Our Mutual Friend · Chapter
A Solo and a Duet explained
John Harmon, in his guise as John Rokesmith, engages in a profound internal monologue, reconstructing his past: his return to England, his mistaken identity with George Radfoot, the plot to observe Bella Wilfer, and the murder of Radfoot th
What happens
John Harmon, in his guise as John Rokesmith, engages in a profound internal monologue, reconstructing his past: his return to England, his mistaken identity with George Radfoot, the plot to observe Bella Wilfer, and the murder of Radfoot that led Harmon to assume a new identity. He weighs the arguments for and against revealing himself as John Harmon, ultimately deciding to remain dead and continue as Rokesmith. He then visits Bella Wilfer, who notes his pale appearance, and they share a quiet, charged conversation.
Themes in this chapter
Identity and Disguise
John Harmon's internal debate about remaining dead as John Rokesmith versus revealing himself as John Harmon is central to the chapter.
Wealth and Corruption
Harmon reflects on his father's money as a source of misery and corruption, and questions whether to use it to 'buy' Bella.
Love and Marriage
Harmon's love for Bella is complicated by the mercenary conditions of his father's will, and he resolves to test her feelings.
Characters to notice
- John Rokesmith
Engages in a lengthy internal soliloquy, reconstructing his past and deciding to remain dead as John Harmon.
- Bella Wilfer
Remains at home due to a headache; receives a visit from Mr. Rokesmith and comments on his pale appearance.
- George Radfoot
Mentioned in Harmon's recollection as the third mate who was mistaken for him and later murdered.
- Mr. Boffin
Referenced as one of the 'dear old faithful friends' who have inherited the fortune and are making good use of it.
- Mrs. Boffin
Mentioned alongside Mr. Boffin as a faithful friend and part of Harmon's motivation to remain dead.
Key passages
“So John Harmon died, and Julius Handford disappeared, and John Rokesmith was born.”
Thus, John Harmon ceased to exist, Julius Handford vanished, and the identity of John Rokesmith came into being.
This marks the pivotal moment of identity transformation in Harmon's internal monologue.
“Dead, I have found the true friends of my lifetime still as true as tender and as faithful as when I was alive, and making my memory an incentive to good actions done in my name.”
In my supposed death, I have discovered that my lifelong loyal friends remain just as devoted and kind, using my memory to inspire virtuous deeds.
Harmon justifies his decision to stay dead by highlighting the Boffins' fidelity.
“Because her marriage with John Harmon, after what I have heard from her own lips, would be a shocking mockery, of which both she and I must always be conscious, and which would degrade her in her mind, and me in mine, and each of us in the other's.”
Because marrying Bella as John Harmon, given what she has said, would be a terrible sham that would humiliate us both.
Harmon reasons that a marriage based on the will's terms would be degrading for both parties.