# Mr. Boffin in Consultation explained — Our Mutual Friend

> Chapter companion for Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens.

## What happens

Mr. Boffin consults with Mortimer Lightwood about his inheritance of the Harmon fortune, reflecting on the late John Harmon's miserly ways and his own and Mrs. Boffin's past kindness to the Harmon children. He then interviews John Rokesmith, who seeks employment as a secretary, but Mr. Boffin mentions he already has a literary man (Silas Wegg) and suggests Rokesmith call at the Bower.

## Themes in this chapter

### Wealth and Corruption

Mr. Boffin expresses unease about the burden of the large fortune, suggesting that the pursuit of wealth can be corrupting and unsatisfying.

### Charity and Hypocrisy

Mr. Boffin recounts how he and Mrs. Boffin stood as friends to the Harmon children, contrasting their kindness with the old man's harshness.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Boffin

Consults with Mortimer Lightwood about his inheritance, reminisces about the old Harmon, and interviews John Rokesmith for a secretary position.

### Mortimer Lightwood

Advises Mr. Boffin on the legal completion of the inheritance and discusses the nature of the fortune.

### John Rokesmith

Applies to Mr. Boffin for a secretary position; is told to call at the Bower in a week or two.

### Young Blight

Receives a gift of two pounds from Mr. Boffin for his attention to Mr. Boffin's affairs.

## Key lines

> It would have been better for him if he hadn't so given himself up to it. You may depend upon it, that he found it a great lot to take care of!

Mr. Boffin suggests that the old man's obsessive pursuit of wealth ultimately became a burden rather than a blessing.

_Reflects Mr. Boffin's ambivalence about the inheritance and his critique of greed._

> I'd give the wide wide world, I would, to run away with him!

Mrs. Boffin expressed a deep, emotional desire to protect and escape with the young John Harmon.

_Highlights the Boffins' genuine affection for the Harmon children._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/viii-mr-boffin-in-consultation
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_mutual_friend_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters