Dickens' "Our Mutual Friend" Trivia Quiz

Answer: Riderhood was accused of robbing a live man.

Gaffer believed that his actions were morally all right as you cannot rob a dead man. Money belonged to the world of the living and the dead belong to a different world. Riderhood's actions on the other hand were inexcusable and wrong. Gaffer was helped by his daughter, Lizzie, but she had no appreciation for her father's job.

Answer: Nicodemus Boffin

Naturally John Harmon was not really dead and popped up later in the story under two different pseudonyms: Julius Hanford and John Rokesmith. He was not sure if coming back from the dead would be the best option. Nicodemus Boffin, called Noddy, and his wife had been faithful servants to older Harmon. Boffin's instant riches earned him the nickname, "The Golden Dustman".

The Harmon fortune was based on dust, commonly known as garbage.

Answer: John Harmon had to marry her to receive his inheritance.

While Bella had been conflicted about marrying someone she hardly knew, she did miss the dreams of riches that left with John Harmon's supposed drowning. The Boffins eventually invited her to live with them, changing her outlook from a desire to marry well to making that a demand. She almost completely wrote off the poor Wilfer family as she took to being spoiled by riches very easily.

Answer: None of these

Society believed that Alfred Lammle had property and used his money to invest in shares. Society believed that his bride, Sophronia, was a lady of property. The truth of the matter was that they had both used these stories independently to marry well. Instead they ended up with a fellow con artist in an intriguing twist of irony.

Answer: Reading

Silas Wegg was hired by Noddy Boffin despite not liking Boffin's name. Mr. Boffin's learning only went as far as identifying the letter 'B' for Boffin. He realized that he was too old to learn, saying "I'm getting to be a old bird." Previously Wegg sold some fruits, sweets, and halfpenny ballads on the street in front of a great house he called "our house".

Answer: He wanted to buy back his leg.

Wegg's lack of leg became apparent on his first meeting Boffin, which he explained away as an accident. Now that he had a new job, he declared that he did not want to be "dispersed,...but should wish to collect myself like a genteel person." Mr. Venus ran a taxidermy shop on a darker alley than most and was an "articular of human bones".

He had bought Wegg's leg from a hospital porter after it had been amputated. When Wegg inquired about the cost of buying his leg back, Mr. Venus stated that it might have value as a "monstrosity".

Answer: John was hired as a secretary.

John Harmon had now acquired the name John Rokesmith. He had fond memories of the Boffins from when he was a boy, and they did not recognize him immediately. He was actually hired to be more of a manager or steward of the Boffins affairs, especially needed as they had little experience with wealth.

He absolutely won the Boffins' hearts when he composed an impromptu letter to himself including that details about salary would not be decided until later.

Answer: He rented from Bella's father.

As John Rokesmith, he rented some separate rooms from the Wilfer family and had little contact with them. His job with the Boffins gave him much more interaction with Bella. He decided that she was very shallow person but could not help falling in love with her. On Bella's side, she did not care for him, which gave the cruel twist that by coming back to life he could instantly marry her but not have her respect.

Answer: Ran a shop for dolls

Jenny Wren had the misfortune of being a cripple, having an alcoholic father, and an alcoholic grandfather. Yet she was full of kindness for allowing Lizzie to live with her. She also became Lizzie's confidant. Lizzie was later forced to leave, and Jenny proved a devoted friend by protecting Lizzie's whereabouts. Paul McCartney released a song in 2005 called 'Jenny Wren'.

Answer: He was her brother's teacher.

Charley Hexam was always a gifted learner. Lizzie had worked hard to give Charley a chance at an education. His chosen route of education would pull him into better society than Lizzie's. Headstone came with Charley on a visit to Lizzie to make sure she was "good company" for him. When Headstone came up with the idea to marry Lizzie, Charley backed the idea fully.

Answer: To clear her father's name

Gaffer Hexam had since drowned but was widely believed to be John Harmon's murderer. Eugene had entered the picture via his good friend, Mortimer Lightwood, who had been the lawyer for the Harmon estate. Lizzie ran away from London when she feared that Headstone would harm Eugene, leaving both men clueless as to her location.

Answer: Mr. Venus

Pleasant was essentially a good character despite her father. Her problem with Mr. Venus's proposal was his job. He made a decent amount of profit. However she was revolted by the actual work. Mr. Boffin helped to clear a way for the two to reconcile their differences.

Answer: He was nearly murdered.

After discovering Lizzie's whereabouts, a jealous Bradley Headstone nearly killed Eugene, leaving him for dead in the water. Lizzie discovered Eugene's near dead body and managed to get him to safety, having a lot of practice pulling bodies out of water with her father. Not knowing if he would recover, Eugene married Lizzie. Fortunately Eugene did survive.

Answer: Rogue Riderhood

Riderhood had gotten a job as a lock gate keeper. He discovered that Headstone wore clothes similar to his own when assaulting Eugene. Therefore the crime would be pinned on him. Having lost Lizzie Hexam and facing a life of paying blackmail, Headstone pulled Riderhood into the water and drowned them both. Silas Wegg also attempted to blackmail the Boffins.

Answer: John Rokesmith (Harmon)

Much to John's delight, Bella found her true heart. She became shocked when Mr. Boffin started to let money go to his head and mistreat John. The couple apparently were thrown out when they ran off to marry. When John revealed his true identity, he also confessed to the Boffins' collaboration. John was instrumental in protecting the Boffins from Wegg's blackmailing scheme.