This question must be answered in portions, since there
are several prongs involved in the response for each novel. Therefore, this response
begins with Our Mutual Friend. In Our Mutual Friend, Dickens illustrates the
senselessness of racism through the relationship between Fledgeby and his humble servant
and employee, Mr. Riah. Mr. Riah is Jewish and Fledgeby continually and unjustly
torments him without apology. Often, his cruel remarks include references to Mr. Riah’s
race. His ridiculous and unreasonable treatment of an elderly and honest man makes him
appear detestable.
The issue of gender is addressed in a
manner that suggests the folly of subordinating women to second class citizenship. John
Harmon can only inherit his father’s riches if he marries Bella Wilfer, a woman he has
never seen. Moreover, if he fails to marry her, he will be completely disinherited. Both
John Harmon and Bella Wilfer are aware of these conditions. Bella resents the fact that
she is treated like mere chattel. Likewise, the chaste and guileless Georgiana Podsnap
is the target of a conspiracy. Her dearest friend, Sophronia Lammle conspires with
Fledgeby and Alfred Lammle to trap her in a loveless marriage so that her fortune will
be at her husband’s disposal.
Finally, The demarcation
between social classes was rigid, as illustrated in the relationship between Lizzie
Hexam and Eugene Wrayburn, the unprincipled attorney. Wrayburn is immediately drawn to
Lizzie because she is beautiful. However, as his friend, Mortimer Lightwood, often
remarks, his interest in her is fleeting. His intentions are dishonorable and he will,
if given the chance, ruin her. He would never marry her because she is beneath him and
he would be shunned by others in his social class. It is only because Lizzie is poor
that she can be victimized by a man such as Wrayburn. Even her own brother, Charley,
forgets her acts of loving—kindness and unfairly berates her for sullying the family’s
reputation.
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