Her journey is often juxtaposed with her friend Amelia Sedley , a kind but naive woman from a wealthy family whose fortunes decline.

Many literary critics argued that by making Becky Sharp too sympathetic, the film stripped the story of its satirical bite.

Reese Witherspoon as Becky Sharp, with a supporting cast including James Purefoy, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Jim Broadbent. Plot & Themes

Some felt the "softening" of Becky Sharp’s character stripped the story of its satirical bite, arguing that Reese Witherspoon’s performance was too "modern" for the setting.