Our Mutual Friend · Chapter
A Successor explained
Mrs.
What happens
Mrs. Boffin, after the death of little Johnny, decides not to revive the unfortunate name of John Harmon. She and Mr. Boffin, with the help of John Rokesmith and Bella Wilfer, instead choose to adopt Sloppy, a young man who cares for Betty Higden. Sloppy joyfully accepts the offer, provided he can still care for Mrs. Higden.
Themes in this chapter
Charity and Hypocrisy
Mrs. Boffin reflects on her own motives for wanting a pretty child, questioning whether she was too bent on pleasing herself rather than doing good for its own sake.
Death and Mortality
The chapter opens with the burial of little Johnny and the Reverend Milvey's reflections on death and hope.
Identity and Disguise
The decision to let the name John Harmon rest in the grave touches on themes of identity and the legacy of a name.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Boffin
Participates in the consultation about adopting a child and supports his wife's decisions.
- Mrs. Boffin
Leads the discussion about not reviving the Harmon name and decides to adopt Sloppy instead.
- John Rokesmith
Shows sympathy and tenderness toward Mrs. Boffin's feelings about the child and the name.
- Bella Wilfer
Expresses her feeling that the name Harmon has become endeared to her and should not be reused.
- Sloppy
Accepts Mrs. Boffin's offer to be taken care of, but insists on continuing to care for Betty Higden.
- Silas Wegg
Gloats over the failure of the adoption plan, performing a triumphant dance in the Bower.
Key passages
“Some of the Reverend Frank Milvey’s brethren had found themselves exceedingly uncomfortable in their minds, because they were required to bury the dead too hopefully.”
Some of Frank Milvey's fellow clergymen were troubled by the requirement to speak too optimistically at funerals.
Introduces the Reverend Milvey's more pragmatic and humane approach to death.
“Mr. Wegg argued, if an orphan were wanted, was he not an orphan himself; and could a better be desired?”
Wegg reasoned that since he was an orphan, he should be the one adopted instead of some unknown child.
Shows Wegg's selfish and opportunistic nature.
“I think I should feel as if the name had become endeared to me, and I had no right to use it so.”
Bella feels that the name Harmon has become precious to her because of the child, and she would be wrong to give it to another.
Bella expresses a personal and emotional attachment to the name.
“But there’s Mrs. Higden. Mrs. Higden goes before all. None can ever be better friends to me than Mrs. Higden’s been.”
Sloppy insists that his loyalty to Mrs. Higden comes first, as she has been the best friend he ever had.
Demonstrates Sloppy's deep gratitude and sense of duty.