# Miss Briggs — Vanity Fair character guide

> Miss Briggs in Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** poor Briggs, Briggs, honest Miss Briggs, the gentle Briggs

**First appearance:** 0014-xiv-miss-crawley-at-home

## Who they are

Miss Crawley's gentle, tearful companion, still cherishing a lock of yellow hair from a writing-master twenty-four years dead.

## Relationships

### [Becky Sharp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters/becky_sharp)

_psychological_

Becky manipulates the gullible Miss Briggs, her companion, into serving her schemes and later abandons her without remorse.

### [Amelia Sedley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters/amelia_sedley)

_friendship_

Amelia treats the kindly but simple Miss Briggs with genuine warmth and sympathy, unlike Becky's exploitation.

### [Amelia Sedley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters/amelia_sedley)

_friendship_

Amelia treats the kindly but simple Miss Briggs with genuine warmth and sympathy, unlike Becky's exploitation.

### [Becky Sharp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters/becky_sharp)

_psychological_

Becky manipulates the gullible Miss Briggs, her companion, into serving her schemes and later abandons her without remorse.

### [Amelia Sedley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters/amelia_sedley)

_friendship_

Amelia treats the kindly but simple Miss Briggs with genuine warmth and sympathy, unlike Becky's exploitation.

### [Becky Sharp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters/becky_sharp)

_psychological_

Becky manipulates the gullible Miss Briggs, her companion, into serving her schemes and later abandons her without remorse.

## In the story

### [Miss Crawley at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xiv-miss-crawley-at-home)

Though not formally dismissed, her role as Miss Crawley's companion has become a sinecure, and she is largely ignored in favor of Becky.

### [XV: In Which Rebecca's Husband Appears for a Short Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xv-in-which-rebecca-s-husband-appears-for-a-short-time)

Eavesdrops on Sir Pitt's proposal and reports it to Miss Crawley.

### [Chapter XVI: The Letter on the Pincushion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xvi-the-letter-on-the-pincushion)

Receives Rebecca's letter and becomes the first confidante of the news.

### [Miss Crawley at Nurse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xix-miss-crawley-at-nurse)

The companion, won over by Mrs. Bute's flattery and promises, becomes an ally in the household.

### [In Which All the Principal Personages Think Fit to Leave Brighton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxv-in-which-all-the-principal-personages-think-fit-to-leave-brighton)

Reconciles with Rebecca after Mrs. Bute's departure and shares information about Miss Crawley.

### [In Which Miss Crawley’s Relations Are Very Anxious About Her](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxiii-in-which-miss-crawley-s-relations-are-very-anxious-about-her)

Miss Crawley's companion, she bears the brunt of her employer's sarcasm and is accused of being an accomplice to Becky.

### [XL: In Which Becky Is Recognized by the Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xl-in-which-becky-is-recognized-by-the-family)

After leaving Miss Crawley's service, she seeks employment and is taken in by Becky, eventually lending money to Rawdon.

### [XLIV: A Roundabout Chapter Between London and Hampshire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xliv-a-roundabout-chapter-between-london-and-hampshire)

Assists with the renovation of Sir Pitt's house and is sent to sleep with the maid when Sir Pitt visits.

### [In Which the Reader Is Introduced to the Very Best of Company](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xlviii-in-which-the-reader-is-introduced-to-the-very-best-of-company)

Becky's companion; receives a new black silk gown and a kiss from Becky as a gift.

### [In Which Lord Steyne Shows Himself in a Most Amiable Light](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lii-in-which-lord-steyne-shows-himself-in-a-most-amiable-light)

Gratefully accepts the housekeeper position at Gauntly Hall; reveals to Lord Steyne the true state of her finances, unwittingly exposing Becky's deception.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters/miss_briggs
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters