Charles Dickens's final completed novel, Our Mutual Friend, is widely regarded as one of his masterpieces, showcasing the mature expression of his artistic prowess. The novel intricately weaves a complex plot that delves into Dickens’s recurring themes of societal critique and class disparity. Through this multifaceted narrative, Dickens examines the intricacies of human connections across social barriers, often highlighting the unexpected ties binding disparate worlds.

Contrasting Worlds

The opening chapters provide a strong contrast between different societal spheres. The first chapter introduces Gaffer Hexam, portrayed as a "bird of prey," navigating the Thames with his daughter Lizzie, searching for the drowned bodies that provide their livelihood. This somber depiction is juxtaposed with the opulent dinner party of the newly affluent Veneerings in the second chapter. By the third, Dickens establishes a surprising connection between these seemingly separate worlds, illustrating how different social strata, while mentally isolated from each other, are physically and inevitably linked.

Reversals and Inversions

A prominent feature of Our Mutual Friend is its inversion of societal expectations. This is evident in Betty Higden's persecution by well-meaning charity, the reversed dynamics between Jenny Wren and her father, and the complex relationship between the virtuous Riah and the unscrupulous Fledgeby. These reversals reflect Dickens’s evolving approach to moral dilemmas, portraying these issues as increasingly ambiguous and challenging, while intensifying his literary exploration of them.

Marriage, Money, and Society

The interplay between marriage, wealth, and societal values is a central theme of the novel, explored through the unions of Harmon and Bella, Eugene and Lizzie, and the Lammles. In each case, monetary concerns heavily influence the relationships. Harmon must masquerade as impoverished to ensure Bella's affection is genuine, Eugene defies societal expectations to marry Lizzie without financial gain, and the Lammles are duped by the mistaken belief in each other's wealth.

Money's Corruptive Power

Throughout the narrative, money is depicted as a destructive and corrupting force. Old Harmon falls victim to his own wealth, and his son nearly suffers a similar fate. Boffin feigns corruption to demonstrate money's corrosive influence, while Bella narrowly escapes its grasp. The symbolic use of the river and the dustheap further accentuates these themes, illustrating the pervasive effects of wealth.

Symbolism of the River and Dustheap

Dickens employs two major symbols in the novel: the river and the dustheap. The river, like the epidemic in Bleak House, cuts across societal boundaries, symbolizing life's passage and possessing a sacramental essence—offering salvation or damnation. Characters face transformative experiences through encounters with the river, as seen in John Harmon and Eugene Wrayburn's brushes with death and subsequent rebirths. Conversely, for figures like Headstone and Riderhood, the river signifies death.

The dustheap, a prevalent feature of Victorian England, serves as a metaphor for wealth intertwined with filth. Dustheaps, often containing hidden treasures, symbolize the absurdity of society's relentless pursuit of wealth. Dickens masterfully critiques this obsession, using characters like Wegg, Gaffer Hexam, and the Lammles to reveal the pervasive madness of money hunting across all social levels. Through Our Mutual Friend, Dickens captures the magnetic allure of wealth, exposing its influence on human behavior with unparalleled insight.