Our Mutual Friend: Analysis of Major Characters
"Our Mutual Friend: Analysis of Major Characters" explores the dynamic and intricate relationships between a diverse cast of characters in Charles Dickens' final novel. At the center is John Harmon, who returns to England under a new identity after being nearly murdered. He grapples with his feelings for Bella Wilfer, who initially appears mercenary but ultimately grows to value love over wealth. Nicodemus Boffin, a good-hearted clerk, inherits Harmon’s fortune and undergoes a transformation influenced by greed, showcasing the corrupting power of money. Other notable characters include the ill-fated Lizzie Hexam, who navigates societal challenges and personal loss, and the scheming Lammles, whose pursuit of wealth leads to their downfall. The character interactions reveal themes of love, identity, and social class, illuminating the moral complexities of Victorian society. The analysis also touches on the importance of redemption, as characters like Mr. Venus and Pleasant Riderhood evolve through their experiences. This examination provides insights into Dickens' critique of human nature and the societal pressures of his time.
Our Mutual Friend: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Charles Dickens
First published: serial, 1864–1865; book, 1865
Genre: Novel
Locale: London, England
Plot: Domestic realism
Time: Mid-nineteenth century
John Harmon, also known as Julius Handford and John Rokesmith. After his father's death, he returns to England from South Africa, where he has lived for some years. On his arrival, George Radfoot, a fellow passenger on the homeward voyage, lures him into a waterfront inn, drugs him, robs him, and throws him into the Thames. Revived by the cold water, Harmon swims to shore. He takes the name of Julius Handford. Meanwhile, Radfoot has quarreled with a confederate, who murders him and throws his body into the river. When the body, wearing Harmon's clothes, is found, the dead man is identified as John Harmon. Discovering in the meantime that Bella Wilfer, whom he is supposed to marry according to the terms of his father's will, is a mercenary woman, Harmon decides to keep his identity a secret. As John Rokesmith, he becomes the secretary to the man who has inherited his father's fortune and takes lodgings in the Wilfer home. When Bella finally realizes that love is more important than money, he marries her. After a year of happiness, he reveals his true identity and accepts his inheritance.
Nicodemus Boffin, also called Noddy and The Golden Dust-man, the illiterate, good-hearted confidential clerk who inherits the Harmon fortune after John Harmon's supposed death. When Mrs. Boffin learns John Rokesmith's true identity, her husband, at Harmon's request, agrees to keep the secret. Also at Harmon's suggestion, Boffin behaves with increasing evidence of greed until Bella Wilfer sees what avarice can lead to. Pestered by a blackmailer over the will, he finally shows that the fortune is really his and then generously hands it over to Harmon.
Henrietta Boffin, his cheerful, simple, affectionate wife, a childless woman who lavishes love on everyone around her.
Bella Wilfer, the young woman John Harmon is directed to marry. A beautiful girl from a poor home, she is taken in by the Boffins, who try to give her the advantages she would have enjoyed as Harmon's wife. In time, her selfishness is overcome by her natural affections. She makes Harmon a fine wife and bears him a child.
Silas Wegg, a mean-spirited ballad-monger and fruit seller, an ugly person whom illiterate Boffin hires to read to him. A prying rascal, he discovers a will in which the elder Harmon bequeathed his fortune to the Crown. He tries to blackmail Boffin, but he is foiled and tossed out into a garbage cart.
Mr. Venus, a dusty, good-willed taxidermist. He becomes Wegg's accomplice in the scheme to blackmail Boffin, but he later repents, reveals the whole plot, and wins the heart of Pleasant Riderhood.
Mortimer Lightwood, a bright, cautious solicitor who handles Boffin's affairs and reports on the developments of the Harmon case.
Eugene Wrayburn, his reckless, intelligent, and sprightly partner, who falls in love with Lizzie Hexam, the daughter of a Thames riverman. When she rejects him, he follows her to the country and is nearly murdered by a rival. Lizzie marries him finally and nurses him back to health.
Lizzie Hexam, a lovely, courageous, illiterate young woman. Oppressed by her father's death, her brother's rejection of her and the unwelcome courtship of a half-demented, jealous suitor, she moves out of London and finds work in a paper mill. In the end, she marries Eugene Wrayburn, whom she nurses back to health after the young barrister has been injured in a murderous attack made by his rival.
Charlie Hexam, her selfish brother, a young man who rejects his father, his sister, and his schoolmaster in his cold-hearted effort to gain “respectability.”
Gaffer Hexam, Lizzie's crude father, the riverman who pulls John Harmon's supposed body out of the Thames. After he dies in an accident, he is slandered by his ex-partner, who accuses him of Harmon's murder.
Bradley Headstone, a schoolmaster, a pompous man who falls insanely in love with Lizzie, tries to murder Eugene Wrayburn, and takes Rogue Riderhood to his watery death.
Roger Riderhood, nicknamed Rogue, a brutal man who for the sake of the reward accuses Gaffer Hexam of John Harmon's murder. Later, he becomes Bradley Headstone's accomplice in the attempted murder of Eugene Wrayburn. He and Headstone drown during a scuffle.
Pleasant Riderhood, Rogue Riderhood's daughter, an unlicensed pawnbroker and Mr. Venus' sweetheart, whom she marries after rejecting him a number of times.
Fanny Cleaver, called Jenny Wren, Lizzie Hexam's friend, a shrewd, pretty, but physically disabled maker of dolls' dresses.
M. Cleaver, called Mr. Dolls, Fanny's spiritless, drunken father.
Mr. Riah, an old, generous-hearted Jew, the friend of Fanny Cleaver and Lizzie Hexam.
Alfred Lammle and Sophronia Lammle, two charming scoundrels who marry for money, learn that neither has any, and decide to prey on prominent members of society. They are forced to go abroad when their debts become pressing.
John Podsnap, a leader of society and a pompous and smug epitome of Philistinism.
Mrs. Podsnap, his majestic wife, the female counterpart of her husband.
Georgiana Podsnap, their warm, shy, silly daughter, the prey of the Lammles.
Mr. Fledgeby, whom his friends call Fascination Fledgeby behind his back, Georgiana's suitor. A mean, stupid, miserly dandy, he is encouraged in his social pretensions by the predatory Lammles. He hides his sharp business practices under a fictitious money brokerage firm, Pubsey and Co. Mr. Riah is his business agent.
Hamilton Veneering and Anastatia Veneering, two shallow social climbers who have a new home, new furniture, new friends, a new baby. A former clerk in the firm of Chicksey and Stabbles, he is now a partner. He spends money liberally in order to get himself elected to Parliament.
Mrs. Wilfer, Bella Wilfer's austere, shrewish mother.
Reginald Wilfer, nicknamed The Cherub, Bella's affectionate, seedy, cherubic father.
Lavinia Wilfer, their younger daughter, a sharp, spirited girl.
George Sampson, Lavinia Wilfer's dull suitor, over whom she exercises tight control.
Melvin Twemlow, a poor but “connected” friend of the Veneerings. Though he lives over a livery stable, he is accepted in society because he is Lord Snigsworth's first cousin.
Betty Higden, an old, impoverished independent person who cares for displaced children; she is a friend of the Boffins.
Emma Peecher, a pedantic, warm, primitive young woman in love with Bradley Headstone.
Lady Tippins, a foolish woman, a friend of the Veneerings, who keeps a list of her nonexistent lovers.
Mr. Sloppy, a foundling taken in by Betty Higden. He is adopted by the Boffins.
The Reverend Frank Milney, the humble young curate who marries Lizzie Hexam and Eugene Wrayburn.
Mrs. Margaretta Milney, his wife, a woman of practical mind and brisk energy.
Mrs. Sprodgkin, one of Mr. Milney's parishioners. She makes his life miserable by her constant questions about who begot whom and other matters in the Bible.
Young Blight, Mortimer Lightwood's office boy.