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Book 3, Chapter 4
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
Rumors have been spreading that Boffin is involved in shady business. Bella gets back from the anniversary party and finds Boffin and Henerietty in the sitting room, having a conversation with Rokesmith about his salary. In exchange for a higher salary, Boffin wants Rokesmith to be available during almost all hours of the day. Rokesmith timidly agrees, but afterwards, Henerietty scolds Boffin for being too strict with Rokesmith.
Boffin’s time in the spotlight of high society is brief, as people turn from being fascinated by him to spreading rumors about him, showing how fickle upper-class London society is. On the other hand, however, Boffin’s behavior in this passage seems a little different from usual, as the man who was previously comically accommodating to Wegg about his work now sets strict rules for Rokesmith.
Themes
When Rokesmith is gone and Boffin and Henerietty are alone with Bella, Boffin compliments Bella on how she is showing good judgement by holding out for a husband with money. But Bella herself doesn’t like how Boffin has changed recently to become stingier. Bella often goes on walks with the Boffins and while they used to delight in various sights, now Boffin is more single-minded: he likes to go to bookshops and buy books about the lives of “Misers.” He never seems to actually read the books; he just likes collecting them.
Boffin’s new behavior seems to be similar to Bella’s own new fascination with money. The part about him collecting books about misers is a joke—just as a miser collects money without using it, Boffin collects books about misers without even knowing how to read them. Boffin’s inability to take joy in the sights that used to please him is yet another sign of how greed has made his life worse—and Bella notices.
Themes
Meanwhile, Sophronia has learned about how much influence Bella has with the Boffins. Bella, however, is less trusting than Georgiana and harder to manipulate, even as Sophronia eagerly tries to flatter Bella. Bella does open up a little, admitting to Sophronia that feels like she might be heartless, given the way she puts money before love. Sophronia is surprised when Bella mentions Rokesmith’s proposal to her but promises to keep it a secret.
Despite seemingly thinking better of her plan to scam Georgiana, Sophronia has not totally let go of her old ways as she seems to consider scamming Bella. Still, ultimately, Sophronia gives up this plan before it gets started. Seeing Bella’s concerns about putting wealth first seems to move Sophronia, who got tricked into a bad marriage by following this same impulse.
Themes
As days go by, it continues to be awkward whenever Bella and Rokesmith are around each other. Bella looks down on Rokesmith for “selling his very nature” to Boffin, although she supposes she might do something similar in Rokesmith’s position. One day, Boffin comes to Rokesmith and says he needs to cut back on expenses. He has decided he wants to hold on to the money he has, perhaps inspired by some of the misers in the books he owns. Rokesmith tries to persuade Boffin that misers live miserable lives, but Boffin finds them admirable. Bella sees Henerietty’s face during this conversation and notices that she looks hurt.
Bella continues to have some negative qualities—like looking down on Rokesmith for accepting a higher-paying job even though she herself is seeking wealth—but she also continues to have the self-awareness to see her flaws. Witnessing Boffin’s slow transformation into a miser also helps Bella to see the dangers of being greedy. Boffin and Henerietty had a happy marriage because it wasn’t based on money, and the more Boffin cares about money, the more this seems to affect Henerietty. The novel shows how greed can destroy relationships.
Themes
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