Eugene Wrayburn

Eugene Wrayburn
Eugene is a barrister of the upper class, and best friend and business associate of Mortimer Lightwood. He is often seen at the Veneering's dinner parties, where he seems to idle, indifferent to them and their conversation. He is a well educated man and extremely skillful with his speech in an inexplicably effortless way. But Eugene lacks the proper drive, focus, and ambition that could make him an honest, hardworking human being. Instead he is lazy and careless and doesn't feel much of anything, that is until he gets contracted by Rogue Riderhood to issue an arrest for Gaffer Hexam.

Eugene ventures to the waterside to investigate where he meets Lizzie and begins to harbor a strange interest in her. He eventually convinces her to allow him to finance her private education alongside Jenny Wren. However Eugene's interest in her wins him an enemy in fellow rival for the girl's affections, Bradley Headstone. As a member of the working class, but a hardworking one nonetheless, Bradley's antipathy for Eugene's airy, careless mannerisms becomes a source of extreme hatred and murderous desire.

Chapter VIII
A prime example of Eugene's facility with language can be seen when he engages in an argument with Mr. Boffin about working bees being similar/dissimilar to working men. Boffin's utter lack of an argument signifies Eugene's linguistic abilities to make comments that end discussions rather than continue or begin them (98-9).