A Reading Group Guide for Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens

1) What is the significance of the Thames River and its tides in the novel? Is there any meaning, beyond the literal, in Dicken's reference to the action taking place between an iron bridge (Southwark Bridge) and a stone bridge (London Bridge)? What is symbolic about the boat being allied to "the bottom of the river rather than the surface, by reason of the slime and ooze with which it was covered"? Are the "spoiling effects of water" (mentioned in Book I, Chapter XIV) symbolic of anything further in the novel?

2) Why the insistence on Twemlow's part to discover who Veneering's oldest friend might be? Is there any meaning in it beyond the humorousness of such an obsession? Does Veneering's friendship turn out to be valuable in any sense? How is this friendship a symbol of a social class? What is Dickens' feeling toward this class? What are your feelings toward it? How does this compare with Dickens' treatment of the poor in his novel? Do you believe that Betty Higden's making a "fury of the Good Samaritan" is a realistic depiction of pride in poverty?

3) In what way does Mr. Podsnap compare and contrast with Mr. Veneering? Mr. Podsnap believes that even providence is under his protection. Is his inflated self-estimate in any way encouraged by his society? How are the Capitalists Veneering and Podsnap related to modern day Capitalists? Do Capitalists today have an inflated sense of their own importance? How does Capitalism influence your society?

4) Old Mr. Harmon respected the Boffins for their hard-work and integrity. In what way do you find the Boffins admirable? Are the Boffins more or less admirable after inheriting the Harmon fortune? Is the whole plotline with Mr. Boffin's obsession with misers believable, or do you find it too great of a stretch on Dickens' part? How do you feel about the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Boffin?

5) What is your take on the character of Sophronia Akersham Lammle? Is she sympathetic in any way? Do you think she is more a good person or a bad person? Are her actions in any way justifiable? Who do you blame more for the scheming behavior, Sophronia or her husband? How do these characters compare to and contrast with Mr. Fledgeby?

6) In speaking of Mrs. Betty Higden, Dickens says that she is not a logical-reasoning woman. However, he reflects, "hearts may count in Heaven as high as heads." Are you familiar with anyone that you value for their heart alone? How do you weigh the value of these two attributes? Do you believe one is superior to the other? In what ways? Do you think that Betty Higden represents the attributes of the heart well? Which other characters in the novel represent this side of human nature? Do you feel that Mr. Rokesmith's statement, "No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it for anyone else" (Book III, Chapter IX), is a wise saying?

7) How do you feel about Bradley Headstone, and why? Do you believe that he truly cares for Charlie Hexam? For Lizzie Hexam? Compare and contrast Mr. Headstone's actions under the influence of unrequited love with that of Mrs. Peecher. How would things have turned out if Mr. Headstone had married Mrs. Peecher? How is Charlie Hexam like his headmaster? In what ways is he different? What do you predict for Charlie's future?

8) Dickens refers to the gold dust of the Golden Dustman as attracting admirers (Book I, Chapter XVII). Is there any relationship in this novel between the dust of the heaps and the gold dust of the Harmon wealth? What does dust symbolize in this novel? In what way, if any, is the symbolism of the dust related to the grinding of the money-mills (referred to in Book III, Chapter XVI)? If wealth is dust and ashes, then what does Dickens consider to be enduring and worthwhile?

9) At some point, Bella Wilfer begins to notice Mr. Rokesmith's effects on her. She asks herself, "How do I come to mind him when I don't care for him?" (Book II, Chapter VIII). Does this moral influence relate to love in any way? Is love somehow more worthy when it influences someone to be a better person? Is there any relationship between Bella's rectifying her relationship with her family to please Mr. Rokesmith and Lizzie Hexam's being convinced by Eugene Wrayburn to pursue an education in spite of her father's prohibition? How do these two love stories compare and contrast?

10) How do you feel about Jenny Wren, the Doll's Dressmaker? How does her relationship to other characters influence your feelings about her (Jenny's drunken father, Lizzie Hexam, Mr. Riah, Mr. Fledgeby, Eugene Wrayburn, Sloppy)? Does her being crippled make her sympathetic, even admirable? Which parts of her predicament add most to your sympathy and admiration? Is her maturity and sense of responsibility believable in a child character? In what ways have hardships strengthened you and others you know?

11) Considering the prominence of the word Friend in the title, and that Dickens dedicated his book to a friend "as a memorial of friendship," what part do you think friendship plays in the novel? What part does friendship play in the relationship between Charlie Hexam and Bradley Headstone? Mr. Headstone and Rogue Ridderhood? What about the friendship between Mr. Wegg and Mr. Venus? Mr. Venus and Mr. Boffin? What do you think of the friendship between Mortimer Lightwood and Eugene Wrayburn? Would you consider the relationship between the Boffins and Bella Wilfer a friendship? Do the lovers in this novel begin with friendship? How does friendship influence their relationships? Are there other important friendships depicted in the novel? In what way do all of these friendships contribute to our understanding of the characters? What influence have friendships had in your own life?

12) Do you think that Eugene Wrayburn was in any way influenced by his concern for Lizzie's probable reception by society? If so, was he in any way justified in his concern, was any of his concern for Lizzie's best interest? How would a poor reception affect Lizzie herself? Are the "feelings of gratitude, of respect, of admiration, and affection" that Twemlow attributes to Eugene in relationship to Lizzie (Book IV, "Chapter the Last") an adequate description of love? In what way is Eugene Wrayburn the "greater gentleman" for his marriage to Lizzie?