Our Mutual Friend · Chapter
Still Educational explained
Lizzie Hexam and Jenny Wren share a supper after Jenny's father returns home drunk.
What happens
Lizzie Hexam and Jenny Wren share a supper after Jenny's father returns home drunk. Jenny expresses violent fantasies about what she would do to a future husband if he became a drunkard. Eugene Wrayburn visits and renews his promise to keep an eye on Roger Riderhood. He urges Lizzie to accept his offer of paying for her education, arguing that her refusal is based on false pride and does wrong to her dead father. Lizzie is moved to tears by his earnestness.
Themes in this chapter
Education and Ambition
Eugene Wrayburn urges Lizzie to accept education, arguing that her refusal perpetuates her father's ignorance and holds her back.
Charity and Hypocrisy
Eugene's offer of education is framed as disinterested charity, but Lizzie's hesitation suggests underlying social tensions and pride.
Characters to notice
- Lizzie Hexam
Shares supper with Jenny Wren; troubled after seeing her brother; resists Eugene Wrayburn's offer of education but is moved by his argument.
- Jenny Wren
The person of the house; scolds her drunken father and collects his money; expresses violent fantasies about punishing a drunkard husband.
- Eugene Wrayburn
Visits Lizzie and Jenny; renews promise to watch Riderhood; urges Lizzie to accept his offer of education, arguing against her false pride.
- Dolls
Jenny Wren's father; returns home drunk, is scolded and forced to hand over his money, then sent to bed.
Key passages
“I’d make a spoon red hot, and I’d have some boiling liquor bubbling in a saucepan, and I’d take it out hissing, and I’d open his mouth with the other hand—or perhaps he’d sleep with his mouth ready open—and I’d pour it down his throat, and blister it and choke him.”
Jenny Wren says she would scald a drunken husband to death with boiling liquid if he deceived her.
Jenny's violent fantasy reveals the deep trauma and anger caused by her father's alcoholism.
“Your false pride does wrong to yourself and does wrong to your dead father.”
Eugene argues that Lizzie's refusal of his educational offer harms both her own future and her father's memory.
Eugene uses a subtle psychological appeal to persuade Lizzie, linking her decision to her father's legacy.