) Panicked and desperate to flee Brussels, Jos is manipulated by Rebecca into buying her horses at a high price, revealing his cowardice and selfishness. ### [Widow and Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxv-widow-and-mother) Mentioned as a potential source of financial aid for Amelia, though his assistance is uncertain. ### [A Family in a Very Small Way](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxviii-a-family-in-a-very-small-way) Returns to India after Brussels, boasts about his supposed role at Waterloo, and is called 'Waterloo Sedley' in Calcutta. ### [Contains a Vulgar Incident](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/l-contains-a-vulgar-incident) Amelia's brother, whose annuity to the family has been sold by their father. ### [Georgy Is Made a Gentleman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lvi-georgy-is-made-a-gentleman) Accompanies Dobbin to visit Georgy, described as fat with mustachios. ### [Eothen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lvii-eothen) Returns to England on the same ship as Dobbin, carrying letters from Amelia that reveal she is not marrying. ### [LVIII: Our Friend the Major](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lviii-our-friend-the-major) Returned from India on the same ship as Dobbin; his arrival is announced to the family. ### [The Old Piano](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lix-the-old-piano) Returns from India in style, buys a smart chariot and horses, and reunites with his father and sister, promising to support them. ### [Returns to the Genteel World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lx-returns-to-the-genteel-world) Leads a life of dignified otiosity, member of the Oriental Club, brings home Indian gentlemen to dine, and becomes a staunch Tory after going to Court. ### [In Which Two Lights Are Put Out](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lxi-in-which-two-lights-are-put-out) Retreats to the Star and Garter after his father's death, avoiding the house. ### [LXII: Am Rhein](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lxii-am-rhein) Travels on the steamboat with his carriage and courier Kirsch; later climbs to bed at the inn, expressing approval of the town. ### [In Which We Meet an Old Acquaintance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lxiii-in-which-we-meet-an-old-acquaintance) Delighted by the social recognition, writes to his club about the service in Germany, and leads the Countess of Schlusselback in a Polonaise. ### [Full of Business and Pleasure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lxv-full-of-business-and-pleasure) Visits Becky in her garret, is manipulated by her story, and resolves to help her. ### [Amantium Irae](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lxvi-amantium-irae) Resists Dobbin's advice about Becky, asserts his independence, and welcomes Becky into his household. ### [LXVII: Which Contains Births, Marriages, and Deaths](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lxvii-which-contains-births-marriages-and-deaths) Dies at Aix-la-Chapelle after his fortune is lost in speculations; his life insurance is divided between Amelia and Rebecca. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters/joseph_sedley - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters