# In the Dark explained — Our Mutual Friend

> Chapter companion for Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens.

## What happens

Bradley Headstone, consumed by jealousy and murderous rage, spends a sleepless night stalking Eugene Wrayburn. He encounters Rogue Riderhood, who has his own grievances against Wrayburn and Lightwood. Bradley forms a sinister alliance with Riderhood, hoping to use him as an instrument to track Lizzie Hexam and Wrayburn.

## Themes in this chapter

### Death and Mortality

Bradley's murderous state and Riderhood's claim of being 'drownded' highlight themes of death and near-death.

### Identity and Disguise

Bradley's respectable daytime persona contrasts with his nocturnal murderous impulses; Riderhood's criminal identity is openly acknowledged.

## Character check-ins

### Bradley Headstone

Consumed by murderous rage and jealousy, he stalks Eugene Wrayburn and forms an alliance with Rogue Riderhood.

### Miss Peecher

Sleeplessly worries about Bradley Headstone's troubled state.

### Eugene Wrayburn

The object of Bradley's hatred; sleeps easily while Bradley watches.

### Roger Riderhood

Encountered by Bradley; he has grievances against Wrayburn and Lightwood and agrees to spy for Bradley.

### Mortimer Lightwood

Mentioned as Wrayburn's companion; Riderhood seeks a recommendation from him.

### Lizzie Hexam

The object of Bradley's obsessive jealousy; he seeks to track her through Riderhood.

## Key lines

> The state of the man was murderous, and he knew it. More; he irritated it, with a kind of perverse pleasure akin to that which a sick man sometimes has in irritating a wound upon his body.

Bradley Headstone was fully aware of his murderous intentions and deliberately provoked them, like a sick person picking at a wound.

_Describes Bradley's self-destructive and obsessive hatred._

> If great criminals told the truth—which, being great criminals, they do not—they would very rarely tell of their struggles against the crime. Their struggles are towards it.

True criminals don't fight against their crimes; they strive toward them.

_Narrator's insight into the psychology of criminal intent._

> Here is an instrument. Can I use it?

Bradley sees Riderhood as a tool he might employ for his purposes.

_Bradley's calculating thought as he considers allying with Riderhood._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xi-in-the-dark
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_mutual_friend_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters