The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

Here we go - week 3 of Our Mutual Friend read!

One, more of a statement than a question. I just adore Mortimer Lightwood and Eugene Wrayburn. Dickens brings to life these two young guys who behave as just most other young men: the way they joke around, the way they talk about their careers going nowhere, about Eugene's father, about marriage, what they are looking for in life, especially Eugene and his living in a lighthouse.

Two, Riderhood shows up at Mortimer's doorstep accusing Gaffer of murdering John Harmon. What is Riderhood's apparent reason for accusing Gaffer of the crime?

Three, Dickens mixes humor in with the tension of waiting for Gaffer. How? (For example, Eugene talking about committing crimes...)

Four, John Rokesmith is hired by the Boffins as secretary for no pay. The mystery is extended a bit concerning his character. What one thing does he refuse to do in the Boffins' employ? (As I said, I have a theory concerning who Rokesmith is, but again, I won't say because spoilers in case I'm right. But, for those who are also speculating, I think that Dickens gives us two hints in this section).

Five, we have two men in love with two women. Who are the men and who are the women?

Six, in the chapter with Mrs. Boffin with the orphan, Dickens includes a social commentary on the poor. How?

Seven, another statement. The section where John Rokesmith goes through the requests for money was so amusing. How some things never change. And the Boffins' riches also bring out the Veneerings and other social climbers.

Eight, speculating here. What can Wegg be possibly looking for in the dust-mounds?

I also have a theory about Rokesmith, and I imagine I'm picking up on the same clues as you are Lynn. On the other hand, I wonder whether the clues are deliberately misleading, and I've been thinking back to other mysteries in Dickens' later novels - Little Dorrit and Bleak House for example - and trying to remember how obvious he was about the mysteries surrounding characters like Blandois and Lady Dedlock. And not being very successful, but that's the fault of my brain rather than Dickens' writing!

The scene with Betty Higden was as touching as it was critical of institutional charity vs personal charity. It shows a government completely out of touch with the people it claims to serve (plus ça change....) and Dickens' bitterness with the distant Lords, Gentlemen and Honourable Boards could not be clearer.

I'm hoping Sloppy reappears later on in the novel. I loved the description of him - his angularity, his attachment to the mangle, the fact he's got a decent meal to look forward to when he takes Betty's message to the Boffinses, and the fact that he is "a beautiful reader of a newspaper. He do the Police in different voices.'"

The night scene in this section is just terrific and shows the best of Dickens. We have humor with the young lawyers joking around (they reminded me of the young doctors way back in Pickwick). Then we have some comedy in the speech and manners of Riderhood, but also a sinister side. Then there is the extended waiting period of the night with its cruel weather and ominous clanking, quite melodramatic. We also have pathos and romance, Lizzie calling out to her father, and Eugene's fascination with her. Finally we have a somewhat horrific scene with the finding of the body. And we end with whimsey again, with Lightwood's disconnected, but very relatable, dreams. I suppose we can guess where Eugene Wrayburn went for his walk after leaving his friend.

I was intrigued by how good the policeman is on the water, at maneuvering the boat and line, better than a professional waterman. That made me think of the Inspector Monk series by Anne Perry, where the policeman in later episodes is head of the London River Police.

Lynnm wrote: "Here we go - week 3 of Our Mutual Friend read!

One, more of a statement than a question. I just adore Mortimer Lightwood and Eugene Wrayburn. Dickens brings to life these two young guys who behave..."

The scene at Betty Higden's house was amazing.

In our current entertainment world, even on very lucrative shows, with many excellent writers working day and night, we can't match this sheer talent.

Robin wrote: "The night scene in this section is just terrific and shows the best of Dickens. We have humor with the young lawyers joking around (they reminded me of the young doctors way back in Pickwick). Then..."

That entire part of the novel - Riderhood's accusation and the men waiting for Gaffer to return - was Dickens at his best. Humor, tension...it's all there.

I really like the Inspector. Very realistic. Tough and professional, but at the same time, has a very human side. I hope we see him again in the novel.

Shannon - Dickens shines when he is taking on social issues. I've said it about a thousand times so I'm sure everyone will roll their eyes on reading this again, but to me, it is scenes that this that show that Dickens is as relevant today as when he wrote the books. Of course, that means that we still haven't fixed a lot of these social issues and the way government responds to them, which is more than sad...

Upon meeting Mrs Betty Higden, she may be my new favorite character so far. She has the kindest heart and does not want any charity and it is clear that she adores these children. I was especially moved by Sloppy and his backstory.

The further I read, the more I am convinced this may be the finest piece of literature I have read so far in my lifetime.

Wrayburn is so like Tale of Two Cities Sydney Carton, one of my favorite Dickens' characters. Love the moment when he's lying on his back, hat over his face, an excellent posture for observing what's happening on the river that night, Dickens tells us...

Margaret wrote: "Wrayburn is so like Tale of Two Cities Sydney Carton, one of my favorite Dickens' characters. Love the moment when he's lying on his back, hat over his face, an excellent posture for observing what..."

That's so true! Although Wrayburn might be slightly less morose than Sydney Carton.

But I love Sydney Carton, and I'm beginning to like Wrayburn just as well.

Meregwyn wrote: "The further I read, the more I am convinced this may be the finest piece of literature I have read so far in my lifetime. "

It certainly is one of Dickens' best, and Dickens - to me - is one of the greatest authors in the English language.

Sadly, he isn't widely read in U.S. schools anymore, even on the college level.

In fact, many in English departments today dismiss him. Insane in my opinion. :-)

Lynnm wrote: "Sadly, he isn't widely read in U.S. schools anymore, even on the college level."

How this breaks my heart hearing this! Our Mutual Friend will be a favorite read this year and I plan on reading David Copperfield later on in the year. I have read nonstop and am on Book the Fourth.

I would think Dickens would be required reading in college.

Lynnm wrote: "Meregwyn wrote: "The further I read, the more I am convinced this may be the finest piece of literature I have read so far in my lifetime. "

It certainly is one of Dickens' best, and Dickens - to ..."

This is really a pity and I fear (hopefully wrongly) with the development of languages at the moment that in 50 years not many people will have the patience and ability to sit down and read an 800 pages book with sentences that might fill 25% of a page.

I also like Mortimer Lightwood and Eugene Wrayburn. They seem so realistic with their jokes and discussions about life, family and so on.
Eugene's father seems to have planned the lives of his children from the first sight of them and all to be part of the "honorable" professions, e.g. the church, the military, the law, the medicine.

Dickens always hoped for his children to get into decent professions and earn their money themselves. Most of them failed. Is he reflecting this here a little?

Riderhood mentions to Mortimer and Eugene that Gaffer Hexam told him that he had murdered John Harmon. Do you think this is true or is he just after the reward? In the end Hexam is dead so we might never know...(?)
BTW, do you have any idea why Mortimer throws away the glass from which Ridehood drunk?

As you all have already mentioned the scenes with the Inspector and the search for Gaffer during the night is wonderfully written.

There are also some literary references in these chapters such as Gulliver's Travels and the Red Ridinghood ("Wolf in bed of Grandmanmma's cottage"). References, especially, to fairy-tales were also found in other novels such as DS.

Lynnm, you asked the question about two men falling in love. I assume you are thinking of Eugene Wrayburn who seems to be very interested and worried about Lizzie Hexam and John Rokesmith who seems to have a certain crush on Bella Wilfer. The latter is even concluding on her character at the end of chapter 16, not always to her advantage, but she outweighs that obviously with her beauty.

Rokesmith remains the most mysterious character in these chapter for me. He offers his help to Mr Boffin who seems to be completely overwhelmed. I was actually wondering whether the Boffins are able to read and write properly. I am doubting this, as firstly, they aske Wegg to read to them and secondly, as Boffin seems to be "hopeless" with ink. That was a very funny scene with the ink being everywhere except on the paper.

Rokesmith does not want to meet Mortimer Lightwood personally. Does Mortimer know anything about his identity or his past? Rokesmith does not seem to have a problem with correspondence to Mortimer.

In these chapters Julius Handford is named again, but he has obviously disappeared and is now being advertised for. This character I had rather forgotten until he was mentioned here again, now being advertised for. What might his role be?

As already covered by you all, Betty Higden is really a wonderful and admirable woman taking really care of these poor kids having herself lost all her children and grandchildren, but the one.
And as in previous novels by Dickens the social welfare is greatly criticized here. It is more preferable to be dead than being in the poor house which is supposed to support the ones who cannot support themselves.

The scenes of the last chapter are the larger version of the ones in Great Expectations. All kinds of people trying to take advantage of the newly rich.

Wegg is one of my least favourite characters in these chapters. He is so manipulative and abuses the naivety of the Boffins to his advantage. Now he is keeper of the Bower and sneaking around hoping to find something to improve himself even further.

I was sure that Riderhood made up Gaffer's "confession" because he wanted the reward and they had somehow had a falling out and split up. You see their antipathy in the first chapter, though Riderhood isn't named. My view is that Mortimer threw away the glass because he found Riderhood so repulsive.

This being Dickens, there is a kind of Romantic view of the world. Gaffer can't be a bad guy, being Lizzie's grandfather, and Riderhood is the one with the squint. I don't think Dickens has any really ugly people as heroes. They might be "plain" but that's as far as he goes. Esther in Bleak House becomes disfigured by disease but that's not her original nature. Estella in GE is beautiful and cruel but that's how she was raised. Characters who are really despicable like Uriah Heep or Quilp tend to have unpleasant looks. But let me know if someone can think of exceptions to this theory I just made up.

Robin, this was my first interpretation of the Riderhood scene as well. I thought maybe there might be more to it. Thanks for the confirmation.

With regards to all the characters I have to think a little. We definitely had these stereotypes like Quilp, Fagin, but as this novel seems a lot about pretense as well who knows maybe it is not as plain as it seems. Or I am just trying to read more in anything than there actually is.

Great comments all. I was also pretty sure that Riderhood made up the confession-he would have been the last person to whom Gaffer would have confessed as he had just broken up their partnership. I also wondered if Riderhood had designs on Lizzie and was hoping to get Gaffer out of the way-he certainly would like to take over his turf in the river. It's pretty frightening how the police were ready to arrest Gaffer on the say so of this man.

I also loved Betty Higden, although Dickens children are generally rather idealized-the idea of 2 toddlers/preschoolers sitting quietly on 2 adjacent stools, only to get up when bidden and return to their seats when bidden seems completely unrealistic. I hope the Boffins can find some way to adopt their orphan without depriving his grandmother of any contact with him in the future.

Margaret-well-spotted similarity between Wrayburn and Sidney Carton.

I do hope that Rokesmith will prevent the Boffins' from being completely taken advantage of-it will be interesting to see how things progress once Bella Wilfer is in the same house in which he spends his days-perhaps she will become kinder once out from under her odious mother's influence.

I'm still not a Bella fan, and I was relieved to read that Rokesmith can categorize her faults, as well as notice her (external only?) beauty....