How Dickens Presents Marriage in "Our Mutual Friend" Edward Deng 12th Grade

The theme of marriage is a prevalent one throughout the novel, often utilised by Dickens to convey the prominence of values such as wealth and status within its contemporary society. The depiction of marriage in the novel acts as a vehicle through which Dickens reveals the broader aspects of differing class backgrounds and social standings by the contrasting presentation of a variety of marriages or desired marriages. He juxtaposes the reality of marrying for personal gain, such as is with the Lammles, with the idealised notion of marrying for the sake of love and happiness, such as is with the Boffins, to further the key themes of greed and self-prioritisation that he shows to be rampant throughout Victorian society; Dickens suggests that, despite marriage having the potential to be a positive source of fulfilment, it may also become a detrimental burden, depending on one’s true motivations.

Firstly, Dickens presents marriage as a potential means for acquiring greater wealth and social status in Victorian society, especially for young, middle-class women who were expected to marry into affluent families, and as a way to bolster one’s external identity. This is exemplified through Charley Hexam’s genuine belief that Lizzie’s...