Our Mutual Friend

Our Mutual Friend

by

Charles Dickens

Twemlow is a friend of the Veneerings who is older than them and comes from a more aristocratic background. Initially, Twemlow seems to represent the traditions of old money, slightly looking down on the Veneerings, even though they’re his friends. But by the end of the novel, particularly after Twemlow has fallen into financial trouble, Twemlow rejects the opinions of upper-class London society, speaking in praise of Eugene and Lizzie’s marriage rather than condemning it like everyone else at the party with him.

Twemlow Quotes in Our Mutual Friend

The Our Mutual Friend quotes below are all either spoken by Twemlow or refer to Twemlow. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Society, Class, and Character Theme Icon
).
Book 1, Chapter 2 Quotes

Mr and Mrs Veneering were bran-new people in a bran-new house in a bran-new quarter of London. Everything about the Veneerings was spick and span new. All their furniture was new, all their friends were new, all their servants were new, their plate was new, their carriage was new, their harness was new, their horses were new, their pictures were new, they themselves were new, they were as newly married as was lawfully compatible with their having a bran-new baby, and if they had set up a great-grandfather, he would have come home in matting from the Pantechnicon, without a scratch upon him, French polished to the crown of his head.

Related Characters: The Veneerings, Twemlow
Page Number: 17
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 1, Chapter 10 Quotes

So, the happy pair, with this hopeful marriage contract thus signed, sealed, and delivered, repair homeward. If, when those infernal finger-marks were on the white and breathless countenance of Alfred Lammle, Esquire, they denoted that he conceived the purpose of subduing his dear wife Mrs Alfred Lammle, by at once divesting her of any lingering reality or pretence of self-respect, the purpose would seem to have been presently executed. The mature young lady has mighty little need of powder, now, for her downcast face, as he escorts her in the light of the setting sun to their abode of bliss.

Related Characters: Sophronia Lammle, Alfred Lammle, The Veneerings, Twemlow
Page Number: 130
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 4, Chapter 17 Quotes

“I say,” resumes Twemlow, “if such feelings on the part of this gentleman, induced this gentleman to marry this lady, I think he is the greater gentleman for the action, and makes her the greater lady. I beg to say, that when I use the word, gentleman, I use it in the sense in which the degree may be attained by any man. The feelings of a gentleman I hold sacred, and I confess I am not comfortable when they are made the subject of sport or general discussion.” […]

Somehow, a canopy of wet blanket seems to descend upon the company, and Lady Tippins was never known to turn so very greedy or so very cross. Mortimer Lightwood alone brightens.

Related Characters: Mortimer Lightwood (speaker), Twemlow (speaker), Lizzie , Eugene Wrayburn, The Veneerings, Lady Tippins
Page Number: 797
Explanation and Analysis:
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Twemlow Quotes in Our Mutual Friend

The Our Mutual Friend quotes below are all either spoken by Twemlow or refer to Twemlow. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Society, Class, and Character Theme Icon
).
Book 1, Chapter 2 Quotes

Mr and Mrs Veneering were bran-new people in a bran-new house in a bran-new quarter of London. Everything about the Veneerings was spick and span new. All their furniture was new, all their friends were new, all their servants were new, their plate was new, their carriage was new, their harness was new, their horses were new, their pictures were new, they themselves were new, they were as newly married as was lawfully compatible with their having a bran-new baby, and if they had set up a great-grandfather, he would have come home in matting from the Pantechnicon, without a scratch upon him, French polished to the crown of his head.

Related Characters: The Veneerings, Twemlow
Page Number: 17
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 1, Chapter 10 Quotes

So, the happy pair, with this hopeful marriage contract thus signed, sealed, and delivered, repair homeward. If, when those infernal finger-marks were on the white and breathless countenance of Alfred Lammle, Esquire, they denoted that he conceived the purpose of subduing his dear wife Mrs Alfred Lammle, by at once divesting her of any lingering reality or pretence of self-respect, the purpose would seem to have been presently executed. The mature young lady has mighty little need of powder, now, for her downcast face, as he escorts her in the light of the setting sun to their abode of bliss.

Related Characters: Sophronia Lammle, Alfred Lammle, The Veneerings, Twemlow
Page Number: 130
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 4, Chapter 17 Quotes

“I say,” resumes Twemlow, “if such feelings on the part of this gentleman, induced this gentleman to marry this lady, I think he is the greater gentleman for the action, and makes her the greater lady. I beg to say, that when I use the word, gentleman, I use it in the sense in which the degree may be attained by any man. The feelings of a gentleman I hold sacred, and I confess I am not comfortable when they are made the subject of sport or general discussion.” […]

Somehow, a canopy of wet blanket seems to descend upon the company, and Lady Tippins was never known to turn so very greedy or so very cross. Mortimer Lightwood alone brightens.

Related Characters: Mortimer Lightwood (speaker), Twemlow (speaker), Lizzie , Eugene Wrayburn, The Veneerings, Lady Tippins
Page Number: 797
Explanation and Analysis: