Theme

Charles Dickens uses all of his characters to stage a rise and fall scenario that underscores his theme that people are and always will be more valuable than material wealth no matter what time period you happen to be living in. He uses various characters to show how you can count on friends regardless of your current financial status as well as examples of "bad" friends that shouldn't be trusted. Bad friends generally are your friends because they have something to gain from that friendship. As soon as that value goes away, they will desert you in a heartbeat. Dickens uses all these examples to prove his point that you can't place a value on friendship.