Our Mutual Friend · Chapter
Mercury Prompting explained
This chapter introduces Fascination Fledgeby, a miserly young moneylender who breakfasts with Alfred Lammle.
What happens
This chapter introduces Fascination Fledgeby, a miserly young moneylender who breakfasts with Alfred Lammle. Fledgeby is secretive and evasive, refusing to answer Lammle's questions about Georgiana Podsnap. Later, Fledgeby visits his servant Riah on the rooftop garden, where he discovers Lizzie Hexam and Jenny Wren studying and working. Fledgeby inspects Jenny's basket of trimmings and questions the value of their book-learning.
Themes in this chapter
Wealth and Corruption
Fledgeby's miserly character and his enjoyment of bargains that cause others' ruin illustrate the corrupting influence of wealth.
Charity and Hypocrisy
Fledgeby's suspicion of Riah's guests and his grudging tolerance of their presence on his premises contrast with Riah's genuine kindness.
Characters to notice
- Fledgeby
Introduced as a miserly young moneylender who breakfasts with Lammle and later visits his rooftop garden.
- Alfred Lammle
Breakfasts with Fledgeby, trying to extract his opinion of Georgiana Podsnap, but is frustrated by Fledgeby's evasiveness.
- Riah
Fledgeby's elderly Jewish servant, who tends a rooftop garden and hosts Lizzie Hexam and Jenny Wren.
- Lizzie Hexam
Found on the rooftop with Jenny Wren, studying a book and working industriously.
- Jenny Wren
A dolls' dressmaker with a sharp tongue, studying with Lizzie on the rooftop and selling trimmings from Riah's waste.
Key passages
“Why money should be so precious to an ass too dull and mean to exchange it for any other satisfaction, is strange; but there is no animal so sure to get laden with it, as the ass who sees nothing written on the face of the earth and sky but the three letters L.S.D.”
It is odd that a foolish and stingy person would value money so highly when they never use it for enjoyment, yet such a person is the most likely to accumulate wealth.
Narrator's commentary on Fledgeby's avarice.
“I can hold my tongue. And I intend always doing it.”
I am capable of staying silent, and I plan to keep doing so.
Fledgeby's declaration of his policy of secrecy to Lammle.
“Twelve shillings a week, even when they are an old man's wages, bury themselves.”
Even a small weekly wage like twelve shillings can be saved and hidden away by an old man.
Riah's modest response to Fledgeby's probing about his savings.