Saturday, January 24, 2004
In class, we discussed at some length how all of the characters in Our Mutual Friend profit in one way or another from death and decay. There are many who profit immediately from the dead body presumed to be John Harmon’s, and some who profit by less direct methods. The Veneerings, for example, profit from telling the story of the corpse, but not directly from the corpse itself. But everyone in the book, one way or another, does end up making their living from death. Yet it is clear that some of the characters are more virtuous, and more deserving of what profit they gain, than others. What creates this distinction? I believe there are two important factors, both of which are revealed in the following quote from the second book of OMF: “Mrs. Boffin was not proof against the consideration set before her. She and her husband had worked too, and had brought their simple faith and honour clean out of dust-heaps. If they owed a duty to Betty Higden, of a surety that duty must be done.” (377)
It is clear that the Boffins are some of the most deserving characters in the novel. Much is made of their goodness in general, and in particular to each other, and everyone else who comes into frequent contact with them. Finding out why the Boffins may profit “cleanly” from decay, therefore, will cast light on the moral universe of the novel. The above quote points out the two major factors that allow the Boffins to profit from death without becoming tainted by it. The first of these is work. The Boffins “had worked too”, and had been honest, productive, dedicated servants their entire lives. The question of whether or not a character works goes a long way towards establishing their moral worthiness in OMF. Lizzie Hexam, another one of the unquestionably virtuous and good characters in the novel, is also a very hard and dedicated worker. But other characters who work are far less sympathetic. Gaffer Hexam, for example, was a working man, but his death is almost un-mourned. The second factor that needs to be present is hinted at in the quote above, when reference is made to the Boffins’ having “a duty to Betty Higden”. This “duty” doesn’t really exist. The Boffins have tried to make a better life for not one, but two minors under Betty’s care, and have done nothing to harm her. The “duty” they owe her is one created entirely from Mrs. Boffin’s affection for Betty Higden. And that affection points towards the second important factor, which is love. Mr. and Mrs. Boffin are in love with each other, very truly and deeply. Their love also spills out onto Bella Wilfer, John Rokesmith, Sloppy, Betty Higden, and anyone else they come into contact with. Because they are both hard-working and loving people, they can bring their profit “clean out of dust-heaps.”
Lizzie Hexam also loves selflessly, both her brother and her father in book one, and then her brother and Eugene Wrayburn, though it creates a major conflict for her, in book two. Probably the next most sympathetic character in OMF, John Rokesmith (revealed as John Harmon in book two), also fits the pattern. He works diligently and honestly as Mr. Boffin’s secretary, and he clearly loves the Boffins, and is falling in love with Bella. Unsympathetic characters nearly always seem to be lacking one of these two important distinctions. Mr. Wegg, for example, works, but loves no one more than himself. The Veneerings seem to love one another, but can hardly be said to work. The weak points in this analysis are Charlie Hexam and Bradley Headstone. But the pattern does fit for Charlie, and in a very marked way. Though he is very sympathetic in book one, and clearly loves his sister and wishes to raise his station in life through hard work, he becomes almost a villain in book two. He is still working, so what has changed? His affection for his sister only persists as long as she is doing what he wants her to. He cannot truly be said to love, any longer. Mr. Headstone is a more difficult case. He works (if not with great effect), and he clearly burns with a passionate love for Lizzie Hexam. However, as in the case of Charley, it is ultimately a very selfish love, and may not be true love at all.
It is clear that the Boffins are some of the most deserving characters in the novel. Much is made of their goodness in general, and in particular to each other, and everyone else who comes into frequent contact with them. Finding out why the Boffins may profit “cleanly” from decay, therefore, will cast light on the moral universe of the novel. The above quote points out the two major factors that allow the Boffins to profit from death without becoming tainted by it. The first of these is work. The Boffins “had worked too”, and had been honest, productive, dedicated servants their entire lives. The question of whether or not a character works goes a long way towards establishing their moral worthiness in OMF. Lizzie Hexam, another one of the unquestionably virtuous and good characters in the novel, is also a very hard and dedicated worker. But other characters who work are far less sympathetic. Gaffer Hexam, for example, was a working man, but his death is almost un-mourned. The second factor that needs to be present is hinted at in the quote above, when reference is made to the Boffins’ having “a duty to Betty Higden”. This “duty” doesn’t really exist. The Boffins have tried to make a better life for not one, but two minors under Betty’s care, and have done nothing to harm her. The “duty” they owe her is one created entirely from Mrs. Boffin’s affection for Betty Higden. And that affection points towards the second important factor, which is love. Mr. and Mrs. Boffin are in love with each other, very truly and deeply. Their love also spills out onto Bella Wilfer, John Rokesmith, Sloppy, Betty Higden, and anyone else they come into contact with. Because they are both hard-working and loving people, they can bring their profit “clean out of dust-heaps.”
Lizzie Hexam also loves selflessly, both her brother and her father in book one, and then her brother and Eugene Wrayburn, though it creates a major conflict for her, in book two. Probably the next most sympathetic character in OMF, John Rokesmith (revealed as John Harmon in book two), also fits the pattern. He works diligently and honestly as Mr. Boffin’s secretary, and he clearly loves the Boffins, and is falling in love with Bella. Unsympathetic characters nearly always seem to be lacking one of these two important distinctions. Mr. Wegg, for example, works, but loves no one more than himself. The Veneerings seem to love one another, but can hardly be said to work. The weak points in this analysis are Charlie Hexam and Bradley Headstone. But the pattern does fit for Charlie, and in a very marked way. Though he is very sympathetic in book one, and clearly loves his sister and wishes to raise his station in life through hard work, he becomes almost a villain in book two. He is still working, so what has changed? His affection for his sister only persists as long as she is doing what he wants her to. He cannot truly be said to love, any longer. Mr. Headstone is a more difficult case. He works (if not with great effect), and he clearly burns with a passionate love for Lizzie Hexam. However, as in the case of Charley, it is ultimately a very selfish love, and may not be true love at all.
