History Literature / OurMutualFriend

* RealityEnsues: Bradley Headstone [[spoiler:tries to frame Rogue Riderhood for the attack on Eugene Wrayburn... but not only does it fail, it doesn't even get off the ground; nobody even suspects Riderhood or believes for a moment that anyone besides Bradley is guilty.]]

** Charley Hexam learns that [[spoiler:Bradley Headstone has nearly beaten Eugene Wrayburn to death]], and rejects him.

* DomesticAbuser: Rogue Riderhood dispenses his version of parental duty in the form of a boot tossed at his daughter's head.

* DemotedToExtra: Twemlow and Mr. Riah have only a few minutes' screentime in the 1998 series.

A body is found floating on the Thames, identified as John Harmon, the heir to a great fortune, and -- well -- things go from nasty to nastier, and one of the [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters biggest]] and [[GambitPileup most complicated]] plotlines in literature begins, set against a backdrop of VictorianLondon (and the [[VictorianBritain surrounding countryside]]), the river Thames in particular.

* LastNameBasis: It was VictorianBritain, after all, so most of the male characters are referred to primarily by their last names. Except by their family members.

* SickSadWorld

* ObfuscatingStupidity: Jenny Wren, who despite being a CloudCuckoolander is one of the most observant and insightful characters of the book.

* The Reveal:

* AbusiveParents: Old Mr. Harmon, and Rogue Riderhood.

* ClearMyName: John Rokesmith is accused of the murder of John Harmon. [[spoiler: He doesn't have a terribly hard time clearing himself of those charges.]]

* The Reveal: [[spoiler: John Harmon isn't dead. He's John Rokesmith.]]

* [[spoiler: DrivenToSuicide]]

* [[spoiler: FakingTheDead]]: The Harmon Murder is one of the driving forces of the book...

* [[spoiler: TakingYouWithMe: Bradley Headstone's murder-suicide on Rogue Riderhood.]]

* {{Will}}: And it's implied there are even more than the ones that are found.

* Will: And it's implied there are even more than the ones that are found.

This book has been adapted into three different TV miniseries, and the Young Shakespeare Players recently did an [[http://youngshakespeareplayers.org/dickens.html eleven-hour STAGE adaptation]].

** Silas Wegg attempts to blackmail Mr. Boffin with a new {{Will}} he's found, leaving all the property to the crown. [[spoiler: It turns out there's a THIRD {{Will}}, leaving everything once again to Mr. Boffin.]]

* IronicNickname: Fledgeby is called "Fascination Fledgeby" behind his back, on account of being one of the most boring people his acquaintances have ever encountered. They don't know [[CompleteMonster what he is]], obviously.

The final completed novel by CharlesDickens, and quite possibly his [[DarkerAndEdgier darkest]].

A body is found floating on the Thames, identified as John Harmon, the heir to a great fortune, and -- well -- things go from nasty to nastier, and one of the [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters biggest]] and [[ThirtyXanatosPileup most complicated]] plotlines in literature begins, set against a backdrop of VictorianLondon (and the [[VictorianBritain surrounding countryside]]), the river Thames in particular.

* ThirtyXanatosPileup: How many different plots are running at any one time here?

This book has been adapted into three different TV miniseries, and the Young Shakespeare Players recently did an [[http://youngshakespeareplayers.org/dickens.html eleven-hour '''stage''' adaptation]].

This book has been adapted into three different TV miniseries, and the Young Shakespeare Players recently did an [[http://youngshakespeareplayers.org/dickens.html eleven-hour ''stage'' adaptation]].

** Charley Hexam learns that [[spoiler: Bradley Headstone has nearly beaten Eugene Wrayburn to death]], and rejects him.

* HenpeckedHusband: Reginald Wilfer, who was apparently something of an AuthorInsert.
* IronicNickname: "Fascination" Fledgeby is called that behind his back, on account of being one of the most boring people his acquaintances have ever encountered. They don't know [[CompleteMonster what he is]], obviously.

* ObfuscatingStupidity: Jenny Wren, who despite being the CloudCuckoolander is one of the most observant and insightful characters of the book.

* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler: Bradley Headstone, who commits murder-suicide when blackmailed]]

* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: Alfred Lammle, after learning that it's really Fledgeby who has been screwing him over (and pretty much everyone else in the book as well) the whole time, [[spoiler: crams a mixture of salt and tobacco into Fledgeby's nose and mouth to prevent him crying for help, and then thrashes him with his cane so hard that the cane breaks... *twice*.]]

* {{Catchphrase}}: Boffin's "Mornin', mornin', mornin'!"

* [[spoiler: FakingTheDead]]: The Harmon Murder is one of the driving forces of the book,

* TheManBehindTheMan: Fledgeby, who is controlling Pubsey & Co., without a soul knowing besides him and Riah.

* ObfuscatingStupidity: Jenny Wren.

* WaifProphet: Jenny Wren, the little doll's dressmaker who lives in a world of harsh reality and poetic fantasy... slightly subverted, since much of the fantastical elements are all her fanciful daydreams, but she does display some extraordinary insights.

* UptownGirl: The gender-swapped version, as Eugene loves Lizzie, but feels he can't marry her because he comes from an old-money family and she's the daughter of a waterside "character," and what would society say? He eventually sees the light after [[a NearDeathExperience, and he marries her to save her reputation]].