Chapter 5 Summary

The chapter opens with William Dobbin, a boy attending Dr. Swishtail's school for young men. Dobbin's father is a grocer, and Dobbin's tuition is paid for in groceries rather than cash. At the start of this chapter, Dobbin is taunted by the other boys because of this.

Cuff, the most popular boy at school, calls Dobbin "Figs" and tries to fight Dobbin in the schoolyard. When Dobbin defends himself, Cuff leaves him alone from that time on. Dobbin sees Cuff beating a smaller child, little Osborne, and Dobbin proceeds to defeat Cuff in a great fight. The narrator shows that the smaller child is George Sedley Osborne, who writes a letter home and mentions his love for Amelia. In gratitude for saving him in the beating, George encourages his family to shop at Dobbin's father's store. Dobbin also enjoys increased popularity at school...