A Larger Meaning in Meaningless Poetry?

While reading Our Mutual Friend I sometimes fall into the patterns of the text, and forget to notice important sections or ideas that Charles Dickens clearly wants to separate. He does this by separating the chapters into shorter soap-opera like stories, by releasing them in segments, and slowly connecting the characters through series of events. However it was not until lately I realized he inserts poems or songs to capitalize on a moment and clearly define its importance (possibly that is!).

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The first use of poetry is used to explain the origin of Rumty’s nickname, “Rumty iddity, row dow dow, sing toodlely, teedlely, bow wow wow” (41, Dickens). The poem is completely meaningless and seems to have no greater importance, however if is clearly separated from the rest of the text. However to futher explore my idea that the poetry has a larger meaning in the novel I move on to the next instance.

The second encounter I found was a conversation between Mr. Wegg and Mr. Boffin, in which Mr. Wegg breaks out into a ballad to (insignificantly) describe a situation in the form of poetry.

Although the poem does not allude to much greater meaning, “And my eldest brother lean’d upon his sword, Mr. Boffin, and wiped away a tear” (60, Dickens), it impresses Mr. Boffin as he engages further into conversation that was otherwise irrelevant. The instance of poetry does little for the novel except improve the relationship between Boffin and Wegg.

Mr. Wegg has been hired to instruct Mr. Boffin in literacy. Mr. Boffin is highly impressed by his words and admires the ability to converse. However there is great irony in the whole situation because Mr. Wegg is not entirely literate, but because Mr. Boffin can afford a teacher he now is willing to pay, without the use of looking into credentials.

A next instance develops in a conversation between Mrs. and Mr. Boffin. The poem also does not have much significance within the larger story, however after Mrs. Boffin has completed the recitation of the poem Mr. Boffin replies, “Correct to the letter!...And I consider that the poetry brings us both in, in a beautiful manner” (183, Dickens). The poem itself is a mundane description of the pair, however Mr. Boffin’s reaction is the key. He clearly feels more dignified and wealthy now that the two of them can recite poetry, going to show that it doesn’t take much for a change in class.

After considering the last two instances I found (both involving Mr. Wegg) I am not inclined to say that the poetry has any larger meaning but to induce irony in the newfound wealth of the Boffins. Mr. Wegg’s poems are meaningless with no underlying connection or play on words for the reader to pick up. It is simply used as another jab at wealth in the larger society, and the influence and corruption it plays on Mr. Boffin.

Alexa