# The Voice of Society explained — Our Mutual Friend

> Chapter companion for Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens.

## What happens

At a dinner party hosted by the Veneerings, Society—represented by Lady Tippins, Podsnap, Boots, Brewer, Buffer, and others—condemns Eugene Wrayburn's marriage to Lizzie Hexam. Mortimer Lightwood defends the match, but only Twemlow speaks up for the gentlemanly feelings of gratitude and love, earning Lightwood's gratitude. The chapter satirizes the hypocrisy and snobbery of fashionable society, while foreshadowing Veneering's impending financial collapse.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Class and Mobility

The dinner party debate centers on whether a gentleman can marry a woman of lower station; Twemlow's defense of feeling over rank challenges class prejudice.

### Charity and Hypocrisy

Society members condemn Eugene's marriage while ignoring their own moral failings; the narrator exposes Veneering's imminent bankruptcy and the guests' retrospective disdain.

### Love and Marriage

The chapter contrasts mercenary views of marriage (contractor's beefsteak-and-porter calculation) with Twemlow's ideal of marriage based on gratitude, respect, and affection.

## Character check-ins

### Mortimer Lightwood

Attends the Veneerings' dinner and defends Eugene Wrayburn's marriage to Lizzie Hexam against Society's condemnation.

### Lady Tippins

Chairs a mock committee to elicit 'the voice of Society' against Eugene's marriage, displaying her frivolous and malicious nature.

### Mr. Podsnap

Vehemently condemns the marriage, declaring it makes him 'sick' and representing insular, class-bound British respectability.

### Twemlow

Defends the marriage on grounds of gentlemanly feeling, arguing that gratitude and love make a man a greater gentleman.

### Mr. Veneering

Hosts the dinner; the narrator reveals he will soon 'make a resounding smash' and retire to Calais.

### Mrs. Veneering

Co-hosts the dinner, enthusiastically supporting Lady Tippins's committee game.

## Key lines

> A man may do anything lawful, for money. But for no money!⁠—Bosh!

A man is justified in doing anything legal as long as there is financial gain, but acting without monetary reward is nonsense.

_Reflects the mercenary values of the 'genius' and much of Society, contrasting with Twemlow's later defense of disinterested feeling._

> I am disposed to think that this is a question of the feelings of a gentleman.

I believe this matter should be decided by a gentleman's sense of honor and emotion.

_Twemlow's pivotal statement elevates personal integrity and gratitude above class prejudice._

> The feelings of a gentleman I hold sacred, and I confess I am not comfortable when they are made the subject of sport or general discussion.

I consider a gentleman's emotions to be inviolable, and I am uneasy when they are mocked or debated publicly.

_Twemlow defends the private, sincere motives behind Eugene's marriage against Society's ridicule._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xvii-the-voice-of-society
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_mutual_friend_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters