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Book 3, Chapter 8
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
Reverend Milvey leads the prayer at Betty’s funeral, where Sloppy is attending and still has mixed feelings about Betty running away from him. He’s sad but knows she wanted to help. Lizzie mentions that she was only able to carry out Betty’s wishes with the help of Riah. Mrs. Milvey fears that the Jewish Riah will try to convert Lizzie, but Lizzie says the subject of religion doesn’t come up.
This passage, which confirms that Betty did indeed die in the previous chapter, once again shows how Dickens successfully switches between tones, turning Betty’s slightly comic adventures in the previous chapter into something heroic and tragic. This chapter also shows how anti-Jewish sentiment isn’t limited to Fledgeby—even Mrs. Milvey has prejudices about Riah.
Themes
Meanwhile, Bella and Rokesmith observe Lizzie from afar. They agree that Lizzie seems beautiful but sad. Rokesmith notes that just as Bella is fascinated by Lizzie, Lizzie seems to be fascinated with Bella, and so perhaps if they talked alone, Lizzie would open up to Bella. Bella tells Rokesmith about another concern she’s had lately: that accumulating so much wealth has begun to spoil Boffin’s personality. Rokesmith admits that Boffin has changed lately.
In many ways, Lizzie and Bella are similar characters, both being beautiful and virtuous but coming from an impoverished background. For this reason, it makes sense that the two of them might find common ground. Bella’s ability to communicate her concerns about Boffin to Rokesmith also shows her growth as a character, as she stops looking down on Rokesmith for his job and instead sees him as a potential ally who understands that there are more important things in life than money.
Themes
Bella and Rokesmith agree that Henerietty remains virtuous, and they feel bad about how Boffin’s transformation seems to hurt her. Bella and Rokesmith go for a walk, and when they return, Lizzie and Bella have some time alone by the fireside. Lizzie tells Bella about how she lives alone and has a brother, Charley, that she doesn’t get along with anymore. The two of them realize they each have a connection to John Harmon’s death—Bella was supposed to marry him, and Lizzie’s father, Gaffer, found the body.
Although Bella sometimes gets led astray by greed, she and Lizzie are ultimately the moral center of the novel. Their approval of Henerietty confirms that she is virtuous and that Boffin’s miserly transformation is corrupting him, similar to how Charley has begun to reject his own past and become more arrogant like Headstone. Once again, the “death” of John Harmon provides a point of connection for people of different backgrounds in London, perhaps suggesting that death is one of the things that brings people together (just as Betty’s funeral also does).
Themes
Lizzie and Bella talk about their admirers and how Lizzie is constantly afraid of seeing Headstone again. Lizzie says there’s a different man that she likes, but he clearly comes from a higher status than her (Eugene). Bella says she wishes she were as deserving of love as Lizzie, but Lizzie reassures Bella that she has good qualities too. Lizzie suspects that Bella likes someone but isn’t willing to admit it yet. Lizzie and Bella pledge to be friends.
Continuing the parallels between Lizzie and Bella, each of them has a man that they could potentially love, but each has chosen to avoid him, believing that it’ll be for the best for everyone. Their character growth involves holding on to the selfless qualities they have while also realizing that it isn’t selfish to seek out love, particularly when it’s not about money.
Themes
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Bella leaves Lizzie to go back to Rokesmith. She talks about how she feels a lot has happened over the course of just a single day. Rokesmith continues to look at Bella longingly as they leave the funeral.
Rokesmith/John’s look toward Bella as they leave the funeral shows that he still loves her even after she rejected him. This shows his loyalty and also how he is unlike Headstone, who has been driven mad by Lizzie’s rejection.
Themes
