Great Expectations

Expectations explores both the dream and the realization of such ambitions, BACKGROUND INFO both what is gained and what is lost, and showcases lives from all classes of nineteenth-century British society. AUTHOR BIO EXTRA CREDIT Full Name: Charles Dickens Serial Fiction – In the Victorian era, books were often published by magazines Date of Birth: February 7, 1812 in serial installments before they were printed as complete books. Great Expectations was serialized in All the Year Round, the weekly magazine Place of Birth: Portsmouth, England Dickens' founded and ran. Date of Death: June 9, 1870 Alternative Endings – Great Expectations has been published with two Brief Life Story: Born to a navy clerk, Charles Dickens spent his early different endings. Dickens' rewrote the original ending in response to childhood in Kent, the setting for Pip's village in Great Expectations. When complaints that it was too sad. Most contemporary editions of the novel are Dickens was ten, the family moved to London and his father was thrown in published with this revised (and happier) ending. debtors' prison. Dickens left school and worked in a boot-blacking warehouse to help support his household. He later returned to school but left at fifteen to work as a law clerk, a court reporter, and a political journalist before devoting PLOT SUMMARY himself to writing full-time. His books were wildly successful both in England and in the United States, and include classics like Great Expectations, Bleak Pip is an orphan living in southeast England with his foul-tempered sister, Mrs. House, and Oliver Twist, still popular today. Dickens also founded a theater Joe, and her gentle husband, Joe Gargery, the village blacksmith. On company and a magazine, All the Year Round. He was unhappily married to Christmas Eve, Pip encounters an escaped convict in a leg-iron who scares Pip Catherine Hogarth, with whom he had ten children. Dickens was still writing into stealing food and a metal file for him. Pip steals the food and file from his when he died in 1870 and is buried in Westminster Abbey's Poets' Corner. sister's pantry and Joe's blacksmith shop. The next day, Pip and Joe see soldiers capture the convict on the marshes where he wrestles bitterly with KEY FACTS another escaped convict. The convict Pip helped protects Pip by confessing to Full Title: Great Expectations the theft of the food and file, and Pip's involvement in the theft goes undiscovered. Genre: Coming-of-Age Novel (Bildungsroman) Soon after, Pip is invited to start visiting wealthy Miss Havisham and her Setting: Kent and London, England snobby adopted daughter, Estella, at Satis House. Miss Havisham was Climax: Pip discovers his patron is the convict abandoned by her fiancée twenty earsy prior and seeks revenge on men by raising Estella to mercilessly break hearts. Estella's disdain for Pip's Protagonist: Philip (Pip) Pirrip "commonness" inspires Pip's dissatisfaction with life as an apprentice Antagonist: Orlick, Bentley Drummle, and Compeyson blacksmith. He grows infatuated with Estella and assesses himself by her Point of View: First person (Pip is the narrator) standards long after his Satis House visits come to an end. Pip is apprenticed to Joe and grows increasingly despondent at his low status, HISTORICAL AND LITERARY CONTEXT seeking to elevate himself through independent study. When Mrs. Joe is brain When Written: 1860-1861 damaged by the blows of an intruder at the forge, Pip suspects Orlick, Joe's cruel journeyman helper. Biddy moves in to run the household and becomes Where Written: Kent, England Pip's confidante, trying in vain to help Pip get vo er Estella. When Published: Serialized from 1860-1861; published in 1861 One night, Mr. Jaggers tells Pip that he has an anonymous patron who wishes Literary Period: Victorian Era Pip to be trained as a gentleman. Pip assumes that this patron is Miss Related Literary Works: Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White is considered one Havisham and that Estella is secretly betrothed to him. Unsympathetic to Joe of the earliest English mystery novels and was serialized to great success in and Biddy's sadness at losing him, Pip snobbishly parades his new status and Dickens' magazine All the Year Round just a short while before Dickens goes to study with Matthew Pocket. Pip lives part time with Matthew's sweet- published his own Great Expectations in that same magazine. The mystery tempered son Herbert Pocket in London, where the two become fast friends. proved an ideal literary form for serialization as each installment left readers Pip's study mates are Startop and Bentley Drummle, the foul-tempered heir with unanswered questions, eager for the next installment. In its reliance on to a baronetcy who becomes Pip's nemesis when he pursues Estella, now an suspense and haunting enigma, the mystery form also drew on the Gothic elegant lady. Pip also befriends Wemmick, Mr. Jaggers' clerk, who is stoic and literary tradition of the early nineteenth century. In Great Expectations, proper in the office and warm and friendly outside of it. Pip spends intricate plot twists and the secret of Pip's anonymous patron show the extravagantly and puts on airs, alienating Joe on Joe's trip to London. Pip influence of the Gothic tradition as well as of the nascent mystery novel. In wishes Joe were more refined and fears association with him will jeopardize addition to being literary peers, Collins and Dickens were lifelong friends and his own social status. He doesn't return to the forge until he hears Mrs. Joe collaborators. has died. Even then, his visit is brief. Related Historical Events: The technological innovations that gave rise to the Back in London, Pip enlists Wemmick's help to invest secretly in Herbert's Industrial Revolution of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century career, a gesture Pip considers the best result of his wealth, or "expectations." introduced the first capitalist economy, opening social and financial One night, Pip's patron finally reveals himself: he is Provis, the convict Pip opportunities to people who had never had the chance to gain status or wealth helped on the marshes who has saved up a fortune while in exile and sailed under the rigid hereditary class hierarchy of the past. These opportunities back to England illegally just to see Pip. Pip is appalled by Provis's manners enabled people born into lower classes to raise their standing in society by and devastated to realize Estella can't possibly be betrothed to him. When he making money and acquiring education. The new opportunities in turn confronts Miss Havisham, she admits she led Pip on regarding Estelle simply inspired ambitions that had not been possible in pre-Industrial Revolution to make her selfish relatives jealous, and that Estella will be married to Bentley England, where one's life path was determined strictly by birth. Great Drummle. When heartbroken Pip professes his love for her, Miss Havisham realizes her error in depriving Estella of a heart. She pleads for Pip's

Background info www.LitCharts.com | @litcharts ©2013-2014 | Page 1 Great Expectations forgiveness, which Pip readily grants. Back in London a few days later, Pip Mr. Jaggers – A famous lawyer in London, Mr. Jaggers is Pip's guardian and realizes that Estella is the daughter of Provis and Mr. Jaggers' maid Molly. the middleman between him and his patron. Mr. Jaggers also works for Miss Provis' rival on the marshes was Compeyson, Miss Havisham's devious former Havisham. He is rational, sharp-minded, and intimidating. He prides himself on fiancée. Compeyson is looking for Provis in London and Pip plans to get Provis neither expressing nor responding to human emotion. out of England by boat. Before they escape, Orlick manages to lure Pip to the Wemmick – As Mr. Jaggers' clerk, Wemmick models his character on Mr. village marshes and tries to kill him, but Herbert intervenes. Pip nearly Jaggers while in the office where he is ational,r unemotional, and money- succeeds in escaping with Provis but Compeyson stops them, then drowns, minded. Yet when Wemmick is at home, his personality changes dramatically wrestling with Provis in the water. Provis is arrested and found guilty of and he is warm, empathetic, domestic, and nurturing towards his elderly escaping illegally from the penal colony of New South Wales, but dies from father, the Aged. Pip and Wemmick are good friends outside of the office but illness before his execution. maintain a strictly professional relationship in front of Mr. Jaggers. Pip falls ill. Joe nurses him and pays his debts. Healthy again, Pip returns to the Mrs. Joe Gargery – Pip's older sister and guardian after his parents' die, Mrs. village hoping to marry Biddy only to stumble upon her happy wedding with Joe is fiery, tyrannical, and false, harping on her own victimhood even as she Joe. Pip goes abroad with Herbert to be a merchant. When he returns eleven abuses Pip and Joe. She is obsessed with social status and reputation. Yet, years later, he finds an spitting image of himself in Joe and Biddy's son Pip II after the attack by Orlick that gives her brain damage, Mrs. Joe's personality and runs into Estella on the razed site of Satis House. Suffering has made changes completely and she becomes patient, compassionate, and docile. Estella grow a heart and she and Pip walk off together, never to part again. Mr. Pumblechook (a.k.a. Uncle Pumblechook) – A corn and seed merchant and Joe's uncle, Mr. Pumblechook is superficial, calculating, and false. He takes CHARACTERS undue credit for parenting Pip. Compeyson (a.k.a. the other convict) – A cruel, scheming villain, Compeyson Pip Pirrip – The novel's hero, Pip is an orphan who lives with his harsh and is a forger and counterfeiter who uses his educated, upper-class appearance selfish sister Mrs. Joe and serves as the apprentice of her gentle blacksmith to trick people into thinking he is more honorable and less guilty than the husband Joe. Pip is sensitive and intellectually curious, but he is also extremely lower-class criminals (like Provis) whom he manipulates. Though Compeyson ambitious and, when he unexpectedly comes into money as a teenager, Pip may possess the trappings of gentility, he is ignoble to the core. grows haughty and extravagant in pursuit of a lifestyle genteel enough to meet Orlick – Originally Joe's journeyman, Orlick is devious and violently vengeful. the refined standards of Estella, the woman he loves. Confusing personal He resents Pip, whom he blames for all of his problems. integrity with public reputation, Pip is cruelly disloyal to Joe and Biddy, avoiding them because of their lower class. Still, by novel's end, Pip learns to Bentley Drummle – Bentley Drummle studies with Pip. He is a wealthy heir to judge people by internal rather than superficial standards and redeems a baronetcy, upper class according to the old system of inherited rank. himself by repenting sincerely and reforming his personal values. Described as "idle, proud…and suspicious," Drummle is Pip's nemesis. He pursues Estella. Provis (a.k.a. Abel Magwitch) (a.k.a. the convict) – The escaped convict Pip helps in the novel's opening scenes, Provis' gratitude towards Pip inspires him Startop – Startop studies with Pip. Though spoiled by an overprotective to devote his life-savings to Pip, becoming Pip's anonymous patron. Born an mother, Startop is a good-natured and helpful friend. orphan on the streets and cruelly swindled by Compeyson, Provis has lived a Matthew Pocket – Miss Havisham's cousin, Herbert's father, and Pip's tutor, life in and out of prison. Still, his criminal record is largely the result of Matthew Pocket is honorable, upstanding, and kind. unfortunate circumstances, not character, for Provis is kind, good-hearted, Mrs. Pocket – Mr. Pocket's helpless, title-obsessed wife and a disastrous and immensely generous. mother. Estella Havisham – The adopted daughter of Miss Havisham, Estella is proud, Mr. Wopsle's great-aunt – The incompetent teacher at the village evening refined, beautiful, and cold, aisedr by Miss Havisham to wreak revenge on the school. male sex. Though her beauty and elegance attract countless suitors (including Pip), Miss Havisham has raised her to lack a true human heart and she is Mr. Wopsle – The village church clerk who moves to London to be an actor. unable to love. Mr. Trabb – The toady village tailor. Joe Gargery – As Mrs. Joe's husband, Joe is a father figure for Pip throughout Trabb's Boy – Mr. Trabb's mischievous assistant. Pip's childhood and his tender kindness protects Pip from Mrs. Joe's harsh Millers, Flopson and Sophia – Mr. and Mrs. Pockets' harried maids who run parenting. Joe is the village blacksmith and has no formal education but the Pockets' household to their own advantage. possesses a deep sense of integrity and an unfailing moral compass. Joe is loyal, generous, and kind, and acts lovingly towards Pip even when Pip's is Jane Pocket – Mr. and Mrs. Pockets' daughter. ungrateful. Molly – Mr. Jaggers' maid whom Wemmick describes as "a wild beast tamed." Herbert Pocket (a.k.a. the pale young gentleman) – Pip's best friend, Herbert Arthur Havisham – Miss Havisham's resentful half-brother and Compeyson's is compassionate, honest, and unpretentious. He and Pip live together in partner. London where he works in a counting house, then as a merchant. He cheerfully helps Pip through all of Pip's struggles. Pip secretly invests in Sarah Pocket, Camilla, Georgiana, and Raymond – Miss Havisham's selfish Herbert's career to help Herbert succeed as a merchant. relatives. Biddy – An orphan Pip meets at the village school, Biddy moves into the forge The Aged – Wemmick's jolly, nearly deaf father. to help out after Mrs. Joe's attack and later becomes a schoolteacher. She is Miss Skiffins – The handsome, good-natured woman Wemmick courts and humble, kind, moral, and fiercely intelligent, absorbing knowledge without any eventually marries. formal education. She is also sharply perceptive and sees through everyone's The Avenger – Pip's servant. pretensions, calling Pip out on his delusions and snobbery long before Pip can recognize them. Clara – Herbert's fiancé. Miss Havisham – The wealthy daughter of a brewer, Miss Havisham was Bill Barley – Clara's ogre-like father. abandoned on her wedding day by her fiancée (Compeyson) and, traumatized. Pip (II) – Joe and Biddy's son. She preserves herself and her house in wedding regalia, shutting out the world Mr. and Mrs. Hubble – The village wheelwright and wife. for over twenty years. To exact her revenge on men, Miss Havisham adopts and raises Estella to be beautiful and desirable but completely heartless. Miss Mrs. Coiler – Mr. and Mrs. Pockets' neighbor. Havisham is capricious, manipulative, bitter, and, until novel's end, unable to Mrs. Whimple – Clara's landlady. recognize anyone's pain but her own.

Yet because it's impossible to be sure of other people's opinions, they are THEMES never satisfied. Mrs. Joe and Bentley Drummle are sour-tempered and Pip is deeply unhappy for the majority of the novel. Characters like Joe and Biddy, on SOCIAL CLASS the other hand, possess integrity and thus value themselves according to their own standards of success. Because they are self-sufficient atherr than Great Expectations is set near the end of Industrial Revolution, a period of dependent on others for affirmation, these characters are at peace with dramatic technological improvement in manufacturing and commerce that, themselves and can actually experience contentment. Over the course of the among other things, created new opportunities for people who were born into novel, Pip evolves from being a person invested in reputation to being a "lower" or poorer classes to gain wealth and move into a "higher" and person with integrity. Estella first triggers Pip's obsession with reputation and wealthier class. This new social mobility marked a distinct break from the he spends many miserable years frantically trying to inflate Estella's opinion of hereditary aristocracy of the past, which enforced class consistency based him. Yet eventually, Pip learns to listen to his internal conscience and stops solely on family lines. Great Expectations is set in this new world, and Dickens placing so much value on others' views. explores it by tracing Pip's ascent through the class system, a trajectory that Shame plays an integral role in this education. For most of the novel, Pip would not have been possible within the rigid class hierarchy of the past. suppresses his shame at mistreating Joe and Biddy and avoids apologizing to The novel ranges from the lowest classes of convicts and orphans to the poor them. This behavior prioritizes reputation, refusing to acknowledge shame so working class of Joe and Biddy up to the wealthy Miss Havisham, whose that the public will not see it. A person with integrity, by contrast, apologizes family made its fortune through the manufacture of beer. Notably, the novel because he has prioritized his conscience over controlling how others see him. spends virtually no time focused on the traditional aristocracy, and when it Only after being humbled by financial loss and yb Provis' misfortune does Pip does it makes those who still believe in the inheritance of class look ridiculous develop the integrity to admit his own errors and apologize to Joe and Biddy. through the absurd character of Mrs. Pocket, whose blind faith in blood Along the way, Wemmick's respect for domestic life and Herbert's lineage has rendered her utterly useless to society. virtuousness point Pip in the right direction. Yet in the world of Great Expectations where the nobility and gentility that PARENTS were once associated with the aristocracy are no longer seen as founded on birthright, characters continually grapple with the question of what those As the novel distrusts British culture's traditional blind faith in family lines, it traits are based on. Can they be taught? Can they be bought? Pip tries both: he also looks skeptically at the traditional family unit. Great Expectations includes educates himself in order to gain "good" manners and also spends prodigiously very few models of healthy parent-child relations. Many of the novel's on luxury goods, outfitting himself with the trappings of aristocracy as if to characters—including Pip, Provis, and Biddy—are orphans, and those that purchase aristocracy itself. aren't orphans come from broken or dysfunctional families like Herbert's, Miss Havisham's, Estella's, Clara's, and Joe's. Though Wemmick's These tensions come to a head when Provis arrives in London, ignorantly relationship with the Aged Parent seems like an exception, it's important to confident in his power to use his wealth to buy gentility. Provis' misguided note that Dickens introduces us to them at a stage of their lives when their trust in money awakens Pip to his own misunderstanding. Meanwhile, Dickens dynamic has inverted and Wemmick parents his father rather than being cared constantly upends the old equation between nobility and class: most of the for by him. Not until the last few pages do we encounter the functional novel's heroes (Joe, Biddy, and Provis) are in the lower class while most of its traditional family newly started by Joe and Biddy. villains (Compeyson and Drummle) are upper class. Ultimately, Pip comes to learn that the source of true gentility is spiritual nobility rather than either Instead of showcasing traditional mothers and fathers, Dickens chooses to great knowledge or wealth. feature adoptive parents, mentors, and guardians. Among these characters, Joe epitomizes selfless kindness, protecting and nurturing Pip throughout his AMBITION AND SELF-IMPROVEMENT life in spite of Pip's teenage ingratitude. Though Provis doesn't participate in raising Pip, he too exemplifies steadfast devotion as he dedicates his life's A "pip" is a small seed, something that starts off tiny and then grows and fortune to Pip's future. Guardians like Mrs. Joe and Miss Havisham develops into something new. Pip's name, then, is no accident, as Great demonstrate more selfish modes of child-rearing as they use their charges to Expectations is a bildungsroman, a story of the growth and development of its fulfill their own needs: Mrs. Joe to better her public image and Miss Havisham main character. Dickens presents the ambition to improve oneself that drives to avenge her betrayal. As in his treatment of social class, Dickens challenges a Pip along with many of the novel's secondary characters as a force capable of system organized by blood and presents a model of parentage determined by generating both positive and negative results. Pip's early ambitions focus on love and care, regardless of the genetic relation between parent and child. elevating his social class, on making himself into someone who seems worthy of Estella, but in the process he turns himself into someone who feels like a JUSTICE sham, is unkind to those who were kindest to him such as Joe and Provis, and ruins himself financially. Through these humbling experiences, Pip eventually From Pip's encounters with escaped convicts at the beginning of Great comes to understand self-improvement as a more complex process involving Expectations, to the grotesque courts and prisons in parts II and III, the novel moral and spiritual development as well. Pip's own ambitions are echoed by casts the British legal system in a dubious light. Though Mr. Jaggers functions the self-improvement efforts of secondary characters like Joe and Ms. as an upstanding force in Pip's life by checking Pip's extravagance, it is Havisham, who learn to write and to empathize, respectively, at Pip's questionable whether his law practice truly serves the law. After all, Mr. encouragement. Jaggers built his reputation on successfully acquitting a murderer. Likewise Wemmick's separate moral codes—one for the law firm, one for INTEGRITY AND REPUTATION home—highlight the legal mindset's inadequacy in matters of the heart or family. Most distressing of all, some of the novel's most heinous crimes slip In Great Expectations, Dickens explores pride as both a positive and a negative right through the legal system. trait by presenting various types of pride ranging from Estella and Bentley Drummle's snobbery to Joe and Biddy's moral uprightness. The crucial The law treats Orlick and Compeyson much more lightly than they deserve. A distinction between these different varieties of pride is whether they rely on number of characters attempt to make up for the law's blind spots by taking other people's opinions or whether they spring from a character's internal the law into their own hands and seeking revenge, but revenge justice proves conscience and personal sense of accomplishment. Characters who espouse just as faulty: Provis' wrestling match with Compeyson on the marsh is futile the former variety are concerned with reputation, not with integrity. Among and lands them both back in prison, Miss Havisham's perverse plot to torture them are Mrs. Joe, Uncle Pumblechook, Estella, and Bentley Drummle. Estella's suitors robs everyone of the chance at love, and, while Orlick may be Because these characters measure themselves according to public opinion, content with clubbing Mrs. Joe for scolding him, it's clear to the reader that they are constantly comparing themselves to the people around them and this revenge is deeply horrific, leaving Mrs. Joe handicapped for life. denigrating others in order to make themselves seem superior by comparison. Ultimately, through Pip's development and that of the characters around him, the novel suggests that the only true and enduring scale of justice is the

Themes www.LitCharts.com | @litcharts ©2014 | Page 3 Great Expectations human conscience. As Pip becomes more compassionate, he inspires empathy destroyed by fire. Thus, Pip and Estella look towards a happier relationship among previously stoic characters like Wemmick and Miss Havisham as well. only after the house is razed. In the end, the novel's most fulfilling portraits of justice are the sincere apologies and forgiveness exchanged between Pip and Miss Havisham and between Pip, Joe and Biddy. QUOTES GENEROSITY CHAPTER 2 Dickens explores many different understandings of generosity in Great "People are put in the Hulks because they murder, and because they rob, and Expectations. Though Pip's initial generosity towards Provis is mostly forge, and do all sorts of bad; and they always begin by asking questions. Now motivated by fear, Provis understands it as true generosity and responds by you get along to bed!" selflessly devoting his life's savings towards Pip's future. Meanwhile, Mrs. Joe —Mrs. Joe and Uncle Pumblechook understand generosity as a status marker and are much more interested in being considered generous than in actually acting generously. They thus constantly take credit for Joe's generosity to better their own reputations in town. CHAPTER 3 Later, Pip believes that the best kind of generosity is anonymous and claims that his life's only good deed was his secret donation to Herbert's career. The terrors that had assailed me whenever Mrs. Joe had gone near the pantry, Indeed, many of the novel's most generous acts—including Provis', Joe's, and or out of the room, were only to be equaled by the remorse with which my Pip's—are not recognized for a long time, implying that the truly generous give mind dwelt on what my hands hand done. Under the weight of my wicked without expecting immediate recognition. Yet, despite the delay, every gift's secret, I pondered whether the Church would be powerful enough to shield giver is eventually discovered and thanked, which suggests that true me from the vengeance of the terrible young man, if I divulged to that generosity is always rewarded in the end. Pip's ability to recognize generosity establishment. I conceived the idea that the time when the banns were read shifts over the course of the novel and his early ingratitude towards Joe and and when the clergyman said, "Ye are now to declare it!" would be the time for Provis evolves into deep appreciation. These men also inspire me to rise and propose a private conference in the vestry. magnanimousness in Pip himself, who selflessly devotes himself to Provis in —Pip part III. SYMBOLS CHAPTER 4 MIST I thought what terrible good sauce for a dinner my fugitive friend on the marshes was. They had not enjoyed themselves a quarter so much before the The mist clouding the landscape around Pip's village symbolizes psychological entertainment was brightened with the excitement he furnished. uncertainty. As it obscures the view, it represents a lack of clarity, insight, or —Pip knowledge. Pip's four most formative experiences all take place in the mist. Early in the novel, Pip runs terrified through the mist to bring stolen food and a file to the convict. Not only is Pip uncertain and afraid of the convict's threats, he is completely unaware of the immense generosity his actions will "Let him go free? Let him profit yb the means I found out? Let him make a tool inspire in the convict over the next twenty years. Likewise, Pip moves through of me afresh and again? Once more? No, no, no. If I had died at the bottom heavy mist as he first leaves his village for London, not knowing how different there…I'd have held to him with that grip, that you should have been safe to his life there will be from the grand, genteel life he has fantasized about. Later, find him in ym hold." Pip walks through the mist on his way to meet his anonymous informant, who —Provis turns out to be Orlick lying in wait to kill him. Finally, Pip passes through mist to visit the razed site of Satis House where he is surprised to find Estella and the promise of a new life. THE LEG-IRON CHAPTER 6 The Leg-Iron symbolizes justice. Most literally, the convicts' leg-irons I was too cowardly to do what I knew to be right, as I had been too cowardly to physically constrain them within the terms of their court-decreed prison avoid doing what I knew to be wrong. sentences. Yet Pip also compares the damp cold of the marshes to a leg-iron in —Pip Chapter 2, foreshadowing the sense of constraint he will feel in the village as he ages. For much of the novel, Pip treats the village and its working class lifestyle like a prison he tries his best to escape. The leg-iron becomes a symbol of perverse justice when used as a weapon, as when Orlick uses it to strike Mrs. Joe brutally on the head, exacting his horrifically vo erblown CHAPTER 9 revenge. "…lies is lies. Howsoever they come, they didn't ought to come, and they come SATIS HOUSE from the father of lies, and work round to the same. Don't you tell no more of ‘em, Pip. That ain't the way to get out of being common, old chap…If you can't Satis House is a symbol of frustrated expectations. The word "satis" comes get to be uncommon through going straight, you'll never get to do it through from the Latin word for "enough," and the house must have been given its going crooked." name as a blessing or as a premonition that its residents would be satisfied —Joe with the lives they led between its walls. Yet throughout the novel, Satis House houses nothing but dashed dreams and bitter disappointments. Miss Havisham turns the house into a shrine to her betrayal by Compeyson for twenty years. Likewise, Pip's most tenderly cherished expectation—that he will …my young mind was in that disturbed and unthankful state that I thought marry Estella—is formed and destroyed at Satis House. The disappointments long after I laid me down, how common Estella would consider Joe, a mere Satis House contains can only be repaired at the expense of the house itself. blacksmith: how thick his boots, and how coarse his hands. I thought how Joe Thus, Miss Havisham rediscovers her heart just as her wedding chambers are and my sister were then sitting in the kitchen, and how Miss Havisham and

Symbols www.LitCharts.com | @litcharts ©2014 | Page 4 Great Expectations Estella never sat in a kitchen, but were far above the level of such common CHAPTER 23 things. —Pip …[Mrs. Pocket] had grown up highly ornamental, but perfectly helpless and useless. —Pip

CHAPTER 13 I was truly wretched, and had a strong conviction on me that I should never CHAPTER 27 like Joe's trade. I had liked it once, but once was not now. —Pip "Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever so many partings welded together, as I may say, and one man's a blacksmith, and one's a whitesmith, and one's a goldsmith, and one's a coppersmith. Divisions among such must come, and must be met as they come. If there's been any fault at all to-day, it's mine. You and me is not two figures to be together in ondon;L nor yet anywheres else but CHAPTER 15 what is private, and beknown, an understood among friends. It ain't that I am I wanted to make Joe less ignorant and common, that he might be worthier of proud, but that I want to be right, as you shall never see me no more in these my society and less open to Estella's reproach. clothes. I'm wrong in these clothes. I'm wrong out of the forge, the kitchen, or —Pip off th'meshes. You won't find half so much fault in me if ouy think of me in my forge dress, with my hammer in my hand, or even my pipe." —Joe

Miss Havisham and Estella and the strange house and the strange life appeared to have something to do with everything that was picturesque. —Pip CHAPTER 32 …how strange it was that I should be encompassed by all this taint of prison and crime; that, in my childhood out on our lonely marshes on a winter evening, I should have first encountered it; that it should have reappeared on CHAPTER 18 two occasions, starting out like a stain that was faded but not gone; that it …as Joe and Biddy became more at their cheerful ease again, I became quite should in this new way pervade my fortune and advancement. gloomy. Dissatisfied with ym fortune, of course I could not be; but it is possible —Pip that I may have been, without quite knowing it, dissatisfied with yselfm . —Pip CHAPTER 33 "We have no choice, you and I, but to obey our instructions. We are not free to CHAPTER 19 follow our own devices, you and I." As I passed the church, I felt…a sublime compassion for the poor creatures —Estella who were destined to go there, Sunday after Sunday, all their lives through, and to lie obscurely at last among the low green mounds. I promised myself that I would do something for them one of these days, and formed a plan in outline for bestowing a dinner of roast beef and plum pudding, a pint of ale, CHAPTER 38 and a gallon of condescension upon everybody in the village. —Pip "I am what you have made me. Take all the praise, take all the blame; take all the success, take all the failure; in short, take me." —Estella

"Oh, there are many kinds of pride," said Biddy, looking full at me and shaking her head; "Pride is not all of one kind…[Joe] may be too proud to let any one take him out of a place that he is competent to fill, and fills well and with "Miss Havisham gives you to him as the greatest slight and injury that could be respect." done to the many far better men who admire you, and to the few who truly —Biddy love you. Among those few, there may be one who loves you even as dearly, though he has not loved you as long as I. Take him, and I can bear it better for your sake." —Pip CHAPTER 21 "...it is a principle of [Matthew Pocket's] that no man who was not a true gentleman at heart, ever was, since the world began, a true gentleman in CHAPTER 49 manner. He says, no varnish can hide the grain of the wood, and that the more varnish you put on, the more the grain will express itself." "Believe this: when she first came to me, I meant to save her from misery like —Herbert Pocket my own. At first I meant no more…But as she grew and promised to be eryv beautiful, I gradually did worse, and with my praises, and with my jewels, and with my teachings, and with this figure of yselfm always before her, a warning to back and point my lessons, I stole her heart away and put ice in its place"…[Miss Havisham] burst out again, What had she done!

—Miss Havisham On the dreary afternoon of Christmas Pip is terrified and alone, completely Eve, 1860, Pip sits sadly in the vulnerable. The man's behavior and churchyard outside town where his chains mark him as an escaped criminal, parents and siblings are buried. which begins to introduce the theme of CHAPTER 55 Suddenly a terrifying man, dressed in justice. Yet despite the man's cruel rags and shackled in a leg-iron, jumps comments, the reader can see how For now my repugnance to [Provis] had all melted away, and in the hunted out from a hiding spot behind a grave desperate he is—after all, he's dependent wounded shackled creature who held my hand in his, I only saw a man who had and grabs Pip. When the man learns on Pip helping him! Although Pip doesn't meant to be my benefactor, and who had felt affectionately, gratefully, and that Pip lives with Joe Gargery the realize that "the young man" is a fake, generously towards me with great constancy through a series of years. I only blacksmith, he warns Pip that he has a Pip's adult narration looking back on the saw in him a much better man than I had been to Joe. friend, the young man, who will kill Pip event allows the reader to see the truth. —Pip unless he returns in secret the next morning with food and a metal file. Pip, terrified, swears that he will, and the man lets him go. CHAPTER 58 BOOK 1, CHAPTER 2 …the wonderful difference between the servile manner in which [Mr. Pumblechook] had offered his hand in my new prosperity, saying, "May I?" and When Pip returns home, his uncle Joe, Though Mrs. Joe is Pip's blood relation the ostentatious clemency with which he had just now exhibited the same fat the blacksmith, warns Pip that Pip's and takes credit for raising Pip, Joe is his five fingers. sister, Mrs. Joe, has been furiously true guardian, watching out for Pip's looking for him and is carrying the physical and emotional safety. Mrs. Joe, —Pip Tickler, a cane she uses to beat Pip. by contrast, seems more concerned by Joe helps Pip hide behind the door to her frustration at having to be a parent protect him from his sister. When Mrs. than by Pip's actual wellbeing. Joe bursts in, she immediately Dear Joe, I hope you will have children to love, and that some little fellow will discovers Pip and throws him violently sit in this chimney-corner, of a winter night, who may remind you of another at Joe, who tucks a now crying Pip little fellow gone out of it forever. Don't tell him, Joe, that I was thankless; safely away in the chimney nook. Mrs. don't tell him, Biddy, that I was ungenerous and unjust; only tell him that I Joe proceeds to scold Pip harshly and honoured you both because you were both so good and true, and that, as your reminds him that he'd be dead were it child, I said it would be natural to him to grow up a much better man than I did. not for her even as she assures him —Pip that she regrets having raised him in the first place. The family sits down for tea and, Pip's struggle with his conscience We owed so much to Herbert's ever cheerful industry and readiness that I fearing he may not be able to steal introduces another aspect of the justice often wondered how I had conceived the old idea of his inaptitude, until I was enough food from the pantry, Pip theme as Pip tries to determine whether one day enlightened by the reflection that perhaps the inaptitude had never resolves to save his bread and butter it is more important to abide by been in him at all, but had been in me. for the convict in spite of his own conventional moral code (which —Pip hunger. Pip slips his bread down his prohibits stealing) or to protect oneself pants-leg and spends the rest of the from harm. evening uncomfortably trying to keep it in place. Sitting in silence, Pip is CHAPTER 59 tormented by his conscience as he struggles to resolve his guilt at "…now, when suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has stealing food from his sister with his taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and fear of the convict's threats. broken, but – I hope – into a better shape." Just as Pip is climbing up to bed, he The fact that Pip lip-reads "Pip" for Joe's —Estella hears the sound of great guns fired. definition of a convict illustrates Pip's When Joe says that the sound signals guilty conscience (Joe was probably an escaped convict, Pip asks him to saying "ship," referencing the Hulks). The explain what a convict is. Joe mouths description of the Hulks establishes the back an answer but the only word Pip legal world's proximity to domestic life. SUMMARY & ANALYSIS can discern is "Pip." Pip then asks The prison-ships are within walking where the firing comes from and is distance from the family living room. Pip BOOK 1, CHAPTER 1 chastised by Mrs. Joe for asking is always asking questions, always wants questions. After criticizing Pip's to know more—a trait that his sister Pip, the narrator of the novel, explains As an orphaned boy living with his sister inquisitiveness at length, Mrs. Joe harshly shuts down. She is uninterested that his full name is Philip Pirrip, but and town blacksmith, Pip is established finally xplainse that the firing comes in his self-improvement. that as a young child he could only as belonging to a low social class. The from the Hulks, which are prison- pronounce his name as Pip, which is deaths of his parents and siblings make ships filled with criminals and what everyone now calls him. Pip is an clear how tough life can be for that class. anchored in the marshes. After orphan, who never knew his parents Even the name "Pip," which means spot spending a restless night wracked or any of his five brothers who never or seed, signifies something small. etY a with guilt, Pip rises at dawn to steal a lived out of infancy. He lives with his seed can grow, hinting that Pip will file from Joe's forge and all the food older sister, and her husband, Joe develop into more than he is. he can carry from Mrs. Joe's pantry, Gargery, the town blacksmith. They including a pork pie and some brandy. live in southeast England, in "marsh country," near the sea.

Summary & Analysis www.LitCharts.com | @litcharts ©2014 | Page 6 Great Expectations BOOK 1, CHAPTER 3 BOOK 1, CHAPTER 4 Pip runs out onto the marshes in the Pip's perspective is warped by guilt. Pip returns home from the marshes Mrs. Joe aspires to impress her guests by mist of Christmas dawn to meet the Nevertheless, likening the marsh cold to and lies about where he's been, telling showing off the grandest part of the convict, terrified that he'll be caught Pip's leg iron raises questions about Pip's Mrs. Joe that he's been out listening house, presenting the family's lifestyle as and feeling as if every object ties to this landscape: can he escape it? to the Christmas morning carols. Mrs. more luxurious than it actually is. appearing out of the mist is actually Can he rise up in the world and move Joe is grumpily preparing the house Though it's important to Mrs. Joe to running towards him while he stands beyond it? for a Christmas dinner party and project her own gentility, Joe and Pip are still. He compares the damp cold refuses to make Joe and Pip a hot not interested in appearing more refined "riveted" to his feet with the iron breakfast, complaining that she is too than they are and are uncomfortable in "riveted" to the convict's leg. busy cleaning the house's state parlor their fancier clothes. for the party. This room is only used Flustered by fear, Pip accidentally The convict's messy eating habits once a year and is normally covered runs in the wrong direction and illustrate how desperate he is for food, with silver paper. The front instead of reaching the Battery where but they also suggest he comes from a door—which is also never ordinarily the convict awaits him, he stumbles lower class background by showing he used—will be unlocked for the guests across another convict who swears at lacks higher class manners. Pip's sweet and Pip will welcome the guests Pip and tries to strike him, then temper in saying that he hopes the entering through it as if it is the stumbles off into the mist. Pip convict is enjoying the food brings out family's customary entrance. While assumes this must be the young man the convict's softer side—generosity Mrs. Joe continues her preparations, the first convict threatened him with. breeds generosity. Joe and Pip walk awkwardly to church Pip runs on and reaches the Battery, in their punishingly stiff Sunday where he finds the convict freezing clothes. and limping. He gives the convict the food and stands in polite silence while Pip is tormented throughout the Pip continues to struggle with his the convict tears into it, wishing the church service by remorse at having conscience as he feels guilty about his convict a pleasant meal and silently stolen from the pantry and theft, which he calls his "wicked secret." observing that the convict eats like a contemplates confessing to the Yet, though Pip's internal guilt is ravenous dog. The convict thanks Pip clergyman during mass, although the exacerbated by the adults' criticism, the sincerely. fact that it is a special Christmas Day reader can see that in fact the adults service keeps him from doing so. Pip themselves are hypocrites: gluttonous, Pip, afraid the convict may not leave The reader can tell that the convict and Joe return home to a house petty, and selfishly picking on Pip for enough food to satisfy the young man would probably not be offended by Pip primped for the party and receive the their own amusement. Throughout he thinks he just met on the marshes, describing his leg-irons outright. Pip's guests: the haughty church clerk, Mr. dinner, they ironically only accuse Pip of shyly suggests that the convict sensitivity about doing so shows Pip's Wopsle, Mr. Hubble the wheelwright, sins (ungratefulness, viciousness) that he shouldn't eat it all. The convict concern for the convict's own sense of Mrs. Hubble, and Joe's self-important is innocent of. dismisses him. Then, when Pip insists dignity. well-to-do Uncle Pumblechook. At he thought the young man looked the dinner table, the adults frequently hungry, the convict stops eating in accuse Pip of ingratitude and other surprise and asks Pip to describe the moral shortcomings. Inspired by the young man he saw further. Pip tries to pork they are eating, Mr. Wopsle describe that man's leg-iron without delivers an absurd lecture on pigs, saying the word itself, thinking it warning Pip to be grateful that he isn't might be offensive. He describes a one. bruise on the man's face, which sends the convict into an angry rampage, Throughout the meal, Pip is terrified Pip feels guilty despite the fact that none dropping his food and beginning to file that his pantry theft will be of the adults are suspicious, illustrating furiously at his leg-iron. Pip slips off discovered. When Mrs. Joe offers the strength of his conscience. Dickens while the man keeps filing. Uncle Pumblechook brandy (from the conveys Pip's childhood perspective but bottle Pip diluted with water after also allows the reader to see that Pip's taking some for the convict), Pip is fears are out of proportion—for Pip, the sure he's doomed. Uncle soldier seems to be extending the cuffs to Pumblechook spits out the brandy in arrest Pip for his theft. The reader knows disgust—Pip accidentally diluted the the soldier is only fooling around and, brandy with tar water rather than even did he know Pip had robbed the regular water. No one suspects that pantry, would certainly not arrest him. Pip is responsible. Still, when Mrs. Joe announces she is going to serve a pork pie from the pantry (the very pie Pip has stolen to feed the convict), Pip can stand his guilt no longer and leaps up with a yelp from his chair, running towards the door to escape. There he bumps right into a party of soldiers in the doorway, who hold out a pair of handcuffs to Pip.

Summary & Analysis www.LitCharts.com | @litcharts ©2014 | Page 7 Great Expectations BOOK 1, CHAPTER 5 BOOK 1, CHAPTER 6 The soldiers' sergeant announces that Matters of justice serve as entertainment On the way back to the forge with Joe Pip chooses to protect his reputation they are on the hunt for two escaped for the non-criminal populace, who are and Mr. Wopsle, Pip is relieved that with Joe rather than to honor his convicts and have come to the forge enjoyably titillated by the prospect of a the convict has taken the blame for personal integrity and come clean. The to see if Joe can repair the lock on spectacle and the thrill of a vicarious his theft and does not confess the choice between protecting reputation their handcuffs. While Joe repairs the threat. Pip notes the perverse irony that truth to Joe. The adult Pip, narrating and honoring integrity is a major theme cuffs, the soldiers mill about the one man's misery (the convict's) can be the story, speculates that he didn't in the novel and will recur frequently. In house, to everyone's excitement. another's pleasure. confess to Joe because he was afraid choosing reputation, Pip sets a Everybody drinks together in good Joe would think less of him. Pip notes precedent for his character that will cheer. Pip observes that his convict that he "was too cowardly to do what I continue to shape his development. has improved the party as everyone is knew to be right, as I had been too entertained by anticipation of the cowardly to avoid what I knew to be convict chase. When the cuffs are wrong" when he had originally stole repaired, Mr. Wopsle and Joe decide the food and file. Back at the forge, to follow the soldiers' for the fun of Mr. Wopsle and Uncle Pumblechook the chase. Joe brings Pip on his bicker about the most likely way the shoulders. convict could have broken into Mrs. Joe's pantry. Pip, exhausted, falls Mr. Wopsle, Joe, and Pip follow the Personal definitions of justice clash with swiftly asleep, but as narrator he soldiers out into the wet, cold, misty the law's definition of justice. Each notes that his conflicted state of mind marshes while Pip, confessing to Joe convict is convinced of his moral persisted for a long time. that he hopes the convicts aren't superiority and of the other's guilt—yet found, wonders anxiously whether the sergeant, speaking for the law, BOOK 1, CHAPTER 7 the convict will blame him for leading ignores the convicts' explanations and the soldiers' chase. Hearing shouts, treats both men the same. The narrative jumps ahead in time. Pip Pip attends one of Victorian England's the group runs in the direction of the is a few years older and has begun working class schools: cheap, sound and comes upon two convicts attending a low-tuition evening school understaffed, and overcrowded. Joe's (the one Pip helped and the one he ran in the village incompetently run by Mr. illiteracy is evidence of his lower class into accidentally) wrestling violently in Wopsle's great-aunt (who dozes background and consequently limited a ditch. The one Pip helped is shouting instead of teaching) and ineptly access to education. Yet Joe's touching "Guard! This way for runaway monitored by Mr. Wopsle (who makes insistence that he can read despite all convicts!" and is intent on convincing the students watch him perform evidence to the contrary shows both how the soldiers that he has turned the orations rather than testing their important reading is as a mark of other convict in. He explains that, progress). Pip struggles to learn and personal worth (Joe does not want to though he could have escaped on his finally starts to read and write with identify himself as illiterate) and how own, he would rather give up his own the help of Biddy, an orphan who is eager Joe is to please Pip (Joe wants to chance at escape than see the other the live-in granddaughter of Mr. make Pip feel he fully appreciates Pip's convict get free. The other convict, Wopsle's great-aunt. At home one new literacy). meanwhile, insists that Pip's convict night, Pip proudly writes a has just attempted to murder him. The rudimentary letter to Joe on his slate. sergeant dismisses both convicts' Joe is in awe, complimenting Pip on claims and treats them equally, his intelligence. When Pip asks Joe to marching the two convicts back read the letter, he realizes that Joe towards the prison ships. cannot read, that the only letters he recognizes are J and O. Yet Joe insists Before they begin marching, Pip's Again, personal morality clashes with that, even though he can't spell his convict notices Pip and Pip, shaking legal justice: the convict generously own surname, he can read and enjoys his head to try to convey his own confesses to having committed theft on reading recreationally. innocence, is struck by the intensity of his own in order to save Pip from the convict's glance. Yet the convict punishment. Joe speaks kindly to the does not openly acknowledge Pip. convict, treating the man as a human After a long march, the group reaches being with rights (The sergeant and a guard hut by the water and the soldiers, by contrast, show no such other convict is rowed back out to the generosity and talk to the convicts as if Hulks. While the sergeant files a they are animals.) Although Pip cannot report on the capture, Pip's convict identify the clicking sound from the spontaneously confesses to the group convict's throat, the reader can guess that he has stolen some food from the that this noise is most likely the sound of blacksmith. Everyone is astonished the convict on the verge of tears. and Joe sympathetically tells the convict he was more than welcome to the food. Pip hears a click in the convict's throat (a sound he first noticed the convict make back in the graveyard). Then, Pip's convict is lead out to a small boat and rowed back to the prison ship.

Summary & Analysis www.LitCharts.com | @litcharts ©2014 | Page 8 Great Expectations Pip asks Joe whether Joe went to Joe's story confirms his lower class BOOK 1, CHAPTER 8 school and Joe says he didn't and background and provides further begins to tell Pip about his own evidence of Joe's immense kindness, At Uncle Pumblechook's house in Dickens presents a comical portrait of childhood. Joe explains that he was refusing to hate his father even when his town, Pip notes that all the town's middle class merchants and craftsmen born to an abusive father who drank father was so obviously cruel and merchants and craftsmen seem to more interested in busy-bodying than too much and beat Joe and his mother. abusive to Joe. Although Joe lacks formal spend more time watching one they are in working. Uncle Pumblechook Joe went to work as a blacksmith education, Pip can see how another from their shop windows and obviously does not know how to interact when very young in order to support tremendously superior Joe is in matters doors than they do working in their with children—still, his relentless himself and his parents. Even in of the heart. He is moved to tears by shops. Uncle Pumblechook gives Pip a arithmetic quizzes attest to the recounting his father's violence, Joe admiration for Joe's generosity and meager breakfast (though he himself importance he, a businessman, places on still defends his father and claims that kindness. eats lavishly) and aggressively quizzes practical education. Miss Havisham is the man was good at heart. After his Pip on arithmetic instead of engaging from the upper class and her family was parents died, Joe explains, he lived a in conversation. He walks Pip to the in the brewery business—prior to the lonely life at the forge until he met gate of Miss Havisham's house, a Industrial Revolution, these two facts Mrs. Joe and heard she was raising large brick house with some of its would have been incompatible. In the baby Pip by hand. Joe praises Mrs. Joe windows boarded up. In front of the past, the upper class did not practice in spite of her bossy rampages (Pip house is a courtyard and, to the side, a practical trades. That the girl laughs at silently doubts she deserves Joe's brewery. When Uncle Pumblechook the name Satis shows the name has praise) and tells Pip that, after rings the bell, a young lady comes out become ironic— it is certainly no longer meeting her, he invited Mrs. Joe into and turns him away (although Uncle "enough," if it ever was. his home because she reminded him Pumblechook hints he'd like to enter), so much of his own mother and leading Pip in alone. She explains that because he wanted to help Pip. He the brewery is out of use and that the tells Pip he wishes Pip never had to be name of the house is Satis, which punished with the Tickler, and Pip is means "Enough," and which must have moved to tears, knowing from then meant the house would satisfy all it's on, "I was looking up to Joe in my owners desires—an idea she finds heart." ridiculous. She leads Pip into the dark house and leaves him upstairs in front Mrs. Joe and Uncle Pumblechook Mrs. Joe and Uncle Pumblechook are of a closed door. burst in after a day at the market and excited because Miss Havisham is in the excitedly explain that Pip has been upper class and they, being lower middle Pip knocks and enters a room lit only Pip's attempts to be polite (including asked to play at the house of Miss class, hope that an association with her by candlelight. Miss Havisham, an old using the word "melancholy" rather than Havisham, Uncle Pumblechook's rich through Pip will raise their statuses woman in a yellowed wedding gown, "frightening" to describe Miss landlady who lives in seclusion around town. They also assume that, sits at a dressing table amidst half- Havisham's room) attest to good, uptown. She has been looking for a because Miss Havisham is rich, packed trunks. She reminds Pip of a sensitive manners that should contradict little boy to play at her house and associating with her will somehow result waxwork or a skeleton. She beckons Estella's complaints that Pip is coarse. Uncle Pumblechook has in financial gain for Pip, and therefore to Pip and asks him whether he is Estella, though, responds only to Pip's recommended Pip. Mrs. Joe explains them too. afraid of "a woman who has never physical appearance and social status, heatedly to a confused Joe and Pip seen the sun since you were born?" not to his personality. Estella's name that going to play at Miss Havisham's Pip, trying to be polite, tells her he means "star"—and, indeed, she will be will make Pip's fortune. She rushes to isn't. She then tells Pip that her heart Pip's guiding light for many years to clean Pip and dress him in his best is broken, that she wants diversion, come. clothes to spend the night with Uncle and commands Pip to play. Pip, Pumblechook in town before going to apologizing, tells her hesitantly he Miss Havisham's the next morning. can't play in an environment so "new," Pip leaves Joe and the forge for the "strange," "fine" and "melancholy." first time. Miss Havisham has Pip call for "Estella" and the young girl who led Pip in appears. In response to Miss Havisham's suggestion that they play cards, Estella complains that Pip is a "common labouring-boy" and continues to insult his appearance and manner throughout the game. Miss Havisham asks Pip what he thinks of Estella and he tells her he finds her "proud," "pretty," and "insulting." Miss Havisham broods and watches.

After they finish playing cards, Miss Estella lays Pip's food on the floor as if he Later, Pip confesses privately to Joe Joe takes the term "uncommon" to mean Havisham tells Pip to return in six were a dog Ð an implicit insult. Although that the story was a lie. Joe is aghast "extraordinary" or "unusual," rather than days and sends the children away for a Pip is able to recognize Mrs. Joe's and asks Pip what possessed him. Pip "upper class." This misunderstanding is snack. Pip feels dazed and humiliated injustice, he is unable to recognize tells Joe the truth about the day, evidence of Joe's own priorities—he isn't by what just transpired. Back Estella's. Instead, he takes Estella's cruel including Estella's insults and his focused on differences in class and social downstairs, Estella lays Pip's food in insults as facts—accepting that those of shame at being "common." Joe replies status. Instead, Joe concentrates on front of him on the ground and looks the higher class know better and are that lies are lies, no matter the individual self-worth, emphasizing hard delighted by Pip's distress. As soon as worth more—and blames their motivation for them, and that "if you work and personal morality. Still, it is she leaves, Pip sobs bitterly, which, as painfulness on his own sensitivity no on can't get to be oncommon through difficult for Pip to share Joe's value narrator, he attributes to a sensitivity their cruelty and falseness. going straight, you'll never get to do it system, preoccupied as he has become of character caused by Mrs. Joe's through going crooked." He then by Estella's opinions. This day is harshness. He explains the crucial reminds Pip that Pip is already formative because it has instilled Pip importance of justice to children and uncommon in stature and in letters. with the ambition to be "uncommon" the constant injustice of his own When Pip remains discouraged, Joe and has taught Pip to judge himself childhood (owing to Mrs. Joe). After reminds Pip that everyone must be according to Estella's superficial crying, Pip wanders around the ruined common before they can develop standards —Pip will live by these new brewery-yard and sees a terrifying uncommon skills. He resolves not to principles for a long time. vision of Miss Havisham hanging by reveal the truth to Mrs. Joe for fear of her neck from a beam. When Estella upsetting her, promises Pip he isn't approaches to let Pip out, she smugly angry at him, and advises Pip to pray informs Pip that she saw him crying. for his lies. Yet when Pip gets in bed, Pip walks back to the forge, turning all he can think about is how common Estella's insults over and over in his Estella would find Joe, Mrs. Joe, and head. his home. The adult Pip narrator notes that this day was the first link in a long BOOK 1, CHAPTER 9 chain that determined his life's later Upon returning home, Pip is barraged Note the difference between this course. with questions about Miss Havisham dishonesty and that of not coming clean by Mrs. Joe and Uncle Pumblechook, to Joe about the pantry theft. Here, Pip BOOK 1, CHAPTER 10 who has ridden over for tea. Yet, lies out of compassion, to protect Determined to be "uncommon," Pip Pip sees education as a means to self- because he himself has such a fear of someone's dignity rather than to decides a few days later to achieve his improvement, a way to rise in class. This being misunderstood, he feels fearful preserve his own false reputation. The goal by becoming educated and asks notion of class mobility is a legacy of the of Miss Havisham being fact that Mrs. Joe and Uncle Biddy to teach him all she knows. new social system created by the misunderstood as well and refuses to Pumblechook believe Pip's lies show how Biddy agrees. Still, Pip struggles Industrial Revolution. Previously, the answer any questions about her, even little exposure to upper class they amidst the hectic squalor at the class system was entirely determined by as Mrs. Joe and Uncle Pumblechook have—they believe it really could be as evening school, where resources are birth. Though Pip's experience at school bully him for information. Finally, he alien and sensational as Pip's scarce (the whole class shares a single indicates just how poor Victorian begins to answer their questions with description. textbook), the teacher is disengaged, England's working class schools were. sensational lies, which Mrs. Joe and and students are combative. Uncle Pumblechook believe. They marvel at Pip's account in awe and relate them to Joe, who is equally After school, Pip goes to meet Joe at That the stranger shows Pip a metal file accepting and amazed. Pip starts to the village public house, the Three and then gives him money suggests that feel guilty for deceiving Joe (though Jolly Bargeman. He finds Joe with Mr. the stranger has been sent by the convict not for deceiving his aunt or Uncle Wopsle and a stranger. The stranger himself, perhaps to give Pip the money in Pumblechook). Mrs. Joe and Uncle is "secret-looking" and looks hard at thanks for helping him. Pip is now aware Pumblechook giddily speculate on Pip, nodding. He eagerly asks about of a class system he was ignorant of what Miss Havisham might do for Pip. Pip and stirs his drink with a metal file when he first met the convict on the that only Pip can see. Pip realizes in marshes. He knows that convicts belong shock that the stranger must be to the lowest class and fears association connected to the convict he helped with them might tarnish his own social years ago. In parting, the stranger status. gives Pip a shilling wrapped in paper which, back at home, Mrs. Joe sees is two pound notes. Joe runs back to return the money but the man is gone. Pip worries that it is common to associate with convicts and has nightmares about the metal file.

Summary & Analysis www.LitCharts.com | @litcharts ©2014 | Page 10 Great Expectations BOOK 1, CHAPTER 11 BOOK 1, CHAPTER 12 Pip returns to Miss Havisham's the Pip is surrounded by fraudulence and During the next week, Pip is anxious Pip is confused both about what next week and is told by Estella to self-deception, from the hypocritical that he will be punished for hurting constitutes a crime and who executes wait in a gloomy sitting room where adults in the sitting room to Estella's the pale young gentleman in their justice, worried that winning a Miss Havisham's relatives Camilla, bait-and-switch routine on the stairs, fight, and suspects that either the law consensual sports match may be Sarah Pocket, Georgiana, and from the presumptuous stranger who will come down on him or Miss criminal and unsure of whether justice Raymond are talking. From listening tells obedient Pip (rather than the Havisham herself will seek revenge. should be carried out by the impartial to snippets of their talk, Pip can tell misbehaving Estella) to behave, to the But when he returns to Miss state or by individuals seeking revenge. "they were all toadies and humbugs." rotting wedding table that perverts an Havisham's he is surprised to discover Estella returns and leads Pip to Miss image of new life (a marriage celebration) that he faces no punishment Havisham, stopping along the way to to a grim image of death (a funeral). whatsoever, that the fight goes ask him whether he still finds her entirely unacknowledged. pretty and insulting. When Pip replies that she seems less insulting, she slaps That day at Miss Havisham's, Pip Biddy can see that Miss Havisham's and berates him. Pip tells her he'll agrees to return every other day to behavior is disturbing in ways that Pip, at never cry for her again, a claim the walk her or wheel her in a chair. This the time, is not fully aware of. Again, the adult narrator states was false. On the continues for eight to ten months. reality of Pip's experience with Miss stairs, they run into a dark, sharp-eyed During this time, Miss Havisham Havisham contrasts starkly with Mrs. man who tells Pip to behave himself. continues to point out Estella's Joe and Uncle Pumblechook's fantasies Upstairs, Pip helps Miss Havisham beauty to Pip, whispering fondly to of it. Miss Havisham does not seem to walk laps around the dining room Estella, "Break their hearts!" Pip tells have any grand plans for Pip—she simply table which is covered in a no one about his experiences at Miss expects that he will become an cobwebbed, moldy wedding feast, Havisham's except for Biddy, who apprentice and then a tradesmen, the decayed beyond recognition. She tells expresses concern that, at the time, he typical life trajectory for Pip's class. Pip that this is the table she'll be laid did not understand. Meanwhile, Mrs. Indentures are the legal contracts out on when she dies. Joe and Uncle Pumblechook enjoy binding an apprenticeship. imagining Miss Havisham's future Miss Havisham has Pip call for Estella Miss Havisham's relatives are acting as if patronage of Pip. One day, Miss who comes with Camilla, Sarah they have a generous concern for her, Havisham tells Pip it's time he was Pocket, Georgiana, and Raymond but that Miss Havisham knows is apprenticed to Joe and asks Pip to following behind her. These four try to insincere. Her relative's efforts to endear bring Joe with Pip's indentures. Back engage Miss Havisham in themselves to Miss Havisham and at the forge, the news that Miss conversation as she and Pip walk: competitiveness for her affection suggest Havisham has asked to see Joe (and Camilla professes to be sick with they are motivated by personal gain. not her) inspires Mrs. Joe's jealous worry about Miss Havisham, while They probably hope Miss Havisham will fury. Sarah Pocket attempts to expose leave them her fortune after she dies. Camilla as a fraud. They both lament BOOK 1, CHAPTER 13 Matthew Pocket's thoughtless Next day, Joe and Pip set off for Miss Though much of Joe's awkwardness absence. After they leave, Miss Havisham's. Mrs. Joe has insisted on must owe to the shock of seeing Miss Havisham tells Pip that it is her walking to town with them in all her Havisham's living conditions, part of it birthday, and that these four visit her finest to visit Uncle Pumblechook. may owe to his inexperience interacting each year on that day though they are Upon being escorted into Miss with the upper class. A premium is a sum always afraid to mention the occasion Havisham's, Joe is speechless with of money that many craftsmen required outright. discomfort and can only respond to from new apprentices as payment for Pip and Estella play cards and Miss Although Pip initially calls the boy a Miss Havisham's questions indirectly being taken on as an apprentice. Though Havisham points out Estella's beauty. "gentleman" because of his appearance by addressing his answers to Pip. Pip Pip has certainly earned his twenty-five Pip wanders out onto the grounds and and his eagerness to box (a genteel is mortified yb Joe's awkwardness and guineas at Miss Havisham's, she is still finds "a pale young gentleman" in the sport), the boy proves he is noble in spirit, uneducated speech. Miss Havisham generous to offer it even when Joe ruined greenhouse. He challenges Pip not just breeding, when he shows good asks Joe whether he expects a doesn't ask for one. to a fight and Pip reluctantly agrees, sportsmanship and generosity towards premium for Pip's apprenticeship and, assuming he'll lose. He is astonished the victor. Estella has clearly been when Joe tells Pip he doesn't, she to discover that he is a much stronger excitedly spying on the fight (which hands Pip twenty-five guineas that fighter than the pale oungy explains her flush) and allows Pip to kiss she says is the premium Pip has gentleman, who falls again and again her because his win elevates her opinion earned at her house. She then but remains in good spirits, cheerfully of him. dismisses them, telling Pip he need announcing that Pip has won. When not return to her now that he is Joe's Pip meets Estella outside, she's apprentice. flushed and tells Pip he may kiss her on the cheek, a permission Pip can't help feeling unsatisfied yb .

Summary & Analysis www.LitCharts.com | @litcharts ©2014 | Page 11 Great Expectations Pip and Joe leave Miss Havisham's Joe's white lie restores Mrs. Joe's sense of BOOK 1, CHAPTER 15 and walk to Uncle Pumblechook's her reputation. It is generous of him to where Mrs. Joe has been waiting for tell it, especially considering how rattled Pip is getting too big for the village Pip remains steadfast to the idea that them in a sulk, still deeply hurt that he must be by his ordeal at Satis House. evening school and must stop going, education is self-improvement. His she was not asked to visit. Joe lies to reluctantly concluding his formal eagerness to educate Joe is not Mrs. Joe telling her that Miss education. Pip, though, is still hungry motivated by generosity but by a selfish Havisham sent her compliments to to learn and studies independently. fixation on reputation and a fear that Mrs. Joe and only didn't invite her on Meanwhile, he tries to share his Joe's "commonness" tarnishes Pip's own the visit due to Miss Havisham's poor education with Joe by giving him image by association. health. Mrs. Joe is greatly cheered up lessons on the marsh each Sunday, by this news, which she trusts as the though Pip is discouraged that Joe truth. Joe makes a grand show of never seems to remember lessons handing the premium Miss Havisham from one Sunday to the next. Pip gave him to Mrs. Joe. admits that these lessons are not purely generous. Rather, he hopes to Uncle Pumblechook, Joe, and Mrs. Though Uncle Pumblechook should be a educate Joe so that Joe "might be Joe hurry Pip to the Town Hall to be nurturing guardian to Pip, he treats Pip worthier of my society and less officially bound as Joe's apprentice, a so roughly that strangers think he must vulnerable to Estella's reproach." procedure that must take place in be handling a criminal. Pip's likening of front of a judge. Uncle Pumblechook the court pews to church pews implicitly During one of these lessons, Pip Though Victorian England enjoys more pushes Pip around the Hall so quickly empowers legal justice by linking it to proposes to Joe that he pay a visit to class mobility than prior eras, inter-class that other people in court think that divine justice. Miss Havisham. Joe is skeptical, socialization was still rare, which Pip must have committed a crime. Pip thinking that Miss Havisham would explains Joe's skepticism. notes the strange interior of the Hall assume Pip wanted something. When and compares the pews with church Pip suggests that he might visit her to pews. thank her, Joe is concerned that Pip would not be able to make anything in Giddy with delight at the twenty-five Pip's own goals and standards have the blacksmith forge that would be guineas, Mrs. Joe insists that they changed. He can no longer be satisfied by worthy of Miss Havisham. Eventually, celebrate it with a dinner at the Blue what made him happy in the days before Joe says that he supports the visit if Boar, inviting Uncle Pumblechook, he met Miss Havisham and Estella, Pip wants to do it and agrees to grant Mr. and Mrs. Hubble, and Mr. Wopsle before he decided that he wanted to be Pip a half-holiday the next day to go on to join them. The dinner is high- "uncommon." his visit. He warns Pip, though, to be spirited and everyone is rowdy and sure not to visit again if he is not happy except for Pip, who feels deeply received with cordiality the next day. melancholy even as the adults keep prodding him to enjoy himself. Inside, The next day at the forge, Joe's dour, Mrs. Joe's greedy ambitions don't match Pip feels "wretched" at the prospect lazy, hostile journeyman Orlick (who up with Joe's sense of fairness. Though of entering Joe's trade, thinking "I had lies to the village and tells them his Joe is usually the forge's peacekeeper, his liked it once, but once was not now." Christian name is "Dolge") hears personal integrity requires him to defend about Pip's half-holiday and angrily his wife against Orlick's insults. BOOK 1, CHAPTER 14 demands one for himself. When Joe assents, Mrs. Joe (who has been Pip is miserable in his apprenticeship Pip remains dissatisfied with what used spying on their conversation from the to Joe, internally tormented by the to please him. Yet Pip's ambitions are yard) protests that Joe is wasting "commonness" of his home, Joe's driven entirely by Estella's opinion—he wages. Orlick insults Mrs. Joe, calling forge, and of the blacksmith's trade, does not want to do or be anything in her a "foul shrew" and, though Joe though he conceals his despair from particular, he simply wants Estella to tells Orlick to leave her alone, the Joe. All of the places and activities think highly of him. His fantasy of insults between them escalate and that had delighted him before meeting running away to be a sailor or a soldier Joe and Orlick fight. Joe is stronger Estella now disappoint him because would not necessarily elevate his social than Orlick and quickly triumphs. he knows she would consider them status or make him "uncommon"—they Later, Pip finds them peacefully coarse and common. Pip describes would simply give him a feeling of sharing beer and cleaning up the forge himself as "restless aspiring escape, of distance between himself and together. discontented me." He walks the the "common" life he loathes. marshes in dejection, feeling his low Pip anxiously walks to town to visit Like Joe, Sarah Pocket and Miss spirits aligned with the flat, low marsh Miss Havisham and is lead upstairs by Havisham are also initially confused by landscape. Only Joe's kindness and Sarah Pocket, who is suspicious of his Pip's desire to pay a friendly visit and cheer restrains Pip from running away presence. Upon seeing Pip, Miss assume Pip is trying to get more money from the forge and becoming a soldier Havisham immediately informs Pip from her. Yet, when she is convinced he or sailor. that she will not give him anything, but isn't asking for money, Miss Havisham's softens when Pip assures her that attitude towards Pip becomes parental, there is no ulterior motive to his visit offering to be an enduring presence in and she tells him he can visit her on his Pip's life (albeit only once a year). birthdays. Miss Havisham then intuits that Pip has come to see Estella and informs Pip that Estella has gone abroad to study. She asks Pip, with "a malignant enjoyment," if he feels he has lost her, then dismisses a flustered Pip.

In town, Pip runs into Mr. Wopsle The play charts the downfall of a young Mrs. Joe sustains severe brain Mrs. Joe may not have been the best who is on his way to Uncle apprentice who eventually murders his damage. She trembles and is unable to parent to Pip, but Pip misses her old self Pumblechook's for a reading of the uncle. Pip, a young boy who will soon be speak. She no longer has a temper and all the same. Mrs. Joe's eagerness to see Tragedy of George Barnwell and apprenticed to his uncle, may feel the is calmly patient as those around her and please Orlick could be explained as a convinces Pip to come. The three read action of the play strike too close to try to communicate with her by slate. wish to apologize for having treated him the tragedy with Pip reading the role home. Joe is heartbroken. Biddy moves into unjustly in the past. Still, it is of Barnwell. Mr. Wopsle and Uncle the house to take care of Mrs. Joe and mysterious... Pumblechook chastise Pip as if the is able to interpret a sign that Mrs. Joe character's grizzly acts—including has written over and over on her slate murdering his uncle—are Pip's own. to Pip and Joe's confusion: she asks for Orlick. Orlick is fetched and On the misty walk back to the village Mist continues to symbolize a lack of slouches over to a delighted Mrs. Joe, late that night, Mr. Wopsle and Pip clarity and knowledge —Pip does not who seeks to please him with "an air of discover Orlick under the turnpike realize he is walking towards a tragedy humble propitiation." Pip is house. He says he has spent his half- that will change life at the forge forever. disappointed that his sister does not holiday in town and notes that the Orlick's behavior can be considered denounce Orlick. Thereafter, Mrs. Joe guns have been going off at the Hulks, suspicious. Does he mention the escaped asks for Orlick to come to her daily, a signaling escaped convicts. He walks convicts to blame them for a crime he wish he confusedly obliges. with Pip and Mr. Wopsle and, as the committed himself? three pass the Three Jolly Bargemen, BOOK 1, CHAPTER 17 a riled up crowd informs Mr. Wopsle that people (the crowd suspects Pip persists in the same routines, Biddy is growing up, beginning to present convicts) have broken into the forge varied only by a birthday visit to Miss herself as a responsible adult rather than while Joe was out. Upon returning Havisham's where she gives him a a neglected orphan. She is innately home, the group find the forge guinea he spends on books to study. intelligent and keenly observant, traits swarmed with villagers. Joe and a But Pip sees Biddy changing: she is which enable her to soak up knowledge surgeon are on the kitchen floor cleaner and neater, noticeably pretty. without deliberate study. Yet Biddy beside Mrs. Joe who has been One evening, while Pip sits studying, doesn't place as much value on knocked out by a strong blow to the Pip realizes that Biddy has learned education as Pip does—when he praises back of her head. everything that Pip has from books her learning, she immediately redirects and the forge without ever studying. the conversation to memories of their BOOK 1, CHAPTER 16 He asks her how she's learned and she friendship, focusing on human says she "must catch it—like a cough." relationships rather than on individual That night, Pip is convinced he himself Though Pip's conscience is strong, his Pip is impressed and praises Biddy's knowledge. must have had something to do with desire to protect his reputation is making "the most of every chance." the crime against Mrs. Joe, and that stronger and he again chooses not to tell Biddy begins to cry, asking Pip to he is the most likely suspect (a guilt he Joe the truth about the convicts. This remember their first lessons together. attributes as narrator to having just second choice is arguably even more Pip is moved and, wanting to express read the Barnwell play). Yet immoral as Pip's theory about the leg- his gratitude and trust, invites Biddy afterwards, thinking with a clearer iron found by Mrs. Joe could be on a weekend walk on the marshes. head, Pip notices that whoever struck important evidence in the case. The Mrs. Joe did not steal anything, police—the enforcers of legal justice—are On their walk, Pip confesses to Biddy Like Joe, Biddy is content with her instead just blowing out the candle comically ineffectual. The leg-iron has his dissatisfaction with the blacksmith station in life and does not strive to rise and striking her, leaving a convict's been a symbol of justice, but here it is a trade and his wish to be a gentleman above her class. Neither does she filed-off leg-iron beside her. The leg- symbol of an attempt to circumvent to disprove Estella's disdain for his romanticize members of the upper class: iron does not belong to either of the justice—as Pip's observations indicate commonness. At the same time, he she can see Estella's cruel pettiness for recently escaped convicts and Joe (even if Pip doesn't realize it himself) that admits he would have been happier if what it is and isn't distracted by Estella's observes that it was filed open a long the leg-iron has clearly been planted to he could be as content with the forge beauty or elegance. Yet, even though a time ago. Pip believes either Orlick or throw off the police. as he was in childhood. Biddy is part of Pip agrees with Biddy, he is the convict with the file placed the skeptical about Pip's ambitions and overwhelmed by his own ambition and iron in the kitchen—but Orlick was calls them "a pity." She is disturbed by dissatisfaction with a blacksmith's life. seen in town all night and the stranger Estella's insults and tells Pip they are Pip cannot shake his infatuation with would have had no motive. He knows rude and untrue, asking him, "Do you Estella. he should confess the whole story to want to be a gentleman to spite her or Joe but makes excuses to himself to to gain her over?" If the former, Biddy get out of it. The police make a few says, spite would be better expressed (wrong) accusations but spend most by ignoring her insults, and, if the of their time drinking and do not solve latter, Estella isn't worth gaining over. the case. Pip agrees but knows, to his chagrin, that he will not be able to follow Biddy's wise advice.

Pip cries and Biddy comforts him and Biddy is perceptive and speaks the truth, The stranger requests a private Pip's dreams have come true—his tells him she is glad that Pip feels he even when it is unpleasant. She sees Pip's conference with Joe and Pip, who, anonymous, generous patron has can confide on her, that he always can. class ambitions and concern for bewildered, follow the man into a rescued him from the "common" life he Pip hugs her and says he will always reputation and understands that they parlor. Pip recognizes the stranger as has resented for so long and launched tell her everything. "Till you're a will lead him to abandon his life at the the man he met on the stairs at Miss him towards gentility. Yet the stipulation gentleman," says Biddy. They walk on forge and the relationships associated Havisham's. The stranger introduces that Pip keep his name implies that his and Pip, thinking how miserable he with it. himself as Mr. Jaggers, a London patron wishes Pip to keep the integrity of would be if he were walking with lawyer, and explains that an his identity intact (an implication that Estella, tells Biddy he wishes he could anonymous person has arranged for Pip, at the time, doesn't realize). Joe is get himself to fall in love with her. "But Pip to come into a large amount of appalled by Mr. Jaggers' suggestion that you never will, you see," says Biddy. money (great expectations) and has he could be financially compensated for meanwhile provided a smaller sum of losing Pip because, in spite of the fact As they are walking, Orlick appears Pip is instinctively protective of Biddy money to release Pip from his that Pip is Joe's apprentice, Joe's out of nowhere and tries to walk them and doesn't want Orlick to court her, apprenticeship and train him to be a relationship towards Pip is parental, home but Biddy whispers to Pip not even though Pip is unsure whether he gentleman. The only condition is that measured in love not in money. to let him, saying she doesn't like him. wants to court her himself. He continues Pip never change his name. Pip is Pip and Biddy walk alone with Orlick to waver in and out of ambition. ecstatic and secretly suspects his following at a distance and Biddy patron is Miss Havisham. Joe is confesses to Pip that she is afraid supportive and appalled by Mr. Orlick likes her. Pip is hot with anger Jaggers' suggestion that Joe could be and from that day on tries to obstruct financially compensated for losing Pip. Orlick's advances on Biddy. Pip Mr. Jaggers suggests Matthew Pocket himself goes back and forth between as a tutor for Pip and leaves Pip believing Biddy and forge life are money to buy new clothes. Pip says he superior to Estella, then remembering will leave for London as soon as the Havisham days and growing possible. dissatisfied and ambitious again. Joe and Pip return to the forge Pip misinterprets the sadness in Joe and BOOK 1, CHAPTER 18 separately. Pip breaks a tense silence Biddy's congratulations, not It is now four years into Pip's The stranger quashes the villagers' to tell Biddy the news. Biddy and Joe understanding that it is their love for him apprenticeship. Pip and Joe are merriment, scolding them for treating congratulate Pip though Pip thinks (not their jealousy of him) that makes gathered with a group at the Three matters of justice as sensational "there was a certain touch of sadness them sad. Pip's sudden change in fortune Jolly Bargeman listening to Mr. entertainment. He forces the party to in their congratulations that I rather has transformed him instantly into a Wopsle perform a newspaper account take sober responsibility for their own resented." As Biddy and Joe relax, Pip snob, describing their village friends with of a recent murder as if it were a play, role in the legal justice system by grows "gloomy." Looking back, he the very words that stung him so impersonating voices of the people mentioning the jury, and shames them wonders if he was unconsciously painfully from Estella's mouth ("coarse" involved. A stranger overhearing them for treating that role lightly. "dissatisfied with yselfm ." Pip suggests and "common.") Biddy, as usual, sees interrupts Mr. Wopsle and criticizes that he might conceal his new clothes right through Pip, checking his snobbery. him for assuming that the verdict is from their village friends, like Mr. Ôguilty' before witnesses have been Wopsle and Mr. and Mrs. Hubble, cross-examined and before the who "would make...such a coarse and prisoner has given his defense. "...do common business." Biddy asks Pip you not know that the law of England whether he will conceal the clothes supposes every man to be innocent, from the forge as well and Pip, until he is proved—proved—to be resenting her suggestion, tells her he guilty?" the man asks, won't. condescendingly. He asks the party to Pip goes to bed and surveys his "mean Pip's ambition leads him to see even his imagine the effects of Mr. Wopsle's little room" that he will soon be bedroom as something he will rise presumptuousness on a jury. Mr. "raised above." He feels "above." Again, Pip misunderstands Joe Wopsle is cowed into silence and the simultaneously excited for the future and Biddy and is oblivious to the group looks down on him. and nostalgic for the past. Through his "reason" for Joe's discomfort, though the bedroom window, Pip sees Joe reader knows Joe is deeply sad to lose smoking outside with Biddy. Because Pip. Pip's comparison of Joe's smoke Joe never smokes so late, Pip infers rings to a blessing describe Joe's ever that he must want comforting "for modest but constant love and generosity some reason or other." The two speak towards Pip. quietly and Pip hears his name mentioned fondly. The light smoke wreaths floating from Joe's pipe seem to Pip "like a blessing from Joe—not obtruded on me or paraded before me, but pervading the air we shared together."

Summary & Analysis www.LitCharts.com | @litcharts ©2014 | Page 14 Great Expectations BOOK 1, CHAPTER 19 After completing his shopping, Pip Mr. Pumblechook has already shown goes to see Mr. Pumblechook, who, to himself to be a class-obsessed, greedy Pip rises the next morning in a Pip's new snobbery reaches ridiculous Pip's great pleasure, tells Pip how toady and this scene only provides brighter mood and, after church, takes heights. His generosity towards the deserved Pip's fortune is. further evidence. Though he has abused a farewell walk through the marshes, villagers is transparently false, conceived Pumblechook's flatters Pip vo er and and neglected Pip for years—at a time feeling a condescending compassion purely to enhance the gentlemanly over, and continually asks permission when Pip most needed love and for the village people ("poor reputation he craves. His perspective on to shake Pip's hand. He feeds Pip a support—he now pretends as if they have creatures") and resolving to send the cows is comical. Compare this lavish meal. He reminisces about his always been friends and fawns over Pip. them charitable gifts in the future. He journey on the marshes with that to long friendship with Pip, how he has Pip sees through Pumblechook but dismisses memories of the convict. As meet the convict in Chapter 3. been Pip's favorite since childhood. nevertheless enjoys his flattery. he walks, Pip imagines that the cows Though Pip knows this is a lie, he is Pumblechook's request for Pip's business on the marsh "wear a more respectful won over by Pumblechook's manner advice is a thinly veiled plea for money. air now...in order that they might stare and thinks he must have been as long as long as possible at the mistaken not to like him in the past. possessor of such great expectations." Pumblechook asks Pip's business Pip lies down at the battery and falls Pip is hungry for external validation of advice (obviously implying that he'd asleep, daydreaming of Estella. Pip is his new status and reputation. Pip wants like Pip's investment) and delights in it awakened by Joe, who has followed everyone, even Joe, to feel intimidated even when Pip does not offer to him. Pip tells Joe he will never forget and insecure around him, in order to invest. Pumblechook reiterates that him and, when Joe responds that he is make himself feel important. Pip is "no common boy." sure of that and that he only needed a The day before leaving for London, Sarah Pocket's dismay stems from her night to adjust to Pip's departure, Pip Pip visits Miss Havisham to say belief that Miss Havisham must be Pip's is secretly disappointed in "Joe's being goodbye. He is escorted inside by anonymous patron (meaning she won't so mightily secure of me." Sarah Pocket. Miss Havisham keeps get any money out of Havisham). Pip Pip regrets that Joe didn't get a Pip confuses integrity with reputation. Sarah Pocket in the room while she assumes genteel manners to bid Miss chance to learn more in their lessons. Pip's understanding of pride relies on and Pip recount his change in fortune Havisham goodbye. Joe disagrees, saying he was always comparing himself to other people. He is (she has already heard the news from "so awful dull" and that he is a master more proud when he considers himself Mr. Jaggers), relishing Sarah Pocket's only of his own trade. Pip, wanting to better than more people. He suggests Joe "jealous dismay." In parting, Pip kneels "do something" for Joe thinks it would improve himself according to these and kisses Miss Havisham's hand. be easier to do if Joe were "better standards, learning the sorts of manners Joe, Biddy, and Pip are all sad at Pip's Pip's first priority is protecting his qualified for a rise in station." After that would help him raise himself higher departure. Pip has asked Joe not to reputation and he fears Joe's company tea, he takes Biddy out for a walk and in the class system. Yet Biddy tries to walk with him to the coach, fearing the might tarnish his image. He prioritizes asks her to teach Joe manners so that explain Joe's different sense of pride, a contrast in their appearances. Though reputation even at the expense of his Pip might take him into a "higher pride that relies on integrity and self- he thinks better of it and wants to own happiness, not changing his mind sphere" when he comes into his worth rather than on others' opinions. invite Joe to walk him after all, he does even after he sobs. Throwing an old shoe fortune. Biddy protests and warns Pip Pip, unable to understand, attributes his not. Joe and Biddy each throw an old is a peasant custom and mark Joe and to consider Joe's pride. Pip is annoyed. own confusion to Biddy's jealousy of him. shoe at Pip as he leaves. Pip tries to be Biddy as members of the lower class. Biddy explains that there are many He is upset without knowing exactly happy as he leaves but soon begins different kinds of pride and that Joe is why. sobbing. After his tears, he feels his proud of his place in life and of his own ingratitude more keenly and skills. Pip accuses Biddy of being wishes Joe were with him. On the envious of him, of possessing "a bad coach, he debates at each stop side of human nature." Biddy tells him whether to get down and walk back he can think what he wants, she will home for one last night, but does not. still do all she can for him and for the Mist has risen over the landscape. forge. She reminds him "a gentleman should not be unjust." Afterwards, Pip BOOK 2, CHAPTER 20 sulks outside, confused by his dissatisfaction and loneliness in the Pip arrives in gritty, dirty London and London's prisons during Victorian times wake of such good news. goes to Mr. Jaggers' office in Little were notoriously dirty and chaotic, full of Britain. The office is greasy and run- raucous lower-class prisoners who were Next day, Pip goes to the tailor, Mr. This is Pip's first xperiencee parading his down, gloomily decorated with brutalized by the inhumane conditions. Trabb, to have clothes made. Upon new status in town, and he discovers weapons and casts of swollen faces. hearing that Pip has come into money, that there are those, like Mr. Trabb, who Mr. Jaggers is in court and Wemmick, Mr. Trabb immediately begins to treat will fawn over Pip solely because of Pip's Jaggers' clerk, shows Pip in. While Pip with exaggerated deference while money. But at the same time Mr. Trabb is waiting, Pip takes a walk through all along verbally abusing his assistant, cruel to his assistant, revealing his filthy, bloody neighborhood of Trabb's Boy. Pip notes that "my first kindness to Pip as solely being the result Smithfield, passing the black-domed decided experience of the stupendous of Pip's money. Saint Paul's and Newgate Prison power of money was that it had where a dirty, drunken minister of morally laid upon his back, Trabb's justice shows Pip the gallows, public boy." whipping posts, and debtors' door, and tries to sell Pip a spectator's seat at a trial. Back at Mr. Jaggers' office, Pip sees a rag-tag group of poor, dirty, miserable clients waiting for Jaggers as well.

Mr. Jaggers returns and sharply Mr. Jaggers is strictly professional, taking Pip is immediately struck by Herbert's Pip is anxious to acquire genteel dismisses each of his clients, checking only money, no personal stories or open, kind personality. He explains his manners. Telling Herbert his name is to make sure they have paid perspectives. Dickens' portrayal of the background and asks Herbert to "Phillip" violates the terms of his Wemmick and threatening to drop Jewish man is evidence of the Anti- correct his country manners. When patronage, which stipulated he keep their cases if they try to involve Semitism of his era. Herbert asks Pip's name, Pip says it is calling himself "Pip." Pip is trying to themselves any further. Mr. Jaggers "Phillip." Herbert, disliking the name, escape his lower-class past and himself. refuses to take on the case of a Jewish decides to call Pip "Handel" after man. He disgustedly dismisses Handel's piece "The Harmonious another client who has brought a Blacksmith." falsely disguised, dishonest witness. At dinner, Herbert tells Miss Miss Havisham's tragedy is set in motion Mr. Jaggers tells Pip he will stay at Mr. Jaggers knows that wealth can't be Havisham's story. Miss Havisham was by class conflict: her oungery brother Barnard's Inn with Matthew Pocket's equated with self-improvement, that the spoiled daughter of a wealthy, resents her higher status as a child born son. He reveals Pip's generous getting more money can easily lead one genteel brewer. Her mother died early to an upper class marriage. He doesn't allowance, informing Pip that he'll be to make more mistakes. and her father secretly married and enjoy the full range of class privileges she keeping an eye on Pip's spending had a son with his cook. Though raised does because he is born out of an affair though he's sure Pip will manage to as part of the family, this son was with a cook. When his father leaves Miss "go wrong somehow." rebellious and his father left him a Havisham more money in his will, the much smaller inheritance than he left brother seeks revenge by partnering with BOOK 2, CHAPTER 21 Miss Havisham, which built Miss Havisham's fiancée to ruin her Wemmick walks Pip to Barnard's Inn Like Mr. Jaggers, Wemmick is rigidly resentment between her and her half- forever. and Pip observes his wooden features professional and avoids engaging with brother. Miss Havisham fell in love and all the little tokens of mourning human feelings, attributing London's with and was engaged to a man to that Wemmick wears. Pip asks crimes mostly to financial motives rather whom she gave a great deal of money, Wemmick if London is "wicked" and than to the emotion-driven revenge and who convinced her to buy her Wemmick replies that one can get motives that Pip suggests. half-brother out of his share in the "cheated, robbed, and murdered" brewery. On their wedding day, this there just like anywhere else. When man never showed up. Rumor was Pip suggests people commit such that he'd conspired with Miss crimes just for revenge, Wemmick Havisham's vengeful half-brother, corrects him, saying many more though Herbert does not know the people commit crimes for profit. two men's whereabouts any longer. Wemmick seems surprised that Pip Miss Havisham was devastated and, finds crimes for profit to be "worse" within the house, essentially stopped than crimes committed for revenge. time to the minute she had been After depositing Pip at Barnard's, betrayed. Wemmick is surprised by Pip's offer to All of Miss Havisham's relations were The distinction Matthew Pocket makes shake hands. poor and all of them except for between gentlemanly manners and a Pip is appalled by the dismal state of Even though young Mr. Pocket is part of Matthew Pocket were jealous and noble heart is crucial and will factor Barnard's Inn, which is sooty, rotting, Miss Havisham's upper class family, he "scheming." He alone had warned significantly in Pip's growth as a and infested. He waits for young Mr. does not have any money—his class is Miss Havisham about her fiancée, character. Pocket to return and let him into the not backed up by wealth. Yet despite his perceiving that the man was only rooms. Mr. Pocket returns with fresh lack of money, young Mr. Pocket's superficially genteel. Miss Havisham, fruit he has bought in Pip's honor and gracious welcome attests to his generous though, was offended by the warning very graciously welcomes Pip into the spirit. and accused Matthew Pocket of trying grim apartment, apologizing for its to get her money for himself. condition and explaining that he and Herbert concludes by telling Pip that Herbert's openness and respect are his father are poor. He and Pip he has revealed everything he knows further evidence of his integrity and suddenly recognize one about Miss Havisham. He promises generosity. another—young Mr. Pocket is the pale that nothing shall come between he young gentleman Pip fought with in and Pip in the future and swears never Miss Havisham's greenhouse. to inquire about Pip's patron. Pip thinks that Herbert is implicitly BOOK 2, CHAPTER 22 acknowledging that Miss Havisham is The pale young gentleman is Herbert Herbert's description of Estella sheds Pip's patron. Pocket and he explains that his father, light on Miss Havisham's fawning over Herbert enthusiastically describes his Herbert's own ambitions are in accord Matthew Pocket, is Miss Havisham's Estella and taunting Pip during Pip's own ambition of becoming "a with the new capitalist economy of post- cousin. Herbert was in Miss visits to Satis House. capitalist—an insurer of ships," though Industrial Revolution England. Havisham's greenhouse that day after he is currently working unpaid in a Miss Havisham sent for him to see if counting house. Pip privately he might be a suitable betrothed for suspects that Herbert will never Estella (she'd decided not). Herbert succeed in business. criticizes Estella for being cruel and haughty, and explains that she is Miss Havisham's adopted daughter raised to "wreak revenge on all the male sex."

The next day, Herbert takes Pip to Mrs. Pocket is not a very competent Pip decides to rent one of Herbert's Mr. Jaggers' sense of professionalism Matthew Pocket's house in the parent. rooms in Barnard's Inn for variety and does not only require him to be rational, countryside outside London. There, for the pleasure of Herbert's calculating, and dispassionate—he must they meet Mrs. Pocket reading in the company. When he asks Mr. Jaggers also intimidate everyone around him. garden, blissfully oblivious to six of for money to furnish the room, Mr. her children tumbling over the Jaggers hassles Pip about the sum, footstool concealed below her skirt. making Pip uncomfortable. When he She and the children are attended by confides his discomfort to Wemmick, two frustrated maids, Millers and Wemmick assures him that Mr. Flopson. Mrs. Pocket acts absent- Jaggers' intends that reaction but that minded and unfamiliar with her "it's not personal....only professional." children. After dispensing his money, Wemmick Wemmick's cheerfulness around matters BOOK 2, CHAPTER 23 gives Pip a tour of Mr. Jaggers office of death show how inured he's become to and Pip sees four other shabby clerks the grizzly justice system. Further, the Pip learns that Mrs. Pocket is the only Mrs. Pocket was raised to value titles and and learns that the plaster casts are firm celebrates the criminals it defends, daughter of a deceased knight who, to believe in a birthright to death masks of "famous clients" that as they are the foundation of its success. though poor, was pompously proud of nobility—ideas that are now antiquated earned the practice credit: one a The firm seems not so much to be his title, had ordered that his daughter in Victorian England where the rigid murderer, the other a forger. focused on justice, as finding ways to be raised without learning any hereditary class system is a thing of the Wemmick describes them fondly and profit from the law. It's all business. practical domestic skills, and that she past. Note how the title was more explains that all of his mourning Wemmick's cheerful acceptance of the "must marry a title." She eloped with important than the person—Mrs. Pocket accessories are gifts from Mr. Jaggers' "personal property" that was the last Mr. Pocket. Her father had no dowry was not to marry a man with a title, it clients who were killed for their gifts of condemned criminals further to give her but his blessing. Mrs. was just the "title" that mattered. crimes. He tells Pip that he always underscores this "all business" ethos. Pocket is pitied by Mrs. Coiler and takes these mementoes when offered others "because she had not married a as his motto is "get hold of portable title." Mr. Pocket is blamed for never property." getting a title. Wemmick invites Pip to visit him at Wemmick's invitation to Pip is generous, A harried but unaffected Mr. Pocket Drummle has been born into the upper home in Walworth. He also warns Pip not professionally required of him. shows Pip his room and introduces class and therefore has a hold in the that, if he ever goes to Mr. Jaggers him to fellow students Bentley antiquated title system that Mrs. Pocket house, he should look out for his Drummle, an heir to a baronetcy, and values. The Pocket household is highly housekeeper, who is "a wild beast Startop. At dinner, Pip observes that dysfunctional. Authority that should be tamed." the Pockets' servants wield greater possessed by the parents, Mr. and Mrs. power in the household than the Pocket, has passed to the servants. BOOK 2, CHAPTER 25 Pockets' themselves. Mrs. Pocket reveals that the book she was reading Pip describes his peers, Bentley Bentley Drummle may be a gentleman so avidly is a book on titles. Drummle and Startop. Bentley by birth but he definitely does not Drummle is stupid, "idle, proud, possess a noble heart. When the children are brought in Mrs. Pocket is more concerned with her niggardly, reserved, and suspicious." after dinner, Mrs. Pocket allows the own social class and status than she is Startop has been spoiled and made baby to play with nutcrackers while with parenting her children. Her effeminate by an overprotective she discusses baronetcies with daughter Jane is a better mother to her mother, but Pip much prefers his Bentley Drummle and scolds her baby than she is. Mr. Pocket recognizes company to Drummle's. His best older child, Jane, for suggesting the her incompetence but can do nothing. friend is Herbert. baby might be in danger. An exasperated Mr. Pocket protests his A few weeks later, Pip arranges to Mr. Jaggers is proud of his reputation and wife's negligence to no avail and falls take Wemmick up on his dinner flaunts it among criminal circles in silent. invitation to Walworth. They meet at London. At the same time, it is suggestive Mr. Jaggers' office and emmickW about the brutal nature of the law that a After dinner (lunch), Bentley Pip is offended by the trainer's praise describes some of Mr. Jaggers' lawyer, an agent of the law, can become Drummle and Startop go rowing and because he doesn't want to be personal habits to Pip: Mr. Jaggers' more feared than the lawbreakers Pip, wanting to be trained in this associated with working class trades, never locks his doors or windows at themselves. genteel sport, hires someone to train even by mere comparison. night and carries a massive, expensive him, though he is deeply offended gold watch, yet Mr. Jaggers is so when the trainer praises him for infamous among thieves in London, having "the arm of a blacksmith." that no one would ever be brave enough to rob him. BOOK 2, CHAPTER 24 Several days later, Mr. Pocket tells Pip Gentlemen do not engage in practical that he's been told by Mr. Jaggers that trades and professions but instead live Pip is not to be trained for any genteel lives of leisure. Pip will be particular profession but to be educated for such a life. Though you educated as a young man of wealth. could also make a case that he will then Pip accepts the plan. He and Mr. be educated in doing nothing. Pocket get along well and Pip finds him "serious, honest, and good."

Summary & Analysis www.LitCharts.com | @litcharts ©2014 | Page 17 Great Expectations Pip and Wemmick walk to Walworth, Wemmick's house may be modeled on BOOK 2, CHAPTER 27 which is an eccentric, tiny imitation- Gothic period architecture but he has Gothic cottage with a drawbridge, a built it all himself in the Victorian era. Pip receives a letter from Biddy Pip fears that being seen associating with flagstaff, a gun, and livestock. The house is a model of self-sufficiency informing him that Joe is travelling to Joe will tarnish his reputation and upset Wemmick is proud of building and self-improvement. In order to protect London the next day with Mr. Wopsle his social status. Pip has invested everything himself. Inside, he his reputation for dispassionate, rational and plans to visit Pip. She reminds Pip extravagantly in the trappings of introduces Pip to his near-deaf father, professionalism in the office, emmickW of Joe's goodness. Pip is distressed by gentility, bolstering his social class with the Aged, to whom Wemmick is maintains two personalities. He is as the news and thinks that if he could superficial status symbols just as he is tenderly devoted. Wemmick's manner tender and domestic at home as he is pay to keep Joe away, he would. His also trying to turn himself into a at Walmouth is jovial and warm. He cold and business-minded in the office. only consolation is that Drummle gentleman through education. explains to Pip that he keeps "office won't see (and make fun of) Joe. Joe life" and "private life" completely will come to the Barnard's Inn separate, and that Mr. Jaggers has apartment, which Pip has recently never heard of Walworth. Walking decorated splendidly at enormous back to Little Britain from Walworth expense. Pip has also hired a servant the next morning, Pip notices that boy (the Avenger) whom he dresses in Wemmick's facial expression stiffens fancy waistcoat and boots but has as he nears the office. very little use for. When Joe arrives, Pip is painfully Joe feels uncomfortable amidst Pip's BOOK 2, CHAPTER 26 aware of his country manners, ostentatiously lavish surroundings, but That morning, Mr. Jaggers invites Pip Mr. Jaggers is fascinated by human traits awkward clothes, and discomfort. Joe that discomfort is amplified hugely by along with Drummle, Startop, and that are the opposite of integrity and calls Pip Ôsir' against Pip's protests. Pip's obvious haughtiness and snobbery. Herbert to dinner the next day. Mr. uprightness. Though he does not advise He tells Pip Mr. Wopsle has left the Joe's explanation of their different Jaggers house is dark and serious. Pip to associate with the people who village for London in order to pursue stations displays Joe's integrity—he does Throughout the visit, Mr. Jaggers is possess those negative traits, he is his dreams of acting, and hands Pip not resent Pip's new social class nor does most interested in Drummle, whom delighted to watch those people in the playbill for Mr. Wopsle's first play. he wish to enter it himself. Pip recognizes he calls "one of the true sort," although action. This could explain his affinity for When Herbert leaves for work, Joe Joe's integrity too late and chases him in he advises Pip to steer clear of him. working with criminals. tells Pip he has only come to convey a vain. Like Pip, Mr. Wopsle has come to During the lavish dinner, Pip notices message from Miss Havisham: that London to pursue his ambitions and that Mr. Jaggers "wrenched the Estella is home and would like to see craves opportunities not offered by weakest parts of our dispositions out Pip. Joe says Biddy had encouraged village life. of us," inspiring the boys to bicker him to tell Pip in person, then good- competitively about rowing and naturedly apologizes and says that he money. Pip notes that Drummle leaves and Pip are now of different stations Mr. Pocket's for good a month after in life and shouldn't meet in public. He this dinner. says his place is at the forge, blesses Pip, and leaves. Pip is impressed by Mr. Jaggers only servant is his Each boy wants to win the reputation for Joe's dignity and runs after him, but housekeeper, Molly, whom Wemmick being strongest, but Molly wins it Joe has disappeared. has urged Pip to take note of. She is a instead. Her scarred and disfigured quiet, witch-like woman with wrists are evidence of some struggle in BOOK 2, CHAPTER 28 streaming hair, completely submissive her past. to Mr. Jaggers. Pip imagines her face Pip arranges to return to the village Pip is a self-swindler because he acts above a cauldron. The adult Pip the next day but makes excuses to disloyally and without personal integrity, narrator alludes to a vision he will himself to justify staying at the Blue making excuses to trick himself into have of her face years later by fire in a Boar instead of at the forge. The adult thinking otherwise and stealing from dark room. When the boys bicker Pip narrator calls himself a "self- himself the love and friendship he should about who is strongest, Mr. Jaggers swindler." share with Joe and Biddy.. forces her to show the boys her wrists, which are scarred and disfigured and, Mr. Jaggers claims, the strongest he's ever seen. On the coach to his town, Pip rides This confirms Pip's suspicion that the with two convicts, one of which Pip stranger who showed him the metal file recognizes as the man he met at the and gave him the two pounds was sent Three Jolly Bargeman. Pip is grateful by the convict he'd helped. that the man doesn't recognize him. During the ride, Pip overhears the man recounting how another convict had asked him to find "the boy that had fed him and kep' his secret" and give him two one-pound notes. At the Blue Boar, Pip reads Mr. Mr. Pumblechook continues to tell lies Pumblechook's thinly disguised about his generosity towards Pip in order article in the local newspaper to enhance his reputation around town. crediting himself as Pip's mentor, friend, and first patron.

Summary & Analysis www.LitCharts.com | @litcharts ©2014 | Page 18 Great Expectations BOOK 2, CHAPTER 29 While walking through town, Pip runs Trabb's Boy is the only villager Pip into Trabb's Boy, who follows Pip encounters who does not fawn over his Going to Miss Havisham's the next Orlick and Estella have each undertaken throughout the town making fun of newly won status and wealth. His taunts morning, Pip is surprised to find self-improvement. Orlick has been hired him by feigning intimidation and deal a blow to Pip's pride, but instead of Orlick employed as the porter to as part of a wealthy household while parodying Pip's snobbish demeanor. confronting Trabb's Boy directly, Pip uses protect the house from convicts and Estella has studied abroad and acquired Pip feels disgraced and, thinking it his financial might to indirectly punish intruders. When he enters Miss more refined manners. would be "futile and degrading" to him. Havisham's room, he finds Estella argue with the boy himself, writes Mr. home from France and transformed Trabb a letter informing him that Pip into a beautiful, graceful woman. will no longer patronize his business Pip and Estella walk in the garden and For Estella, a rise in social class because of the boy. recount old times. Estella notes the necessarily involves cutting off all Pip takes the coach back to London Pip confuses a generous heart with a changes in Pip and observes that he connections to the lower class one rose and, immediately upon arrival, sends generous wallet, thinking he can replace has "necessarily" stopped keeping from. Pip's admiration for Estella has led "a penitential codfish and barrel of one with the other. company with his childhood circle. him to live by Estella's standards—he has oysters to Joe" to make up for not When Pip is hurt that Estella does not indeed cut off his childhood circle. That having visited him. remember making him cry, Estella Estella equates "sympathy" with informs him that she has no heart. "I "nonsense" illustrates the low value she Back at Barnard's Inn, Pip tells As in all matters concerning Estella, Pip have no softness there, no-sympathy- places on compassion and love. That Herbert about his love for Estella and is delusional and doesn't realize how sentiment-nonsense." Pip says he does Estella reminds Pip of someone he can't is shocked to hear Herbert already obvious his infatuation with her is to not believe her. As they walk, Pip is place foreshadows future revelations intuited it. Herbert reveals that he too others. Herbert advises Pip to stop loving bothered by the nagging suspicion about Estella... believes Estella is secretly betrothed Estella in order to improve Pip's quality that Estella resembles someone to Pip. But when he hears Mr. Jaggers of life, knowing that Miss Havisham's whom he cannot place. has never mentioned marriage among vengefulness has shaped Estella to Pip's expectations, Herbert changes torture men who love her. Back in the house, Miss Havisham Miss Havisham explicitly articulates the his mind. He advises Pip to detach speaks frenziedly to Pip about Estella, revenge motive Herbert described: she himself from her because of Estella's telling him to "...love her, love her!" no wants Pip to suffer from his love for background and character, which matter how Estella hurts him. She tells Estella as she herself suffered from love "may lead to miserable things." Pip Pip real love is "blind devotion, in the past. agrees, but feels unable to detach unquestioning self-humiliation, utter himself. submission," surrendering oneself "as I did!" Changing the subject, Herbert Herbert has not inherited his mother's confides to Pip that he himself is obsession with social status and Mr. Jaggers has come by on business Mr. Jaggers' relentless professionalism secretly engaged to Clara, the inherited titles—in fact, he wants to and he, Miss Havisham, Sarah Pocket, does not permit him to recognize beauty daughter of a ship's steward who distance himself as far from her value Estella, and Pip have dinner together. or love. Pip is disconcerted by the would not live up to Mrs. Pocket's system as he can. Mr. Jaggers is unaffected by Estella's incongruity between Mr. Jaggers' title-obsessed standards. Clara lives beauty and ignores her. Pip is dispassionate personality and his own with her ailing, foul-tempered father. disturbed by the incongruity between hot passion for Estella. Herbert says he will marry Clara as Mr. Jaggers' "cold presence" and his soon as he begins to make money. own warm feelings for Estella, resenting that the two must share BOOK 2, CHAPTER 31 space. Having come across the playbill for The play Hamlet investigates similar As he falls asleep at the Blue Boar, Pip feels grateful for Miss Havisham's Mr. Wopsle's production of Hamlet in themes as those explored in this novel: Miss Havisham's injunction to "love generosity but the reader can see that his pocket, Pip and Herbert go that parentage, revenge, and justice. her!" resounds in Pip's mind and he Pip is delusional—there is no evidence of night to see the play. The production is feels grateful, convinced that Miss generosity in her behavior. In fact, she ridiculously bad, with incompetent Havisham is his patron and that very explicitly just wants to bring him actors and a jeering audience. Mr. Estella must therefore be destined to pain! Again, Pip blindly adopts Estella's Wopsle plays Hamlet ineptly. be his wife. The adult Pip narrator snobbish values in avoiding Joe. cringes to remember that he didn't Pip and Herbert try to duck out after Mr. Wopsle is convinced that his career think twice about not visiting Joe without seeing Mr. Wopsle, but he change has improved his life during the trip, knowing Estella would spots them and requests that they dramatically, yet the reader can see that disdain him. come backstage. Pip is surprised to he may have been better off living as a find Mr. Wopsle proudly dignified and church clerk in the village. Pip is shocked BOOK 2, CHAPTER 30 oblivious to the low caliber of his own at Wopsle's self-delusion, but the reader performance. Pitying him, Pip invites can see that Pip is similarly self- Pip suggests to Mr. Jaggers that Mr. Jaggers' cheerfulness is further Mr. Wopsle to dinner where Mr. delusional. Pip is also acting, he's just Orlick can't be trusted as Miss evidence of his comfort dealing with Wopsle spends the night reveling in acting the part of a gentleman. Havisham's porter. Mr. Jaggers people lacking in principles and integrity. his ambitions and perceived success. agrees, happily noting that posts of trust are never filled yb upright men. To Pip's surprise, Mr. Jaggers' cheerfully announces he'll fire Orlick immediately, unfazed by Pip's fear that Orlick might put up a fight.

Summary & Analysis www.LitCharts.com | @litcharts ©2014 | Page 19 Great Expectations BOOK 2, CHAPTER 32 When he returns to the Pockets Although Mr. Pocket has a reputation for house at Hammersmith, Pip finds Mr. being an accomplished parent and Pip receives a note from Estella Estella does not express any personal Pocket is out lecturing. Mr. Pocket is a household manager, and in fact lectures informing him that she is coming to eagerness to see Pip —their meeting famously respected lecturer on others on these topics, his personal life London and that Miss Havisham simply fulfills her daughterly obligation household management and child disproves his public reputation. wants him to meet her at the coach. to obey Miss Havisham's wishes. rearing and Pip thinks he'll ask Mr. Pip, anxious to see Estella, arrives at Pockets' advice. But, noticing that the coach station five hours early. Mrs. Pocket has allowed the baby to play with and swallow sewing needles, While he's waiting, Pip bumps into This scene illustrates the dire prison Pip changes his mind. Wemmick who invites Pip to come conditions in post-Industrial Revolution along to Newgate Prison. Pip notes London. Wemmick is likened to a BOOK 2, CHAPTER 34 that prisons at that time were gardener walking among his plants—as a Taking his coming wealth (i.e. his Pip continues to be hungry for material decrepit and that soldiers, criminals, man of law, he profits from criminality as "expectations") for granted, Pip keeps status markers, spending recklessly to and debtors lived in the same a gardener would from his crops. spending extravagantly and inspires acquire them. Social clubs like the conditions. At the prison, Wemmick is Herbert to as well. The two go into Finches are similar status markers. Pip on friendly, familiar terms with all the debt. They join an expensive social and Herbert join the club for the social guards and prisoners. Pip notes that club, the Finches of the Grove. caché of membership. Pip's desire to he "walked among the prisoners much Bentley Drummle is also a member. cover Herbert's expenses seems as a gardener might walk among his Pip wants to cover Herbert's generous, but Herbert probably wouldn't plants." expenses himself but knows Herbert have such expenses if Pip hadn't helped Back at the coach station, Pip is Even though Pip has, in his mind, would be too proud to accept the turn him into a spendthrift in the first disturbed by the constant "taint" of dramatically improved himself since offer. Even as the boys fear for their place. criminals and prisons in his life, childhood, he can't seem to escape a finances, they spend prodigiously and starting with his childhood encounter persistent association with prisons. The unwisely. They periodically tally up with convicts on the marshes. He tries association itself feels imprisoning. Yet their debts. This makes them feel they to shake off the dust and scent of his effort to escape from this "taint" is are in control when in fact they do Newgate. When Estella arrives, he ironic, given the coming revelations nothing to curb their spending habits. again wonders who it is she reminds about who Pip's patron actually is. After one such evening of adding up Pip has completely fallen out of touch him of. debts, Pip receives a letter signed with Joe and Mrs. Joe. He had no idea Trabb & Co. informing him that Mrs. Mrs. Joe was dying. He has completely Joe has died and inviting him to her lost touch with his past, and, by BOOK 2, CHAPTER 33 burial next week. extension, with himself. Upon meeting Pip, Estella is all Pip hopes Estella is implying that she business, informing him he must would act more warmly towards Pip if procure her some tea and accompany not for her strict instructions, but her her in a carriage to Richmond. She dispassionate tone doesn't seem to BOOK 2, CHAPTER 35 stresses that they must follow suggest she feels anything but content The next week Pip comes to the forge In fact, it is Mr. Trabb's funeral that is instructions and are not at liberty to following Miss Havisham's plan for her. for the funeral. The house has been disrespectful, outfitting the house and act of their own will. Pip hopes that As an upper class lady, Estella will enter showily decorated by Mr. Trabb who villagers in gaudy decorations and there is "an inner meaning" in her high society in Richmond. coordinated a formal funeral interfering Joe's desire to show his true words. She explains that she is being procession and outfits villagers in devotion and care for Mrs. Joe. sent to Richmond to live with a lady black mourning costumes in the that will introduce her to society. Pip forge's parlor. Joe confides to Pip that observes that Estella speaks of herself he'd wanted to carry Mrs. Joe on his "as if you were some one else." own, but that he'd been told it would At tea, Estella tells Pip that Sarah Miss Havisham's relatives resent Pip disrespectful. Pocket, Georgiana, Camilla, and because they assume Miss Havisham is After the ceremony, Pip delights Joe Biddy correctly points out the falseness Raymond resent Pip and are futilely his patron and want her money for by asking to sleep in his childhood of Pip's concernsÐ if he'd really been trying to damage Miss Havisham's themselves. They selfishly plot against room. He scolds Biddy in private for worried about Mrs. Joe, he'd have kept in opinion of him. Estella explains that Pip as they once plotted against Estella. not writing to tell him about Mrs. Joe's touch with the forge. Biddy's own she is delighted by their frustration condition. Biddy replies that she didn't ambition will not make her turn away because they plotted against her think Pip wanted to know. She from her past. She will care for Joe even throughout her childhood. explains she will have to leave the after she becomes a teacher. Pip leaves Estella in Richmond, and Even though Estella actually makes Pip forge now to be a schoolteacher, imagines how happy he would be if he unhappy, he is sure that being with her though she will keep taking care of lived with her, even though he knows would make him happy. This is because Joe. he is never happy but "always he thinks that in being with her he would Pip asks to hear the particulars of Mrs. Joe's last words seem to imply an miserable" in her company. cement his reputation as a gentleman, Mrs. Joe's death and Biddy tells him apology to Joe and Pip, presumably for and he has put reputation over his own her last words were "Joe," "Pardon," her abusiveness before the accident. integrity or true self. and "Pip." Pip asks her about Orlick Orlick's behavior is highly suspicious. and hears that he is now working in the quarries and that he lurked by the forge the night Mrs. Joe died and still follows Biddy around.

Biddy tells Pip how much Joe loves Pip accuses Biddy of lacking integrity Pip stays at the castle for a cozy tea Miss Skiffins and emmickW are courting him. Pip tells Biddy he will visit the when he should be accusing himself. with Wemmick, Miss Skiffins, and the but not married, and Miss Skiffins forge often in the future. Biddy is Addressing Pip as "Mr." registers Pip's Aged. Throughout teatime, Wemmick protects her reputation as a wholesome silent, then addresses Pip as "Mr. Pip." new social status and his distance from periodically tries to slide his arm woman by refusing to let Wemmick She doubts that Pip will actually come the forge. He isn't on intimate terms with around Miss Skiffins' waist but she touch her waist. to visit Joe often and Pip, annoyed, Joe and Biddy anymore. Biddy calmly unwinds his arm each time and criticizes her "bad side of human generously apologizes though she isn't at lays it back on the table. nature." Leaving for London the next fault. morning, he promises Joe he will be Wemmick carries out Pip's plan, Pip's generosity towards Herbert has not back soon and tells Biddy he is still meeting with him again several times only improved Herbert's life, it has also hurt by her doubt. Biddy earnestly at Walworth and in London (though improved Pip's own character and given apologizes. never in or near Little Britain). They Pip joy. It is the first wholly unselfish arrange for a merchant's house called action Pip has undertaken since he came BOOK 2, CHAPTER 36 Clarriker & Co. to offer Herbert work. into money. Pip comes of age (turns 21) and is The new arrangement gives Pip more Herbert, not knowing that he owes his called to Mr. Jaggers' office. Expecting independence, but it's unclear whether job to Pip's secret investment, is to be told the name of his patron, Pip he has developed enough judgment to ecstatic. Pip is teary with happiness, is surprised when Mr. Jaggers points use that independence responsibly. overjoyed to think that his out that Pip is deeply in debt and gives "expectations had done some good to him a five hundred pound bank note. somebody." Pip will now receive this annual sum to manage his own expenses rather than BOOK 2, CHAPTER 38 drawing allowances from Wemmick. Still lovesick for Estella, Pip visits her Pip's rationalization for not courting He tells Pip that his patron's identity is often at Richmond. Pip is on more Estella may be well-intentioned, but his still a secret. familiar terms with Estella than her generosity doesn't make much sense. many suitors because of their past Estella is obviously trying to obstruct In the outer office, Pip privately Pip's proposal is extremely generous. relationship. Nevertheless, he gets no Pip's advances by telling him to "take proposes to Wemmick that Pip invest Wemmick upholds his professional pleasure from this familiarity because warning" but Pip can't see beyond his money in Herbert's career. Wemmick reputation by giving him a business- it isn't romantic. Pip restrains himself own feelings for her. objects vehemently to Pip's proposal, minded opinion at the office. oT get from courting her more assertively telling Pip never to invest "portable Wemmick's advice as a friend, Pip must because he thinks it might be property" in a friend. When go to Walworth. "ungenerous," since they are (he questioned, he tells Pip this is his assumes) already betrothed. Estella "opinion in this office." Pip tells tells Pip to "take warning" of her but Wemmick he is going to visit him at Pip insists he doesn't understand her. Walworth to hear Wemmick's Walworth opinion. One day, Estella informs Pip that Miss Again, Pip's infatuation with Estella Havisham has asked him to escort her distorts the stark evidence that Miss BOOK 2, CHAPTER 37 to Satis House. There, Miss Havisham Havisham's revenge plot works on Pip The next Sunday afternoon, Pip goes An insight into Wemmick's social class gloats over stories of Estella's many too. to Walworth to hear Wemmick's background. His father was a manual suitors, hissing to Pip "How does she "Walworth sentiments." While waiting laborer and planned for Wemmick to be use you?" Pip deduces that Miss for Wemmick to return home from his the same (a wine cooper is someone who Havisham has secretly betrothed walk, Pip learns from the Aged that bottles and sells wine), but Wemmick has Estella to him, then sent her out into the Aged used to work in warehousing risen to be an office worker. the world to taunt suitors in order to in Liverpool and London and that he wreak Miss Havisham's own revenge had raised Wemmick to go into wine- on the male sex. coopering, not law. Wemmick returns from his walk with Miss Skiffins, a lady Wemmick is courting. Pip and Wemmick stroll around the Pip's desire to give anonymously proves property to discuss Pip's question. Pip he isn't merely being generous to describes his wish to invest in enhance his own reputation. Wemmick's Herbert's future as if he has never Walworth personality permits him to mentioned the idea before and fills praise Pip's kindness—in the office Wemmick in on the personal details of Wemmick could only ever praise Herbert's life. Pip explains that he business savvy. wants to plan the investment secretly so that Herbert will not realize he has received any assistance. Wemmick responds by commending Pip's kindness and agreeing to carry out the plan with the help of Miss Skiffins' brother, an accountant.

Summary & Analysis www.LitCharts.com | @litcharts ©2014 | Page 21 Great Expectations Later in the visit, Pip witnesses Miss Here is a frightening glimpse into Miss BOOK 2, CHAPTER 39 Havisham and Estella argue for the Havisham's parenting. She has raised first time in his presence. When Estella without any sense of self, without Pip is now twenty-three. He has left Pip's lifelong association with prisoners Estella pulls away from Miss anything to have integrity to. Estella feels Mr. Pocket's classes behind and persists. The convict was evidently Havisham's clutching grip, Miss that she belongs entirely to Miss studies on his own in London. He and deeply moved by Pip's (forced) generosity Havisham grows hysterical and Havisham as a mere pawn in Miss Herbert have moved from Barnard's on the marshes, interpreting it as accuses her of ingratitude, cold- Havisham's scheme against men. The Inn to the Temple in Garden Court. evidence of Pip's noble character, and heartedness, hardness, and pride. fact that Miss Havisham's love shades so One dark and stormy night while not realizing that Pip acted as he did out Estella calmly replies, "I am what you easily into jealousy calls into question Herbert is away on business, Pip of pure terror. have made me. Take all the praise, take whether it is love at all. Indeed, Estella receives a mysterious visitor, a rough, all the blame." When Miss Havisham implies that her own inability to love is balding man with a lower-class accent. demands Estella's love, Estella due to never having been loved herself. To his shock, Pip realizes that this man responds that she cannot give what is the convict he helped on the Miss Havisham never gave her. Miss marshes. The convict calls Pip "noble Havisham insists she gave Estella, "a Pip," commending Pip for acting so burning love, inseparable from "nobly" towards him as a child. Pip jealousy at all times." Estella calmly tries to turn him out but, disarmed by maintains, "I have never been the convict's warmth towards him, unfaithful to you or your schooling. I invites the man to stay for a drink. have never shown any weakness." The convict reveals that he is Pip's Pip is horrified by this evr elation not only Miss Havisham laments that Estella patron. Pip is speechless with horror because it makes him intimately would consider even love for Miss and nearly faints. The convict, indebted to a low class convict (the very Havisham to be "weakness." meanwhile, explains how he has sort of person he's been trying to rise At a Finches of the Grove meeting In spite of Estella's haughtiness towards scrimped and saved for years working above) but because such an association, some time later, Drummle tells Pip others, she is curiously indifferent as a shepherd in the New South Wales in his mind, dashes his dream of being that he has made the acquaintance of towards her own fate and seems to face to make Pip a gentleman. "I'm your betrothed to Estella. Estella. Pip hotly contests it and her prospects without ambition or second father," he tells Pip. He challenges Drummle to a duel, which judgment. marvels with pride at Pip's genteel is cancelled once Drummle produces a appearance. Pip recoils. personal note from Estella confirming The convict asks Pip to help him hide. Escapees from the Australian prison the acquaintance. Thereafter, Pip is He explains that he has sailed to colonies faced the death sentence. dismayed to observe Drummle London illegally, having run away from successfully courting Estella and a life sentence in the colonies, and will beating out her other suitors. When be hanged if he is caught. Pip gives the Pip confronts Estella one night at a convict Herbert's bedroom and seals ball and warns her about Drummle's the shutters and doors. unworthiness, Estella is unperturbed and coolly indifferent to Drummle's Pip stays up late trying to process the All of Pip's delusions are exposed. Though bad traits, saying "all sorts of ugly news. He is devastated to realize that he justified abandoning Joe and Biddy creatures hover about a lighted Miss Havisham is not his patron and for Estella's sake, he must face the fact candle. Can the candle help it?" that Estella, therefore, isn't destined that he has not gotten any closer to her for him. He is even more devastated than he was back at the forge. Yet, even When Pip confesses to Estella that he This is the closest Estella has ever come to realize that he has deserted Joe so, his remorse at his treatment of Joe is jealous of the attention she gives to professing any fondness for Pip. To Pip, and Biddy for the sake of a criminal, a and Biddy is only because the prize of Drummle, Estella asks him almost at least, she is being honest about her potentially violent man. Thinking treating them as he did failed to produce angrily whether Pip wants her "to nature and inability to love. The things along these lines, Pip grows afraid of his expected prize: Estella. He does not deceive and entrap" him. She tells him she says to Pip to keep him away are, in the man and, after making sure the feel sorry for how he acted for its own that that is what she is doing to her mind, a kind of generosity. convict is asleep, locks him into his sake. Drummle and all her other suitors but room. Pip.

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 40 The next morning, Pip decides to tell The mysterious man is suspicious and his maids and the Temple watchman suggests someone is spying on Pip. This is that the convict is his uncle. On his especially disconcerting, considering the way out, he stumbles over an convict's criminal record and illegal unidentified man crouching in the status in England. dark hall outside his apartment. When Pip and the watchman return with a light to search the hall, the stranger has disappeared, but the watchman informs Pip that Pip's "uncle" entered the Temple followed by another man.

Summary & Analysis www.LitCharts.com | @litcharts ©2014 | Page 22 Great Expectations Over breakfast, Pip is disgusted by The convict is under the impression that BOOK 3, CHAPTER 42 the convict's crude table manners. He money alone makes a gentleman. But asks the convict about the man in grey based on his behavior, he is not familiar At breakfast the next day, Pip and Provis' story raises questions about the clothes but the convict didn't notice with genteel manners and behaviors, and Herbert ask Provis to recount his relationship between social class, crime, him and doesn't know who the man no amount of money could hide this fact. past. Provis grew up as an orphan on and justice. Provis first became a might be. After breakfast, he tosses the streets, committing petty crimes criminal simply to survive on the streets Pip a fat pocketbook of money, for survival. Twenty years ago, he met as a neglected orphan. Compeyson, proclaiming that he'll make Pip into a a rich, educated, gentleman named meanwhile, was educated and seemed gentleman to show up all of the Compeyson, who was in fact a forger like a gentleman, but he used these traits colonists and judges who have and counterfeiter, and was the man to commit crime by choice. crossed him. He wants the money to Pip saw Provis wrestling with in the be spent on more lavish, gentlemanly marshes. Compeyson eventually accoutrements. employed Provis in his crimes, overworking and underpaying him. Pip is distressed and demands to The convict feels paternal towards Compeyson and his other partner, a know the convict's plans. The convict Pip—he feels that his generosity has man with the last name of Arthur, had explains he plans to stay with Pip in made Pip into what he is—but Pip rebuffs schemed a large amount of money off London for good. He will disguise his tenderness, addressing him with "Mr." a rich woman in the past, but himself and be called Provis, though as he would any stranger. Compeyson had squandered it all his real name is Abel Magwitch. He gambling. calls Pip "dear boy" and watches him "with an air of admiring When Provis met him, Arthur was Arthur's guilty conscience haunts him proprietorship." Pip resolves to call sick and terrified yb hallucinations of through his visions. The woman Arthur him "Mr. Provis." an angry, broken-hearted woman all in hallucinates is presumably the woman white threatening to cover him in a that Compeyson schemed out of her Pip stops by Mr. Jaggers office to ask Mr. Jaggers protects himself by ensuring shroud. Compeyson money. if the news he's heard is true. Mr. he is legally ignorant of Provis' presence unsympathetically reminded Arthur Jaggers confirms the fact, though in London, preventing Pip from stating it that "she" had a "living body." Arthur insists that Pip describe "Magwitch" outright. Still, the reader can see that Mr. died screaming at hallucinations of the as a man still living in New South Jaggers' is aware of the fact. woman. Wales and "Provis" as a separate person in England conveying When Provis and Compeyson were Justice is supposed to be blind, but information on Magwitch's behalf. both eventually arrested for Compeyson used people's class prejudice counterfeiting, Compeyson insisted to earn a lesser sentence for himself, to Pip buys Provis new clothes to wear Though Provis has the money of a high on "separate defenses, no make it seem like he committed crime but observes that Provis' past "gave class gentleman, his behavior is still communication" and Provis sold only because he was influenced too by him a savage air that no dress could shaped by his lower class, criminal everything to hire Mr. Jaggers. In the "evil" lower class Provis. tame." He spends five miserable days background. court, Compeyson's lawyer loathing Provis' manners, wondering contrasted his gentility and good about Provis' crimes, and dreaming of upbringing with Provis' rough, lower- ways to escape. Then, Herbert class background and record of petty returns from the trip he's been on. crimes. Compeyson received the lighter sentence "on account of good BOOK 3, CHAPTER 41 character and bad company." Pip escorts Provis back to a room he Even though Pip resents Provis, he shows On the prison ships, Provis managed Provis' revenge on Compeyson must has rented for him and returns to the sympathy in trying to protect Provis from to strike Compeyson before escaping. occur outside of the official legal justice Temple to talk with Herbert. Herbert being arrested. Pip will refuse Provis' Compeyson escaped too, thinking he system, which proved corrupt and is equally horrified yb Provis. The two generosity from now on to protect his was running away from Provis without tainted by class prejudice. Provis gives up hatch a plan to free Pip from Provis: own reputation—he does not want to be realizing Provis was already on shore. his own freedom to ensure that knowing that he risked his life to come beholden to a convict. Becoming a After hearing of "the other man" from Compeyson is caught—a strange kind of to him, Pip does not want to risk soldier will lower Pip's social status Pip, Provis found Compeyson and integrity, but integrity nonetheless. angering Provis in England where he dramatically, but, ironically, being a beat him up, determined to drag him might be spurred to action that would soldier is the only thing he might be able back to prison at the expense of his get him arrested. Instead, he will to do because his gentleman's education own freedom. Provis doesn't know sneak out of the country with Provis never taught him how to do anything. whether Compeyson is still alive now. and will try to explain his feelings to Provis abroad. In the meantime, he Herbert passes Pip a note telling him The woman in Arthur's hallucinations will stop accepting Provis' money and that Miss Havisham's brother's name must have been Miss Havisham! will forgo his expectations, hoping was Arthur and that her devious eventually to pay back all the funds fiancée was named Compeyson. he's already received from Provis. (This will be especially difficult as Pip is already deep in debt.) Pip will then become a soldier since he has not been trained for any trade.

Summary & Analysis www.LitCharts.com | @litcharts ©2014 | Page 23 Great Expectations BOOK 3, CHAPTER 43 When Pip confronts Estella about Pip's love for Estella is sincere. Estella's Drummle, she tells Pip she is going to happiness is more important to him than Pip resolves to see Estella and Miss The fact that Estella travelled without marry Drummle. In despair, Pip begs his own. Miss Havisham has finally Havisham before he invites Provis to him could suggest she has a new her to marry someone worthier, gotten the revenge she craved—she has go abroad (on the pretence of travelling chaperone. In Victorian someone who actually loves seen a man as heartbroken for Estella as shopping for more gentlemanly England, a lady of her status would not her—even though that person will not she was for Compeyson. But in finally goods). Told at Richmond that Estella be allowed to travel alone. be himself, Pip says he would bear it achieving her goal, she feels only terrible has gone back to Satis House, Pip for her sake. Estella is bewildered by sadness. feels disconcerted—he has always Pip's plea, but calmly insists she will chaperoned her trip in the past. marry Drummle and assures Pip he'll Pip travels back to the village to visit "The lady" is surely Estella. The fact that get over her. Pip cries that he will Satis House and is surprised to run Drummle has come to see Estella at Satis never get over her, that she has into Bentley Drummle at the Blue House suggests his courtship has gotten always been and will always be a part Boar. The two have a standoff but serious. of his very "existence." Miss Havisham pretend not to have one, each watches Pip's outburst with her hand refusing to budge an inch while over her heart and a "ghastly stare of making small talk shoulder to pity and remorse." shoulder in front of the hearth. Utterly dejected, Pip walks all the way Wemmick's note implies that Pip is in Drummle makes a show of calling the back to London to be alone. At the danger. waiter in twice to discuss his plans gate to his home, the porter gives him with "the lady." a note written in Wemmick's hand that tells him not to go home. BOOK 3, CHAPTER 44 Pip goes to Satis House and explains Though Pip was deluded in assuming BOOK 3, CHAPTER 45 to Miss Havisham and Estella that he Miss Havisham was his patron, she Pip spends an anxious, sleepless night Wemmick maintains his split personality has met his patron but doesn't say helped nurture his delusions by acting at a hotel. In the morning, he goes to even in the face of danger. The who it is. He asks Miss Havisham to dishonestly and refusing to correct Pip's Walworth where Wemmick (speaking mysterious man in the hallway must confirm four things. 1. When Pip first mistakes in order to get revenge on her in code to avoid mixing Walworth and have been Compeyson's spy. If began visiting her, she considered him own relatives' and their prying, jealous Little Britain) tells Pip he wrote the Compeyson knows that Provis is in a servant and had no larger designs behavior. Pip is finally escaping from his note after overhearing in Newgate London, Provis is in danger. for him. 2. It was simply a coincidence own delusions, learning the truth of his Prison that Compeyson knows Provis that Mr. Jaggers worked both for her past and, therefore, learning more about is in London and has had Pip's and for Pip's patron. 3. When Pip himself. apartment watched. Pip connects this assumed Miss Havisham was his news to the stranger lurking in his patron, she led him on. 4. When Sarah hallway a few days before. Pocket, Georgiana, Camilla, and Raymond likewise assumed she was Immediately after hearing the news, Herbert continues to prove himself a Pip's patron and resented Pip for it, Wemmick enlisted Herbert to loyal friend, generously putting himself in she led them on in order to torment arrange a hiding place for Provis. danger in order to protect Provis. Pip's them. Miss Havisham confirms Herbert has taken Provis to rent a "gentlemanly" behavior of wasting everything. room in Clara's building by the river. money on luxury goods, which he Pip has never been there because thought would make him look good, has Pip tells Miss Havisham that Pip acts nobly and generously, defending Clara does not approve of Herbert given him a bad reputation in Clara's Matthew and Herbert Pocket, unlike Matthew and Herbert and requesting and Pip's friendship, thinking Pip a bad eyes. her other relations, are upright and help for Herbert without hope of influence on Herbert's finances. kind. Pip asks her to believe in them. personal gain. Wemmick advises Pip to "lay hold of He also asks her to carry on the [Provis'] portable property" as soon as anonymous investments in Herbert's possible in order to protect it. career that Pip can no longer afford to make. Miss Havisham does not BOOK 3, CHAPTER 46 respond. That night, Pip goes to Clara's Although Mr. Barley is Clara's parent by Pip professes his love for Estella and Since she is unable to love, the most apartment and meets Herbert, who birth, her landlady is a far more nurturing explains he has long refrained from generous and honest thing Estella could explains that the racket upstairs guardian. courting her directly because he do was to warn Pip not to love her. comes from Clara's father, Mr. Barley, assumed they were secretly who is drunken, gout-ridden, betrothed. Estella replies that she is bellowing, and cruel. Herbert and incapable of love, that warning Pip Clara have confided their engagement against loving her was the most she only to Mrs. Whimple, Clara's could do for him. "motherly" landlady.

Pip and Herbert go upstairs to Provis' In order to save Provis' life, Pip and Watching Molly wait on them, Pip Pip was likely unable to make the rooms, rented under the name of Mr. Herbert must resort to illegal measures suddenly realizes to his amazement connection between Molly and Estella Campbell. When Provis hears about to get him out of the country. They can't that she is the person Estella has before because they seemed so different the spy, he agrees with Pip and trust the institutions of justice to actually continually reminded him of. He sees from one another in terms of class or Wemmick's plan that he must go provide justice. Just as Pip helped Provis how much they look like each other background. abroad. Herbert suggests that he and by doing something illegal as a boy, he is and feels sure that Molly is Estella's Pip help Provis escape by rowing him now doing the same thing as an adult, mother. up the river in Pip's boat. They resolve though now he is doing it not out of to begin rowing by Provis' window simple generosity but also because he Walking alone with Wemmick after Molly's trial bears an uncomfortable regularly, so as to establish a habit and wants to hide his association with Provis. dinner, Pip finds out that emmickW resemblance to Compeyson's. As in prevent suspicion on the day they has never seen Estella and asks Compeyson's case, the court is escape. In the meantime, Provis will Wemmick to recount Molly's history. convinced of Molly's innocence based on signal his safety by drawing his About twenty years ago, she had been her appearance rather than on hard window blind. Despite their plan, Pip accused of strangling a much larger evidence. Mr. Jaggers' bragged about worries for Provis' safety and woman who may have had an affair Molly's wrists in Chapter 26, suggesting constantly fears he is being watched. with Molly's husband. At the time, he has always known that she was strong Molly was living on the streets as the enough to strangle someone. Did Mr. BOOK 3, CHAPTER 47 fiery, jealous wife of an older husband. Jaggers' win an acquittal for a guilty Pip passes several anxious weeks Despite the fact that Pip is desperate for All evidence pointed to Molly's guilt woman, in the case that made his heartbroken by Estella and worried money to pay his debts, he refuses to but Mr. Jaggers' defended her and reputation and built his practice? Is his about Provis. Deeply in debt, Pip owes take Provis' money, choosing to prioritize won her acquittal by making her wear law firm built on protecting criminals creditors but gives Provis' unopened his personal integrity over his financial clothes that made her arms look so from justice? pocketbook to Herbert to hold onto. needs. Yet the reason he doesn't want delicate that she would appear Pip will not use Provis' money, certain Provis's money is because he is incapable of strangling someone. He that he would be "a heartless fraud" to embarrassed of Provis. also attributed the scratches on the use it considering how he feels about backs of her hands to brambles. The Provis' patronage. court thought the scratches were her toddler daughter's, whom they Pip frequently rows on the river. Mr. Wopsle's decline and dashed suspected she had murdered to get Coming back on shore one night near expectations in London can be seen as a revenge on her husband. Jaggers' Mr. Wopsle's theater, Pip decides to comic shadow of Pip's own. responded that the potential murder go see Mr. Wopsle's show. Pip has of the child was not the crime on trial. heard that Mr. Wopsle has fallen into The case made Mr. Jaggers' decline as an actor and indeed his reputation. Molly had been his maid show is a ridiculous farce. ever since. After the show, Mr. Wopsle Even at Pip's calmest moments, danger BOOK 3, CHAPTER 49 approaches Pip and tells him that the lurks right over his shoulder. Compeyson, Next day, Pip visits Miss Havisham, Miss Havisham wants to redeem her other convict from the marshes a seasoned criminal, has schemed his who is melancholy and distracted and image in Pip's eyes by proving she is (Compeyson) has been sitting behind way into Pip's life in spite of Pip's tells him she wants to show Pip that capable of generosity. Pip's shoulder during the play. Pip is attempts to be careful. she "is not all stone" by helping him terrified, though he tries to conceal help Herbert. She agrees to his fear from Mr. Wopsle. Back at the anonymously supply nine hundred apartment, Pip tells Herbert and pounds towards Herbert's career. sends the news by post to Wemmick. He tries to live even more cautiously. Showing tender concern for Pip's Pip's readiness to forgive Miss Havisham unhappiness, Miss Havisham hopes shows he has matured as a character. His BOOK 3, CHAPTER 48 Pip will someday be able to write out own struggles have made him more Coming ashore one night a week later, More evidence of the relish Mr. Jaggers' "I forgive her" under her name. Pip compassionate and less begrudging. He Pip runs into Mr. Jaggers, who invites takes in those parts of human nature responds that he can forgive her now, is more like the kind, gentle boy he once Pip home to dinner with him and that are furthest from integrity or that he has made far too many of his was. Wemmick. Mr. Jaggers' informs Pip generosity, the kinds of behaviors that own mistakes to begrudge Miss that Miss Havisham has requested feed his law practice and make him Havisham hers. that Pip visit her. To Pip's great money. discomfort, Mr. Jaggers' then talks Miss Havisham kneels at Pip's feet Watching Pip express such selfless about Drummle, "the Spider," and his crying "What have I done!" She tells compassion rekindled a sense of recent marriage to Estella. Mr. him that witnessing him profess his compassion in Miss Havisham Jaggers' speculates that Drummle true love for Estella reminded her of herself—generosity breeds generosity; may lose Estella because of his dull the true love she herself felt in the integrity inspires integrity. She regrets wits, though he could keep her past and made her realize she had having raised Estella as a puppet, with no through strength (by beating her). Mr. raised Estella wrongly. She tells Pip life or heart of her own, to play out her Jaggers describes Drummle as the that she had originally only meant to own revenge fantasy. sort of man who either "beats" or save the girl from her own misery, but "cringes." had gradually done worse as Estella grew older, depriving Estella of a human heart.

Summary & Analysis www.LitCharts.com | @litcharts ©2014 | Page 25 Great Expectations Pip asks about Estella's past. Miss Miss Havisham may not know who BOOK 3, CHAPTER 51 Havisham tells him Mr. Jaggers Estella's parents are, but Mr. Jaggers brought Estella to Satis House after probably does... Pip goes to Mr. Jagger's office and As usual, Mr. Jaggers' tries to avoid any Miss Havisham asked him to find her collects Miss Havisham's money for interaction with human emotion. Yet, an orphan girl. She does not know Herbert. Pip tells Mr. Jaggers' that he this time, Pip won't let him get away with whose Estella's birth parents are. not only knows who Estella's mother it, calling on Mr. Jaggers' to honor his is, but who her father is too. Pip can honesty as a matter of dignity and calling Pip takes a farewell walk around the There is an implication that Miss tell from Mr. Jaggers' surprise that he on Wemmick's Walworth personality for grounds and, seeing again his Havisham is trying to kill herself. The hadn't known about Provis. Still, Mr. support. And Pip wins out, his own childhood vision of Miss Havisham sight of Pip and Miss Havisham wrestling Jaggers' tries to ignore Pip's news and integrity overcoming Jagger's dedication hanging from a brewery beam, returns each other recalls Provis and goes right back to work with to cold, hard business. upstairs to check on her one last time Compeyson's struggle on the marshes. In Wemmick, Pip makes a "passionate, before leaving. There, sparks from the saving Miss Havisham from the fire, Pip almost an indignant appeal to him" to hearth set Miss Havisham on fire and symbolically also frees her from her confide in Pip as Pip has in him, to Pip tackles her to kill the flames, bitterness and anger, as the wedding honor Pip's love for Estella. Pip then burning his arms. On the ground, the gown that she has worn for the twenty entreats Wemmick to side with him, two struggle "like desperate enemies." years since her betrayal by Compeyson calling on Wemmick's "gentle heart" All of Miss Havisham's wedding burns away. As Miss Havisham's pleas and "cheerful playful ways" at home. clothes are burned away but she for forgiveness indicate, the vengeful part Mr. Jaggers is shocked to hear about survives, albeit with injuries. Lying in of her has died in the fire. Wemmick's home life. He consents to semi-conscious delirium all night, Miss share his knowledge with Pip. Havisham repeatedly asks for Pip's forgiveness. Mr. Jaggers insists on describing "the Mr. Jaggers' makes a distinction between case" entirely hypothetically, and says acting honestly and acting with integrity. BOOK 3, CHAPTER 50 he admits "nothing." Without naming He argues that telling the whole truth names, he describes the possibility of may not be the most generous course of Pip returns to London, where Herbert Provis' generosity towards Pip was having given the child of a murderer action in this case. tells Pip about a story he had heard inspired by true paternal love. to a rich woman to save the child from from Provis the night before. About Meanwhile, the threads of the novel are the rough world the mother lived in, twenty years ago, Provis had a young, all coming together, as it is now clear that telling her that her child would be fiery, jealous wife who strangled Molly is Provis's former wife and that... saved regardless of the mother's fate, another woman to death and and that he had used the mother's threatened to murder their toddler concern for her child to keep her daughter, which Provis believes she docile and calm, that the mother knew did. During his wife's murder trial with nothing of her husband. Mr. Jaggers' Mr. Jaggers, he hid to spare her his then asks Pip who he would damning testimony about the hypothetically benefit yb revealing his murdered child. Compeyson had used news, as it could only bring harm and his knowledge of the circumstances to disgrace to mother, father, and blackmail Provis into working harder daughter. Mr. Jaggers then restores for even less pay. Part of Provis' his professional persona and gets tenderness towards young Pip was back to business. nostalgia for his own child. Pip realizes that Provis is Estella's ...Provis' daughter is alive after all—she's BOOK 3, CHAPTER 52 father and tells Herbert. Estella! Not how it does not even occur A few weeks pass until, one Monday Startop proves he is a generous friend, to Pip that this now makes Estella morning, Pip receives a letter from willing to assist Pip and Herbert even in somehow of lesser birth than even he is. Wemmick insinuating that it might be suspect activities. She's the daughter of a criminal, after all. possible to escape with Provis that His love for her makes such thoughts Wednesday. Because Pip is still inapplicable. recovering from his burns, he and Herbert arrange for Startop to help them row up the river beyond Gravesend. They will there meet a foreign steamer leaving London and Provis and Pip will climb aboard. After Pip goes out to secure The writer of the letter seems far more passports, he comes home to a capable of inflicting harm than he does threatening anonymous letter telling of offering useful information. Pip's lie to him to meet the writer in secret on Herbert places himself at risk. the marshes in order to get information about "your Uncle Provis." Convinced by the mention of Provis' name that he must obey, Pip writes Herbert a note saying that he is going to check on Miss Havisham and travels to the village.

In the village, Pip stays at an inn Mr. Pumblechook and Joe are opposites. When Pip recounts Orlick's story, Two examples of incomplete attempts at where he isn't known. The oblivious Pumblechook is false and self-serving, Herbert wants to go immediately to serving justice: the boys neglect to report landlord tells Pip Uncle always making himself look like a good the magistrate and get out a warrant Orlick to the police and Trabb's Boy Pumblechook's version of Pip's story generous person. Joe, meanwhile, is for him. But Pip is anxious to get back seems unable to appreciate Pip's attempt in which Pip returns to the village to genuinely generous, and as such never to London to prepare for Provis' to do justice by him. visit his "great friends" but tries to make himself seem generous. Joe escape on Wednesday, and they ungratefully neglects "the man that doesn't care how he seems; only how he decide to delay pursuing Orlick till made him," Mr. Pumblechook. Pip is is. later. Pip pays Trabb's Boy and overcome with sympathy for Joe, who apologizes for having thought ill of never complains and seems "truer" him (Trabb's Boy ignores the apology and "nobler" to Pip as he compares and takes the money). They return to him with Pumblechook's falseness and London where Pip spends Tuesday meanness. recovering from the ordeal. His burned arm is still in pain but, by BOOK 3, CHAPTER 53 Wednesday morning, he feels That night Pip walks out onto the The intensity of Orlick's resentment for stronger and ready to carry out their marshes where he is ambushed by Pip comes as a surprise. Pip had no idea plan. Orlick and tied up. Orlick gloats that Orlick had been plotting his revenge on he lured Pip out on the marshes in Pip for so long nor that his violence BOOK 3, CHAPTER 54 order to kill him as revenge for costing towards Mrs. Joe was done to hurt Pip. Wednesday morning, Pip, Herbert, Customs house officers sail the Thames him his job as Miss Havisham's porter Orlick is filled with a kind of hatred and and Startop pick up Provis in the boat searching for illegal activity. If they and for coming between him and resentment that mirrors Miss and head upriver. The boys are detect the boys' plot, Provis will surely be Biddy. He adds that it was Pip who's to Havisham's, but as a man Orlick anxious but Provis is calm and sent to jail. blame for Mrs. Joe getting clubbed, expresses that hatred through violence. delighted to be outside, saying because it was Pip being treated as a imprisonment has given him the favorite at the forge that caused greatest appreciation for freedom. Orlick to club her. He tells Pip he has After a long day on the river, they stop long plotted to kill Pip out of for the night at a public house where resentment. He plans to dissolve Pip's they hear about a four-oared galley corpse in the nearby limekiln so as to with two suspicious-seeming leave no trace. Pip is consumed by passengers. The man who describes thoughts of friends and family he will them suspects the men were not get to say goodbye to or to ask disguised custom house officers. Pip, forgiveness of. Herbert, Startop, and Provis have all been wary of being followed and are Orlick tells Pip that he now works for Now that Orlick has fallen into a criminal disturbed by this news. While the Compeyson, who is going to make career, his malicious work matches his others are sleeping that night, Pip can sure to get rid of Provis. The stranger malicious personality. see through his window that two men in the dark hall outside Pip's are examining his boat. apartment was Orlick. Spying on Pip to plot his own revenge, Orlick Next morning, Pip, Herbert, Startop, Provis finally has his evr enge on overheard Provis' story and reported and Provis row further upriver, Compeyson just at the moment that it to Compeyson. meeting the scheduled steamer that Compeyson thinks he is getting his Pip and Provis plan to flag down, climb (unjust) revenge on Provis. Yet, as on the As Orlick readies his stone hammer to Herbert and Startop continue to prove aboard, and ride out of England. The marshes at novel's start, Provis must pay strike, Pip screams and Trabb's Boy, their virtue as generous and steamer, though, is late and, just as Pip for revenge with both his own freedom Herbert, and Startop rush in to tackle compassionate friends. and Provis are bidding the others and the money he has earned over the Orlick and rescue Pip. Orlick goodbye, the four-oared galley they'd years and planned to use to turn himself disappears into the night. Pip passes heard about pulls up alongside them into a gentleman. out and, when he comes round, and one of the two passengers—a Herbert explains how he had found customs officer - identifies Provis as Orlick's note in their apartment in Abel Magwitch, and demands that he London where Pip had accidentally surrender. Provis leans across and left it. Disturbed by its tone, Herbert pulls the cloak off the other man on and Startop had followed Pip to the board the galley—it is Compeyson. village and had Trabb's Boy lead them Compeyson staggers overboard, out to the limekiln where they'd come Provis falls with him, and Pip's boat to the rescue as soon as they heard overturns and sinks. Everyone but screams. Compeyson manages to climb aboard the galley. Provis, badly injured, describes how he wrestled underwater with Compeyson. Back on shore, all of Provis' possessions—including the pocket book full of money—are confiscated.

The customs officer gives Pip Pip has finally matured out of his Wemmick asks Pip to join him for a Perhaps the most extreme example of permission to accompany Provis back superficial class-consciousness and is walk that Monday. The walk, it turns Wemmick's rigidly divided work and to London. Pip does his best to nurse able to recognize Provis' immense out, leads to Wemmick's wedding to home lives. He doesn't even hint to Pip Provis' wounds and comfort him. All of generosity and kindness. And in doing so, Miss Skiffins, which he has planned to that the walk will lead to his wedding, or his "repugnance" for Provis has he can also see the ways in which he seem completely spontaneous. Pip is want anyone at work to even know about "melted away" and he sees him now as himself has been unkind. the best man and the Aged gives Miss it. a kind, loyal, generous man, "a much Skiffins waa y. Wemmick asks Pip not better man than I had been to Joe." to mention the wedding in Little Britain. On the boat back to London, Provis Further evidence of Pip's growth: he is no advises Pip to leave him for "it's best longer worried about protecting his BOOK 3, CHAPTER 56 as a gentleman" not to be publicly public reputation as a gentleman and In the prison infirmary, Provis lies sick Provis may be legally guilty of escaping associated with Provis. Pip refuses, instead prioritizes loyalty to personal and wounded but uncomplaining. Pip from New South Wales but, because he telling Provis, "I will be as true to you relationships. He has also learned that stays by his side as long as he is escaped out of love for Pip, he is morally as you have been to me." Pip realizes one does not always need to tell the allowed to each day. In court, Provis is innocent. that all of the money Provis saved for whole truth if you are acting swiftly found guilty of having run away Pip will now be confiscated yb the conscientiously to protect another from his sentence in New South crown but resolves not to tell Provis in person. Wales. order to protect Provis' dreams of "enriching" Pip. Court procedure entails announcing Provis was "almost from infancy" an all the death sentences together on offender against the laws, because he one day. In court, Pip and a large had no other way to survive. The law BOOK 3, CHAPTER 55 audience of onlookers watch Provis seems like it was almost designed to Back in London, Pip retains Mr. Mr. Jaggers' and Compeyson may have stand among thirty-two other men force Provis, who Pip now knows as a Jaggers for Provis' defense. Mr. been concerned with Provis' fortune, but and women condemned to death. The good-hearted and kind man, to become a Jaggers is mightily disappointed in Pip Pip is able to rise above financial judge singles out Provis, describing criminal. The people in the court watch for not securing Provis' fortune ahead concerns. him as one who "almost from his the death sentences—the end of a man's of time from confiscation, but Pip is infancy had been an offender against life—with the same response they might unconcerned. Compeyson's corpse is the laws." Provis—described as "the give to the weekly sermon at church, or found on the river with notes prisoner"—responds, "My Lord, I have any other experience. The law, it is clear, indicating he had hoped to be received my sentence of death from does not have a conscience. rewarded money from Provis' fortune. the Almighty, but I bow to yours." Provis' trial is set for a date one month After the sentencing, the audience away. rises to leave and rearranges their clothes, "as they might at church or Herbert reveals that he is being Herbert hesitates in offering Pip a clerk elsewhere." transferred to a branch of his position because taking it would mean a merchant's house in Cairo (which Pip, decline in status for Pip, and Pip has until Pip writes petitions to every authority The parable Pip thinks of contrasts self- of course, already secretly knows, now cared a lot about status. At the he can think of to appeal Provis' righteousness and self-importance with since he arranged it). Herbert invites same time, the offer shows how Pip's sentence, and hopes that Provis will humility and admitting one's own sins. Pip to come and live with him and own generosity to Herbert has, without die on his own before he is hanged. The parable points out the virtues of the Clara and work at the counting house Herbert even knowing it, come back to The prison officer and other prisoners latter, virtues Provis himself possesses. as a clerk (a position Herbert offers potentially repay Pip. Pip refuses the are kind to Provis and nurse him. Provis, though he never becomes a sheepishly). Pip is grateful, but says he offer for now not out of any care of his Provis dies ten days later with Pip at gentleman, does die peacefully as himself needs several months to decide—to reputation, but because he wants to help his side. He is calm, and grateful for (as opposed to getting hanged publicly continue to keep Provis company and Provis and better understand his own Pip's loyalty even in hard times. His and painfully as a criminal), and is, in a to tend to "a vague something thoughts, i.e. relearn about himself. last words: "I don't complain of [pain], sense, reunited with his daughter lingering in my thoughts." dear boy." Just before he dies, Pip through Pip's generosity. whispers in Provis' ear that his daughter is alive with powerful friends Herbert says he will soon marry Clara Herbert's comment is sarcastic: Mrs. and that Pip loves her. Provis kisses Ð Clara's father is nearly dead—and is Pocket would unhappy, to say the least, Pip's hand and dies in peace. Pip delighted by her lack of not just a title to hear about the marriage. thinks of the parable of the two men but any family at all, joking, "What a at the Temple and prays for heavenly fortune for the son of my mother!" mercy for Provis.

Later that week, Wemmick visits Pip Compeyson is a savvy schemer, which to apologize for the failure of his helps account for his past success as a escape plan—he realizes that criminal. Compeyson must have planted rumors that he was out of London so that Wemmick would overhear and advise Pip to enact his plan.

Summary & Analysis www.LitCharts.com | @litcharts ©2014 | Page 28 Great Expectations BOOK 3, CHAPTER 57 BOOK 3, CHAPTER 58 Pip is deep in debt. In the days after Joe's generosity is boundless. Unlike so News of Pip's fall from fortune has As superficial villagers began to fawn Provis' death, Pip falls deliriously ill. many other characters, he holds no preceded him to the village and the over Pip as soon as they heard bout Pip's Two creditors come to his apartment grudges. Though Pip spurned Joe when staff at the Blue Boar treats him rise in fortune, they will now spurn him to arrest him for debt but Pip, too sick he was rich, Joe has rescued him when indifferently where it had once again once they hear of his decline. They to move, suffers feverish his fortune fell away. treated him lavishly. Pip doesn't mind. cared for his money, not for him. Pip now hallucinations. When he next gains Uncle Pumblechook makes a great, realizes it is only his true friends who consciousness, weeks have passed obnoxious show of pitying Pip's new cared for him, and that was regardless of and Joe is at his side, having nursed circumstances, then pontificating his money. him through his sickness. Pip is loudly on Pip's ingratitude when Pip ashamed, feeling he doesn't deserve says he has come to see Joe. Uncle Joe's kindness, but Joe is warm and Pumblechook proceeds to spread loving and holds no grudge. Biddy has rumors about how ungrateful Pip was taught Joe to write and he updates to Pumblechook's generosity. her on Pip's state by letter. Pip walks to the forge, excited to be Planning to propose to Biddy, Pip has, Joe updates Pip on the village news: Miss Havisham's generosity towards back and delighted to see the old ironically, walked in on her wedding day. Miss Havisham has died and left a Matthew Pocket complements Pip's familiar landscape. Upon returning Joe and Biddy's marriage unites the large sum of money to Matthew towards Herbert. Orlick also reaps what home he discovers that Joe and Biddy novel's two moral heroes. But Pip reacts Pocket, crediting Pip's account of he sowed, while Pumblechook is also have just been married that morning. not with anger or dismay or resentment, Matthew's character. She has left punished (though the punishment seems They are overjoyed to see Pip and Pip but rather heartfelt joy at the happiness insultingly small amounts of money to rather harsh). congratulates them both tenderly and his two great friends have found in each all her other relatives, leaving the bulk thanks them both for all they have other. He responds to their endless of her fortune to Estella. Orlick is in done for him. He tells them that he is generosity to him with generosity of his jail for robbing and torturing Uncle going abroad and will earn the money own. Pumblechook. to repay Joe, though he will always be indebted to them. He asks them not to Pip and Joe spend the days of Pip's Joe's belief that Pip need not come clean tell their future child of his prior recovery in tender companionship. Pip about all the details of the past presents ingratitude but only of his respect for has lost all pretense around Joe and is a parallel Mr. Jaggers' lecture that them both. wholly loving. When Pip, not knowing complete honesty is not, ultimately, the how much Joe knows of his recent measure of compassion and generosity. Pip moves to Cairo and joins Clarriker Pip and Herbert may not be gentlemen affairs, broaches the subject of Provis, Instead, following one's conscience in & Co. as a clerk, living with Herbert of leisure, but they become respectably Joe brushes it off, telling Pip that order to protect and help those you love and Clara who have married after Mr. middle-class merchants of comfortable Biddy has convinced him not to dwell is. Barley's death. Years go by and Pip means—model participants in the on "unnecessary subjects" and eventually becomes a partner in the Victorian era's capitalist economy. Pip emphasizes that he and Pip are "ever house and repays his debts. He realizes his earlier assessment of Herbert the best of friends." maintains close correspondence with was based on his false ideas about social Joe and Biddy. Eventually,, Clarriker class, not a true measure of Herbert's As Pip grows stronger, Joe becomes While Pip was sick, he reverted to his reveals Pip's secret investment in abilities. And Pip's generosity is paid for less comfortable around him. While childhood dependency on Joe. Pip and Herbert and Herbert is surprised but by Herbert's gratefulness and friendship. Pip was weak, Joe called him "old Pip, Joe's relationship likewise reverted to the wholly grateful. The firm prospers old chap," as he had in Pip's childhood, old familiarity and comfort. Yet, once Pip admirably, though not excessively, and but the day Pip is strong enough to gets well, he again becomes the Pip wonders how he could ever have walk on his own again, Joe calls him independent adult who abandoned Joe, doubted Herbert's ability to succeed "sir." Pip is ashamed that his behavior and the two reenter the fraught in life. in the past has warranted Joe's relationship they've had in the recent wariness. When Joe is certain that Pip past. Joe meanwhile, generously paid off BOOK 3, CHAPTER 59 is nearly well, he leaves without the debts Pip was too ashamed to ever warning and Pip wakes up to a note mention. Pip does not return to England for Joe and Biddy's family provides the explaining that Joe doesn't wish do eleven years. He comes back to the novel's first model of a functional and "intrude." Enclosed in the note is a forge one night in December and finds compassionate two-parent household. receipt for Pip's debts, which Joe has Joe and Biddy sitting happily at the And Pip is a part of this family, too, with paid off unbeknownst to Pip, who hearth with their young son Pip. Pip no further feelings of needing to improve thought Joe didn't know about them. gets along famously with little Pip. himself or leave this "commonness" Biddy coaxes Pip to marry and, when behind. Pip is eager to thank Joe and to Pip's moral development is complete. He Pip says he is settled in bachelorhood, apologize to him. He is also eager to is finally able to ecognizer his own errors asks about Estella. Pip says he no propose to Biddy, whose goodness he and to value internal rather than longer pines for her. wants hereafter to be guided by. Pip superficial worth. resolves to work in the forge or at any trade Biddy sees fit. After a few days, he makes a trip to the village.

Still, Pip secretly wishes to revisit the Estella has acquired humanity and site of Satis House for Estella's sake. integrity through suffering. The last line He has heard that she has been of the ending is ambiguous—it's unclear abused by and separated from whether or not Pip and Estella go on to Drummle, who has since died. Pip marry or whether they simply stay walks to the site in the misty dusk and friends. This ending is a revision of finds only the garden wall still Dickens' original ending in which Pip and standing. He is stunned to find Estella Estella's final meeting definitely doesn't herself walking the grounds. She, too, result in their marriage. Dickens rewrote has never been back until this night, the ending after the public was unhappy though the grounds are her only with the first, and this second, happier remaining possession. She tells Pip ending, is the one published as the real she has thought of him often and has ending in most versions of the novel. regretted throwing his love away. She says suffering has given her a human heart. They walk out together in the rising mist and Pip says he "saw no shadow of another parting from her."