Reading 1001 discussion

I know!..... I'm posting early. I finished a week or so ago, and wanted to get these questions up before I returned the book to the library.

Kristal posted the link in the first part's thread for your reviews.

December is for parts 15 to 'chapter the last'!

These questions are a combo of me and my aforementioned resources.

****=> I tried hard not to include spoilers, but some of the questions MAY give you a hint. Don't read the questions or any answers until you are done!!*** This novel is WAY too good to ruin...... :)


Let’s bring this question forward from the first post, since George (and maybe others) thought it may end up being a spoiler if answered back in the first part of our reading:

1. Why may the novel be called Our Mutual Friend? What are some advantages of the title?

2. A lot happens in Part IV, the end of Book III. Did you anticipate any of the events that would be taking place in the last Book?

3. What did you think about Lammles' acquaintances respond to the news of their bankruptcy? Do you think they should have offered to help?

4. The action is rising to a crescendo in Book IV – how did you find the Headstone/Riderhood plotline? Were you compelled? Repelled? Surprised? Satisfied or dissatisfied?

5. Mrs Wilfer is an interesting ‘minor’ character, what do you think Dickens is trying to say to his readers via this character?

6. In lieu of a real spoilers, I’ll use this question from Florence Boos’ (U. of Iowa) notes: What effect is created by the use of mysteries, surprises, reversals and conversions? Are these melodramatic effects consistent with the novel's themes and characterizations?

7. Who’s plot-line do you think ended the most happily?

8. This question is from the Penguin readers guide, I think it is a good one and wonder if they were most offended by ‘Chapter the Last”. : Many of Dickens’s contemporaries thought the world of eccentrics depicted in Our Mutual Friend went too far. Do you think this conceit got away from Dickens, or did he have a purpose?

I finished a few days ago. Am I the first in this group?

Q#1: I remember that the phrase "Our mutual friend' is used in one of the early chapters referring to Harmon/Rokesmith, but as it has been at least two months since I read that part, I can't remember who said it. Anyone remember?

The website Schmoop, apparently aimed at high school students & perhaps college freshmen, says this on the title:

Our Mutual Friend takes its title from the fact that there are a whole bunch of characters in this book whose lives overlap in ways they don't even realize. John Harmon, for example, knows all kinds of different people from different social circles, but these people might know nothing about each other outside of their connection to him. The image of John as everyone's "mutual friend" helps us think about how much we're all socially connected, even as we try to distance ourselves from one another with things like money and status.
Dickens is also being subtly snarky with this title. There's a huge hullabaloo over "marrying within one's class".

Q#2 (Did you anticipate any of the events that would be taking place in the last Book?): I was certainly hoping that more would be explained and that the Lizzie Hexam- Bradley Headstone- Eugene Wrayburn situation would be resolved, and that Wegg wouldn't get away with his chicanery (I didn't think Dickens would allow that).

Q#3: Dickens wanted to make a point that people of upper class often are of rather poor character.

Q#4: Poor Headstone (great Dickensian name), his attraction to Lizzie became his downfall while it became Wrayburn's uplifting. So romantic attraction can be either a constructive or destructive force. Dickens is known to have had a younger mistress in his later adulthood, so I wonder which it was for him? Both? I thought the scheming and violence entertaining, and I'm sure it gave the serial-reading audience of the time much to talk about.

Q#5: I think he was saying that becoming wealthy has a bad influence on many people but not if their character is strong and good enough.

Q#7: Dickens created not one or two but five or six villains in this work (Riderhood, Wegg, Headstone, and Mr Boffin the most egregious). Eugene Wrayburn is a semi-villain for stalking Lizzie and being lazy and fond of drinking. Only Riderhood started out as a villain, the others evolved into them, some because of avarice. Dickens ended by disposing of two of them at once (Riderhood & Headstone) and Boffin was redeemed as only having been a villain by pretense. Wegg got off rather lightly.
I would say Wrayburn's character had the happiest ending because his love improved his character so much that it was returned and he married her. All the women characters did end up as saintly, Bella the most improved and even Riderhood's daughter improved.

I did enjoy the book quite a lot and was glad I stuck with it.

George P. wrote: "I finished a few days ago. Am I the first in this group?

I remember that the phrase "Our mutual friend' is used in one of the early chapters referring to Harmon/Rokesmith, but as it has been at le..."

I think Schmoop is correct. Of course, Harmon as the mutual friend is the link and driver to the story.

I liked the last part and how nicely Dickens tied up the loose ends. After you read this book you really are invested in their lives. Alls well that ends well.

Kristel wrote: "I liked the last part and how nicely Dickens tied up the loose ends. After you read this book you really are invested in their lives. Alls well that ends well."

I agree, all's well that ends well! I don't really expect/demand a happy ending of the novels I read, but I have to say I was very pleased this novel ended happily.

To answer some of the questions......

2. I did not anticipate the twist that occurred in this part - at all. Dickens really had me going. I am pretty sure I exclaimed 'oh my god' out loud when I realized the story I thought I was reading was actually a completely different kind of story.

3. I agree with George's assessment. As well as being of poor character, none of the upper class depicted are reflective enough to take the Lammle's comeuppance as a cautionary tale.

4. Wow, what a plot line. It was so well written and dramatic. I did not expect it to be resolved as it was (and in fact, did wonder how Dickens was going to have it end), but it felt like exactly the right ending. In hindsight, I now wonder if Headstone was an example of education allowing someone to rise up, but Dickens is showing us that it won't change your fundamental character (particularly if it is deeply flawed).

7. For sentimental reasons, I like how Lizzie and Wrayburn's story ended. However, I think the Boffin's story ended the most happily. Despite the ups and downs of the story they both remain good natured, good hearted, happy people who gain materially along the way.

I didn’t see the plot twist either.

1. I concur about the fact that John Harmon/Rokesmith/(Julius) Handford was the mutual friend, under the guise of his multiple identities.

2. The revelation that the Boffins were all in in the scheme concocted by John Harmon was quite a surprise; I feel that this fact alone made the ending a lot more interesting and slightly less disappointing than if it had been written without this twist. Otherwise, the fate of most of the characters following logically the hints that were provided earlier in the novel.

3. It just highlighted the superficial and bad character of the higher classes, ready to abandon the peers when they hit a rough patch and they are no longer useful for them.

4. Two bad apples got together, one with slightly more cunning than the other. We know how it ended up.

5. Hard to say definitely, but you can see where the seeds of the old mercenary Bella character come from.

7. Most likely Wrayburn. But others also had a fairly happy ending: Jenny Wren and Sloppy; Lightwood finding a new friend in Twemlow; Riah released from the shackles of Fledgeby.

1. As the others have said John Harmon is the mutual friend the point where lots of "3 degrees of separation" meet.

2. I anticipated that Boffin would be redeemed I didn't expect the twist involving him.

3. Considering what we know of the Lamells they didn't actually deserve help. I am also guessing at that time that society would not expect anyone to help them. They made their choices they live with the consequences.

4. Both characters were repulsive to me but it was an interesting way for Dickens to punish "the bad".


6. I would say these are consistent with Dicken's writing. I loved the surprises, the mysteries and the conversions they all made for a colourful plot.

7. Bella & John and the Boffin's.

8. Good question I think the book would still feel complete without the last chapter and to my mind the dining room characters never really added anything to the story apart from a look at the lives of those of that class.

1. Agree with others that it refers to Harmon which is the nexus to most of the cast in the book.
2. As I often do, I pre-read the plot and spoiled everything for myself so no. I did enjoy it all though.
3. It does not surprise me that they aren’t helped: as others have mentioned its commentary of the fair weather friends attitude of the ruling class of the time.
4. I thought it was an interesting twist to tie up both of their villainies: but man, how many people get thrown or fall into the lock in this book?
5. Mrs. Wilfer seems to be in there to demonstrate who Bella could become without softening her nature.
6. I feel like mystery was a necessary part of the novel to have a surprise karmic payoff for the characters who don’t intentionally pursue wealth and buy into social climbing.
7. Bella’s and John’s I would say.
8. I think it all had a purpose, but some of the satire about monied eccentrics did get a bit heavy handed. But, overall, I did enjoy this novel quite a bit and would keep it on the list.

1. Why may the novel be called Our Mutual Friend? What are some advantages of the title?
As others have said, it refers to Harmon

2. A lot happens in Part IV, the end of Book III. Did you anticipate any of the events that would be taking place in the last Book?
I read this previously, so I did anticipate the events. I may not have on my first reading, but I can't remember.

3. What did you think about Lammles' acquaintances respond to the news of their bankruptcy? Do you think they should have offered to help?
They weren't worthy of help and many of their peers weren't of strong enough character to help others.

4. The action is rising to a crescendo in Book IV – how did you find the Headstone/Riderhood plotline? Were you compelled? Repelled? Surprised? Satisfied or dissatisfied?
Not surprising and definitely compelling. Bad guy vs. bad guy.

5. Mrs Wilfer is an interesting ‘minor’ character, what do you think Dickens is trying to say to his readers via this character?
Mrs. Wilfer is a cold, nasty woman. Her character helps explain Bella's initial attitude and it also shows what Bella could one day become.

7. Who’s plot-line do you think ended the most happily?
Quite a few characters had happy endings and became better people. It was between Bella and John, and Lizzie and Wrayburn.