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Book 2, Chapter 16
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
It’s a foggy morning in London at Pubsey and Co (or perhaps the fog is just soot and pollution), where Riah is exiting. He goes out through the fog until he reaches the door of his master, Fledgeby, where he knocks. Fledgeby is irritable, so Riah just drops off some books, as instructed, then Fledgeby goes back to sleep. Riah waits for Fledgeby to get up again. When he wakes, Fledgeby makes rude comments to Riah about Jewish people being greedy.
The fog, which is commonly associated with London, represents uncertainty as the third book begins, but the black sooty nature of it (implying it might be pollution instead of weather) suggests corruption. There are many mysteries, like where Lizzie is and if John will choose to reveal his true identity. As this passage shows, nothing Riah does will ever be good enough to please Fledgeby, showing how prejudice is irrational.
Themes
Literary Devices
Fledgeby and Riah are interrupted when Alfred stops by for a visit. Fledgeby and Alfred go to talk without Riah. Alfred tells Fledgeby that “the game’s up”—Mr. Podsnap and Mrs. Podsnap learned about their plan to get Georgiana’s fortune. Fledgeby vows vengeance on whoever’s responsible for exposing them. Alfred says that Sophronia seemed equally surprised and upset to learn that their scheme was exposed.
Alfred doesn’t realize that is own wife, Sophronia, is the one who stopped their scheme to get money from Georgiana. When Alfred says “the game’s up,” this shows how he treats Georgiana and her potential marriage as a game he has to win to make money, not considering the repercussions that she’ll have to live with.
Themes
After Alfred leaves, Fledgeby goes back to Riah and starts asking him questions about Lizzie’s disappearance. He eventually gets Riah to admit that he played a role in helping Lizzie disappear, but it was only at her wishes and for her own benefit. Fledgeby sends Riah away. When he’s alone, Fledgeby talks to himself, congratulating himself on a scheme he’s about to pull off that will make a fool of Riah.
Riah has been nothing but a loyal worker for Fledgeby, and yet Fledgeby remains obsessed with tearing him down. This passage shows how prejudice makes it extremely difficult for those on the margins of society, like Jewish Riah, to ever feel secure or enjoy success.
Themes
