Alfred Lammle Character Analysis in Our Mutual Friend

Alfred Lammle is an ambitious, greedy man without much money who is an acquaintance of the Veneerings. He’s tricked into marrying Sophronia, believing she has money. Although his marriage begins unhappily with a lie, he and Sophronia soon become partners in their scheming. Alfred is a more ruthless schemer than his wife, with seemingly no sense of morality. He beats up Fledgeby after learning that Fledgeby has financially ruined him, and ultimately, he and Sophronia leave England in disgrace to escape their dire financial situation.

Alfred Lammle Quotes in Our Mutual Friend

The Our Mutual Friend quotes below are all either spoken by Alfred Lammle or refer to Alfred Lammle. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Society, Class, and Character Theme Icon

So, the happy pair, with this hopeful marriage contract thus signed, sealed, and delivered, repair homeward. If, when those infernal finger-marks were on the white and breathless countenance of Alfred Lammle, Esquire, they denoted that he conceived the purpose of subduing his dear wife Mrs Alfred Lammle, by at once divesting her of any lingering reality or pretence of self-respect, the purpose would seem to have been presently executed. The mature young lady has mighty little need of powder, now, for her downcast face, as he escorts her in the light of the setting sun to their abode of bliss.

Related Characters: Twemlow, Alfred Lammle, Sophronia Lammle, The Veneerings

Page Number and Citation: 130

Explanation and Analysis:

Alfred Lammle Character Timeline in Our Mutual Friend

The timeline below shows where the character Alfred Lammle appears in Our Mutual Friend. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Twemlow is confused, because the Veneerings are acting like this young man and young lady, Alfred Lammle and Sophronia, are their oldest friends, and yet surely, they’re younger than Twemlow himself.... (full context)

...to do it and since Mr. Veneering feels he doesn’t look the part. They hold Alfred and Sophronia’s wedding. Afterwards, Twemlow is sad because one of the bridesmaids reminds him of... (full context)

Alfred and Sophronia Lammle go on a honeymoon, and it takes two weeks for them to... (full context)

At the dinner, Alfred and Sophronia attach themselves to the Veneerings, as they do at most social gatherings. At... (full context)

...more than any other country in the world for the poor. Sophronia introduces Georgiana to Alfred and says that all of them must be good friends from that point on. With... (full context)

Sophronia continues her scheme of befriending Georgiana. Sophronia and Alfred have been telling all their friends that their current house is just a temporary residence... (full context)

According to Alfred, there’s a young man named Fascination Fledgeby who likes Georgiana. The only problem is that... (full context)

Alfred, Sophronia, Georgiana, and Fledgeby meet for dinner. Fledgeby struggles even with small talk and eventually... (full context)

After the dinner, Sophronia and Alfred talk privately about what a “dolt” they think Fledgeby is. Still, Georgiana’s family has money,... (full context)

...choice of husband offended her family and left her estranged. At breakfast the next morning, Alfred asks Fledgeby what he thought of Georgiana. Fledgeby, who is 23 but has some of... (full context)

Fledgeby can sense that Alfred wants to use him for some scheme, but when he mentions this directly, Alfred gets... (full context)

On the first anniversary of Alfred and Sophronia’s wedding, Twemlow gets ready to go to a celebratory breakfast. At the breakfast,... (full context)

...with Twemlow. Making Twemlow swear to keep a secret, Sophronia tells Twemlow that she and Alfred have hatched a plan to get Georgiana to marry Fledgeby. Although Sophronia stands to make... (full context)

Fledgeby and Riah are interrupted when Alfred stops by for a visit. Fledgeby and Alfred go to talk without Riah. Alfred tells... (full context)

After Alfred leaves, Fledgeby goes back to Riah and starts asking him questions about Lizzie’s disappearance. He... (full context)

Over breakfast, Alfred and Sophronia Lammle each accuse the other of failing to bring any new money into... (full context)

...a plan to tell Boffin that she has suspicions about Rokesmith’s conduct as his secretary. Alfred takes up the plan, suggesting that if they win Boffin’s trust by (falsely) exposing Rokesmith... (full context)

Just then, Fledgeby drops by for a visit. Before letting him in, Alfred tells Sophronia that they should use their influence to try to get Fledgeby to manipulate... (full context)

...mood is particularly bad this morning because he wants to confront Rokesmith—he has learned from Alfred and Sophronia that Rokesmith proposed to Bella. Bella herself tries to intervene, saying Boffin is... (full context)

Alfred and Sophronia’s friends are shocked to hear about their financial problems, particularly the Veneerings. At... (full context)

Alfred and Sophronia Lammle pressure Boffin and Henerietty to invite them for breakfast. Sophronia tries to... (full context)

Just then, Georgiana arrives unannounced. She’s crying because she heard that Alfred and Sophronia are ruined. She says she’s come on business. She has a necklace that... (full context)

Alfred makes a last attempt to try to convince Boffin to sell the necklace, but it... (full context)

...of a broken cane. He says to return the pieces to Fledgeby, compliments of Mr. Alfred Lammle, who is leaving England. Alfred and Sophronia depart, and Jenny goes inside. (full context)

...him why he put pepper up his own nose, but Fledgeby says it was all Alfred. Jenny gives Fledgeby the three pieces of the cane and asks if she should seek... (full context)

Alfred Lammle Character Analysis

Alfred Lammle Quotes in Our Mutual Friend

Book 1, Chapter 10 Quotes

Alfred Lammle Character Timeline in Our Mutual Friend