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Book 1, Chapter 12
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Our Mutual Friend, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Society, Class, and Character
Greed and Corruption
Marriage, Adoption, and Family
Education vs. Real-World Experience
Misfits and Outcasts
Summary
Analysis
The Inspector, Mortimer, and Eugene wait in Miss Abbey’s tavern for the right moment to arrest Gaffer. The Inspector says he’s suspected Roger and Gaffer of being up to something for a while. Eugene asks about Charley, and the Inspector says he no longer lives with Gaffer. The Inspector also promises not to involve Lizzie if possible.
Although Gaffer is a flawed character, and the novel has implied that he’s committed some illegal actions, there is no evidence (other than Roger’s story) that he’s committed a murder. The Inspector believes the story against Gaffer because it confirms his preconceived ideas, showing how lower-class people in London suffer from prejudice.
Themes
As the Inspector prepares to go apprehend Gaffer, Mortimer and Eugene come along to watch. Eugene goes to watch Lizzie through the window, then falls back to a hiding place with Mortimer. They both feel guilty about what is about to happen to Lizzie’s father. When little bugs swarm and bite them, they feel the bugs are taking vengeance on them for what they’re doing.
Eugene and Mortimer see themselves at first as impartial observers who are just passing along Roger’s message. But again, when they see Lizzie and realize the consequences of a (potentially false) accusation against Gaffer, they realize that they are more than just observers, and the bugs show how even nature seems to be punishing them.
Themes
When it gets close to dawn, Roger comes over to meet them by the water. He and the Inspector fear that maybe Gaffer is on to them and hiding somewhere. Roger decides to go out in his own boat to look for Gaffer. Mortimer and Eugene go back to Miss Abbey’s tavern, hoping maybe Roger’s boat will capsize. When Roger gets back, he announces that he couldn’t find Gaffer, but he found Gaffer’s boat, empty and adrift.
Mortimer and Eugene continue to see the consequences of them helping Roger, hoping that perhaps a natural force, like the river capsizing Roger’s boat, will allow them to wash their hands of this and move on. Gaffer’s empty boat is yet another cliffhanger ending to a chapter. The empty boat suggests Gaffer is ultimately not the murderer that they are looking for: he is, perhaps, a victim.
Themes
