# A Riddle Without an Answer explained — Our Mutual Friend

> Chapter companion for Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens.

## What happens

Mortimer Lightwood confronts his friend Eugene Wrayburn about his mysterious behavior and disappearances over the summer, but Eugene professes ignorance of his own motives, describing himself as an 'embodied conundrum.' Later, Charley Hexam, accompanied by his schoolmaster Bradley Headstone, confronts Eugene and Mortimer, demanding that Eugene cease his acquaintance with Lizzie Hexam. Bradley Headstone, struggling to control his passion, adds his own threats, revealing his deep resentment and jealousy toward Eugene.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Class and Mobility

Bradley Headstone's fierce pride in his self-improvement clashes with Eugene's casual superiority, highlighting class tensions and the struggle for respect.

### Identity and Disguise

Eugene's self-description as an 'embodied conundrum' reflects his own uncertainty about his identity and motives, a central riddle of the chapter.

## Character check-ins

### Eugene Wrayburn

Describes himself as an 'embodied conundrum,' unable to explain his own motives; dismissive and cool toward Charley Hexam and Bradley Headstone.

### Mortimer Lightwood

Confronts Eugene about his secretive behavior; supports his friend but expresses concern about potential harm to others.

### Charley Hexam

Aggressively demands that Eugene Wrayburn end his acquaintance with his sister Lizzie; insists on controlling her prospects.

### Bradley Headstone

Supports Charley's demands, struggles with his own passionate nature, and reveals deep resentment toward Eugene's social superiority.

## Key lines

> You know that when I became enough of a man to find myself an embodied conundrum, I bored myself to the last degree by trying to find out what I meant. You know that at length I gave it up, and declined to guess any more.

Eugene tells Mortimer that he once tried to understand his own nature but gave up, finding himself an unsolvable puzzle.

_Eugene's confession of self-ignorance underscores his character's enigmatic and indifferent nature._

> I have worked my way onward, out of both and in spite of both, and have a right to be considered a better man than you, with better reasons for being proud.

Bradley Headstone asserts that his hard-won social rise makes him morally superior to Eugene, who was born into privilege.

_Headstone's outburst reveals his deep resentment and the class conflict central to the novel._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/vi-a-riddle-without-an-answer
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_mutual_friend_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters