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Book 3, Chapter 15
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
Bella comes home, and Mr. Wilfer is surprised that she doesn’t have a footman with her. She is about to break the news to him that she’s left the Boffins when suddenly Rokesmith starts coming toward them. Bella goes out to see him alone. Rokesmith repeats his offer of love to Bella, and this time she accepts. Rokesmith goes to tell Mr. Wilfer.
Bella’s return home without a footman symbolizes how, although she has lost a lot by rejecting Boffin’s wealth, she has also regained some independence and the ability to move around on her own. This gives her the confidence to finally accept Rokesmith’s love, not caring any more about the pressure to find a wealthy husband.
Themes
Mr. Wilfer warns Bella that if she accepts Rokesmith’s proposal, she should be ready to live more simply, unlike she did at the Boffins. Bella accepts this. Rokesmith realizes how much Bella is giving up to be with him and is touched. Bella goes to tell Mrs. Wilfer the news, and Mrs. Wilfer says she always feared the Boffins would find some excuse to kick Bella out.
Although Mr. Wilfer supports Bella’s actions, he also wants her to understand their consequences. He may not be a wealthy or respected character, but he is wise about moral issues, which the novel shows is more important. By contrast, Mrs. Wilfer, while far from the worst character in the novel, places more value in shallow things and thinks it must automatically be a bad thing to leave a financially cushy situation.
Themes
As the conversation goes on, Mrs. Wilfer starts to get angry about Bella’s decision to reject the nice life she had at the Boffins’. Lavinia takes Bella’s side, but Mrs. Wilfer stays firm. Afterwards, Mr. Wilfer tries to reassure Bella, saying that Lavinia and Mrs. Wilfer will always find reasons to disagree with each other. He reassures her that she has his support in her decision.
Although Lavinia and Bella are sometimes at odds with each other, when it comes down to it, Lavinia is a fierce defender of Bella and more similar to her than she is to Mrs. Wilfer. The split between Mrs. Wilfer and Bella shows that sometimes even making the right decision can come with negative consequences.
Themes
