Book Report : Our Mutual Friend

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Author                         : Charles Dickens

Publisher                     : Dian Rakyat, 1995

Publication Date         : Serialized 1864–5; book form 1865

Genre                          : Novel

            Taking place in England at 19^th century, the story begins when John Harmon is came back to his hometown in order to fulfill his father’s last will. Old John Harmon had made a very strange will. He would give all his money to his son, John, but only if he agreed to marry a girl called Bella Wilfer. Unfortunately, John Harmon is thought to have been murdered soon after he left his ship. Jesse Hexam and his daughter, Lizzie, find a dead body in the Thames River that later on is identified as Harmon’s.

            Soon after the news spread, a pale-faced man named Julius Handford comes to look at the dead body then disappears into the dark street after he saw it. After John Harmon’s dead, the two servants of Harmon’s family, Noddy Boffin and his wife inherit the property. Mr. Boffin found that money can make a lot of trouble to him and his wife, so he decide to apply a mysterious man named John Rokesmith as their secretary.

            Mr. Boffin and his wife enjoy their new wealth and leisure, but they regret that the only son of old Harmon didn’t live to enjoy the fortune that actually should be his. So the Boffins invite Bella Wilfer to live with them in their grand new house, wishing to provide her with the kind of life she might have had as John Harmon’s wife. But later on, money have spoilt Bella and makes her think that money is everything she needs.

            In the other hand, after the lost of her father, Lizzie Hexam works for Jenny Wren, the Dolls’ Dressmaker. Eventually, Lizzie becomes good friend with Jenny because she likes to help Jenny and never been bothered with Jenny’s disabilities. Everything is smooth for Lizzie until her brother, Charley Hexam and his schoolmaster, Bradley Headstone visit her. That meeting has made Bradley fall in love with Lizzie. But there is another person who loves Lizzie, he is Eugene Wrayburn, a lawyer. So there are two gentlemen who fall in love with Lizzie Hexam. However, Headstone’s affection scares Lizzie then she flees to another area.

            Maybe you’re wandering now, who is the main character? If it is John Harmon, why he died in the beginning? Well, the good news is he is not died. The one who died is his imposter, George Radfoot. After the fake John Harmon pronounced to be dead, the real John Harmon disguise himself as Julius Handford, then as John Rokesmith to find out what kind of girl Bella Wilfer was. And then he works for the Boffins as their secretary.

            While working for the Boffins, John has some opportunities to talk with Bella Wilfer. And one day, John proposed Bella but Bella rejects him with disdain. Day by day, Mr. Boffin begun to get more miserly, but this is all part of a charade to show Bella Wilfer that money is not everything. When Mr. Boffin tries to discharge John Rokesmith, Bella has stand for Rokesmith’s side. Bella has become wiser, having seen how money and wealth have changed Mr. Boffin into an ill-tempered old man. She refuses to stay any longer with the Boffins and returns to her father. Then Bella marries Rokesmith because she loves him, and he eventually reveals that he is John Harmon.

            By the end of the book, all the bad guys are punished and the good guys are rewarded. Mr. Headstone drown in a river with Mr. Riderhood. Charley Hexam continues his study to make a better life. John Harmon and Bella Wilfer move into a fancy house in London and takes the Boffins as their loyal servants. Eugene Wrayburn marries Lizzie Hexam and he starts to recover from his wound.

            This is a wonderful book to read. This books is very classic when the bad guys are getting the ‘Sad Ending’ and the good guys are getting the ‘Happy Ending’. It is an excitement to see every characters’ efforts to get a better life. This book tries to tell us that money is not everything. Money can’t buy happiness, happiness can only be found if your heart feels warm and comfy when you see or do something. I am truly recommend this book for your teatime companion.

This is my favorite quote, when Bella finally understand the situation :

“I think I understand now, why you were always talking about money. You saw me becoming greedy and hard. So you pretended to be greedy and hard too, just to show me what it was like.”