Our Mutual Friend · Chapter
In Which an Innocent Elopement Occurs explained
Bella Wilfer, now living with the Boffins in their grand mansion, begins to feel the social pressures of her new life and grows critical of Mrs.
What happens
Bella Wilfer, now living with the Boffins in their grand mansion, begins to feel the social pressures of her new life and grows critical of Mrs. Boffin's manners. She also becomes increasingly irritated by John Rokesmith, the secretary, whom she perceives as presumptuous and jealous of her attention from other men. After a tense conversation, Bella impulsively decides to visit her family, but returns home feeling conflicted and melancholy, wishing her circumstances were different.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Mobility
Bella's discomfort with Mrs. Boffin's social slips and her own sense of superiority highlight the tensions of rising in class and the pressure to conform to genteel standards.
Identity and Disguise
Rokesmith's secret identity as John Harmon is hinted at through his mysterious behavior and his special interest in Bella, though she remains unaware.
Characters to notice
- Bella Wilfer
Bella is adjusting to life in the Boffin mansion, feeling superior yet conflicted. She resents Rokesmith's attention but is also affected by his reproach, leading her to visit her family.
- Mr. Boffin
Mr. Boffin praises Rokesmith's work but is puzzled by his refusal to socialize with guests, noting that Rokesmith only seems comfortable around Bella.
- John Rokesmith
Rokesmith gently confronts Bella about her neglect of her family and offers to carry messages. His quiet earnestness unsettles Bella and prompts her to visit home.
- Mrs. Boffin
Mrs. Boffin enjoys her new life and insists Bella use the chariot for her visit home, showing her generous and cheerful nature.
Key passages
“The minion of fortune and the worm of the hour, or in less cutting language, Nicodemus Boffin, Esquire, the Golden Dustman, had become as much at home in his eminently aristocratic family mansion as he was likely ever to be.”
Mr. Boffin, now wealthy and called the Golden Dustman, had settled into his grand new home as comfortably as he ever would.
Introduces Mr. Boffin's new status and the ironic tone toward his rise in fortune.
“Whether it improved her heart might be a matter of taste that was open to question; but as touching another matter of taste, its improvement of her appearance and manner, there could be no question whatever.”
It was debatable whether Bella's character had improved, but her looks and manners had certainly become more refined.
Highlights Bella's superficial growth and the moral ambiguity of her transformation.
“He takes more care of my affairs, morning, noon, and night, than fifty other men put together either could or would; and yet he has ways of his own that are like tying a scaffolding-pole right across the road, and bringing me up short when I am almost a-walking arm in arm with him.”
Rokesmith is extremely diligent in managing my business, but he has peculiar habits that suddenly stop me in my tracks when I think we're getting along.
Mr. Boffin expresses his confusion about Rokesmith's behavior, hinting at the secretary's hidden motives.
“A little too much, I think, to have Pa's lodger laying claim to me, and keeping eligible people off!”
It's presumptuous of my father's lodger to act as if he has a claim on me and scare away more suitable suitors.
Bella's resentment toward Rokesmith reveals her pride and her view of him as beneath her station.
“Contradictory things to wish, said Bella, but my life and fortunes are so contradictory altogether that what can I expect myself to be!”
Bella reflects that her wishes are inconsistent, just like her life and luck, so she can't expect to be consistent either.
Bella's self-awareness of her own contradictions, torn between her past poverty and present wealth.
