How Does Dickens Present Bella In Our Mutual Friend
1988 Words8 Pages
The Cunning Belle(a) In Dickens's Novel, Our Mutual Friend, Bella, a forefront of beauty and theatrics, is a much-discussed character in the novel. While a plethora of readers rejoice the change of heart in Bella, I question it. I believe Bella was ahead of her time; she evokes a sense of Ayn Rand's Objectivism--a philosophy of self-interest. Bella displays an unbridled opportunism in her endeavor to acquire wealth. The reader can see that she does not change through her theatrics, manipulation, constant focus on wealth, and with the aid of an unreliable narrator.
Bella has several theatrical monologues and conversations proclaiming her love of opulence and how destitute she is with her parents. When Bella resides with her parents, she…show more content… The readers are lead to believe that as the novel progresses and her love of money disseminates her previous opinions on Mr.Rokesmith do as well. Thus alluding to Bella's change of character. However, it seems so unlikely that Bella would turn her affections to him. “'Then are you going to be always there, Mr. Rokesmith?' she inquired, as if that would be a drawback.'Always? No. Very much there? Yes.''Dear me!' drawled Bella, in a tone of mortification.” (). Here Bella dreading the amount of time that Mr. Rokesmith will be spending at the Boffins. It is one thing to not want to marry someone for a lack of status, but it begs the question that Bella may loathe him as a person. Her intolerance for his general presence leads the reader to believe the Bellas dislike for Mr. Rokesmith goes beyond his wallet. Furthermore, Bella is a beautiful girl, she could have any man so there is no reason for her to court the man she so openly distastes. “...Miss Bella was dressed in as pretty colours as she could muster. There is no denying that she was as pretty as they and that she and the colours went very prettily together.”(). Many men throughout the novel have commented on how attractive Bella is and she is able to have her pick of men to court. Due to her being able to have any man there is no reason for her to court Rokesmith. However, when Bella spends a decent…show more content… Rokesmith’s fortune brings to view the next point of an unreliable narrator. The narrator of Our Mutual Friend unreliable in his presentation of his characters. For example, at the beginning of the novel, Mr Boffin hires a man off the street to read to him and handle his minor affairs. This man, Mr. Wegg, is essentially a con man, yet Mr. Boffin alludes to him as a scholar and gentleman and pays him substantially. “At this, Mr Boffin's eyes sparkled, and he shook Silas earnestly by the hand...What do you think of the terms, Wegg?' Mr Boffin then demanded, with unconcealed anxiety.” (). It is almost comical the level of nativity Mr. Boffin possesses. Mr. Boffin is absolutely delighted to have a man of Mr. Weggs ‘status,’ to work for him. Mr. Boffin's simplicity leads the readers to believe that he is not a very conniving man. Furthermore, Mr. Wegg proceeds to con Mr. Boffin even further by doubling his price. “'No, sir. I never did 'aggle and I never will 'aggle...Done, for double the money!'Mr Boffin seemed a little unprepared for this conclusion, but assented, with the remark, 'You know better what it ought to be than I do, Wegg...”(). If Mr. Boffin is so transparent that he can’t hide his anxiety and he also trusts someone he just met off the street implicitly then there is no way that he can be capable of deceiving everyone for the majority of the novel. Furthermore, if he is capable of this deception then the narrator isn’t being