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Book 4, Chapter 9
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
When Jenny makes it to Eugene, she finds that little of his spirit seems to remain inside his disfigured body. Because Eugene can’t communicate, Mortimer sets things up so that Jenny can work on her dolls’ clothing while waiting for Eugene to speak. Finally, after four days, Eugene asks for Jenny, and Mortimer tells her that she’s present. Eugene asks Jenny if she still hears her birds and smells her flowers—he would like to have this pleasant image while he dies.
The birds and flowers that Eugene ask for from Jenny are imaginary—she told him about how she “saw” them earlier while she was working on dolls. Still, regardless of whether they exist in real life, Eugene’s desire for birds and flowers shows that he wants simple, natural things (like Lizzie) instead of the wealth he has been surrounded by for much of his life.
Themes
While Eugene has his senses, he has something to tell Mortimer: He knows who attacked him. Mortimer assures him that they already have a suspect, but Eugene says he’s sure that Headstone didn’t attack him. He fears that if Headstone did get brought in for questioning, he would say things to ruin Lizzie’s reputation in the process.
Eugene’s words here seem to suggest that Headstone might get away with his plot after all. Still, considering that Roger knows the truth about Headstone and Charley also suspects it, it’s unlikely Headstone will be able to fully escape blame. Eugene’s willingness to avoid blaming Headstone, all for the sake of making things easier for Lizzie, shows the sacrifices he’s willing to make for her.
Themes
Eugene becomes insensible again, often repeating the word “Lizzie” in his daze. A couple days later, he comes to his senses again while Mortimer is there. Mortimer says he knows what will put Eugene’s mind at rest: Eugene will marry Lizzie. But although this will make Eugene happy, Eugene still fears he will die soon. Mortimer tries to reassure him that perhaps he’ll recover and get to live with Lizzie. He goes out to get her, leaving Eugene with Jenny.
Earlier, Eugene feared to mention his love for Lizzie to Mortimer, believing that Mortimer would judge him and advise him against it. While it’s possible that that was true at the time, now Mortimer sees the sincerity of Eugene’s love for Lizzie, and despite Eugene and Lizzie’s different social standings, Mortimer encourages their love anyway.
Themes
