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Book 2, Chapter 2
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
Mr. Veneering begins to feel that “Britannia” wants him in Parliament. He wants the support of his friends, so he starts with Twemlow, calling him his “dearest and oldest” friend, which Twemlow is glad to hear. Veneering tries to convince a reluctant Twemlow to get his cousin, Lord Snigsworth, to support Veneering’s ambitions, but this is one thing Twemlow won’t do. Still, Twemlow agrees to go to a social club and talk positively about Veneering.
The more time Mr. Veneering spends as a member of the upper class, the more he starts to emulate the excessive patriotism of people like Mr. Podsnap. Once again, however, this passage is satirical, suggesting that Mr. Veneering’s sudden patriotism (as well as his sudden compliments toward Twemlow) are really just about finding a way to please his own growing ego.
Themes
Veneering then goes to Podsnap to ask him for help too. Podsnap promise to go socialize with some influential people and mention Veneering. Mrs. Veneering also gets involved, going to see Lady Tippins about Mr. Veneering’s campaign. Lady Tippins enjoys helping, which for her mostly means taking cabs around the city on social calls.
Just as Veneering gets into politics for selfish reasons, his friends and acquaintances help him for equally selfish reasons. All of the “help” that Podsnap and Lady Tippins do is really just an excuse for them to spend their time socializing, with Veneering’s campaign being an afterthought.
Themes
Veneering’s friends all enjoy working for him, which gives them a reason to socialize. When Veneering finally makes the House of Commons, it feels inevitable. He gathers his friends for a dinner and gives a speech where he compares Britain to a ship sailing the seas. Mrs. Veneering thinks that because her baby smiled in a strange way the previous night, it was a sign from “the Fairies” that Mr. Veneering was destined to win the election.
Although Veneering isn’t very serious about his campaign and barely understands the issues, he gets elected anyway. This is a satirical commentary on the shallowness of politics in Britain, where knowing the right people and having them go out to socialize in the right places is more important than actually understanding the people someone ostensibly represents in government.
Themes
