Our Mutual Friend · Chapter
Mr. Boffin in Consultation explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. Boffin consults with Mortimer Lightwood about his inheritance of the Harmon fortune, reflecting on the late John Harmon's miserly ways and his own and Mrs. Boffin's past kindness to the Harmon children. He then interviews John Rokesmith, who seeks employment as a secretary, but Mr. Boffin mentions he already has a literary man (Silas Wegg) and suggests Rokesmith call at the Bower.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This scene is the dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak of Betty Higden’s life…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Wealth and Corruption
Mr. Boffin expresses unease about the burden of the large fortune, suggesting that the pursuit of wealth can be corrupting and unsatisfying.
- Charity and Hypocrisy
Mr. Boffin recounts how he and Mrs. Boffin stood as friends to the Harmon children, contrasting their kindness with the old man's harshness.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Boffin
Consults with Mortimer Lightwood about his inheritance, reminisces about the old Harmon, and interviews John Rokesmith for a secretary position.
- Mortimer Lightwood
Advises Mr. Boffin on the legal completion of the inheritance and discusses the nature of the fortune.
- John Rokesmith
Applies to Mr. Boffin for a secretary position; is told to call at the Bower in a week or two.
- Young Blight
Receives a gift of two pounds from Mr. Boffin for his attention to Mr. Boffin's affairs.
Key passages
“It would have been better for him if he hadn't so given himself up to it. You may depend upon it, that he found it a great lot to take care of!”
Mr. Boffin suggests that the old man's obsessive pursuit of wealth ultimately became a burden rather than a blessing.
Reflects Mr. Boffin's ambivalence about the inheritance and his critique of greed.
“I'd give the wide wide world, I would, to run away with him!”
Mrs. Boffin expressed a deep, emotional desire to protect and escape with the young John Harmon.
Highlights the Boffins' genuine affection for the Harmon children.
