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Book 3, Chapter 17
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
Roger Riderhood works at his lock on the river. Eugene happens to pass in a rowboat, and he insults Roger for his lack of honesty. Shortly after Eugene passes, Bradley Headstone comes to visit Roger as promised. Roger says he knows that Headstone has been following Eugene, and Headstone admits it. They each talk about how they dislike Eugene. Headstone goes to follow Eugene but says he may come back to the lock to sleep later.
The fourth and final book of the novel begins much like the first one—by the river. The lock becomes a place where several different plotlines of the book intersect, with Eugene riding by Roger, and Headstone coming by after him. Although Eugene taunts Roger confidently, he doesn’t realize that the danger that Headstone poses, foreshadowing that Eugene might get caught with his back turned.
Themes
After Headstone leaves, Roger wonders why Headstone was dressed exactly like him (Roger). He changes his neckerchief to a very noticeable red one to see if Headstone will do the same. When Headstone comes back later that day, Headstone makes a comment about how it would be very bad for a man to fall into the river lock with his hands tied. Roger says he personally isn’t scared because he can’t be drowned. Roger notices Headstone checking out his red neckerchief. Headstone sleeps that evening at the lock, and while he’s asleep, Roger sees Headstone clenching his teeth and fist.
Roger survived a near-drowning earlier, which is why he believes that he’s impervious to drowning now. Like Gaffer, he feels that the river will protect him—and this didn’t turn out very well for Gaffer. Headstone’s questions about throwing a man in the river with his hands tied is a sign that he has been thinking, perhaps seriously, about murdering someone.
Themes
Headstone leaves, then comes back again a couple days later to Roger’s lock. As they’re talking, Headstone says that he has seen Eugene with Lizzie. He doesn’t give more information, saying he’s tired and would like to sleep in the lock again. Once Roger is certain that Headstone is asleep, he opens up Headstone’s top button and sees a bright red neckerchief, like Roger’s own, that has even been stained to make it look used.
Headstone’s actions are clearly mysterious, indicating that he is plotting something nefarious. Roger, always on the lookout for people who might betray him, senses that Headstone is up to something but can’t guess what. The handkerchief that Headstone has is just like Roger’s, suggesting not only that Headstone is planning to impersonate Roger but also metaphorically that Headstone is becoming more and more like the scoundrel that Roger is.
Themes
