Our Mutual Friend · Chapter
A Dismal Swamp explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. and Mrs. Boffin have moved into their new aristocratic mansion, attracting a swarm of social climbers, beggars, and opportunists. The Veneerings, Lady Tippins, Twemlow, the Podsnaps, and many others leave cards and seek favor. Bella Wilfer becomes a permanent resident and is dressed beautifully. Meanwhile, the Secretary struggles to handle the flood of begging letters from all manner of people. In the old Bower, Silas Wegg secretly searches for something hidden, poking and prodding the dust-mounds.
Themes in this chapter
Wealth and Corruption
The Boffins' new wealth attracts a swarm of sycophants, beggars, and schemers, illustrating the corrupting influence of money.
Charity and Hypocrisy
The chapter exposes the hypocrisy of both the corporate beggars (noblemen and societies) and individual beggars who use manipulative tactics to extract money from Mr. Boffin.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Boffin
Now established in the aristocratic mansion, he is the target of numerous beggars and social climbers.
- Mrs. Boffin
She takes Bella Wilfer to the milliner and dressmaker, helping her get beautifully dressed.
- Bella Wilfer
Becomes an inmate of the Boffin household for an indefinite period and is dressed beautifully.
- Silas Wegg
Remains at the Bower, secretly searching under bedsteads and in dust-mounds with an iron rod, hoping to find something.
- John Rokesmith
As the Secretary, he struggles daily through the 'dismal swamp' of begging letters and requests addressed to Mr. Boffin.
- Mr. Veneering
Among the first to leave cards at the Boffin mansion, seeking social connection.
Key passages
“And now, in the blooming summer days, behold Mr. and Mrs. Boffin established in the eminently aristocratic family mansion, and behold all manner of crawling, creeping, fluttering, and buzzing creatures, attracted by the gold dust of the Golden Dustman!”
Now that Mr. and Mrs. Boffin have moved into their grand new home, all sorts of opportunistic people are drawn to them because of their wealth.
Introduces the central image of the chapter: the Boffins as a magnet for social parasites.
“In such a dismal swamp does the new house stand, and through it does the Secretary daily struggle breast-high.”
The new mansion is like a swamp of corruption and begging, and the Secretary has to wade through it every day.
Summarizes the chapter's metaphor of the 'dismal swamp' as the social environment surrounding the Boffins.