Our Mutual Friend Literary Elements

Realist novel; Victorian novel

London; the 19th century

Third-person omniscient narration—because there are a number of different subplots, the point of view frequently shifts between different characters

The tone is sometimes ironic and wry, when the narrator is poking fun at pretentious or self-involved characters. It can also be biting and critical, such as when the narrator criticizes the way poor people are treated, or sometime sympathetic and tender. The mood is often quite dark, portraying a world haunted by violence, greed, and lies.

John Harmon/Rokesmith is the protagonist of the story, and Wrayburn is a secondary protagonist who has his own plotline. Harmon has no clear antagonist but experiences conflict based on whether or not to reveal his true identity. Wrayburn's plot has a clear antagonist in the form of Bradley Headstone.

The major conflict of the novel centers around who should possess the Harmon fortune; plot lines such as John's decision to hide his identity and Silas Wegg's attempt to betray Boffin all stem from concerns about who should hold this money. In the subplot focusing on the love triangle between Wrayburn, Headstone, and Lizzie, the conflict stems from both men wanting to marry Lizzie.

The climax occurs when John reveals to Bella that he is actually John Harmon, and that he and the Boffins have been tricking her in order to test her moral integrity. Now, the happy couple can reclaim their wealth and social position, and enjoy a happy relationship with the Boffins.

Foreshadowing is primarily used to hint about the real identity of John Rokesmith/Julius Handford. Comments about their behavior and appearance set the reader up to predict that these are aliases for John Harmon.

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Dickens uses occasional allusions to figures from the Bible, classical mythology, and literature and history.

See the Imagery section

One key paradox is how near-death experiences function as a kind of moral rebirth for characters and lead to them ending up happier than they otherwise would have been. Both John and Wrayburn are attacked, thrown in the river, and nearly die. But after they are both rescued, they have the chance to transform their lives (John hides his identity, and Wrayburn becomes more committed to Lizzie). Their happy marriages are made possible because of what they suffer.

The many subplots of the novel create many parallels; Jenny, Lizzie, and Bella all have to cope with incompetent or unhelpful fathers who force the young women to be responsible for themselves and their own welfare. The marriage between the Lammles, which is focused on money, parallels what a marriage could have looked like between John Harmon and Bella, while both Fledgeby and Wegg plot and scheme to use others for their own benefit.

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