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Book 3, Chapter 13
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
Silas Wegg continues reading for Noddy Boffin, bringing Mr. Venus along sometimes as Boffin said he could. One such evening, Venus passes a slip of paper to Boffin proposing a secret meeting without Wegg. Boffin comes to see Venus alone at Venus’s taxidermy shop, and Venus tells him all about the plan that he and Wegg had to blackmail Boffin with the will (with Venus placing more of the blame on Wegg for the idea).
Venus’s decision to expose Wegg’s plan is similar to Sophronia’s decision to go against Alfred. While Venus’s motive is a little self-serving—he tries to place the blame for everything on Wegg, minimizing his own involvement—he ultimately understands that it’s wrong to try to manipulate Boffin with blackmail for money.
Themes
Boffin fears that if Venus doesn’t go along with Wegg’s plan, Wegg will just blackmail Boffin for the same amount and keep it all for himself instead of splitting it with Venus. But Venus says he has the will in his own possession. He refuses, however, to burn it or give it to Boffin.
Although Wegg’s greed makes him paranoid, it also dulls his thinking, not realizing that with Venus holding the will, it would be easy for Venus to betray him. Venus’s refusal to turn over the will to Boffin suggests that, while Venus may be technically doing the right thing, a part of him is also looking out for himself.
Themes
Just then, Wegg arrives to see Venus. Boffin hides behind a taxidermy alligator so that he can overhear everything. Venus encourages Wegg to boast and take credit for the blackmailing plan. When Wegg finally leaves, Boffin fumes to Venus about what Wegg is planning. Boffin makes Venus promise to do what he can to help Boffin and not to take any further steps in Wegg’s plan. On Boffin’s way home, Sophronia runs into him in her carriage and tells him to come with her because she has serious news.
Although Venus and Boffin play a trick on Wegg to get him to reveal his plan, ultimately, it is Wegg’s own greed that causes him to confess to the crime he’s planning. This passage again suggests that Venus is a conflicted character, doing right by Boffin even as he tries to throw Wegg under the bus to avoid blame on himself.
Themes
