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Book 4, Chapter 11
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
Some time has passed, and Bella has given birth to a child (who is also called Bella). Rokesmith asks adult Bella again if she’d like to be rich. As always, she denies that she needs anything else. One day, when Bella and Rokesmith are walking around London, they happen to run into Mortimer. Mortimer freezes and goes pale when he sees Rokesmith. He says he’s sure they’ve met before.
Bella’s continued rejection of wealth, even after being married for a while, shows that she has overcome her materialistic ways for good and learned to find happiness in family. But much as John tries to escape his old identity and start a new life with Bella, one day it all comes apart by chance, showing the impossibility of escaping the past.
Themes
Rokesmith admits that he used to go by Julius Handford. Mortimer says he wasn’t going to bring this matter up in front of Bella, but that he recognized him as Julius. Mortimer gets Rokesmith to admit that he has been intentionally avoiding being seen by Mortimer all this time. Rokesmith says he’d like to start over and get to know Mortimer better, then confidently walks past him.
It seems at first as if John’s whole disguise will be unraveled, but it turns out that Mortimer only knows a fraction of the truth about John’s identity—it is still up to John himself to decide when to take on the responsibility of being John Harmon again.
Themes
When they’re alone again, Rokesmith reassures Bella that regardless of his identity, he would never hurt her. He admits that Mortimer believed that Julius Handford had some connection to the death of John Harmon. He also admits that he is suspected of the murder, but Bella says she trusts him anyway.
Bella’s trust of John even after learning that he went by a false name shows how deeply they love each other. She feels confident that she knows Rokesmith’s real character regardless of what his real identity is, and in many ways, that’s true.
Themes
Rokesmith and Bella receive a visit from the Inspector, who recognizes Rokesmith as Julius. Rokesmith agrees to go alone with the Inspector, and Bella joins them on the way to the police station. She is afraid to go inside, but Rokesmith says they’ll be out shortly. He speaks privately with the Inspector, then comes back to Bella and announces that they’re going to Miss Abbey’s tavern to meet two important witnesses.
Although the narration builds suspense by withholding information, it's possible to infer that the moment when John goes to speak to the Inspector in this passage is the moment when he finally confesses that he is John Harmon. The chance encounter with Mortimer played a role in exposing John, but ultimately, he chose to confess his identity on his own terms, showing how he has matured and learned to make peace with his past.
Themes
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The Inspector, Rokesmith, and Bella go to Miss Abbey’s tavern, where Jacob Kibble and Job Potterson (who were on the same ship back to England as John Harmon) are having dinner. The two men are shocked as soon as they see Rokesmith. Bella doesn’t understand what’s happening. Rokesmith comes back to her and tells her that they will have to move to a new part of London because of his job—there is already a new house waiting for them rent-free.
This passage continues to build suspense as it becomes increasingly clear that John has revealed his identity, but Bella remains in the dark. The passage takes on a humorous tone as John speaks in riddles to Bella about a rent-free home that is already waiting for them. After acting virtuously and finally giving up her search for wealth, Bella unexpectedly faces the possibility of upward social mobility. This suggests that good actions come with rewards—usually in terms of stronger relationships, but in this novel, sometimes materially as well.
Themes
Rokesmith has a carriage take him and Bella to their new home right away. When they arrive, Bella can’t believe it—they’re at the house of Boffin and Henerietty. Henerietty is overjoyed and welcomes Bella home.
Bella’s one regret about marrying Rokesmith is that she never did make amends with the Boffins, particularly Henerietty. This end of the chapter shows that John understands Bella’s desires and wants to do what he can to make her happy.
Themes
