Previous
Book 3, Chapter 11
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
Over breakfast, Alfred and Sophronia Lammle each accuse the other of failing to bring any new money into their home. Alfred suggests that perhaps they should consider borrowing money from someone to get through their current financial rough patch—otherwise, they’ll be forced to sell their possessions at a public auction to pay off their debts. Boffin would’ve been a likely candidate for a loan, but he’s been acting miserly lately.
Although Alfred and Sophronia had previously achieved a sort of truce in a marriage that neither of them wanted, a lack of money brings out their worst qualities. While the novel certainly doesn’t suggest that more money makes someone a better person, it does show how a lack of money (and the ensuing desperation) can bring out the worst, most self-interested qualities in people.
Themes
Sophronia comes up with a plan to tell Boffin that she has suspicions about Rokesmith’s conduct as his secretary. Alfred takes up the plan, suggesting that if they win Boffin’s trust by (falsely) exposing Rokesmith as a fraud, perhaps Alfred could become the new secretary. Alfred wonders if it’s also possible to oust Bella, but Sophronia feels that Bella has too strong a hold on the Boffins.
Although Sophronia secretly gave up on their plan to trick Georgiana, her actions in this passage show that she has few qualms about tricking people she knows less well, like Rokesmith. She does, however, stick up for Bella, whom she’s spoken with, trying to lead Alfred away from her by saying she’s too difficult. Sophronia is a morally gray character, with some stirrings of a conscience.
Themes
Just then, Fledgeby drops by for a visit. Before letting him in, Alfred tells Sophronia that they should use their influence to try to get Fledgeby to manipulate Riah, whom they believe is the creditor controlling their debts. They don’t realize that Fledgeby already controls Riah and that Fledgeby himself is ultimately the one in control of the debts. They speak with Fledgeby, and he leaves at once, not to offer leniency on the Lammles’ debts but instead to tell Riah to call several debts in, including the Lammles’ debt, which will ruin them financially.
Fledgeby’s betrayal of Alfred and Sophronia (by calling in their debt, financially ruining them) is a kind of poetic justice. Alfred and Sophronia first got involved with him while attempting to manipulate him for a scheme, but in the end, they are the ones who face the consequences. Still, part of Fledgeby’s betrayal is also a little tragic, given that Sophronia seemed to be on the verge of turning over a new leaf. While the novel contains characters who evolve, it also explores how people’s past actions can drag them down and make it difficult for them to change.
Themes
