# Mr. Podsnap — Our Mutual Friend character guide

> Mr. Podsnap in Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Podsnap, dear Mr. Podsnap

**First appearance:** 0011-xi-podsnappery

## Snapshot

A pompous City man whose creed is Podsnappery: whatever Providence meant is whatever Mr. Podsnap means, and the young person must never blush.

## Who they are

Mr. Podsnap is a self-satisfied businessman whose opinions are confined within close bounds, like his head within his shirt-collar, and enunciated with a pomp that creaks like his boots. He has a daughter, Georgiana, whom he has trained as an institution called the young person, shielded from anything that might bring a blush. His complacent respectability is the novel's target, and his household is the gilded cage into which the Lammles insinuate themselves.

## In the story

### [Podsnappery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xi-podsnappery)

Embodies 'Podsnappery' with his heavy, materialistic values and oppressive concern for the 'young person'; hosts a dinner and dance for his daughter's birthday.

### [A Piece of Work](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/iii-a-piece-of-work)

Participates in the campaign; telegraphs Mrs. Veneering when Veneering begins his speech; is cited as a wealthy merchant-prince.

### [The Voice of Society](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xvii-the-voice-of-society)

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

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/mr_podsnap
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters