Who Bella Wilfer is
Bella Wilfer has a place in the elder Harmon's will, which requires his son, John Harmon, to marry her. She has never met the young man whose inheritance depends on their marriage. When that marriage appears impossible, the newly wealthy Boffins take Bella into their home.
What Bella Wilfer wants
Bella speaks openly about wanting money and longs to escape her family's cramped circumstances. Her ambition sits alongside affection for her gentle father, revealing concerns beyond wealth alone. She faces competing claims of ambition, affection, and self-respect in a society that measures people by their possessions.
Bella Wilfer and the others in the story
The Boffins' reserved secretary, John Rokesmith, becomes increasingly important to Bella, although his position offers little of the wealth she wants. His close interest in her brings affection into tension with her hopes for money. Her ties to Rokesmith, her father, and the Boffins connect her personal wishes to the novel's wider concerns about wealth and kindness.
Questions
Who is Bella Wilfer?
Bella Wilfer is a young woman whose proposed marriage forms part of the conditions attached to John Harmon's inheritance.
What does Bella Wilfer want?
Bella wants wealth and a life beyond her family's cramped circumstances. Her love for her father shows that money is not her only concern.
How is Bella Wilfer connected to John Rokesmith?
John Rokesmith is the Boffins' secretary and takes a close interest in Bella. He becomes important to her despite having little wealth to offer.
