Our Mutual Friend Characters

The Inspector, who isn’t named, is the officer who investigates the murder of John Harmon. Although he seems to take his job seriously, he makes numerous mistakes (such confusing George Radfoot’s body for John’s).

Lady Tippins is an aristocratic woman who often shows up at the events that the Veneerings hold. Like Mr. Podsnap, her opinions are snobbish and typical of upper-class London society.

George Radfoot is a sailor that John Harmon meets on his ship back to England from abroad. When George ends up dead in the water, his body is mistaken for John, whom George and Roger robbed and attempted to leave for dead.

Sloppy is an innocent but loyal young man who helps Betty. He doesn’t know his biological parents. Despite his simple manner, he charms Boffin and Henerietty, who decide to take him in. He also befriends Jenny Wren.

Betty Higden is the grandmother of the orphan Johnny and also a parent figure to Sloppy. She is poor and values her self-sufficiency, choosing to go off alone on a journey that leads to her death, all so that Sloppy can feel free to move on with his life.

Miss Abbey runs a tavern called the Six Jolly Fellowship Porters where several other characters are regulars, including Gaffer and Roger. She is stern and unafraid to kick out patrons who cause trouble.

Pleasant is the daughter of Roger Riderhood and eventual wife of Mr. Venus. She works a pawn shop, and like Lizzie, she struggles to please her difficult father.

Lavinia is the younger sister of Bella who eventually gets married to George Sampson. She can be rebellious at times, challenging her stern mother, Mrs. Wilfer. But she also wants her family’s approval, leading to her choice to marry George Sampson, whom her mother approves of.

Mr. Wilfer is the father of Bella and Lavinia, as well as the husband of Mrs. Wilfer. He has a close relationship with Bella and supports her decision to marry Rokesmith, who appears to be poor at the time that Bella marries him.

Mrs. Wilfer is the mother of Bella and Lavinia, as well as the wife of Mr. Wilfer. Although she isn’t very rich herself, she insists on asserting her family’s status and trying to get Bella to marry a wealthy man.

Mr. Podsnap is the husband of Mrs. Podsnap and the father of Georgiana. He is a wealthy, snooty man who often talks about the virtues of British culture whenever he attends one of the Veneerings’ gatherings.

Mrs. Podsnap is the wife of Mr. Podsnap and the mother of Georgiana. Like her husband, she’s materialistic, and she takes an interest in gossip at parties.

George Sampson is a young man from a respectable family who initially wants to marry Bella, but instead ends up marrying her sister, Lavinia.

Reverend Milvey helps Boffin and Henerietty when they’re trying to adopt Johnny, and he also presides over Bella and John Harmon’s wedding.

Mrs. Milvey is the wife of Reverend Milvey who helps Boffin and Henerietty find an orphan to adopt.

Johnny is a young orphan that Boffin and Henerietty consider adopting at one point, but he dies before they can take him in.

Miss Peecher is a teacher who teaches Mary Anne and secretly loves Bradley Headstone, although he doesn’t return her feelings.

Lord Snigsworth is a distant, aristocratic relative of Twemlow.

Mary Anne is a trusted pupil of Miss Peecher.

Blight is an assistant in Mortimer’s law office.