# Mr. Venus — Our Mutual Friend character guide > Mr. Venus in Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Venus, Cock Robin, the unfortunate Mr. Venus **First appearance:** 0007-vii-mr-wegg-looks-after-himself ## Snapshot A melancholy articulator of bones and taxidermist in a dingy shop, Mr. Venus is drawn into Silas Wegg's blackmail plot and quietly wishes he were not. ## Who they are Venus reconstructs skeletons for a living and keeps a shop full of oddities, including a preserved human hand and a young alligator, and he speaks of his trade with a mournful precision. When Wegg brings him a discovered will and a scheme to squeeze the Golden Dustman, Venus becomes a reluctant accomplice whose conscience keeps snagging on the enterprise. His refusal to burn the document, and his uneasy loyalty, make him a hinge on which the Boffin plot turns. ## Relationships ### [Silas Wegg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/silas_wegg) _professional_ Mr. Venus, a taxidermist, initially partners with Wegg in a scheme to defraud Boffin, but later betrays Wegg out of conscience. ### [Mr. Boffin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/mr_boffin) _professional_ Mr. Boffin employs Mr. Venus as a taxidermist and later as an ally in exposing Wegg's conspiracy, rewarding his honesty. ### [Eugene Wrayburn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/eugene_wrayburn) _professional_ Eugene hires Mr. Venus for minor tasks and later relies on his testimony to expose Wegg's plot, maintaining a cordial business relationship. ### [Silas Wegg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/silas_wegg) _professional_ Mr. Venus, a taxidermist, initially partners with Wegg in a scheme to defraud Boffin, but later betrays Wegg out of conscience. ### [Eugene Wrayburn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/eugene_wrayburn) _professional_ Eugene hires Mr. Venus for minor tasks and later relies on his testimony to expose Wegg's plot, maintaining a cordial business relationship. ### [Silas Wegg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/silas_wegg) _professional_ Mr. Venus, a taxidermist, initially partners with Wegg in a scheme to defraud Boffin, but later betrays Wegg out of conscience. ### [Mr. Boffin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/mr_boffin) _professional_ Mr. Boffin employs Mr. Venus as a taxidermist and later as an ally in exposing Wegg's conspiracy, rewarding his honesty. ### [Mr. Boffin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/mr_boffin) _professional_ Mr. Boffin employs Mr. Venus as a taxidermist and later as an ally in exposing Wegg's conspiracy, rewarding his honesty. ## In the story ### [Mr. Wegg Looks After Himself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/vii-mr-wegg-looks-after-himself) A taxidermist and articulator of bones, in low spirits due to unrequited love; he agrees to hold Wegg's leg for him. ### [In Which a Friendly Move Is Originated](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/vii-in-which-a-friendly-move-is-originated) Delivers the purchased packet to Wegg; discusses old Mr. Harmon's secretive nature and possible hidden items; agrees to Wegg's proposal. ### [Book the Third: A Long Lane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/book-the-third-a-long-lane) Mr. Venus is reluctantly involved in Wegg's scheme, though he shows signs of moral conflict. ### [The Golden Dustman Falls Into Worse Company](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/vi-the-golden-dustman-falls-into-worse-company) Visits Wegg at the Bower, expressing discontent with the lack of movement in their plan, but is drawn into Wegg's suspicions and agrees to follow Boffin. ### [The Friendly Move Takes Up a Strong Position](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/vii-the-friendly-move-takes-up-a-strong-position) Partners with Wegg, distrusts him, and reveals his past interest in Pleasant Riderhood. ### [Mr. Wegg Prepares a Grindstone for Mr. Boffin’s Nose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xiv-mr-wegg-prepares-a-grindstone-for-mr-boffin-s-nose) Secretly meets with Mr. Boffin to confess his role in Wegg's scheme and reveal the existence of the later will; refuses to take any dishonest profit and seeks to return to 'the right.' ### [The Golden Dustman Sinks Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/iii-the-golden-dustman-sinks-again) Accompanies Mr. Boffin to the Bower, has prepared the way for Wegg, and later backs up Boffin; he closes his shop and produces the document when asked. ### [Checkmate to the Friendly Move](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xiv-checkmate-to-the-friendly-move) Venus has been deputed by Wegg to keep Mr. Boffin under inspection. He is present at the confrontation and assists in opening the street door for Wegg's ejection. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/mr_venus - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters