Great Expectations

AUTHOR BIOFull Name: Charles Dickens

Date of Birth: February 7, 1812

Place of Birth: Portsmouth, England

Date of Death: June 9, 1870

Brief Life Story: Born to a navy clerk, Charles Dickens spent his earlychildhood in Kent, the setting for Pip's village in Great Expectations. WhenDickens was ten, the family moved to London and his father was thrown indebtors' prison. Dickens left school and worked in a boot-blacking warehouseto help support his household. He later returned to school but left at fifteen towork as a law clerk, a court reporter, and a political journalist before devotinghimself to writing full-time. His books were wildly successful both in Englandand in the United States, and include classics like Great Expectations, BleakHouse, and Oliver Twist, still popular today. Dickens also founded a theatercompany and a magazine, All the Year Round. He was unhappily married toCatherine Hogarth, with whom he had ten children. Dickens was still writingwhen he died in 1870 and is buried in Westminster Abbey's Poets' Corner.

KEY FACTSFull Title: Great Expectations

Genre: Coming-of-Age Novel (Bildungsroman)

Setting: Kent and London, England

Climax: Pip discovers his patron is the convict

Protagonist: Philip (Pip) Pirrip

Antagonist: Orlick, Bentley Drummle, and Compeyson

Point of View: First person (Pip is the narrator)

HISTORICAL AND LITERARY CONTEXTWhen Written: 1860-1861

Where Written: Kent, England

When Published: Serialized from 1860-1861; published in 1861

Literary Period: Victorian Era

Related Literary Works: Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White is considered oneof the earliest English mystery novels and was serialized to great success inDickens' magazine All the Year Round just a short while before Dickenspublished his own Great Expectations in that same magazine. The mysteryproved an ideal literary form for serialization as each installment left readerswith unanswered questions, eager for the next installment. In its reliance onsuspense and haunting enigma, the mystery form also drew on the Gothicliterary tradition of the early nineteenth century. In Great Expectations,intricate plot twists and the secret of Pip's anonymous patron show theinfluence of the Gothic tradition as well as of the nascent mystery novel. Inaddition to being literary peers, Collins and Dickens were lifelong friends andcollaborators.

Related Historical Events: The technological innovations that gave rise to theIndustrial Revolution of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuryintroduced the first capitalist economy, opening social and financialopportunities to people who had never had the chance to gain status or wealthunder the rigid hereditary class hierarchy of the past. These opportunitiesenabled people born into lower classes to raise their standing in society bymaking money and acquiring education. The new opportunities in turninspired ambitions that had not been possible in pre-Industrial RevolutionEngland, where one's life path was determined strictly by birth. Great

Expectations explores both the dream and the realization of such ambitions,both what is gained and what is lost, and showcases lives from all classes ofnineteenth-century British society.

EXTRA CREDITSerial Fiction – In the Victorian era, books were often published by magazinesin serial installments before they were printed as complete books. GreatExpectations was serialized in All the Year Round, the weekly magazineDickens' founded and ran.

Alternative Endings – Great Expectations has been published with twodifferent endings. Dickens' rewrote the original ending in response tocomplaints that it was too sad. Most contemporary editions of the novel arepublished with this revised (and happier) ending.

Pip is an orphan living in southeast England with his foul-tempered sister, Mrs.Joe, and her gentle husband, Joe Gargery, the village blacksmith. OnChristmas Eve, Pip encounters an escaped convict in a leg-iron who scares Pipinto stealing food and a metal file for him. Pip steals the food and file from hissister's pantry and Joe's blacksmith shop. The next day, Pip and Joe seesoldiers capture the convict on the marshes where he wrestles bitterly withanother escaped convict. The convict Pip helped protects Pip by confessing tothe theft of the food and file, and Pip's involvement in the theft goesundiscovered.

Soon after, Pip is invited to start visiting wealthy Miss Havisham and hersnobby adopted daughter, Estella, at Satis House. Miss Havisham wasabandoned by her fiancée twenty years prior and seeks revenge on men byraising Estella to mercilessly break hearts. Estella's disdain for Pip's"commonness" inspires Pip's dissatisfaction with life as an apprenticeblacksmith. He grows infatuated with Estella and assesses himself by herstandards long after his Satis House visits come to an end.

Pip is apprenticed to Joe and grows increasingly despondent at his low status,seeking to elevate himself through independent study. When Mrs. Joe is braindamaged by the blows of an intruder at the forge, Pip suspects Orlick, Joe'scruel journeyman helper. Biddy moves in to run the household and becomesPip's confidante, trying in vain to help Pip get over Estella.

One night, Mr. Jaggers tells Pip that he has an anonymous patron who wishesPip to be trained as a gentleman. Pip assumes that this patron is MissHavisham and that Estella is secretly betrothed to him. Unsympathetic to Joeand Biddy's sadness at losing him, Pip snobbishly parades his new status andgoes to study with Matthew Pocket. Pip lives part time with Matthew's sweet-tempered son Herbert Pocket in London, where the two become fast friends.Pip's study mates are Startop and Bentley Drummle, the foul-tempered heirto a baronetcy who becomes Pip's nemesis when he pursues Estella, now anelegant lady. Pip also befriends Wemmick, Mr. Jaggers' clerk, who is stoic andproper in the office and warm and friendly outside of it. Pip spendsextravagantly and puts on airs, alienating Joe on Joe's trip to London. Pipwishes Joe were more refined and fears association with him will jeopardizehis own social status. He doesn't return to the forge until he hears Mrs. Joehas died. Even then, his visit is brief.

Back in London, Pip enlists Wemmick's help to invest secretly in Herbert'scareer, a gesture Pip considers the best result of his wealth, or "expectations."One night, Pip's patron finally reveals himself: he is Provis, the convict Piphelped on the marshes who has saved up a fortune while in exile and sailedback to England illegally just to see Pip. Pip is appalled by Provis's mannersand devastated to realize Estella can't possibly be betrothed to him. When heconfronts Miss Havisham, she admits she led Pip on regarding Estelle simplyto make her selfish relatives jealous, and that Estella will be married to BentleyDrummle. When heartbroken Pip professes his love for her, Miss Havishamrealizes her error in depriving Estella of a heart. She pleads for Pip's

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forgiveness, which Pip readily grants. Back in London a few days later, Piprealizes that Estella is the daughter of Provis and Mr. Jaggers' maid Molly.

Provis' rival on the marshes was Compeyson, Miss Havisham's devious formerfiancée. Compeyson is looking for Provis in London and Pip plans to get Provisout of England by boat. Before they escape, Orlick manages to lure Pip to thevillage marshes and tries to kill him, but Herbert intervenes. Pip nearlysucceeds in escaping with Provis but Compeyson stops them, then drowns,wrestling with Provis in the water. Provis is arrested and found guilty ofescaping illegally from the penal colony of New South Wales, but dies fromillness before his execution.

Pip falls ill. Joe nurses him and pays his debts. Healthy again, Pip returns to thevillage hoping to marry Biddy only to stumble upon her happy wedding withJoe. Pip goes abroad with Herbert to be a merchant. When he returns elevenyears later, he finds an spitting image of himself in Joe and Biddy's son Pip IIand runs into Estella on the razed site of Satis House. Suffering has madeEstella grow a heart and she and Pip walk off together, never to part again.

Pip PirripPip Pirrip – The novel's hero, Pip is an orphan who lives with his harsh andselfish sister Mrs. Joe and serves as the apprentice of her gentle blacksmithhusband Joe. Pip is sensitive and intellectually curious, but he is also extremelyambitious and, when he unexpectedly comes into money as a teenager, Pipgrows haughty and extravagant in pursuit of a lifestyle genteel enough to meetthe refined standards of Estella, the woman he loves. Confusing personalintegrity 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 tojudge people by internal rather than superficial standards and redeemshimself by repenting sincerely and reforming his personal values.

ProProvis (a.k.a. Abel Magwitch) (a.k.a. the convis (a.k.a. Abel Magwitch) (a.k.a. the convict)vict) – The escaped convict Piphelps in the novel's opening scenes, Provis' gratitude towards Pip inspires himto devote his life-savings to Pip, becoming Pip's anonymous patron. Born anorphan on the streets and cruelly swindled by Compeyson, Provis has lived alife in and out of prison. Still, his criminal record is largely the result ofunfortunate circumstances, not character, for Provis is kind, good-hearted,and immensely generous.

Estella HaEstella Havishamvisham – The adopted daughter of Miss Havisham, Estella is proud,refined, beautiful, and cold, raised by Miss Havisham to wreak revenge on themale sex. Though her beauty and elegance attract countless suitors (includingPip), Miss Havisham has raised her to lack a true human heart and she isunable to love.

Joe GargeryJoe Gargery – As Mrs. Joe's husband, Joe is a father figure for Pip throughoutPip's childhood and his tender kindness protects Pip from Mrs. Joe's harshparenting. Joe is the village blacksmith and has no formal education butpossesses a deep sense of integrity and an unfailing moral compass. Joe isloyal, generous, and kind, and acts lovingly towards Pip even when Pip's isungrateful.

Herbert PHerbert Pockocket (a.k.a. the pale yet (a.k.a. the pale young gentleman)oung gentleman) – Pip's best friend, Herbertis compassionate, honest, and unpretentious. He and Pip live together inLondon where he works in a counting house, then as a merchant. Hecheerfully helps Pip through all of Pip's struggles. Pip secretly invests inHerbert's career to help Herbert succeed as a merchant.

BiddyBiddy – An orphan Pip meets at the village school, Biddy moves into the forgeto help out after Mrs. Joe's attack and later becomes a schoolteacher. She ishumble, kind, moral, and fiercely intelligent, absorbing knowledge without anyformal education. She is also sharply perceptive and sees through everyone'spretensions, calling Pip out on his delusions and snobbery long before Pip canrecognize them.

Miss HaMiss Havishamvisham – The wealthy daughter of a brewer, Miss Havisham wasabandoned on her wedding day by her fiancée (Compeyson) and, traumatized.She preserves herself and her house in wedding regalia, shutting out the worldfor over twenty years. To exact her revenge on men, Miss Havisham adoptsand raises Estella to be beautiful and desirable but completely heartless. MissHavisham is capricious, manipulative, bitter, and, until novel's end, unable torecognize anyone's pain but her own.

MrMr. Jaggers. Jaggers – A famous lawyer in London, Mr. Jaggers is Pip's guardian andthe middleman between him and his patron. Mr. Jaggers also works for MissHavisham. He is rational, sharp-minded, and intimidating. He prides himself onneither expressing nor responding to human emotion.

WWemmickemmick – As Mr. Jaggers' clerk, Wemmick models his character on Mr.Jaggers while in the office where he is rational, unemotional, and money-minded. Yet when Wemmick is at home, his personality changes dramaticallyand he is warm, empathetic, domestic, and nurturing towards his elderlyfather, the Aged. Pip and Wemmick are good friends outside of the office butmaintain a strictly professional relationship in front of Mr. Jaggers.

Mrs. Joe GargeryMrs. Joe Gargery – Pip's older sister and guardian after his parents' die, Mrs.Joe is fiery, tyrannical, and false, harping on her own victimhood even as sheabuses Pip and Joe. She is obsessed with social status and reputation. Yet,after the attack by Orlick that gives her brain damage, Mrs. Joe's personalitychanges completely and she becomes patient, compassionate, and docile.

MrMr. Pumblechook (a.k.a. Uncle Pumblechook). Pumblechook (a.k.a. Uncle Pumblechook) – A corn and seed merchantand Joe's uncle, Mr. Pumblechook is superficial, calculating, and false. He takesundue credit for parenting Pip.

CompeCompeyson (a.k.a. the other conyson (a.k.a. the other convict)vict) – A cruel, scheming villain, Compeysonis a forger and counterfeiter who uses his educated, upper-class appearanceto trick people into thinking he is more honorable and less guilty than thelower-class criminals (like Provis) whom he manipulates. Though Compeysonmay possess the trappings of gentility, he is ignoble to the core.

OrlickOrlick – Originally Joe's journeyman, Orlick is devious and violently vengeful.He resents Pip, whom he blames for all of his problems.

BentleBentley Drummley Drummle – Bentley Drummle studies with Pip. He is a wealthy heir toa baronetcy, upper class according to the old system of inherited rank.Described as "idle, proud…and suspicious," Drummle is Pip's nemesis. Hepursues Estella.

StartopStartop – Startop studies with Pip. Though spoiled by an overprotectivemother, Startop is a good-natured and helpful friend.

Matthew PMatthew Pockocketet – Miss Havisham's cousin, Herbert's father, and Pip's tutor,Matthew Pocket is honorable, upstanding, and kind.

Mrs. PMrs. Pockocketet – Mr. Pocket's helpless, title-obsessed wife and a disastrousmother.

MrMr. W. Wopsleopsle's great-aunt's great-aunt – The incompetent teacher at the village eveningschool.

MrMr. W. Wopsleopsle – The village church clerk who moves to London to be an actor.

MrMr. T. Trrabbabb – The toady village tailor.

TTrrabbabb's Bo's Boyy – Mr. Trabb's mischievous assistant.

Millers, Flopson and SophiaMillers, Flopson and Sophia – Mr. and Mrs. Pockets' harried maids who runthe Pockets' household to their own advantage.

Jane PJane Pockocketet – Mr. and Mrs. Pockets' daughter.

MollyMolly – Mr. Jaggers' maid whom Wemmick describes as "a wild beast tamed."

Arthur HaArthur Havishamvisham – Miss Havisham's resentful half-brother and Compeyson'spartner.

SarSarah Pah Pockocket, Camilla, Georgiana, and Raet, Camilla, Georgiana, and Raymondymond – Miss Havisham's selfishrelatives.

The AgedThe Aged – Wemmick's jolly, nearly deaf father.

Miss SkiffinsMiss Skiffins – The handsome, good-natured woman Wemmick courts andeventually marries.

The AThe Avvengerenger – Pip's servant.

ClarClaraa – Herbert's fiancé.

Bill BarleBill Barleyy – Clara's ogre-like father.

Pip (II)Pip (II) – Joe and Biddy's son.

MrMr. and Mrs. Hubble. and Mrs. Hubble – The village wheelwright and wife.

Mrs. CoilerMrs. Coiler – Mr. and Mrs. Pockets' neighbor.

Mrs. WhimpleMrs. Whimple – Clara's landlady.

CHARACHARACTERSCTERS

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SOCIAL CLASSSOCIAL CLASSGreat Expectations is set near the end of Industrial Revolution, a period ofdramatic technological improvement in manufacturing and commerce that,among other things, created new opportunities for people who were born into"lower" or poorer classes to gain wealth and move into a "higher" andwealthier class. This new social mobility marked a distinct break from thehereditary aristocracy of the past, which enforced class consistency basedsolely on family lines. Great Expectations is set in this new world, and Dickensexplores it by tracing Pip's ascent through the class system, a trajectory thatwould not have been possible within the rigid class hierarchy of the past.

The novel ranges from the lowest classes of convicts and orphans to the poorworking class of Joe and Biddy up to the wealthy Miss Havisham, whosefamily made its fortune through the manufacture of beer. Notably, the novelspends virtually no time focused on the traditional aristocracy, and when itdoes it makes those who still believe in the inheritance of class look ridiculousthrough the absurd character of Mrs. Pocket, whose blind faith in bloodlineage has rendered her utterly useless to society.

Yet in the world of Great Expectations where the nobility and gentility thatwere once associated with the aristocracy are no longer seen as founded onbirthright, characters continually grapple with the question of what thosetraits are based on. Can they be taught? Can they be bought? Pip tries both: heeducates himself in order to gain "good" manners and also spends prodigiouslyon luxury goods, outfitting himself with the trappings of aristocracy as if topurchase aristocracy itself.

These tensions come to a head when Provis arrives in London, ignorantlyconfident in his power to use his wealth to buy gentility. Provis' misguidedtrust in money awakens Pip to his own misunderstanding. Meanwhile, Dickensconstantly upends the old equation between nobility and class: most of thenovel's heroes (Joe, Biddy, and Provis) are in the lower class while most of itsvillains (Compeyson and Drummle) are upper class. Ultimately, Pip comes tolearn that the source of true gentility is spiritual nobility rather than eithergreat knowledge or wealth.

AMBITION AND SELF-IMPRAMBITION AND SELF-IMPROOVEMENTVEMENTA "pip" is a small seed, something that starts off tiny and then grows anddevelops into something new. Pip's name, then, is no accident, as GreatExpectations is a bildungsroman, a story of the growth and development of itsmain character. Dickens presents the ambition to improve oneself that drivesPip along with many of the novel's secondary characters as a force capable ofgenerating both positive and negative results. Pip's early ambitions focus onelevating his social class, on making himself into someone who seems worthyof Estella, but in the process he turns himself into someone who feels like asham, is unkind to those who were kindest to him such as Joe and Provis, andruins himself financially. Through these humbling experiences, Pip eventuallycomes to understand self-improvement as a more complex process involvingmoral and spiritual development as well. Pip's own ambitions are echoed bythe self-improvement efforts of secondary characters like Joe and Ms.Havisham, who learn to write and to empathize, respectively, at Pip'sencouragement.

INTEGRITY AND REPUTINTEGRITY AND REPUTAATIONTIONIn Great Expectations, Dickens explores pride as both a positive and a negativetrait by presenting various types of pride ranging from Estella and BentleyDrummle's snobbery to Joe and Biddy's moral uprightness. The crucialdistinction between these different varieties of pride is whether they rely onother people's opinions or whether they spring from a character's internalconscience and personal sense of accomplishment. Characters who espousethe former variety are concerned with reputation, not with integrity. Amongthem are Mrs. Joe, Uncle Pumblechook, Estella, and Bentley Drummle.Because these characters measure themselves according to public opinion,they are constantly comparing themselves to the people around them anddenigrating others in order to make themselves seem superior by comparison.

Yet because it's impossible to be sure of other people's opinions, they arenever satisfied. Mrs. Joe and Bentley Drummle are sour-tempered and Pip isdeeply unhappy for the majority of the novel. Characters like Joe and Biddy, onthe other hand, possess integrity and thus value themselves according to theirown standards of success. Because they are self-sufficient rather thandependent on others for affirmation, these characters are at peace withthemselves and can actually experience contentment. Over the course of thenovel, Pip evolves from being a person invested in reputation to being aperson with integrity. Estella first triggers Pip's obsession with reputation andhe spends many miserable years frantically trying to inflate Estella's opinion ofhim. Yet eventually, Pip learns to listen to his internal conscience and stopsplacing so much value on others' views.

Shame plays an integral role in this education. For most of the novel, Pipsuppresses his shame at mistreating Joe and Biddy and avoids apologizing tothem. This behavior prioritizes reputation, refusing to acknowledge shame sothat the public will not see it. A person with integrity, by contrast, apologizesbecause he has prioritized his conscience over controlling how others see him.Only after being humbled by financial loss and by Provis' misfortune does Pipdevelop the integrity to admit his own errors and apologize to Joe and Biddy.Along the way, Wemmick's respect for domestic life and Herbert'svirtuousness point Pip in the right direction.

PPARENTSARENTSAs the novel distrusts British culture's traditional blind faith in family lines, italso looks skeptically at the traditional family unit. Great Expectations includesvery few models of healthy parent-child relations. Many of the novel'scharacters—including Pip, Provis, and Biddy—are orphans, and those thataren't orphans come from broken or dysfunctional families like Herbert's,Miss Havisham's, Estella's, Clara's, and Joe's. Though Wemmick'srelationship with the Aged Parent seems like an exception, it's important tonote that Dickens introduces us to them at a stage of their lives when theirdynamic has inverted and Wemmick parents his father rather than being caredfor by him. Not until the last few pages do we encounter the functionaltraditional family newly started by Joe and Biddy.

Instead of showcasing traditional mothers and fathers, Dickens chooses tofeature adoptive parents, mentors, and guardians. Among these characters,Joe epitomizes selfless kindness, protecting and nurturing Pip throughout hislife in spite of Pip's teenage ingratitude. Though Provis doesn't participate inraising Pip, he too exemplifies steadfast devotion as he dedicates his life'sfortune to Pip's future. Guardians like Mrs. Joe and Miss Havishamdemonstrate more selfish modes of child-rearing as they use their charges tofulfill their own needs: Mrs. Joe to better her public image and Miss Havishamto avenge her betrayal. As in his treatment of social class, Dickens challenges asystem organized by blood and presents a model of parentage determined bylove and care, regardless of the genetic relation between parent and child.

JUSTICEJUSTICEFrom Pip's encounters with escaped convicts at the beginning of GreatExpectations, to the grotesque courts and prisons in parts II and III, the novelcasts the British legal system in a dubious light. Though Mr. Jaggers functionsas an upstanding force in Pip's life by checking Pip's extravagance, it isquestionable whether his law practice truly serves the law. After all, Mr.Jaggers built his reputation on successfully acquitting a murderer. LikewiseWemmick's separate moral codes—one for the law firm, one forhome—highlight the legal mindset's inadequacy in matters of the heart orfamily. Most distressing of all, some of the novel's most heinous crimes slipright through the legal system.

The law treats Orlick and Compeyson much more lightly than they deserve. Anumber of characters attempt to make up for the law's blind spots by takingthe law into their own hands and seeking revenge, but revenge justice provesjust as faulty: Provis' wrestling match with Compeyson on the marsh is futileand lands them both back in prison, Miss Havisham's perverse plot to tortureEstella's suitors robs everyone of the chance at love, and, while Orlick may becontent with clubbing Mrs. Joe for scolding him, it's clear to the reader thatthis revenge is deeply horrific, leaving Mrs. Joe handicapped for life.

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

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human conscience. As Pip becomes more compassionate, he inspires empathyamong previously stoic characters like Wemmick and Miss Havisham as well.In the end, the novel's most fulfilling portraits of justice are the sincereapologies and forgiveness exchanged between Pip and Miss Havisham andbetween Pip, Joe and Biddy.

GENERGENEROSITYOSITYDickens explores many different understandings of generosity in GreatExpectations. Though Pip's initial generosity towards Provis is mostlymotivated by fear, Provis understands it as true generosity and responds byselflessly devoting his life's savings towards Pip's future. Meanwhile, Mrs. Joeand Uncle Pumblechook understand generosity as a status marker and aremuch more interested in being considered generous than in actually actinggenerously. They thus constantly take credit for Joe's generosity to bettertheir own reputations in town.

Later, Pip believes that the best kind of generosity is anonymous and claimsthat his life's only good deed was his secret donation to Herbert's career.Indeed, many of the novel's most generous acts—including Provis', Joe's, andPip's—are not recognized for a long time, implying that the truly generous givewithout expecting immediate recognition. Yet, despite the delay, every gift'sgiver is eventually discovered and thanked, which suggests that truegenerosity is always rewarded in the end. Pip's ability to recognize generosityshifts over the course of the novel and his early ingratitude towards Joe andProvis evolves into deep appreciation. These men also inspiremagnanimousness in Pip himself, who selflessly devotes himself to Provis inpart III.

MISTThe mist clouding the landscape around Pip's village symbolizes psychologicaluncertainty. As it obscures the view, it represents a lack of clarity, insight, orknowledge. 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 anda file to the convict. Not only is Pip uncertain and afraid of the convict'sthreats, he is completely unaware of the immense generosity his actions willinspire in the convict over the next twenty years. Likewise, Pip moves throughheavy mist as he first leaves his village for London, not knowing how differenthis life there will be from the grand, genteel life he has fantasized about. Later,Pip walks through the mist on his way to meet his anonymous informant, whoturns out to be Orlick lying in wait to kill him. Finally, Pip passes through mistto visit the razed site of Satis House where he is surprised to find Estella andthe promise of a new life.

THE LEG-IRONThe Leg-Iron symbolizes justice. Most literally, the convicts' leg-ironsphysically constrain them within the terms of their court-decreed prisonsentences. Yet Pip also compares the damp cold of the marshes to a leg-iron inChapter 2, foreshadowing the sense of constraint he will feel in the village ashe ages. For much of the novel, Pip treats the village and its working classlifestyle like a prison he tries his best to escape. The leg-iron becomes asymbol of perverse justice when used as a weapon, as when Orlick uses it tostrike Mrs. Joe brutally on the head, exacting his horrifically overblownrevenge.

SATIS HOUSESatis House is a symbol of frustrated expectations. The word "satis" comesfrom the Latin word for "enough," and the house must have been given itsname as a blessing or as a premonition that its residents would be satisfiedwith the lives they led between its walls. Yet throughout the novel, Satis Househouses nothing but dashed dreams and bitter disappointments. MissHavisham turns the house into a shrine to her betrayal by Compeyson fortwenty years. Likewise, Pip's most tenderly cherished expectation—that he willmarry Estella—is formed and destroyed at Satis House. The disappointmentsSatis House contains can only be repaired at the expense of the house itself.Thus, Miss Havisham rediscovers her heart just as her wedding chambers are

destroyed by fire. Thus, Pip and Estella look towards a happier relationshiponly after the house is razed.

CHAPTER 2"People are put in the Hulks because they murder, and because they rob, andforge, and do all sorts of bad; and they always begin by asking questions. Nowyou get along to bed!"

—Mrs. Joe

CHAPTER 3The terrors that had assailed me whenever Mrs. Joe had gone near the pantry,or out of the room, were only to be equaled by the remorse with which mymind dwelt on what my hands hand done. Under the weight of my wickedsecret, I pondered whether the Church would be powerful enough to shieldme from the vengeance of the terrible young man, if I divulged to thatestablishment. I conceived the idea that the time when the banns were readand when the clergyman said, "Ye are now to declare it!" would be the time forme to rise and propose a private conference in the vestry.

—Pip

CHAPTER 4I thought what terrible good sauce for a dinner my fugitive friend on themarshes was. They had not enjoyed themselves a quarter so much before theentertainment was brightened with the excitement he furnished.

—Pip

"Let him go free? Let him profit by the means I found out? Let him make a toolof me afresh and again? Once more? No, no, no. If I had died at the bottomthere…I'd have held to him with that grip, that you should have been safe tofind him in my hold."

—Provis

CHAPTER 6I was too cowardly to do what I knew to be right, as I had been too cowardly toavoid doing what I knew to be wrong.

—Pip

CHAPTER 9"…lies is lies. Howsoever they come, they didn't ought to come, and they comefrom 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'tget to be uncommon through going straight, you'll never get to do it throughgoing crooked."

—Joe

…my young mind was in that disturbed and unthankful state that I thoughtlong after I laid me down, how common Estella would consider Joe, a mereblacksmith: how thick his boots, and how coarse his hands. I thought how Joeand my sister were then sitting in the kitchen, and how Miss Havisham and

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Estella never sat in a kitchen, but were far above the level of such commonthings.

—Pip

CHAPTER 13I was truly wretched, and had a strong conviction on me that I should neverlike Joe's trade. I had liked it once, but once was not now.

—Pip

CHAPTER 15I wanted to make Joe less ignorant and common, that he might be worthier ofmy society and less open to Estella's reproach.

—Pip

Miss Havisham and Estella and the strange house and the strange lifeappeared to have something to do with everything that was picturesque.

—Pip

CHAPTER 18…as Joe and Biddy became more at their cheerful ease again, I became quitegloomy. Dissatisfied with my fortune, of course I could not be; but it is possiblethat I may have been, without quite knowing it, dissatisfied with myself.

—Pip

CHAPTER 19As I passed the church, I felt…a sublime compassion for the poor creatureswho 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 myselfthat I would do something for them one of these days, and formed a plan inoutline for bestowing a dinner of roast beef and plum pudding, a pint of ale,and a gallon of condescension upon everybody in the village.

—Pip

"Oh, there are many kinds of pride," said Biddy, looking full at me and shakingher head; "Pride is not all of one kind…[Joe] may be too proud to let any onetake him out of a place that he is competent to fill, and fills well and withrespect."

—Biddy

CHAPTER 21"...it is a principle of [Matthew Pocket's] that no man who was not a truegentleman at heart, ever was, since the world began, a true gentleman inmanner. He says, no varnish can hide the grain of the wood, and that the morevarnish you put on, the more the grain will express itself."

—Herbert Pocket

CHAPTER 23…[Mrs. Pocket] had grown up highly ornamental, but perfectly helpless anduseless.

—Pip

CHAPTER 27"Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever so many partings welded together, as Imay say, and one man's a blacksmith, and one's a whitesmith, and one's agoldsmith, and one's a coppersmith. Divisions among such must come, andmust be met as they come. If there's been any fault at all to-day, it's mine. Youand me is not two figures to be together in London; nor yet anywheres else butwhat is private, and beknown, an understood among friends. It ain't that I amproud, but that I want to be right, as you shall never see me no more in theseclothes. I'm wrong in these clothes. I'm wrong out of the forge, the kitchen, oroff th'meshes. You won't find half so much fault in me if you think of me in myforge dress, with my hammer in my hand, or even my pipe."

—Joe

CHAPTER 32…how strange it was that I should be encompassed by all this taint of prisonand crime; that, in my childhood out on our lonely marshes on a winterevening, I should have first encountered it; that it should have reappeared ontwo occasions, starting out like a stain that was faded but not gone; that itshould in this new way pervade my fortune and advancement.

—Pip

CHAPTER 33"We have no choice, you and I, but to obey our instructions. We are not free tofollow our own devices, you and I."

—Estella

CHAPTER 38"I am what you have made me. Take all the praise, take all the blame; take allthe success, take all the failure; in short, take me."

—Estella

"Miss Havisham gives you to him as the greatest slight and injury that could bedone to the many far better men who admire you, and to the few who trulylove 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 foryour sake."

—Pip

CHAPTER 49"Believe this: when she first came to me, I meant to save her from misery likemy own. At first I meant no more…But as she grew and promised to be verybeautiful, I gradually did worse, and with my praises, and with my jewels, andwith my teachings, and with this figure of myself always before her, a warningto back and point my lessons, I stole her heart away and put ice in itsplace"…[Miss Havisham] burst out again, What had she done!

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—Miss Havisham

CHAPTER 55For now my repugnance to [Provis] had all melted away, and in the huntedwounded shackled creature who held my hand in his, I only saw a man who hadmeant to be my benefactor, and who had felt affectionately, gratefully, andgenerously towards me with great constancy through a series of years. I onlysaw in him a much better man than I had been to Joe.

—Pip

CHAPTER 58…the wonderful difference between the servile manner in which [Mr.Pumblechook] had offered his hand in my new prosperity, saying, "May I?" andthe ostentatious clemency with which he had just now exhibited the same fatfive fingers.

—Pip

Dear Joe, I hope you will have children to love, and that some little fellow willsit in this chimney-corner, of a winter night, who may remind you of anotherlittle fellow gone out of it forever. Don't tell him, Joe, that I was thankless;don't tell him, Biddy, that I was ungenerous and unjust; only tell him that Ihonoured you both because you were both so good and true, and that, as yourchild, I said it would be natural to him to grow up a much better man than I did.

—Pip

We owed so much to Herbert's ever cheerful industry and readiness that Ioften wondered how I had conceived the old idea of his inaptitude, until I wasone day enlightened by the reflection that perhaps the inaptitude had neverbeen in him at all, but had been in me.

—Pip

CHAPTER 59"…now, when suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and hastaught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent andbroken, but – I hope – into a better shape."

—Estella

BOOK 1, CHAPTER 1Pip, the narrator of the novel, explainsthat his full name is Philip Pirrip, butthat as a young child he could onlypronounce his name as Pip, which iswhat everyone now calls him. Pip is anorphan, who never knew his parentsor any of his five brothers who neverlived out of infancy. He lives with hisolder sister, and her husband, JoeGargery, the town blacksmith. Theylive in southeast England, in "marshcountry," near the sea.

As an orphaned boy living with his sisterand town blacksmith, Pip is establishedas belonging to a low social class. Thedeaths of his parents and siblings makeclear how tough life can be for that class.Even the name "Pip," which means spotor seed, signifies something small. Yet aseed can grow, hinting that Pip willdevelop into more than he is.

On the dreary afternoon of ChristmasEve, 1860, Pip sits sadly in thechurchyard outside town where hisparents and siblings are buried.Suddenly a terrifying man, dressed inrags and shackled in a leg-iron, jumpsout from a hiding spot behind a graveand grabs Pip. When the man learnsthat Pip lives with Joe Gargery theblacksmith, he warns Pip that he has afriend, the young man, who will kill Pipunless he returns in secret the nextmorning with food and a metal file.Pip, terrified, swears that he will, andthe man lets him go.

Pip is terrified and alone, completelyvulnerable. The man's behavior andchains mark him as an escaped criminal,which begins to introduce the theme ofjustice. Yet despite the man's cruelcomments, the reader can see howdesperate he is—after all, he's dependenton Pip helping him! Although Pip doesn'trealize that "the young man" is a fake,Pip's adult narration looking back on theevent allows the reader to see the truth.

BOOK 1, CHAPTER 2When Pip returns home, his uncle Joe,the blacksmith, warns Pip that Pip'ssister, Mrs. Joe, has been furiouslylooking for him and is carrying theTickler, a cane she uses to beat Pip.Joe helps Pip hide behind the door toprotect him from his sister. When Mrs.Joe bursts in, she immediatelydiscovers Pip and throws him violentlyat Joe, who tucks a now crying Pipsafely away in the chimney nook. Mrs.Joe proceeds to scold Pip harshly andreminds him that he'd be dead were itnot for her even as she assures himthat she regrets having raised him inthe first place.

Though Mrs. Joe is Pip's blood relationand takes credit for raising Pip, Joe is histrue guardian, watching out for Pip'sphysical and emotional safety. Mrs. Joe,by contrast, seems more concerned byher frustration at having to be a parentthan by Pip's actual wellbeing.

The family sits down for tea and,fearing he may not be able to stealenough food from the pantry, Pipresolves to save his bread and butterfor the convict in spite of his ownhunger. Pip slips his bread down hispants-leg and spends the rest of theevening uncomfortably trying to keepit in place. Sitting in silence, Pip istormented by his conscience as hestruggles to resolve his guilt atstealing food from his sister with hisfear of the convict's threats.

Pip's struggle with his conscienceintroduces another aspect of the justicetheme as Pip tries to determine whetherit is more important to abide byconventional moral code (whichprohibits stealing) or to protect oneselffrom harm.

Just as Pip is climbing up to bed, hehears the sound of great guns fired.When Joe says that the sound signalsan escaped convict, Pip asks him toexplain what a convict is. Joe mouthsback an answer but the only word Pipcan discern is "Pip." Pip then askswhere the firing comes from and ischastised by Mrs. Joe for askingquestions. After criticizing Pip'sinquisitiveness at length, Mrs. Joefinally explains that the firing comesfrom the Hulks, which are prison-ships filled with criminals andanchored in the marshes. Afterspending a restless night wrackedwith guilt, Pip rises at dawn to steal afile from Joe's forge and all the foodhe can carry from Mrs. Joe's pantry,including a pork pie and some brandy.

The fact that Pip lip-reads "Pip" for Joe'sdefinition of a convict illustrates Pip'sguilty conscience (Joe was probablysaying "ship," referencing the Hulks). Thedescription of the Hulks establishes thelegal world's proximity to domestic life.The prison-ships are within walkingdistance from the family living room. Pipis always asking questions, always wantsto know more—a trait that his sisterharshly shuts down. She is uninterestedin his self-improvement.

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BOOK 1, CHAPTER 3Pip runs out onto the marshes in themist of Christmas dawn to meet theconvict, terrified that he'll be caughtand feeling as if every objectappearing out of the mist is actuallyrunning towards him while he standsstill. He compares the damp cold"riveted" to his feet with the iron"riveted" to the convict's leg.

Pip's perspective is warped by guilt.Nevertheless, likening the marsh cold toPip's leg iron raises questions about Pip'sties to this landscape: can he escape it?Can he rise up in the world and movebeyond it?

Flustered by fear, Pip accidentallyruns in the wrong direction andinstead of reaching the Battery wherethe convict awaits him, he stumblesacross another convict who swears atPip and tries to strike him, thenstumbles off into the mist. Pipassumes this must be the young manthe first convict threatened him with.Pip runs on and reaches the Battery,where he finds the convict freezingand limping. He gives the convict thefood and stands in polite silence whilethe convict tears into it, wishing theconvict a pleasant meal and silentlyobserving that the convict eats like aravenous dog. The convict thanks Pipsincerely.

The convict's messy eating habitsillustrate how desperate he is for food,but they also suggest he comes from alower class background by showing helacks higher class manners. Pip's sweettemper in saying that he hopes theconvict is enjoying the food brings outthe convict's softer side—generositybreeds generosity.

Pip, afraid the convict may not leaveenough food to satisfy the young manhe thinks he just met on the marshes,shyly suggests that the convictshouldn't eat it all. The convictdismisses him. Then, when Pip insistshe thought the young man lookedhungry, the convict stops eating insurprise and asks Pip to describe theyoung man he saw further. Pip tries todescribe that man's leg-iron withoutsaying the word itself, thinking itmight be offensive. He describes abruise on the man's face, which sendsthe convict into an angry rampage,dropping his food and beginning to filefuriously at his leg-iron. Pip slips offwhile the man keeps filing.

The reader can tell that the convictwould probably not be offended by Pipdescribing his leg-irons outright. Pip'ssensitivity about doing so shows Pip'sconcern for the convict's own sense ofdignity.

BOOK 1, CHAPTER 4Pip returns home from the marshesand lies about where he's been, tellingMrs. Joe that he's been out listeningto the Christmas morning carols. Mrs.Joe is grumpily preparing the housefor a Christmas dinner party andrefuses to make Joe and Pip a hotbreakfast, complaining that she is toobusy cleaning the house's state parlorfor the party. This room is only usedonce a year and is normally coveredwith silver paper. The frontdoor—which is also never ordinarilyused—will be unlocked for the guestsand Pip will welcome the guestsentering through it as if it is thefamily's customary entrance. WhileMrs. Joe continues her preparations,Joe and Pip walk awkwardly to churchin their punishingly stiff Sundayclothes.

Mrs. Joe aspires to impress her guests byshowing off the grandest part of thehouse, presenting the family's lifestyle asmore luxurious than it actually is.Though it's important to Mrs. Joe toproject her own gentility, Joe and Pip arenot interested in appearing more refinedthan they are and are uncomfortable intheir fancier clothes.

Pip is tormented throughout thechurch service by remorse at havingstolen from the pantry andcontemplates confessing to theclergyman during mass, although thefact that it is a special Christmas Dayservice keeps him from doing so. Pipand Joe return home to a houseprimped for the party and receive theguests: the haughty church clerk, Mr.Wopsle, Mr. Hubble the wheelwright,Mrs. Hubble, and Joe's self-importantwell-to-do Uncle Pumblechook. Atthe dinner table, the adults frequentlyaccuse Pip of ingratitude and othermoral shortcomings. Inspired by thepork they are eating, Mr. Wopsledelivers an absurd lecture on pigs,warning Pip to be grateful that he isn'tone.

Pip continues to struggle with hisconscience as he feels guilty about histheft, which he calls his "wicked secret."Yet, though Pip's internal guilt isexacerbated by the adults' criticism, thereader can see that in fact the adultsthemselves are hypocrites: gluttonous,petty, and selfishly picking on Pip fortheir own amusement. Throughoutdinner, they ironically only accuse Pip ofsins (ungratefulness, viciousness) that heis innocent of.

Throughout the meal, Pip is terrifiedthat his pantry theft will bediscovered. When Mrs. Joe offersUncle Pumblechook brandy (from thebottle Pip diluted with water aftertaking some for the convict), Pip issure he's doomed. UnclePumblechook spits out the brandy indisgust—Pip accidentally diluted thebrandy with tar water rather thanregular water. No one suspects thatPip is responsible. Still, when Mrs. Joeannounces she is going to serve a porkpie from the pantry (the very pie Piphas stolen to feed the convict), Pip canstand his guilt no longer and leaps upwith a yelp from his chair, runningtowards the door to escape. There hebumps right into a party of soldiers inthe doorway, who hold out a pair ofhandcuffs to Pip.

Pip feels guilty despite the fact that noneof the adults are suspicious, illustratingthe strength of his conscience. Dickensconveys Pip's childhood perspective butalso allows the reader to see that Pip'sfears are out of proportion—for Pip, thesoldier seems to be extending the cuffs toarrest Pip for his theft. The reader knowsthe soldier is only fooling around and,even did he know Pip had robbed thepantry, would certainly not arrest him.

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BOOK 1, CHAPTER 5The soldiers' sergeant announces thatthey are on the hunt for two escapedconvicts and have come to the forgeto see if Joe can repair the lock ontheir handcuffs. While Joe repairs thecuffs, the soldiers mill about thehouse, to everyone's excitement.Everybody drinks together in goodcheer. Pip observes that his convicthas improved the party as everyone isentertained by anticipation of theconvict chase. When the cuffs arerepaired, Mr. Wopsle and Joe decideto follow the soldiers' for the fun ofthe chase. Joe brings Pip on hisshoulders.

Matters of justice serve as entertainmentfor the non-criminal populace, who areenjoyably titillated by the prospect of aspectacle and the thrill of a vicariousthreat. Pip notes the perverse irony thatone man's misery (the convict's) can beanother's pleasure.

Mr. Wopsle, Joe, and Pip follow thesoldiers out into the wet, cold, mistymarshes while Pip, confessing to Joethat he hopes the convicts aren'tfound, wonders anxiously whetherthe convict will blame him for leadingthe soldiers' chase. Hearing shouts,the group runs in the direction of thesound and comes upon two convicts(the one Pip helped and the one he raninto accidentally) wrestling violently ina ditch. The one Pip helped is shouting"Guard! This way for runawayconvicts!" and is intent on convincingthe soldiers that he has turned theother convict in. He explains that,though he could have escaped on hisown, he would rather give up his ownchance at escape than see the otherconvict get free. The other convict,meanwhile, insists that Pip's convicthas just attempted to murder him. Thesergeant dismisses both convicts'claims and treats them equally,marching the two convicts backtowards the prison ships.

Personal definitions of justice clash withthe law's definition of justice. Eachconvict is convinced of his moralsuperiority and of the other's guilt—yetthe sergeant, speaking for the law,ignores the convicts' explanations andtreats both men the same.

Before they begin marching, Pip'sconvict notices Pip and Pip, shakinghis head to try to convey his owninnocence, is struck by the intensity ofthe convict's glance. Yet the convictdoes not openly acknowledge Pip.After a long march, the group reachesa guard hut by the water and theother convict is rowed back out to theHulks. While the sergeant files areport on the capture, Pip's convictspontaneously confesses to the groupthat he has stolen some food from theblacksmith. Everyone is astonishedand Joe sympathetically tells theconvict he was more than welcome tothe food. Pip hears a click in theconvict's throat (a sound he firstnoticed the convict make back in thegraveyard). Then, Pip's convict is leadout to a small boat and rowed back tothe prison ship.

Again, personal morality clashes withlegal justice: the convict generouslyconfesses to having committed theft onhis own in order to save Pip frompunishment. Joe speaks kindly to theconvict, treating the man as a humanbeing with rights (The sergeant andsoldiers, by contrast, show no suchgenerosity and talk to the convicts as ifthey are animals.) Although Pip cannotidentify the clicking sound from theconvict's throat, the reader can guessthat this noise is most likely the sound ofthe convict on the verge of tears.

BOOK 1, CHAPTER 6On the way back to the forge with Joeand Mr. Wopsle, Pip is relieved thatthe convict has taken the blame forhis theft and does not confess thetruth to Joe. The adult Pip, narratingthe story, speculates that he didn'tconfess to Joe because he was afraidJoe would think less of him. Pip notesthat he "was too cowardly to do what Iknew to be right, as I had been toocowardly to avoid what I knew to bewrong" when he had originally stolethe food and file. Back at the forge,Mr. Wopsle and Uncle Pumblechookbicker about the most likely way theconvict could have broken into Mrs.Joe's pantry. Pip, exhausted, fallsswiftly asleep, but as narrator henotes that his conflicted state of mindpersisted for a long time.

Pip chooses to protect his reputationwith Joe rather than to honor hispersonal integrity and come clean. Thechoice between protecting reputationand honoring integrity is a major themein the novel and will recur frequently. Inchoosing reputation, Pip sets aprecedent for his character that willcontinue to shape his development.

BOOK 1, CHAPTER 7The narrative jumps ahead in time. Pipis a few years older and has begunattending a low-tuition evening schoolin the village incompetently run by Mr.Wopsle's great-aunt (who dozesinstead of teaching) and ineptlymonitored by Mr. Wopsle (who makesthe students watch him performorations rather than testing theirprogress). Pip struggles to learn andfinally starts to read and write withthe help of Biddy, an orphan who isthe live-in granddaughter of Mr.Wopsle's great-aunt. At home onenight, Pip proudly writes arudimentary letter to Joe on his slate.Joe is in awe, complimenting Pip onhis intelligence. When Pip asks Joe toread the letter, he realizes that Joecannot read, that the only letters herecognizes are J and O. Yet Joe insiststhat, even though he can't spell hisown surname, he can read and enjoysreading recreationally.

Pip attends one of Victorian England'sworking class schools: cheap,understaffed, and overcrowded. Joe'silliteracy is evidence of his lower classbackground and consequently limitedaccess to education. Yet Joe's touchinginsistence that he can read despite allevidence to the contrary shows both howimportant reading is as a mark ofpersonal worth (Joe does not want toidentify himself as illiterate) and howeager Joe is to please Pip (Joe wants tomake Pip feel he fully appreciates Pip'snew literacy).

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Pip asks Joe whether Joe went toschool and Joe says he didn't andbegins to tell Pip about his ownchildhood. Joe explains that he wasborn to an abusive father who dranktoo much and beat Joe and his mother.Joe went to work as a blacksmithwhen very young in order to supporthimself and his parents. Even inrecounting his father's violence, Joestill defends his father and claims thatthe man was good at heart. After hisparents died, Joe explains, he lived alonely life at the forge until he metMrs. Joe and heard she was raisingbaby Pip by hand. Joe praises Mrs. Joein spite of her bossy rampages (Pipsilently doubts she deserves Joe'spraise) and tells Pip that, aftermeeting her, he invited Mrs. Joe intohis home because she reminded himso much of his own mother andbecause he wanted to help Pip. Hetells Pip he wishes Pip never had to bepunished with the Tickler, and Pip ismoved to tears, knowing from thenon, "I was looking up to Joe in myheart."

Joe's story confirms his lower classbackground and provides furtherevidence of Joe's immense kindness,refusing to hate his father even when hisfather was so obviously cruel andabusive to Joe. Although Joe lacks formaleducation, Pip can see howtremendously superior Joe is in mattersof the heart. He is moved to tears byadmiration for Joe's generosity andkindness.

Mrs. Joe and Uncle Pumblechookburst in after a day at the market andexcitedly explain that Pip has beenasked to play at the house of MissHavisham, Uncle Pumblechook's richlandlady who lives in seclusionuptown. She has been looking for alittle boy to play at her house andUncle Pumblechook hasrecommended Pip. Mrs. Joe explainsheatedly to a confused Joe and Pipthat going to play at Miss Havisham'swill make Pip's fortune. She rushes toclean Pip and dress him in his bestclothes to spend the night with UnclePumblechook in town before going toMiss Havisham's the next morning.Pip leaves Joe and the forge for thefirst time.

Mrs. Joe and Uncle Pumblechook areexcited because Miss Havisham is in theupper class and they, being lower middleclass, hope that an association with herthrough Pip will raise their statusesaround town. They also assume that,because Miss Havisham is rich,associating with her will somehow resultin financial gain for Pip, and thereforethem too.

BOOK 1, CHAPTER 8At Uncle Pumblechook's house intown, Pip notes that all the town'smerchants and craftsmen seem tospend more time watching oneanother from their shop windows anddoors than they do working in theirshops. Uncle Pumblechook gives Pip ameager breakfast (though he himselfeats lavishly) and aggressively quizzesPip on arithmetic instead of engagingin conversation. He walks Pip to thegate of Miss Havisham's house, alarge brick house with some of itswindows boarded up. In front of thehouse is a courtyard and, to the side, abrewery. When Uncle Pumblechookrings the bell, a young lady comes outand turns him away (although UnclePumblechook hints he'd like to enter),leading Pip in alone. She explains thatthe brewery is out of use and that thename of the house is Satis, whichmeans "Enough," and which must havemeant the house would satisfy all it'sowners desires—an idea she findsridiculous. She leads Pip into the darkhouse and leaves him upstairs in frontof a closed door.

Dickens presents a comical portrait ofmiddle class merchants and craftsmenmore interested in busy-bodying thanthey are in working. Uncle Pumblechookobviously does not know how to interactwith children—still, his relentlessarithmetic quizzes attest to theimportance he, a businessman, places onpractical education. Miss Havisham isfrom the upper class and her family wasin the brewery business—prior to theIndustrial Revolution, these two factswould have been incompatible. In thepast, the upper class did not practicepractical trades. That the girl laughs atthe name Satis shows the name hasbecome ironic— it is certainly no longer"enough," if it ever was.

Pip knocks and enters a room lit onlyby candlelight. Miss Havisham, an oldwoman in a yellowed wedding gown,sits at a dressing table amidst half-packed trunks. She reminds Pip of awaxwork or a skeleton. She beckonsto Pip and asks him whether he isafraid of "a woman who has neverseen the sun since you were born?"Pip, trying to be polite, tells her heisn't. She then tells Pip that her heartis broken, that she wants diversion,and commands Pip to play. Pip,apologizing, tells her hesitantly hecan't play in an environment so "new,""strange," "fine" and "melancholy."Miss Havisham has Pip call for"Estella" and the young girl who ledPip in appears. In response to MissHavisham's suggestion that they playcards, Estella complains that Pip is a"common labouring-boy" andcontinues to insult his appearance andmanner throughout the game. MissHavisham asks Pip what he thinks ofEstella and he tells her he finds her"proud," "pretty," and "insulting." MissHavisham broods and watches.

Pip's attempts to be polite (includingusing the word "melancholy" rather than"frightening" to describe MissHavisham's room) attest to good,sensitive manners that should contradictEstella's complaints that Pip is coarse.Estella, though, responds only to Pip'sphysical appearance and social status,not to his personality. Estella's namemeans "star"—and, indeed, she will bePip's guiding light for many years tocome.

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After they finish playing cards, MissHavisham tells Pip to return in sixdays and sends the children away for asnack. Pip feels dazed and humiliatedby what just transpired. Backdownstairs, Estella lays Pip's food infront of him on the ground and looksdelighted by Pip's distress. As soon asshe leaves, Pip sobs bitterly, which, asnarrator, he attributes to a sensitivityof character caused by Mrs. Joe'sharshness. He explains the crucialimportance of justice to children andthe constant injustice of his ownchildhood (owing to Mrs. Joe). Aftercrying, Pip wanders around the ruinedbrewery-yard and sees a terrifyingvision of Miss Havisham hanging byher neck from a beam. When Estellaapproaches to let Pip out, she smuglyinforms Pip that she saw him crying.Pip walks back to the forge, turningEstella's insults over and over in hishead.

Estella lays Pip's food on the floor as if hewere a dog Ð an implicit insult. AlthoughPip is able to recognize Mrs. Joe'sinjustice, he is unable to recognizeEstella's. Instead, he takes Estella's cruelinsults as facts—accepting that those ofthe higher class know better and areworth more—and blames theirpainfulness on his own sensitivity no ontheir cruelty and falseness.

BOOK 1, CHAPTER 9Upon returning home, Pip is barragedwith questions about Miss Havishamby Mrs. Joe and Uncle Pumblechook,who has ridden over for tea. Yet,because he himself has such a fear ofbeing misunderstood, he feels fearfulof Miss Havisham beingmisunderstood as well and refuses toanswer any questions about her, evenas Mrs. Joe and Uncle Pumblechookbully him for information. Finally, hebegins to answer their questions withsensational lies, which Mrs. Joe andUncle Pumblechook believe. Theymarvel at Pip's account in awe andrelate them to Joe, who is equallyaccepting and amazed. Pip starts tofeel guilty for deceiving Joe (thoughnot for deceiving his aunt or UnclePumblechook). Mrs. Joe and UnclePumblechook giddily speculate onwhat Miss Havisham might do for Pip.

Note the difference between thisdishonesty and that of not coming cleanto Joe about the pantry theft. Here, Piplies out of compassion, to protectsomeone's dignity rather than topreserve his own false reputation. Thefact that Mrs. Joe and UnclePumblechook believe Pip's lies show howlittle exposure to upper class theyhave—they believe it really could be asalien and sensational as Pip'sdescription.

Later, Pip confesses privately to Joethat the story was a lie. Joe is aghastand asks Pip what possessed him. Piptells Joe the truth about the day,including Estella's insults and hisshame at being "common." Joe repliesthat lies are lies, no matter themotivation for them, and that "if youcan't get to be oncommon throughgoing straight, you'll never get to do itthrough going crooked." He thenreminds Pip that Pip is alreadyuncommon in stature and in letters.When Pip remains discouraged, Joereminds Pip that everyone must becommon before they can developuncommon skills. He resolves not toreveal the truth to Mrs. Joe for fear ofupsetting her, promises Pip he isn'tangry at him, and advises Pip to prayfor his lies. Yet when Pip gets in bed,all he can think about is how commonEstella would find Joe, Mrs. Joe, andhis home. The adult Pip narrator notesthat this day was the first link in a longchain that determined his life's latercourse.

Joe takes the term "uncommon" to mean"extraordinary" or "unusual," rather than"upper class." This misunderstanding isevidence of Joe's own priorities—he isn'tfocused on differences in class and socialstatus. Instead, Joe concentrates onindividual self-worth, emphasizing hardwork and personal morality. Still, it isdifficult for Pip to share Joe's valuesystem, preoccupied as he has becomeby Estella's opinions. This day isformative because it has instilled Pipwith the ambition to be "uncommon"and has taught Pip to judge himselfaccording to Estella's superficialstandards —Pip will live by these newprinciples for a long time.

BOOK 1, CHAPTER 10Determined to be "uncommon," Pipdecides a few days later to achieve hisgoal by becoming educated and asksBiddy to teach him all she knows.Biddy agrees. Still, Pip strugglesamidst the hectic squalor at theevening school, where resources arescarce (the whole class shares a singletextbook), the teacher is disengaged,and students are combative.

Pip sees education as a means to self-improvement, a way to rise in class. Thisnotion of class mobility is a legacy of thenew social system created by theIndustrial Revolution. Previously, theclass system was entirely determined bybirth. Though Pip's experience at schoolindicates just how poor VictorianEngland's working class schools were.

After school, Pip goes to meet Joe atthe village public house, the ThreeJolly Bargeman. He finds Joe with Mr.Wopsle and a stranger. The strangeris "secret-looking" and looks hard atPip, nodding. He eagerly asks aboutPip and stirs his drink with a metal filethat only Pip can see. Pip realizes inshock that the stranger must beconnected to the convict he helpedyears ago. In parting, the strangergives Pip a shilling wrapped in paperwhich, back at home, Mrs. Joe sees istwo pound notes. Joe runs back toreturn the money but the man is gone.Pip worries that it is common toassociate with convicts and hasnightmares about the metal file.

That the stranger shows Pip a metal fileand then gives him money suggests thatthe stranger has been sent by the convicthimself, perhaps to give Pip the money inthanks for helping him. Pip is now awareof a class system he was ignorant ofwhen he first met the convict on themarshes. He knows that convicts belongto the lowest class and fears associationwith them might tarnish his own socialstatus.

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BOOK 1, CHAPTER 11Pip returns to Miss Havisham's thenext week and is told by Estella towait in a gloomy sitting room whereMiss Havisham's relatives Camilla,Sarah Pocket, Georgiana, andRaymond are talking. From listeningto snippets of their talk, Pip can tell"they were all toadies and humbugs."Estella returns and leads Pip to MissHavisham, stopping along the way toask him whether he still finds herpretty and insulting. When Pip repliesthat she seems less insulting, she slapsand berates him. Pip tells her he'llnever cry for her again, a claim theadult narrator states was false. On thestairs, they run into a dark, sharp-eyedman who tells Pip to behave himself.Upstairs, Pip helps Miss Havishamwalk laps around the dining roomtable which is covered in acobwebbed, moldy wedding feast,decayed beyond recognition. She tellsPip that this is the table she'll be laidout on when she dies.

Pip is surrounded by fraudulence andself-deception, from the hypocriticaladults in the sitting room to Estella'sbait-and-switch routine on the stairs,from the presumptuous stranger whotells obedient Pip (rather than themisbehaving Estella) to behave, to therotting wedding table that perverts animage of new life (a marriage celebration)to a grim image of death (a funeral).

Miss Havisham has Pip call for Estellawho comes with Camilla, SarahPocket, Georgiana, and Raymondfollowing behind her. These four try toengage Miss Havisham inconversation as she and Pip walk:Camilla professes to be sick withworry about Miss Havisham, whileSarah Pocket attempts to exposeCamilla as a fraud. They both lamentMatthew Pocket's thoughtlessabsence. After they leave, MissHavisham tells Pip that it is herbirthday, and that these four visit hereach year on that day though they arealways afraid to mention the occasionoutright.

Miss Havisham's relatives are acting as ifthey have a generous concern for her,but that Miss Havisham knows isinsincere. Her relative's efforts to endearthemselves to Miss Havisham andcompetitiveness for her affection suggestthey are motivated by personal gain.They probably hope Miss Havisham willleave them her fortune after she dies.

Pip and Estella play cards and MissHavisham points out Estella's beauty.Pip wanders out onto the grounds andfinds "a pale young gentleman" in theruined greenhouse. He challenges Pipto a fight and Pip reluctantly agrees,assuming he'll lose. He is astonishedto discover that he is a much strongerfighter than the pale younggentleman, who falls again and againbut remains in good spirits, cheerfullyannouncing that Pip has won. WhenPip meets Estella outside, she'sflushed and tells Pip he may kiss heron the cheek, a permission Pip can'thelp feeling unsatisfied by.

Although Pip initially calls the boy a"gentleman" because of his appearanceand his eagerness to box (a genteelsport), the boy proves he is noble in spirit,not just breeding, when he shows goodsportsmanship and generosity towardsthe victor. Estella has clearly beenexcitedly spying on the fight (whichexplains her flush) and allows Pip to kissher because his win elevates her opinionof him.

BOOK 1, CHAPTER 12During the next week, Pip is anxiousthat he will be punished for hurtingthe pale young gentleman in theirfight, and suspects that either the lawwill come down on him or MissHavisham herself will seek revenge.But when he returns to MissHavisham's he is surprised to discoverthat he faces no punishmentwhatsoever, that the fight goesentirely unacknowledged.

Pip is confused both about whatconstitutes a crime and who executesjustice, worried that winning aconsensual sports match may becriminal and unsure of whether justiceshould be carried out by the impartialstate or by individuals seeking revenge.

That day at Miss Havisham's, Pipagrees to return every other day towalk her or wheel her in a chair. Thiscontinues for eight to ten months.During this time, Miss Havishamcontinues to point out Estella'sbeauty to Pip, whispering fondly toEstella, "Break their hearts!" Pip tellsno one about his experiences at MissHavisham's except for Biddy, whoexpresses concern that, at the time, hedid not understand. Meanwhile, Mrs.Joe and Uncle Pumblechook enjoyimagining Miss Havisham's futurepatronage of Pip. One day, MissHavisham tells Pip it's time he wasapprenticed to Joe and asks Pip tobring Joe with Pip's indentures. Backat the forge, the news that MissHavisham has asked to see Joe (andnot her) inspires Mrs. Joe's jealousfury.

Biddy can see that Miss Havisham'sbehavior is disturbing in ways that Pip, atthe time, is not fully aware of. Again, thereality of Pip's experience with MissHavisham contrasts starkly with Mrs.Joe and Uncle Pumblechook's fantasiesof it. Miss Havisham does not seem tohave any grand plans for Pip—she simplyexpects that he will become anapprentice and then a tradesmen, thetypical life trajectory for Pip's class.Indentures are the legal contractsbinding an apprenticeship.

BOOK 1, CHAPTER 13Next day, Joe and Pip set off for MissHavisham's. Mrs. Joe has insisted onwalking to town with them in all herfinest to visit Uncle Pumblechook.Upon being escorted into MissHavisham's, Joe is speechless withdiscomfort and can only respond toMiss Havisham's questions indirectlyby addressing his answers to Pip. Pipis mortified by Joe's awkwardness anduneducated speech. Miss Havishamasks Joe whether he expects apremium for Pip's apprenticeship and,when Joe tells Pip he doesn't, shehands Pip twenty-five guineas thatshe says is the premium Pip hasearned at her house. She thendismisses them, telling Pip he neednot return to her now that he is Joe'sapprentice.

Though much of Joe's awkwardnessmust owe to the shock of seeing MissHavisham's living conditions, part of itmay owe to his inexperience interactingwith the upper class. A premium is a sumof money that many craftsmen requiredfrom new apprentices as payment forbeing taken on as an apprentice. ThoughPip has certainly earned his twenty-fiveguineas at Miss Havisham's, she is stillgenerous to offer it even when Joedoesn't ask for one.

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Pip and Joe leave Miss Havisham'sand walk to Uncle Pumblechook'swhere Mrs. Joe has been waiting forthem in a sulk, still deeply hurt thatshe was not asked to visit. Joe lies toMrs. Joe telling her that MissHavisham sent her compliments toMrs. Joe and only didn't invite her onthe visit due to Miss Havisham's poorhealth. Mrs. Joe is greatly cheered upby this news, which she trusts as thetruth. Joe makes a grand show ofhanding the premium Miss Havishamgave him to Mrs. Joe.

Joe's white lie restores Mrs. Joe's sense ofher reputation. It is generous of him totell it, especially considering how rattledhe must be by his ordeal at Satis House.

Uncle Pumblechook, Joe, and Mrs.Joe hurry Pip to the Town Hall to beofficially bound as Joe's apprentice, aprocedure that must take place infront of a judge. Uncle Pumblechookpushes Pip around the Hall so quicklythat other people in court think thatPip must have committed a crime. Pipnotes the strange interior of the Halland compares the pews with churchpews.

Though Uncle Pumblechook should be anurturing guardian to Pip, he treats Pipso roughly that strangers think he mustbe handling a criminal. Pip's likening ofthe court pews to church pews implicitlyempowers legal justice by linking it todivine justice.

Giddy with delight at the twenty-fiveguineas, Mrs. Joe insists that theycelebrate it with a dinner at the BlueBoar, inviting Uncle Pumblechook,Mr. and Mrs. Hubble, and Mr. Wopsleto join them. The dinner is high-spirited and everyone is rowdy andhappy except for Pip, who feels deeplymelancholy even as the adults keepprodding him to enjoy himself. Inside,Pip feels "wretched" at the prospectof entering Joe's trade, thinking "I hadliked it once, but once was not now."

Pip's own goals and standards havechanged. He can no longer be satisfied bywhat made him happy in the days beforehe met Miss Havisham and Estella,before he decided that he wanted to be"uncommon."

BOOK 1, CHAPTER 14Pip is miserable in his apprenticeshipto Joe, internally tormented by the"commonness" of his home, Joe'sforge, and of the blacksmith's trade,though he conceals his despair fromJoe. All of the places and activitiesthat had delighted him before meetingEstella now disappoint him becausehe knows she would consider themcoarse and common. Pip describeshimself as "restless aspiringdiscontented me." He walks themarshes in dejection, feeling his lowspirits aligned with the flat, low marshlandscape. Only Joe's kindness andcheer restrains Pip from running awayfrom the forge and becoming a soldieror sailor.

Pip remains dissatisfied with what usedto please him. Yet Pip's ambitions aredriven entirely by Estella's opinion—hedoes not want to do or be anything inparticular, he simply wants Estella tothink highly of him. His fantasy ofrunning away to be a sailor or a soldierwould not necessarily elevate his socialstatus or make him "uncommon"—theywould simply give him a feeling ofescape, of distance between himself andthe "common" life he loathes.

BOOK 1, CHAPTER 15Pip is getting too big for the villageevening school and must stop going,reluctantly concluding his formaleducation. Pip, though, is still hungryto learn and studies independently.Meanwhile, he tries to share hiseducation with Joe by giving himlessons on the marsh each Sunday,though Pip is discouraged that Joenever seems to remember lessonsfrom one Sunday to the next. Pipadmits that these lessons are notpurely generous. Rather, he hopes toeducate Joe so that Joe "might beworthier of my society and lessvulnerable to Estella's reproach."

Pip remains steadfast to the idea thateducation is self-improvement. Hiseagerness to educate Joe is notmotivated by generosity but by a selfishfixation on reputation and a fear thatJoe's "commonness" tarnishes Pip's ownimage by association.

During one of these lessons, Pipproposes to Joe that he pay a visit toMiss Havisham. Joe is skeptical,thinking that Miss Havisham wouldassume Pip wanted something. WhenPip suggests that he might visit her tothank her, Joe is concerned that Pipwould not be able to make anything inthe blacksmith forge that would beworthy of Miss Havisham. Eventually,Joe says that he supports the visit ifPip wants to do it and agrees to grantPip a half-holiday the next day to go onhis visit. He warns Pip, though, to besure not to visit again if he is notreceived with cordiality the next day.

Though Victorian England enjoys moreclass mobility than prior eras, inter-classsocialization was still rare, whichexplains Joe's skepticism.

The next day at the forge, Joe's dour,lazy, hostile journeyman Orlick (wholies to the village and tells them hisChristian name is "Dolge") hearsabout Pip's half-holiday and angrilydemands one for himself. When Joeassents, Mrs. Joe (who has beenspying on their conversation from theyard) protests that Joe is wastingwages. Orlick insults Mrs. Joe, callingher a "foul shrew" and, though Joetells Orlick to leave her alone, theinsults between them escalate andJoe and Orlick fight. Joe is strongerthan Orlick and quickly triumphs.Later, Pip finds them peacefullysharing beer and cleaning up the forgetogether.

Mrs. Joe's greedy ambitions don't matchup with Joe's sense of fairness. ThoughJoe is usually the forge's peacekeeper, hispersonal integrity requires him to defendhis wife against Orlick's insults.

Pip anxiously walks to town to visitMiss Havisham and is lead upstairs bySarah Pocket, who is suspicious of hispresence. Upon seeing Pip, MissHavisham immediately informs Pipthat she will not give him anything, butsoftens when Pip assures her thatthere is no ulterior motive to his visitand she tells him he can visit her on hisbirthdays. Miss Havisham then intuitsthat Pip has come to see Estella andinforms Pip that Estella has goneabroad to study. She asks Pip, with "amalignant enjoyment," if he feels hehas lost her, then dismisses a flusteredPip.

Like Joe, Sarah Pocket and MissHavisham are also initially confused byPip's desire to pay a friendly visit andassume Pip is trying to get more moneyfrom her. Yet, when she is convinced heisn't asking for money, Miss Havisham'sattitude towards Pip becomes parental,offering to be an enduring presence inPip's life (albeit only once a year).

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In town, Pip runs into Mr. Wopslewho is on his way to UnclePumblechook's for a reading of theTragedy of George Barnwell andconvinces Pip to come. The three readthe tragedy with Pip reading the roleof Barnwell. Mr. Wopsle and UnclePumblechook chastise Pip as if thecharacter's grizzly acts—includingmurdering his uncle—are Pip's own.

The play charts the downfall of a youngapprentice who eventually murders hisuncle. Pip, a young boy who will soon beapprenticed to his uncle, may feel theaction of the play strike too close tohome.

On the misty walk back to the villagelate that night, Mr. Wopsle and Pipdiscover Orlick under the turnpikehouse. He says he has spent his half-holiday in town and notes that theguns have been going off at the Hulks,signaling escaped convicts. He walkswith Pip and Mr. Wopsle and, as thethree pass the Three Jolly Bargemen,a riled up crowd informs Mr. Wopslethat people (the crowd suspectsconvicts) have broken into the forgewhile Joe was out. Upon returninghome, the group find the forgeswarmed with villagers. Joe and asurgeon are on the kitchen floorbeside Mrs. Joe who has beenknocked out by a strong blow to theback of her head.

Mist continues to symbolize a lack ofclarity and knowledge —Pip does notrealize he is walking towards a tragedythat will change life at the forge forever.Orlick's behavior can be consideredsuspicious. Does he mention the escapedconvicts to blame them for a crime hecommitted himself?

BOOK 1, CHAPTER 16That night, Pip is convinced he himselfmust have had something to do withthe crime against Mrs. Joe, and thathe is the most likely suspect (a guilt heattributes as narrator to having justread the Barnwell play). Yetafterwards, thinking with a clearerhead, Pip notices that whoever struckMrs. Joe did not steal anything,instead just blowing out the candleand striking her, leaving a convict'sfiled-off leg-iron beside her. The leg-iron does not belong to either of therecently escaped convicts and Joeobserves that it was filed open a longtime ago. Pip believes either Orlick orthe convict with the file placed theiron in the kitchen—but Orlick wasseen in town all night and the strangerwould have had no motive. He knowshe should confess the whole story toJoe but makes excuses to himself toget out of it. The police make a few(wrong) accusations but spend mostof their time drinking and do not solvethe case.

Though Pip's conscience is strong, hisdesire to protect his reputation isstronger and he again chooses not to tellJoe the truth about the convicts. Thissecond choice is arguably even moreimmoral as Pip's theory about the leg-iron found by Mrs. Joe could beimportant evidence in the case. Thepolice—the enforcers of legal justice—arecomically ineffectual. The leg-iron hasbeen a symbol of justice, but here it is asymbol of an attempt to circumventjustice—as Pip's observations indicate(even if Pip doesn't realize it himself) thatthe leg-iron has clearly been planted tothrow off the police.

Mrs. Joe sustains severe braindamage. She trembles and is unable tospeak. She no longer has a temper andis calmly patient as those around hertry to communicate with her by slate.Joe is heartbroken. Biddy moves intothe house to take care of Mrs. Joe andis able to interpret a sign that Mrs. Joehas written over and over on her slateto Pip and Joe's confusion: she asksfor Orlick. Orlick is fetched andslouches over to a delighted Mrs. Joe,who seeks to please him with "an air ofhumble propitiation." Pip isdisappointed that his sister does notdenounce Orlick. Thereafter, Mrs. Joeasks for Orlick to come to her daily, awish he confusedly obliges.

Mrs. Joe may not have been the bestparent to Pip, but Pip misses her old selfall the same. Mrs. Joe's eagerness to seeand please Orlick could be explained as awish to apologize for having treated himunjustly in the past. Still, it ismysterious...

BOOK 1, CHAPTER 17Pip persists in the same routines,varied only by a birthday visit to MissHavisham's where she gives him aguinea he spends on books to study.But Pip sees Biddy changing: she iscleaner and neater, noticeably pretty.One evening, while Pip sits studying,Pip realizes that Biddy has learnedeverything that Pip has from booksand the forge without ever studying.He asks her how she's learned and shesays she "must catch it—like a cough."Pip is impressed and praises Biddy'smaking "the most of every chance."Biddy begins to cry, asking Pip toremember their first lessons together.Pip is moved and, wanting to expresshis gratitude and trust, invites Biddyon a weekend walk on the marshes.

Biddy is growing up, beginning to presentherself as a responsible adult rather thana neglected orphan. She is innatelyintelligent and keenly observant, traitswhich enable her to soak up knowledgewithout deliberate study. Yet Biddydoesn't place as much value oneducation as Pip does—when he praisesher learning, she immediately redirectsthe conversation to memories of theirfriendship, focusing on humanrelationships rather than on individualknowledge.

On their walk, Pip confesses to Biddyhis dissatisfaction with the blacksmithtrade and his wish to be a gentlemanto disprove Estella's disdain for hiscommonness. At the same time, headmits he would have been happier ifhe could be as content with the forgeas he was in childhood. Biddy isskeptical about Pip's ambitions andcalls them "a pity." She is disturbed byEstella's insults and tells Pip they arerude and untrue, asking him, "Do youwant to be a gentleman to spite her orto gain her over?" If the former, Biddysays, spite would be better expressedby ignoring her insults, and, if thelatter, Estella isn't worth gaining over.Pip agrees but knows, to his chagrin,that he will not be able to followBiddy's wise advice.

Like Joe, Biddy is content with herstation in life and does not strive to riseabove her class. Neither does sheromanticize members of the upper class:she can see Estella's cruel pettiness forwhat it is and isn't distracted by Estella'sbeauty or elegance. Yet, even though apart of Pip agrees with Biddy, he isoverwhelmed by his own ambition anddissatisfaction with a blacksmith's life.Pip cannot shake his infatuation withEstella.

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Pip cries and Biddy comforts him andtells him she is glad that Pip feels hecan confide on her, that he always can.Pip hugs her and says he will alwaystell her everything. "Till you're agentleman," says Biddy. They walk onand Pip, thinking how miserable hewould be if he were walking withEstella, tells Biddy he wishes he couldget himself to fall in love with her. "Butyou never will, you see," says Biddy.

Biddy is perceptive and speaks the truth,even when it is unpleasant. She sees Pip'sclass ambitions and concern forreputation and understands that theywill lead him to abandon his life at theforge and the relationships associatedwith it.

As they are walking, Orlick appearsout of nowhere and tries to walk themhome but Biddy whispers to Pip notto let him, saying she doesn't like him.Pip and Biddy walk alone with Orlickfollowing at a distance and Biddyconfesses to Pip that she is afraidOrlick likes her. Pip is hot with angerand from that day on tries to obstructOrlick's advances on Biddy. Piphimself goes back and forth betweenbelieving Biddy and forge life aresuperior to Estella, then rememberingthe Havisham days and growingdissatisfied and ambitious again.

Pip is instinctively protective of Biddyand doesn't want Orlick to court her,even though Pip is unsure whether hewants to court her himself. He continuesto waver in and out of ambition.

BOOK 1, CHAPTER 18It is now four years into Pip'sapprenticeship. Pip and Joe aregathered with a group at the ThreeJolly Bargeman listening to Mr.Wopsle perform a newspaper accountof a recent murder as if it were a play,impersonating voices of the peopleinvolved. A stranger overhearing theminterrupts Mr. Wopsle and criticizeshim for assuming that the verdict isÔguilty' before witnesses have beencross-examined and before theprisoner has given his defense. "...doyou not know that the law of Englandsupposes every man to be innocent,until he is proved—proved—to beguilty?" the man asks,condescendingly. He asks the party toimagine the effects of Mr. Wopsle'spresumptuousness on a jury. Mr.Wopsle is cowed into silence and thegroup looks down on him.

The stranger quashes the villagers'merriment, scolding them for treatingmatters of justice as sensationalentertainment. He forces the party totake sober responsibility for their ownrole in the legal justice system bymentioning the jury, and shames themfor treating that role lightly.

The stranger requests a privateconference with Joe and Pip, who,bewildered, follow the man into aparlor. Pip recognizes the stranger asthe man he met on the stairs at MissHavisham's. The stranger introduceshimself as Mr. Jaggers, a Londonlawyer, and explains that ananonymous person has arranged forPip to come into a large amount ofmoney (great expectations) and hasmeanwhile provided a smaller sum ofmoney to release Pip from hisapprenticeship and train him to be agentleman. The only condition is thatPip never change his name. Pip isecstatic and secretly suspects hispatron is Miss Havisham. Joe issupportive and appalled by Mr.Jaggers' suggestion that Joe could befinancially compensated for losing Pip.Mr. Jaggers suggests Matthew Pocketas a tutor for Pip and leaves Pipmoney to buy new clothes. Pip says hewill leave for London as soon aspossible.

Pip's dreams have come true—hisanonymous, generous patron hasrescued him from the "common" life hehas resented for so long and launchedhim towards gentility. Yet the stipulationthat Pip keep his name implies that hispatron wishes Pip to keep the integrity ofhis identity intact (an implication thatPip, at the time, doesn't realize). Joe isappalled by Mr. Jaggers' suggestion thathe could be financially compensated forlosing Pip because, in spite of the factthat Pip is Joe's apprentice, Joe'srelationship towards Pip is parental,measured in love not in money.

Joe and Pip return to the forgeseparately. Pip breaks a tense silenceto tell Biddy the news. Biddy and Joecongratulate Pip though Pip thinks"there was a certain touch of sadnessin their congratulations that I ratherresented." As Biddy and Joe relax, Pipgrows "gloomy." Looking back, hewonders if he was unconsciously"dissatisfied with myself." Pip suggeststhat he might conceal his new clothesfrom their village friends, like Mr.Wopsle and Mr. and Mrs. Hubble,who "would make...such a coarse andcommon business." Biddy asks Pipwhether he will conceal the clothesfrom the forge as well and Pip,resenting her suggestion, tells her hewon't.

Pip misinterprets the sadness in Joe andBiddy's congratulations, notunderstanding that it is their love for him(not their jealousy of him) that makesthem sad. Pip's sudden change in fortunehas transformed him instantly into asnob, describing their village friends withthe very words that stung him sopainfully from Estella's mouth ("coarse"and "common.") Biddy, as usual, seesright through Pip, checking his snobbery.

Pip goes to bed and surveys his "meanlittle room" that he will soon be"raised above." He feelssimultaneously excited for the futureand nostalgic for the past. Through hisbedroom window, Pip sees Joesmoking outside with Biddy. BecauseJoe never smokes so late, Pip infersthat he must want comforting "forsome reason or other." The two speakquietly and Pip hears his namementioned fondly. The light smokewreaths floating from Joe's pipe seemto Pip "like a blessing from Joe—notobtruded on me or paraded beforeme, but pervading the air we sharedtogether."

Pip's ambition leads him to see even hisbedroom as something he will rise"above." Again, Pip misunderstands Joeand Biddy and is oblivious to the"reason" for Joe's discomfort, though thereader knows Joe is deeply sad to losePip. Pip's comparison of Joe's smokerings to a blessing describe Joe's evermodest but constant love and generositytowards Pip.

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BOOK 1, CHAPTER 19Pip rises the next morning in abrighter mood and, after church, takesa farewell walk through the marshes,feeling a condescending compassionfor the village people ("poorcreatures") and resolving to sendthem charitable gifts in the future. Hedismisses memories of the convict. Ashe walks, Pip imagines that the cowson the marsh "wear a more respectfulair now...in order that they might stareas long as long as possible at thepossessor of such great expectations."

Pip's new snobbery reaches ridiculousheights. His generosity towards thevillagers is transparently false, conceivedpurely to enhance the gentlemanlyreputation he craves. His perspective onthe cows is comical. Compare thisjourney on the marshes with that tomeet the convict in Chapter 3.

Pip lies down at the battery and fallsasleep, daydreaming of Estella. Pip isawakened by Joe, who has followedhim. Pip tells Joe he will never forgethim and, when Joe responds that he issure of that and that he only needed anight to adjust to Pip's departure, Pipis secretly disappointed in "Joe's beingso mightily secure of me."

Pip is hungry for external validation ofhis new status and reputation. Pip wantseveryone, even Joe, to feel intimidatedand insecure around him, in order tomake himself feel important.

Pip regrets that Joe didn't get achance to learn more in their lessons.Joe disagrees, saying he was always"so awful dull" and that he is a masteronly of his own trade. Pip, wanting to"do something" for Joe thinks it wouldbe easier to do if Joe were "betterqualified for a rise in station." Aftertea, he takes Biddy out for a walk andasks her to teach Joe manners so thatPip might take him into a "highersphere" when he comes into hisfortune. Biddy protests and warns Pipto consider Joe's pride. Pip is annoyed.Biddy explains that there are manydifferent kinds of pride and that Joe isproud of his place in life and of hisskills. Pip accuses Biddy of beingenvious of him, of possessing "a badside of human nature." Biddy tells himhe can think what he wants, she willstill do all she can for him and for theforge. She reminds him "a gentlemanshould not be unjust." Afterwards, Pipsulks outside, confused by hisdissatisfaction and loneliness in thewake of such good news.

Pip confuses integrity with reputation.Pip's understanding of pride relies oncomparing himself to other people. He ismore proud when he considers himselfbetter than more people. He suggests Joeimprove himself according to thesestandards, learning the sorts of mannersthat would help him raise himself higherin the class system. Yet Biddy tries toexplain Joe's different sense of pride, apride that relies on integrity and self-worth rather than on others' opinions.Pip, unable to understand, attributes hisown confusion to Biddy's jealousy of him.He is upset without knowing exactlywhy.

Next day, Pip goes to the tailor, Mr.Trabb, to have clothes made. Uponhearing that Pip has come into money,Mr. Trabb immediately begins to treatPip with exaggerated deference whileall along verbally abusing his assistant,Trabb's Boy. Pip notes that "my firstdecided experience of the stupendouspower of money was that it hadmorally laid upon his back, Trabb'sboy."

This is Pip's first experience parading hisnew status in town, and he discoversthat there are those, like Mr. Trabb, whowill fawn over Pip solely because of Pip'smoney. But at the same time Mr. Trabb iscruel to his assistant, revealing hiskindness to Pip as solely being the resultof Pip's money.

After completing his shopping, Pipgoes to see Mr. Pumblechook, who, toPip's great pleasure, tells Pip howdeserved Pip's fortune is.Pumblechook's flatters Pip over andover, and continually asks permissionto shake Pip's hand. He feeds Pip alavish meal. He reminisces about hislong friendship with Pip, how he hasbeen Pip's favorite since childhood.Though Pip knows this is a lie, he iswon over by Pumblechook's mannerand thinks he must have beenmistaken not to like him in the past.Pumblechook asks Pip's businessadvice (obviously implying that he'dlike Pip's investment) and delights in iteven when Pip does not offer toinvest. Pumblechook reiterates thatPip is "no common boy."

Mr. Pumblechook has already shownhimself to be a class-obsessed, greedytoady and this scene only providesfurther evidence. Though he has abusedand neglected Pip for years—at a timewhen Pip most needed love andsupport—he now pretends as if they havealways been friends and fawns over Pip.Pip sees through Pumblechook butnevertheless enjoys his flattery.Pumblechook's request for Pip's businessadvice is a thinly veiled plea for money.

The day before leaving for London,Pip visits Miss Havisham to saygoodbye. He is escorted inside bySarah Pocket. Miss Havisham keepsSarah Pocket in the room while sheand Pip recount his change in fortune(she has already heard the news fromMr. Jaggers), relishing Sarah Pocket's"jealous dismay." In parting, Pip kneelsand kisses Miss Havisham's hand.

Sarah Pocket's dismay stems from herbelief that Miss Havisham must be Pip'sanonymous patron (meaning she won'tget any money out of Havisham). Pipassumes genteel manners to bid MissHavisham goodbye.

Joe, Biddy, and Pip are all sad at Pip'sdeparture. Pip has asked Joe not towalk with him to the coach, fearing thecontrast in their appearances. Thoughhe thinks better of it and wants toinvite Joe to walk him after all, he doesnot. Joe and Biddy each throw an oldshoe at Pip as he leaves. Pip tries to behappy as he leaves but soon beginssobbing. After his tears, he feels hisown ingratitude more keenly andwishes Joe were with him. On thecoach, he debates at each stopwhether to get down and walk backhome for one last night, but does not.Mist has risen over the landscape.

Pip's first priority is protecting hisreputation and he fears Joe's companymight tarnish his image. He prioritizesreputation even at the expense of hisown happiness, not changing his mindeven after he sobs. Throwing an old shoeis a peasant custom and mark Joe andBiddy as members of the lower class.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 20Pip arrives in gritty, dirty London andgoes to Mr. Jaggers' office in LittleBritain. The office is greasy and run-down, gloomily decorated withweapons and casts of swollen faces.Mr. Jaggers is in court and Wemmick,Jaggers' clerk, shows Pip in. Whilewaiting, Pip takes a walk throughfilthy, bloody neighborhood ofSmithfield, passing the black-domedSaint Paul's and Newgate Prisonwhere a dirty, drunken minister ofjustice shows Pip the gallows, publicwhipping posts, and debtors' door,and tries to sell Pip a spectator's seatat a trial. Back at Mr. Jaggers' office,Pip sees a rag-tag group of poor, dirty,miserable clients waiting for Jaggersas well.

London's prisons during Victorian timeswere notoriously dirty and chaotic, full ofraucous lower-class prisoners who werebrutalized by the inhumane conditions.

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Mr. Jaggers returns and sharplydismisses each of his clients, checkingto make sure they have paidWemmick and threatening to droptheir cases if they try to involvethemselves any further. Mr. Jaggersrefuses to take on the case of a Jewishman. He disgustedly dismissesanother client who has brought afalsely disguised, dishonest witness.

Mr. Jaggers is strictly professional, takingonly money, no personal stories orperspectives. Dickens' portrayal of theJewish man is evidence of the Anti-Semitism of his era.

Mr. Jaggers tells Pip he will stay atBarnard's Inn with Matthew Pocket'sson. He reveals Pip's generousallowance, informing Pip that he'll bekeeping an eye on Pip's spendingthough he's sure Pip will manage to"go wrong somehow."

Mr. Jaggers knows that wealth can't beequated with self-improvement, thatgetting more money can easily lead oneto make more mistakes.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 21Wemmick walks Pip to Barnard's Innand Pip observes his wooden featuresand all the little tokens of mourningthat Wemmick wears. Pip asksWemmick if London is "wicked" andWemmick replies that one can get"cheated, robbed, and murdered"there just like anywhere else. WhenPip suggests people commit suchcrimes just for revenge, Wemmickcorrects him, saying many morepeople commit crimes for profit.Wemmick seems surprised that Pipfinds crimes for profit to be "worse"than crimes committed for revenge.After depositing Pip at Barnard's,Wemmick is surprised by Pip's offer toshake hands.

Like Mr. Jaggers, Wemmick is rigidlyprofessional and avoids engaging withhuman feelings, attributing London'scrimes mostly to financial motives ratherthan to the emotion-driven revengemotives that Pip suggests.

Pip is appalled by the dismal state ofBarnard's Inn, which is sooty, rotting,and infested. He waits for young Mr.Pocket to return and let him into therooms. Mr. Pocket returns with freshfruit he has bought in Pip's honor andvery graciously welcomes Pip into thegrim apartment, apologizing for itscondition and explaining that he andhis father are poor. He and Pipsuddenly recognize oneanother—young Mr. Pocket is the paleyoung gentleman Pip fought with inMiss Havisham's greenhouse.

Even though young Mr. Pocket is part ofMiss Havisham's upper class family, hedoes not have any money—his class isnot backed up by wealth. Yet despite hislack of money, young Mr. Pocket'sgracious welcome attests to his generousspirit.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 22The pale young gentleman is HerbertPocket and he explains that his father,Matthew Pocket, is Miss Havisham'scousin. Herbert was in MissHavisham's greenhouse that day afterMiss Havisham sent for him to see ifhe might be a suitable betrothed forEstella (she'd decided not). Herbertcriticizes Estella for being cruel andhaughty, and explains that she is MissHavisham's adopted daughter raisedto "wreak revenge on all the malesex."

Herbert's description of Estella shedslight on Miss Havisham's fawning overEstella and taunting Pip during Pip'svisits to Satis House.

Pip is immediately struck by Herbert'sopen, kind personality. He explains hisbackground and asks Herbert tocorrect his country manners. WhenHerbert asks Pip's name, Pip says it is"Phillip." Herbert, disliking the name,decides to call Pip "Handel" afterHandel's piece "The HarmoniousBlacksmith."

Pip is anxious to acquire genteelmanners. Telling Herbert his name is"Phillip" violates the terms of hispatronage, which stipulated he keepcalling himself "Pip." Pip is trying toescape his lower-class past and himself.

At dinner, Herbert tells MissHavisham's story. Miss Havisham wasthe spoiled daughter of a wealthy,genteel brewer. Her mother died earlyand her father secretly married andhad a son with his cook. Though raisedas part of the family, this son wasrebellious and his father left him amuch smaller inheritance than he leftMiss Havisham, which builtresentment between her and her half-brother. Miss Havisham fell in lovewith and was engaged to a man towhom she gave a great deal of money,and who convinced her to buy herhalf-brother out of his share in thebrewery. On their wedding day, thisman never showed up. Rumor wasthat he'd conspired with MissHavisham's vengeful half-brother,though Herbert does not know thetwo men's whereabouts any longer.Miss Havisham was devastated and,within the house, essentially stoppedtime to the minute she had beenbetrayed.

Miss Havisham's tragedy is set in motionby class conflict: her younger brotherresents her higher status as a child bornto an upper class marriage. He doesn'tenjoy the full range of class privileges shedoes because he is born out of an affairwith a cook. When his father leaves MissHavisham more money in his will, thebrother seeks revenge by partnering withMiss Havisham's fiancée to ruin herforever.

All of Miss Havisham's relations werepoor and all of them except forMatthew Pocket were jealous and"scheming." He alone had warnedMiss Havisham about her fiancée,perceiving that the man was onlysuperficially genteel. Miss Havisham,though, was offended by the warningand accused Matthew Pocket of tryingto get her money for himself.

The distinction Matthew Pocket makesbetween gentlemanly manners and anoble heart is crucial and will factorsignificantly in Pip's growth as acharacter.

Herbert concludes by telling Pip thathe has revealed everything he knowsabout Miss Havisham. He promisesthat nothing shall come between heand Pip in the future and swears neverto inquire about Pip's patron. Pipthinks that Herbert is implicitlyacknowledging that Miss Havisham isPip's patron.

Herbert's openness and respect arefurther evidence of his integrity andgenerosity.

Herbert enthusiastically describes hisown ambition of becoming "acapitalist—an insurer of ships," thoughhe is currently working unpaid in acounting house. Pip privatelysuspects that Herbert will neversucceed in business.

Herbert's own ambitions are in accordwith the new capitalist economy of post-Industrial Revolution England.

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The next day, Herbert takes Pip toMatthew Pocket's house in thecountryside outside London. There,they meet Mrs. Pocket reading in thegarden, blissfully oblivious to six ofher children tumbling over thefootstool concealed below her skirt.She and the children are attended bytwo frustrated maids, Millers andFlopson. Mrs. Pocket acts absent-minded and unfamiliar with herchildren.

Mrs. Pocket is not a very competentparent.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 23Pip learns that Mrs. Pocket is the onlydaughter of a deceased knight who,though poor, was pompously proud ofhis title, had ordered that his daughterbe raised without learning anypractical domestic skills, and that she"must marry a title." She eloped withMr. Pocket. Her father had no dowryto give her but his blessing. Mrs.Pocket is pitied by Mrs. Coiler andothers "because she had not married atitle." Mr. Pocket is blamed for nevergetting a title.

Mrs. Pocket was raised to value titles andto believe in a birthright tonobility—ideas that are now antiquatedin Victorian England where the rigidhereditary class system is a thing of thepast. Note how the title was moreimportant than the person—Mrs. Pocketwas not to marry a man with a title, itwas just the "title" that mattered.

A harried but unaffected Mr. Pocketshows Pip his room and introduceshim to fellow students BentleyDrummle, an heir to a baronetcy, andStartop. At dinner, Pip observes thatthe Pockets' servants wield greaterpower in the household than thePockets' themselves. Mrs. Pocketreveals that the book she was readingso avidly is a book on titles.

Drummle has been born into the upperclass and therefore has a hold in theantiquated title system that Mrs. Pocketvalues. The Pocket household is highlydysfunctional. Authority that should bepossessed by the parents, Mr. and Mrs.Pocket, has passed to the servants.

When the children are brought inafter dinner, Mrs. Pocket allows thebaby to play with nutcrackers whileshe discusses baronetcies withBentley Drummle and scolds herolder child, Jane, for suggesting thebaby might be in danger. Anexasperated Mr. Pocket protests hiswife's negligence to no avail and fallssilent.

Mrs. Pocket is more concerned with herown social class and status than she iswith parenting her children. Herdaughter Jane is a better mother to herbaby than she is. Mr. Pocket recognizesher incompetence but can do nothing.

After dinner (lunch), BentleyDrummle and Startop go rowing andPip, wanting to be trained in thisgenteel sport, hires someone to trainhim, though he is deeply offendedwhen the trainer praises him forhaving "the arm of a blacksmith."

Pip is offended by the trainer's praisebecause he doesn't want to beassociated with working class trades,even by mere comparison.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 24Several days later, Mr. Pocket tells Pipthat he's been told by Mr. Jaggers thatPip is not to be trained for anyparticular profession but to beeducated as a young man of wealth.Pip accepts the plan. He and Mr.Pocket get along well and Pip findshim "serious, honest, and good."

Gentlemen do not engage in practicaltrades and professions but instead livegenteel lives of leisure. Pip will beeducated for such a life. Though youcould also make a case that he will thenbe educated in doing nothing.

Pip decides to rent one of Herbert'srooms in Barnard's Inn for variety andfor the pleasure of Herbert'scompany. When he asks Mr. Jaggersfor money to furnish the room, Mr.Jaggers hassles Pip about the sum,making Pip uncomfortable. When heconfides his discomfort to Wemmick,Wemmick assures him that Mr.Jaggers' intends that reaction but that"it's not personal....only professional."

Mr. Jaggers' sense of professionalismdoes not only require him to be rational,calculating, and dispassionate—he mustalso intimidate everyone around him.

After dispensing his money, Wemmickgives Pip a tour of Mr. Jaggers officeand Pip sees four other shabby clerksand learns that the plaster casts aredeath masks of "famous clients" thatearned the practice credit: one amurderer, the other a forger.Wemmick describes them fondly andexplains that all of his mourningaccessories are gifts from Mr. Jaggers'clients who were killed for theircrimes. He tells Pip that he alwaystakes these mementoes when offeredas his motto is "get hold of portableproperty."

Wemmick's cheerfulness around mattersof death show how inured he's become tothe grizzly justice system. Further, thefirm celebrates the criminals it defends,as they are the foundation of its success.The firm seems not so much to befocused on justice, as finding ways toprofit from the law. It's all business.Wemmick's cheerful acceptance of the"personal property" that was the lastgifts of condemned criminals furtherunderscores this "all business" ethos.

Wemmick invites Pip to visit him athome in Walworth. He also warns Pipthat, if he ever goes to Mr. Jaggershouse, he should look out for hishousekeeper, who is "a wild beasttamed."

Wemmick's invitation to Pip is generous,not professionally required of him.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 25Pip describes his peers, BentleyDrummle and Startop. BentleyDrummle is stupid, "idle, proud,niggardly, reserved, and suspicious."Startop has been spoiled and madeeffeminate by an overprotectivemother, but Pip much prefers hiscompany to Drummle's. His bestfriend is Herbert.

Bentley Drummle may be a gentlemanby birth but he definitely does notpossess a noble heart.

A few weeks later, Pip arranges totake Wemmick up on his dinnerinvitation to Walworth. They meet atMr. Jaggers' office and Wemmick

describes some of Mr. Jaggers'personal habits to Pip: Mr. Jaggers'never locks his doors or windows atnight and carries a massive, expensivegold watch, yet Mr. Jaggers is soinfamous among thieves in London,that no one would ever be braveenough to rob him.

Mr. Jaggers is proud of his reputation andflaunts it among criminal circles inLondon. At the same time, it is suggestiveabout the brutal nature of the law that alawyer, an agent of the law, can becomemore feared than the lawbreakersthemselves.

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Pip and Wemmick walk to Walworth,which is an eccentric, tiny imitation-Gothic cottage with a drawbridge, aflagstaff, a gun, and livestock.Wemmick is proud of buildingeverything himself. Inside, heintroduces Pip to his near-deaf father,the Aged, to whom Wemmick istenderly devoted. Wemmick's mannerat Walmouth is jovial and warm. Heexplains to Pip that he keeps "officelife" and "private life" completelyseparate, and that Mr. Jaggers hasnever heard of Walworth. Walkingback to Little Britain from Walworththe next morning, Pip notices thatWemmick's facial expression stiffensas he nears the office.

Wemmick's house may be modeled onGothic period architecture but he hasbuilt it all himself in the Victorian era.The house is a model of self-sufficiencyand self-improvement. In order to protecthis reputation for dispassionate, rationalprofessionalism in the office, Wemmickmaintains two personalities. He is astender and domestic at home as he iscold and business-minded in the office.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 26That morning, Mr. Jaggers invites Pipalong with Drummle, Startop, andHerbert to dinner the next day. Mr.Jaggers house is dark and serious.Throughout the visit, Mr. Jaggers ismost interested in Drummle, whomhe calls "one of the true sort," althoughhe advises Pip to steer clear of him.During the lavish dinner, Pip noticesthat Mr. Jaggers "wrenched theweakest parts of our dispositions outof us," inspiring the boys to bickercompetitively about rowing andmoney. Pip notes that Drummle leavesMr. Pocket's for good a month afterthis dinner.

Mr. Jaggers is fascinated by human traitsthat are the opposite of integrity anduprightness. Though he does not advisePip to associate with the people whopossess those negative traits, he isdelighted to watch those people inaction. This could explain his affinity forworking with criminals.

Mr. Jaggers only servant is hishousekeeper, Molly, whom Wemmickhas urged Pip to take note of. She is aquiet, witch-like woman withstreaming hair, completely submissiveto Mr. Jaggers. Pip imagines her faceabove a cauldron. The adult Pipnarrator alludes to a vision he willhave of her face years later by fire in adark room. When the boys bickerabout who is strongest, Mr. Jaggersforces her to show the boys herwrists, which are scarred anddisfigured and, Mr. Jaggers claims, thestrongest he's ever seen.

Each boy wants to win the reputation forbeing strongest, but Molly wins itinstead. Her scarred and disfiguredwrists are evidence of some struggle inher past.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 27Pip receives a letter from Biddyinforming him that Joe is travelling toLondon the next day with Mr. Wopsleand plans to visit Pip. She reminds Pipof Joe's goodness. Pip is distressed bythe news and thinks that if he couldpay to keep Joe away, he would. Hisonly consolation is that Drummlewon't see (and make fun of) Joe. Joewill come to the Barnard's Innapartment, which Pip has recentlydecorated splendidly at enormousexpense. Pip has also hired a servantboy (the Avenger) whom he dresses infancy waistcoat and boots but hasvery little use for.

Pip fears that being seen associating withJoe will tarnish his reputation and upsethis social status. Pip has investedextravagantly in the trappings ofgentility, bolstering his social class withsuperficial status symbols just as he isalso trying to turn himself into agentleman through education.

When Joe arrives, Pip is painfullyaware of his country manners,awkward clothes, and discomfort. Joecalls Pip Ôsir' against Pip's protests.He tells Pip Mr. Wopsle has left thevillage for London in order to pursuehis dreams of acting, and hands Pipthe playbill for Mr. Wopsle's first play.When Herbert leaves for work, Joetells Pip he has only come to convey amessage from Miss Havisham: thatEstella is home and would like to seePip. Joe says Biddy had encouragedhim to tell Pip in person, then good-naturedly apologizes and says that heand Pip are now of different stationsin life and shouldn't meet in public. Hesays his place is at the forge, blessesPip, and leaves. Pip is impressed byJoe's dignity and runs after him, butJoe has disappeared.

Joe feels uncomfortable amidst Pip'sostentatiously lavish surroundings, butthat discomfort is amplified hugely byPip's obvious haughtiness and snobbery.Joe's explanation of their differentstations displays Joe's integrity—he doesnot resent Pip's new social class nor doeshe wish to enter it himself. Pip recognizesJoe's integrity too late and chases him invain. Like Pip, Mr. Wopsle has come toLondon to pursue his ambitions andcraves opportunities not offered byvillage life.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 28Pip arranges to return to the villagethe next day but makes excuses tohimself to justify staying at the BlueBoar instead of at the forge. The adultPip narrator calls himself a "self-swindler."

Pip is a self-swindler because he actsdisloyally and without personal integrity,making excuses to trick himself intothinking otherwise and stealing fromhimself the love and friendship he shouldshare with Joe and Biddy..

On the coach to his town, Pip rideswith two convicts, one of which Piprecognizes as the man he met at theThree Jolly Bargeman. Pip is gratefulthat the man doesn't recognize him.During the ride, Pip overhears theman recounting how another convicthad asked him to find "the boy thathad fed him and kep' his secret" andgive him two one-pound notes.

This confirms Pip's suspicion that thestranger who showed him the metal fileand gave him the two pounds was sentby the convict he'd helped.

At the Blue Boar, Pip reads Mr.Pumblechook's thinly disguisedarticle in the local newspapercrediting himself as Pip's mentor,friend, and first patron.

Mr. Pumblechook continues to tell liesabout his generosity towards Pip in orderto enhance his reputation around town.

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BOOK 2, CHAPTER 29Going to Miss Havisham's the nextmorning, Pip is surprised to findOrlick employed as the porter toprotect the house from convicts andintruders. When he enters MissHavisham's room, he finds Estellahome from France and transformedinto a beautiful, graceful woman.

Orlick and Estella have each undertakenself-improvement. Orlick has been hiredas part of a wealthy household whileEstella has studied abroad and acquiredmore refined manners.

Pip and Estella walk in the garden andrecount old times. Estella notes thechanges in Pip and observes that hehas "necessarily" stopped keepingcompany with his childhood circle.When Pip is hurt that Estella does notremember making him cry, Estellainforms him that she has no heart. "Ihave no softness there, no-sympathy-sentiment-nonsense." Pip says he doesnot believe her. As they walk, Pip isbothered by the nagging suspicionthat Estella resembles someonewhom he cannot place.

For Estella, a rise in social classnecessarily involves cutting off allconnections to the lower class one rosefrom. Pip's admiration for Estella has ledhim to live by Estella's standards—he hasindeed cut off his childhood circle. ThatEstella equates "sympathy" with"nonsense" illustrates the low value sheplaces on compassion and love. ThatEstella reminds Pip of someone he can'tplace foreshadows future revelationsabout Estella...

Back in the house, Miss Havishamspeaks frenziedly to Pip about Estella,telling him to "...love her, love her!" nomatter how Estella hurts him. She tellsPip real love is "blind devotion,unquestioning self-humiliation, uttersubmission," surrendering oneself "as Idid!"

Miss Havisham explicitly articulates therevenge motive Herbert described: shewants Pip to suffer from his love forEstella as she herself suffered from lovein the past.

Mr. Jaggers has come by on businessand he, Miss Havisham, Sarah Pocket,Estella, and Pip have dinner together.Mr. Jaggers is unaffected by Estella'sbeauty and ignores her. Pip isdisturbed by the incongruity betweenMr. Jaggers' "cold presence" and hisown warm feelings for Estella,resenting that the two must sharespace.

Mr. Jaggers' relentless professionalismdoes not permit him to recognize beautyor love. Pip is disconcerted by theincongruity between Mr. Jaggers'dispassionate personality and his ownhot passion for Estella.

As he falls asleep at the Blue Boar,Miss Havisham's injunction to "loveher!" resounds in Pip's mind and hefeels grateful, convinced that MissHavisham is his patron and thatEstella must therefore be destined tobe his wife. The adult Pip narratorcringes to remember that he didn'tthink twice about not visiting Joeduring the trip, knowing Estella woulddisdain him.

Pip feels grateful for Miss Havisham'sgenerosity but the reader can see thatPip is delusional—there is no evidence ofgenerosity in her behavior. In fact, shevery explicitly just wants to bring himpain! Again, Pip blindly adopts Estella'ssnobbish values in avoiding Joe.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 30Pip suggests to Mr. Jaggers thatOrlick can't be trusted as MissHavisham's porter. Mr. Jaggersagrees, happily noting that posts oftrust are never filled by upright men.To Pip's surprise, Mr. Jaggers'cheerfully announces he'll fire Orlickimmediately, unfazed by Pip's fear thatOrlick might put up a fight.

Mr. Jaggers' cheerfulness is furtherevidence of his comfort dealing withpeople lacking in principles and integrity.

While walking through town, Pip runsinto Trabb's Boy, who follows Pipthroughout the town making fun ofhim by feigning intimidation andparodying Pip's snobbish demeanor.Pip feels disgraced and, thinking itwould be "futile and degrading" toargue with the boy himself, writes Mr.Trabb a letter informing him that Pipwill no longer patronize his businessbecause of the boy.

Trabb's Boy is the only villager Pipencounters who does not fawn over hisnewly won status and wealth. His tauntsdeal a blow to Pip's pride, but instead ofconfronting Trabb's Boy directly, Pip useshis financial might to indirectly punishhim.

Pip takes the coach back to Londonand, immediately upon arrival, sends"a penitential codfish and barrel ofoysters to Joe" to make up for nothaving visited him.

Pip confuses a generous heart with agenerous wallet, thinking he can replaceone with the other.

Back at Barnard's Inn, Pip tellsHerbert about his love for Estella andis shocked to hear Herbert alreadyintuited it. Herbert reveals that he toobelieves Estella is secretly betrothedto Pip. But when he hears Mr. Jaggershas never mentioned marriage amongPip's expectations, Herbert changeshis mind. He advises Pip to detachhimself from her because of Estella'sbackground and character, which"may lead to miserable things." Pipagrees, but feels unable to detachhimself.

As in all matters concerning Estella, Pipis delusional and doesn't realize howobvious his infatuation with her is toothers. Herbert advises Pip to stop lovingEstella in order to improve Pip's qualityof life, knowing that Miss Havisham'svengefulness has shaped Estella totorture men who love her.

Changing the subject, Herbertconfides to Pip that he himself issecretly engaged to Clara, thedaughter of a ship's steward whowould not live up to Mrs. Pocket'stitle-obsessed standards. Clara liveswith her ailing, foul-tempered father.Herbert says he will marry Clara assoon as he begins to make money.

Herbert has not inherited his mother'sobsession with social status andinherited titles—in fact, he wants todistance himself as far from her valuesystem as he can.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 31Having come across the playbill forMr. Wopsle's production of Hamlet inhis pocket, Pip and Herbert go thatnight to see the play. The production isridiculously bad, with incompetentactors and a jeering audience. Mr.Wopsle plays Hamlet ineptly.

The play Hamlet investigates similarthemes as those explored in this novel:parentage, revenge, and justice.

Pip and Herbert try to duck out afterwithout seeing Mr. Wopsle, but hespots them and requests that theycome backstage. Pip is surprised tofind Mr. Wopsle proudly dignified andoblivious to the low caliber of his ownperformance. Pitying him, Pip invitesMr. Wopsle to dinner where Mr.Wopsle spends the night reveling inhis ambitions and perceived success.

Mr. Wopsle is convinced that his careerchange has improved his lifedramatically, yet the reader can see thathe may have been better off living as achurch clerk in the village. Pip is shockedat Wopsle's self-delusion, but the readercan see that Pip is similarly self-delusional. Pip is also acting, he's justacting the part of a gentleman.

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BOOK 2, CHAPTER 32Pip receives a note from Estellainforming him that she is coming toLondon and that Miss Havishamwants him to meet her at the coach.Pip, anxious to see Estella, arrives atthe coach station five hours early.

Estella does not express any personaleagerness to see Pip —their meetingsimply fulfills her daughterly obligationto obey Miss Havisham's wishes.

While he's waiting, Pip bumps intoWemmick who invites Pip to comealong to Newgate Prison. Pip notesthat prisons at that time weredecrepit and that soldiers, criminals,and debtors lived in the sameconditions. At the prison, Wemmick ison friendly, familiar terms with all theguards and prisoners. Pip notes thathe "walked among the prisoners muchas a gardener might walk among hisplants."

This scene illustrates the dire prisonconditions in post-Industrial RevolutionLondon. Wemmick is likened to agardener walking among his plants—as aman of law, he profits from criminality asa gardener would from his crops.

Back at the coach station, Pip isdisturbed by the constant "taint" ofcriminals and prisons in his life,starting with his childhood encounterwith convicts on the marshes. He triesto shake off the dust and scent ofNewgate. When Estella arrives, heagain wonders who it is she remindshim of.

Even though Pip has, in his mind,dramatically improved himself sincechildhood, he can't seem to escape apersistent association with prisons. Theassociation itself feels imprisoning. Yethis effort to escape from this "taint" isironic, given the coming revelationsabout who Pip's patron actually is.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 33Upon meeting Pip, Estella is allbusiness, informing him he mustprocure her some tea and accompanyher in a carriage to Richmond. Shestresses that they must followinstructions and are not at liberty toact of their own will. Pip hopes thatthere is "an inner meaning" in herwords. She explains that she is beingsent to Richmond to live with a ladythat will introduce her to society. Pipobserves that Estella speaks of herself"as if you were some one else."

Pip hopes Estella is implying that shewould act more warmly towards Pip ifnot for her strict instructions, but herdispassionate tone doesn't seem tosuggest she feels anything but contentfollowing Miss Havisham's plan for her.As an upper class lady, Estella will enterhigh society in Richmond.

At tea, Estella tells Pip that SarahPocket, Georgiana, Camilla, andRaymond resent Pip and are futilelytrying to damage Miss Havisham'sopinion of him. Estella explains thatshe is delighted by their frustrationbecause they plotted against herthroughout her childhood.

Miss Havisham's relatives resent Pipbecause they assume Miss Havisham ishis patron and want her money forthemselves. They selfishly plot againstPip as they once plotted against Estella.

Pip leaves Estella in Richmond, andimagines how happy he would be if helived with her, even though he knowshe is never happy but "alwaysmiserable" in her company.

Even though Estella actually makes Pipunhappy, he is sure that being with herwould make him happy. This is becausehe thinks that in being with her he wouldcement his reputation as a gentleman,and he has put reputation over his ownintegrity or true self.

When he returns to the Pocketshouse at Hammersmith, Pip finds Mr.Pocket is out lecturing. Mr. Pocket is afamously respected lecturer onhousehold management and childrearing and Pip thinks he'll ask Mr.Pockets' advice. But, noticing thatMrs. Pocket has allowed the baby toplay with and swallow sewing needles,Pip changes his mind.

Although Mr. Pocket has a reputation forbeing an accomplished parent andhousehold manager, and in fact lecturesothers on these topics, his personal lifedisproves his public reputation.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 34Taking his coming wealth (i.e. his"expectations") for granted, Pip keepsspending extravagantly and inspiresHerbert to as well. The two go intodebt. They join an expensive socialclub, the Finches of the Grove.Bentley Drummle is also a member.Pip wants to cover Herbert'sexpenses himself but knows Herbertwould be too proud to accept theoffer. Even as the boys fear for theirfinances, they spend prodigiously andunwisely. They periodically tally uptheir debts. This makes them feel theyare in control when in fact they donothing to curb their spending habits.

Pip continues to be hungry for materialstatus markers, spending recklessly toacquire them. Social clubs like theFinches are similar status markers. Pipand Herbert join the club for the socialcaché of membership. Pip's desire tocover Herbert's expenses seemsgenerous, but Herbert probably wouldn'thave such expenses if Pip hadn't helpedturn him into a spendthrift in the firstplace.

After one such evening of adding updebts, Pip receives a letter signedTrabb & Co. informing him that Mrs.Joe has died and inviting him to herburial next week.

Pip has completely fallen out of touchwith Joe and Mrs. Joe. He had no ideaMrs. Joe was dying. He has completelylost touch with his past, and, byextension, with himself.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 35The next week Pip comes to the forgefor the funeral. The house has beenshowily decorated by Mr. Trabb whocoordinated a formal funeralprocession and outfits villagers inblack mourning costumes in theforge's parlor. Joe confides to Pip thathe'd wanted to carry Mrs. Joe on hisown, but that he'd been told it woulddisrespectful.

In fact, it is Mr. Trabb's funeral that isdisrespectful, outfitting the house andvillagers in gaudy decorations andinterfering Joe's desire to show his truedevotion and care for Mrs. Joe.

After the ceremony, Pip delights Joeby asking to sleep in his childhoodroom. He scolds Biddy in private fornot writing to tell him about Mrs. Joe'scondition. Biddy replies that she didn'tthink Pip wanted to know. Sheexplains she will have to leave theforge now to be a schoolteacher,though she will keep taking care ofJoe.

Biddy correctly points out the falsenessof Pip's concernsÐ if he'd really beenworried about Mrs. Joe, he'd have kept intouch with the forge. Biddy's ownambition will not make her turn awayfrom her past. She will care for Joe evenafter she becomes a teacher.

Pip asks to hear the particulars ofMrs. Joe's death and Biddy tells himher last words were "Joe," "Pardon,"and "Pip." Pip asks her about Orlickand hears that he is now working inthe quarries and that he lurked by theforge the night Mrs. Joe died and stillfollows Biddy around.

Mrs. Joe's last words seem to imply anapology to Joe and Pip, presumably forher abusiveness before the accident.Orlick's behavior is highly suspicious.

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Biddy tells Pip how much Joe loveshim. Pip tells Biddy he will visit theforge often in the future. Biddy issilent, then addresses Pip as "Mr. Pip."She doubts that Pip will actually cometo visit Joe often and Pip, annoyed,criticizes her "bad side of humannature." Leaving for London the nextmorning, he promises Joe he will beback soon and tells Biddy he is stillhurt by her doubt. Biddy earnestlyapologizes.

Pip accuses Biddy of lacking integritywhen he should be accusing himself.Addressing Pip as "Mr." registers Pip'snew social status and his distance fromthe forge. He isn't on intimate terms withJoe and Biddy anymore. Biddygenerously apologizes though she isn't atfault.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 36Pip comes of age (turns 21) and iscalled to Mr. Jaggers' office. Expectingto be told the name of his patron, Pipis surprised when Mr. Jaggers pointsout that Pip is deeply in debt and giveshim a five hundred pound bank note.Pip will now receive this annual sum tomanage his own expenses rather thandrawing allowances from Wemmick.He tells Pip that his patron's identity isstill a secret.

The new arrangement gives Pip moreindependence, but it's unclear whetherhe has developed enough judgment touse that independence responsibly.

In the outer office, Pip privatelyproposes to Wemmick that Pip investmoney in Herbert's career. Wemmickobjects vehemently to Pip's proposal,telling Pip never to invest "portableproperty" in a friend. Whenquestioned, he tells Pip this is his"opinion in this office." Pip tellsWemmick he is going to visit him atWalworth to hear Wemmick'sWalworth opinion.

Pip's proposal is extremely generous.Wemmick upholds his professionalreputation by giving him a business-minded opinion at the office. To getWemmick's advice as a friend, Pip mustgo to Walworth.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 37The next Sunday afternoon, Pip goesto Walworth to hear Wemmick's"Walworth sentiments." While waitingfor Wemmick to return home from hiswalk, Pip learns from the Aged thatthe Aged used to work in warehousingin Liverpool and London and that hehad raised Wemmick to go into wine-coopering, not law. Wemmick returnsfrom his walk with Miss Skiffins, a ladyWemmick is courting.

An insight into Wemmick's social classbackground. His father was a manuallaborer and planned for Wemmick to bethe same (a wine cooper is someone whobottles and sells wine), but Wemmick hasrisen to be an office worker.

Pip and Wemmick stroll around theproperty to discuss Pip's question. Pipdescribes his wish to invest inHerbert's future as if he has nevermentioned the idea before and fillsWemmick in on the personal details ofHerbert's life. Pip explains that hewants to plan the investment secretlyso that Herbert will not realize he hasreceived any assistance. Wemmickresponds by commending Pip'skindness and agreeing to carry out theplan with the help of Miss Skiffins'brother, an accountant.

Pip's desire to give anonymously proveshe isn't merely being generous toenhance his own reputation. Wemmick'sWalworth personality permits him topraise Pip's kindness—in the officeWemmick could only ever praisebusiness savvy.

Pip stays at the castle for a cozy teawith Wemmick, Miss Skiffins, and theAged. Throughout teatime, Wemmickperiodically tries to slide his armaround Miss Skiffins' waist but shecalmly unwinds his arm each time andlays it back on the table.

Miss Skiffins and Wemmick are courtingbut not married, and Miss Skiffinsprotects her reputation as a wholesomewoman by refusing to let Wemmicktouch her waist.

Wemmick carries out Pip's plan,meeting with him again several timesat Walworth and in London (thoughnever in or near Little Britain). Theyarrange for a merchant's house calledClarriker & Co. to offer Herbert work.Herbert, not knowing that he owes hisjob to Pip's secret investment, isecstatic. Pip is teary with happiness,overjoyed to think that his"expectations had done some good tosomebody."

Pip's generosity towards Herbert has notonly improved Herbert's life, it has alsoimproved Pip's own character and givenPip joy. It is the first wholly unselfishaction Pip has undertaken since he cameinto money.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 38Still lovesick for Estella, Pip visits heroften at Richmond. Pip is on morefamiliar terms with Estella than hermany suitors because of their pastrelationship. Nevertheless, he gets nopleasure from this familiarity becauseit isn't romantic. Pip restrains himselffrom courting her more assertivelybecause he thinks it might be"ungenerous," since they are (heassumes) already betrothed. Estellatells Pip to "take warning" of her butPip insists he doesn't understand her.

Pip's rationalization for not courtingEstella may be well-intentioned, but hisgenerosity doesn't make much sense.Estella is obviously trying to obstructPip's advances by telling him to "takewarning" but Pip can't see beyond hisown feelings for her.

One day, Estella informs Pip that MissHavisham has asked him to escort herto Satis House. There, Miss Havishamgloats over stories of Estella's manysuitors, hissing to Pip "How does sheuse you?" Pip deduces that MissHavisham has secretly betrothedEstella to him, then sent her out intothe world to taunt suitors in order towreak Miss Havisham's own revengeon the male sex.

Again, Pip's infatuation with Estelladistorts the stark evidence that MissHavisham's revenge plot works on Piptoo.

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Later in the visit, Pip witnesses MissHavisham and Estella argue for thefirst time in his presence. WhenEstella pulls away from MissHavisham's clutching grip, MissHavisham grows hysterical andaccuses her of ingratitude, cold-heartedness, hardness, and pride.Estella calmly replies, "I am what youhave made me. Take all the praise, takeall the blame." When Miss Havishamdemands Estella's love, Estellaresponds that she cannot give whatMiss Havisham never gave her. MissHavisham insists she gave Estella, "aburning love, inseparable fromjealousy at all times." Estella calmlymaintains, "I have never beenunfaithful to you or your schooling. Ihave never shown any weakness."Miss Havisham laments that Estellawould consider even love for MissHavisham to be "weakness."

Here is a frightening glimpse into MissHavisham's parenting. She has raisedEstella without any sense of self, withoutanything to have integrity to. Estella feelsthat she belongs entirely to MissHavisham as a mere pawn in MissHavisham's scheme against men. Thefact that Miss Havisham's love shades soeasily into jealousy calls into questionwhether it is love at all. Indeed, Estellaimplies that her own inability to love isdue to never having been loved herself.

At a Finches of the Grove meetingsome time later, Drummle tells Pipthat he has made the acquaintance ofEstella. Pip hotly contests it andchallenges Drummle to a duel, whichis cancelled once Drummle produces apersonal note from Estella confirmingthe acquaintance. Thereafter, Pip isdismayed to observe Drummlesuccessfully courting Estella andbeating out her other suitors. WhenPip confronts Estella one night at aball and warns her about Drummle'sunworthiness, Estella is unperturbedand coolly indifferent to Drummle'sbad traits, saying "all sorts of uglycreatures hover about a lightedcandle. Can the candle help it?"

In spite of Estella's haughtiness towardsothers, she is curiously indifferenttowards her own fate and seems to faceher prospects without ambition orjudgment.

When Pip confesses to Estella that heis jealous of the attention she givesDrummle, Estella asks him almostangrily whether Pip wants her "todeceive and entrap" him. She tells himthat that is what she is doing toDrummle and all her other suitors butPip.

This is the closest Estella has ever cometo professing any fondness for Pip. To Pip,at least, she is being honest about hernature and inability to love. The thingsshe says to Pip to keep him away are, inher mind, a kind of generosity.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 39Pip is now twenty-three. He has leftMr. Pocket's classes behind andstudies on his own in London. He andHerbert have moved from Barnard'sInn to the Temple in Garden Court.One dark and stormy night whileHerbert is away on business, Pipreceives a mysterious visitor, a rough,balding man with a lower-class accent.To his shock, Pip realizes that this manis the convict he helped on themarshes. The convict calls Pip "noblePip," commending Pip for acting so"nobly" towards him as a child. Piptries to turn him out but, disarmed bythe convict's warmth towards him,invites the man to stay for a drink.

Pip's lifelong association with prisonerspersists. The convict was evidentlydeeply moved by Pip's (forced) generosityon the marshes, interpreting it asevidence of Pip's noble character, andnot realizing that Pip acted as he did outof pure terror.

The convict reveals that he is Pip'spatron. Pip is speechless with horrorand nearly faints. The convict,meanwhile, explains how he hasscrimped and saved for years workingas a shepherd in the New South Walesto make Pip a gentleman. "I'm yoursecond father," he tells Pip. Hemarvels with pride at Pip's genteelappearance. Pip recoils.

Pip is horrified by this revelation not onlybecause it makes him intimatelyindebted to a low class convict (the verysort of person he's been trying to riseabove) but because such an association,in his mind, dashes his dream of beingbetrothed to Estella.

The convict asks Pip to help him hide.He explains that he has sailed toLondon illegally, having run away froma life sentence in the colonies, and willbe hanged if he is caught. Pip gives theconvict Herbert's bedroom and sealsthe shutters and doors.

Escapees from the Australian prisoncolonies faced the death sentence.

Pip stays up late trying to process thenews. He is devastated to realize thatMiss Havisham is not his patron andthat Estella, therefore, isn't destinedfor him. He is even more devastatedto realize that he has deserted Joeand Biddy for the sake of a criminal, apotentially violent man. Thinkingalong these lines, Pip grows afraid ofthe man and, after making sure theconvict is asleep, locks him into hisroom.

All of Pip's delusions are exposed. Thoughhe justified abandoning Joe and Biddyfor Estella's sake, he must face the factthat he has not gotten any closer to herthan he was back at the forge. Yet, evenso, his remorse at his treatment of Joeand Biddy is only because the prize oftreating them as he did failed to producehis expected prize: Estella. He does notfeel sorry for how he acted for its ownsake.

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 40The next morning, Pip decides to tellhis maids and the Temple watchmanthat the convict is his uncle. On hisway out, he stumbles over anunidentified man crouching in thedark hall outside his apartment. WhenPip and the watchman return with alight to search the hall, the strangerhas disappeared, but the watchmaninforms Pip that Pip's "uncle" enteredthe Temple followed by another man.

The mysterious man is suspicious andsuggests someone is spying on Pip. This isespecially disconcerting, considering theconvict's criminal record and illegalstatus in England.

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Over breakfast, Pip is disgusted bythe convict's crude table manners. Heasks the convict about the man in greyclothes but the convict didn't noticehim and doesn't know who the manmight be. After breakfast, he tossesPip a fat pocketbook of money,proclaiming that he'll make Pip into agentleman to show up all of thecolonists and judges who havecrossed him. He wants the money tobe spent on more lavish, gentlemanlyaccoutrements.

The convict is under the impression thatmoney alone makes a gentleman. Butbased on his behavior, he is not familiarwith genteel manners and behaviors, andno amount of money could hide this fact.

Pip is distressed and demands toknow the convict's plans. The convictexplains he plans to stay with Pip inLondon for good. He will disguisehimself and be called Provis, thoughhis real name is Abel Magwitch. Hecalls Pip "dear boy" and watches him"with an air of admiringproprietorship." Pip resolves to callhim "Mr. Provis."

The convict feels paternal towardsPip—he feels that his generosity hasmade Pip into what he is—but Pip rebuffshis tenderness, addressing him with "Mr."as he would any stranger.

Pip stops by Mr. Jaggers office to askif the news he's heard is true. Mr.Jaggers confirms the fact, thoughinsists that Pip describe "Magwitch"as a man still living in New SouthWales and "Provis" as a separateperson in England conveyinginformation on Magwitch's behalf.

Mr. Jaggers protects himself by ensuringhe is legally ignorant of Provis' presencein London, preventing Pip from stating itoutright. Still, the reader can see that Mr.Jaggers' is aware of the fact.

Pip buys Provis new clothes to wearbut observes that Provis' past "gavehim a savage air that no dress couldtame." He spends five miserable daysloathing Provis' manners, wonderingabout Provis' crimes, and dreaming ofways to escape. Then, Herbertreturns from the trip he's been on.

Though Provis has the money of a highclass gentleman, his behavior is stillshaped by his lower class, criminalbackground.

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 41Pip escorts Provis back to a room hehas rented for him and returns to theTemple to talk with Herbert. Herbertis equally horrified by Provis. The twohatch a plan to free Pip from Provis:knowing that he risked his life to cometo him, Pip does not want to riskangering Provis in England where hemight be spurred to action that wouldget him arrested. Instead, he willsneak out of the country with Provisand will try to explain his feelings toProvis abroad. In the meantime, hewill stop accepting Provis' money andwill forgo his expectations, hopingeventually to pay back all the fundshe's already received from Provis.(This will be especially difficult as Pipis already deep in debt.) Pip will thenbecome a soldier since he has notbeen trained for any trade.

Even though Pip resents Provis, he showssympathy in trying to protect Provis frombeing arrested. Pip will refuse Provis'generosity from now on to protect hisown reputation—he does not want to bebeholden to a convict. Becoming asoldier will lower Pip's social statusdramatically, but, ironically, being asoldier is the only thing he might be ableto do because his gentleman's educationnever taught him how to do anything.

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 42At breakfast the next day, Pip andHerbert ask Provis to recount hispast. Provis grew up as an orphan onthe streets, committing petty crimesfor survival. Twenty years ago, he meta rich, educated, gentleman namedCompeyson, who was in fact a forgerand counterfeiter, and was the manPip saw Provis wrestling with in themarshes. Compeyson eventuallyemployed Provis in his crimes,overworking and underpaying him.Compeyson and his other partner, aman with the last name of Arthur, hadschemed a large amount of money offa rich woman in the past, butCompeyson had squandered it allgambling.

Provis' story raises questions about therelationship between social class, crime,and justice. Provis first became acriminal simply to survive on the streetsas a neglected orphan. Compeyson,meanwhile, was educated and seemedlike a gentleman, but he used these traitsto commit crime by choice.

When Provis met him, Arthur wassick and terrified by hallucinations ofan angry, broken-hearted woman all inwhite threatening to cover him in ashroud. Compeysonunsympathetically reminded Arthurthat "she" had a "living body." Arthurdied screaming at hallucinations of thewoman.

Arthur's guilty conscience haunts himthrough his visions. The woman Arthurhallucinates is presumably the womanthat Compeyson schemed out of hermoney.

When Provis and Compeyson wereboth eventually arrested forcounterfeiting, Compeyson insistedon "separate defenses, nocommunication" and Provis soldeverything to hire Mr. Jaggers. Incourt, Compeyson's lawyercontrasted his gentility and goodupbringing with Provis' rough, lower-class background and record of pettycrimes. Compeyson received thelighter sentence "on account of goodcharacter and bad company."

Justice is supposed to be blind, butCompeyson used people's class prejudiceto earn a lesser sentence for himself, tomake it seem like he committed crimeonly because he was influenced too bythe "evil" lower class Provis.

On the prison ships, Provis managedto strike Compeyson before escaping.Compeyson escaped too, thinking hewas running away from Provis withoutrealizing Provis was already on shore.After hearing of "the other man" fromPip, Provis found Compeyson andbeat him up, determined to drag himback to prison at the expense of hisown freedom. Provis doesn't knowwhether Compeyson is still alive now.

Provis' revenge on Compeyson mustoccur outside of the official legal justicesystem, which proved corrupt andtainted by class prejudice. Provis gives uphis own freedom to ensure thatCompeyson is caught—a strange kind ofintegrity, but integrity nonetheless.

Herbert passes Pip a note telling himthat Miss Havisham's brother's namewas Arthur and that her deviousfiancée was named Compeyson.

The woman in Arthur's hallucinationsmust have been Miss Havisham!

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BOOK 3, CHAPTER 43Pip resolves to see Estella and MissHavisham before he invites Provis togo abroad (on the pretence ofshopping for more gentlemanlygoods). Told at Richmond that Estellahas gone back to Satis House, Pipfeels disconcerted—he has alwayschaperoned her trip in the past.

The fact that Estella travelled withouthim could suggest she has a newtravelling chaperone. In VictorianEngland, a lady of her status would notbe allowed to travel alone.

Pip travels back to the village to visitSatis House and is surprised to runinto Bentley Drummle at the BlueBoar. The two have a standoff butpretend not to have one, eachrefusing to budge an inch whilemaking small talk shoulder toshoulder in front of the hearth.Drummle makes a show of calling thewaiter in twice to discuss his planswith "the lady."

"The lady" is surely Estella. The fact thatDrummle has come to see Estella at SatisHouse suggests his courtship has gottenserious.

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 44Pip goes to Satis House and explainsto Miss Havisham and Estella that hehas met his patron but doesn't saywho it is. He asks Miss Havisham toconfirm four things. 1. When Pip firstbegan visiting her, she considered hima servant and had no larger designsfor him. 2. It was simply a coincidencethat Mr. Jaggers worked both for herand for Pip's patron. 3. When Pipassumed Miss Havisham was hispatron, she led him on. 4. When SarahPocket, Georgiana, Camilla, andRaymond likewise assumed she wasPip's patron and resented Pip for it,she led them on in order to tormentthem. Miss Havisham confirmseverything.

Though Pip was deluded in assumingMiss Havisham was his patron, shehelped nurture his delusions by actingdishonestly and refusing to correct Pip'smistakes in order to get revenge on herown relatives' and their prying, jealousbehavior. Pip is finally escaping from hisown delusions, learning the truth of hispast and, therefore, learning more abouthimself.

Pip tells Miss Havisham thatMatthew and Herbert Pocket, unlikeher other relations, are upright andkind. Pip asks her to believe in them.He also asks her to carry on theanonymous investments in Herbert'scareer that Pip can no longer afford tomake. Miss Havisham does notrespond.

Pip acts nobly and generously, defendingMatthew and Herbert and requestinghelp for Herbert without hope ofpersonal gain.

Pip professes his love for Estella andexplains he has long refrained fromcourting her directly because heassumed they were secretlybetrothed. Estella replies that she isincapable of love, that warning Pipagainst loving her was the most shecould do for him.

Since she is unable to love, the mostgenerous and honest thing Estella coulddo was to warn Pip not to love her.

When Pip confronts Estella aboutDrummle, she tells Pip she is going tomarry Drummle. In despair, Pip begsher to marry someone worthier,someone who actually lovesher—even though that person will notbe himself, Pip says he would bear itfor her sake. Estella is bewildered byPip's plea, but calmly insists she willmarry Drummle and assures Pip he'llget over her. Pip cries that he willnever get over her, that she hasalways been and will always be a partof his very "existence." Miss Havishamwatches Pip's outburst with her handover her heart and a "ghastly stare ofpity and remorse."

Pip's love for Estella is sincere. Estella'shappiness is more important to him thanhis own. Miss Havisham has finallygotten the revenge she craved—she hasseen a man as heartbroken for Estella asshe was for Compeyson. But in finallyachieving her goal, she feels only terriblesadness.

Utterly dejected, Pip walks all the wayback to London to be alone. At thegate to his home, the porter gives hima note written in Wemmick's handthat tells him not to go home.

Wemmick's note implies that Pip is indanger.

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 45Pip spends an anxious, sleepless nightat a hotel. In the morning, he goes toWalworth where Wemmick (speakingin code to avoid mixing Walworth andLittle Britain) tells Pip he wrote thenote after overhearing in NewgatePrison that Compeyson knows Provisis in London and has had Pip'sapartment watched. Pip connects thisnews to the stranger lurking in hishallway a few days before.

Wemmick maintains his split personalityeven in the face of danger. Themysterious man in the hallway musthave been Compeyson's spy. IfCompeyson knows that Provis is inLondon, Provis is in danger.

Immediately after hearing the news,Wemmick enlisted Herbert toarrange a hiding place for Provis.Herbert has taken Provis to rent aroom in Clara's building by the river.Pip has never been there becauseClara does not approve of Herbertand Pip's friendship, thinking Pip a badinfluence on Herbert's finances.Wemmick advises Pip to "lay hold of[Provis'] portable property" as soon aspossible in order to protect it.

Herbert continues to prove himself aloyal friend, generously putting himself indanger in order to protect Provis. Pip's"gentlemanly" behavior of wastingmoney on luxury goods, which hethought would make him look good, hasgiven him a bad reputation in Clara'seyes.

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 46That night, Pip goes to Clara'sapartment and meets Herbert, whoexplains that the racket upstairscomes from Clara's father, Mr. Barley,who is drunken, gout-ridden,bellowing, and cruel. Herbert andClara have confided their engagementonly to Mrs. Whimple, Clara's"motherly" landlady.

Although Mr. Barley is Clara's parent bybirth, her landlady is a far more nurturingguardian.

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Pip and Herbert go upstairs to Provis'rooms, rented under the name of Mr.Campbell. When Provis hears aboutthe spy, he agrees with Pip andWemmick's plan that he must goabroad. Herbert suggests that he andPip help Provis escape by rowing himup the river in Pip's boat. They resolveto begin rowing by Provis' windowregularly, so as to establish a habit andprevent suspicion on the day theyescape. In the meantime, Provis willsignal his safety by drawing hiswindow blind. Despite their plan, Pipworries for Provis' safety andconstantly fears he is being watched.

In order to save Provis' life, Pip andHerbert must resort to illegal measuresto get him out of the country. They can'ttrust the institutions of justice to actuallyprovide justice. Just as Pip helped Provisby doing something illegal as a boy, he isnow doing the same thing as an adult,though now he is doing it not out ofsimple generosity but also because hewants to hide his association with Provis.

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 47Pip passes several anxious weeksheartbroken by Estella and worriedabout Provis. Deeply in debt, Pip owescreditors but gives Provis' unopenedpocketbook to Herbert to hold onto.Pip will not use Provis' money, certainthat he would be "a heartless fraud" touse it considering how he feels aboutProvis' patronage.

Despite the fact that Pip is desperate formoney to pay his debts, he refuses totake Provis' money, choosing to prioritizehis personal integrity over his financialneeds. Yet the reason he doesn't wantProvis's money is because he isembarrassed of Provis.

Pip frequently rows on the river.Coming back on shore one night nearMr. Wopsle's theater, Pip decides togo see Mr. Wopsle's show. Pip hasheard that Mr. Wopsle has fallen intodecline as an actor and indeed hisshow is a ridiculous farce.

Mr. Wopsle's decline and dashedexpectations in London can be seen as acomic shadow of Pip's own.

After the show, Mr. Wopsleapproaches Pip and tells him that theother convict from the marshes(Compeyson) has been sitting behindPip's shoulder during the play. Pip isterrified, though he tries to concealhis fear from Mr. Wopsle. Back at theapartment, Pip tells Herbert andsends the news by post to Wemmick.He tries to live even more cautiously.

Even at Pip's calmest moments, dangerlurks right over his shoulder. Compeyson,a seasoned criminal, has schemed hisway into Pip's life in spite of Pip'sattempts to be careful.

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 48Coming ashore one night a week later,Pip runs into Mr. Jaggers, who invitesPip home to dinner with him andWemmick. Mr. Jaggers' informs Pipthat Miss Havisham has requestedthat Pip visit her. To Pip's greatdiscomfort, Mr. Jaggers' then talksabout Drummle, "the Spider," and hisrecent marriage to Estella. Mr.Jaggers' speculates that Drummlemay lose Estella because of his dullwits, though he could keep herthrough strength (by beating her). Mr.Jaggers describes Drummle as thesort of man who either "beats" or"cringes."

More evidence of the relish Mr. Jaggers'takes in those parts of human naturethat are furthest from integrity orgenerosity, the kinds of behaviors thatfeed his law practice and make himmoney.

Watching Molly wait on them, Pipsuddenly realizes to his amazementthat she is the person Estella hascontinually reminded him of. He seeshow much they look like each otherand feels sure that Molly is Estella'smother.

Pip was likely unable to make theconnection between Molly and Estellabefore because they seemed so differentfrom one another in terms of class orbackground.

Walking alone with Wemmick afterdinner, Pip finds out that Wemmickhas never seen Estella and asksWemmick to recount Molly's history.About twenty years ago, she had beenaccused of strangling a much largerwoman who may have had an affairwith Molly's husband. At the time,Molly was living on the streets as thefiery, jealous wife of an older husband.All evidence pointed to Molly's guiltbut Mr. Jaggers' defended her andwon her acquittal by making her wearclothes that made her arms look sodelicate that she would appearincapable of strangling someone. Healso attributed the scratches on thebacks of her hands to brambles. Thecourt thought the scratches were hertoddler daughter's, whom theysuspected she had murdered to getrevenge on her husband. Jaggers'responded that the potential murderof the child was not the crime on trial.The case made Mr. Jaggers'reputation. Molly had been his maidever since.

Molly's trial bears an uncomfortableresemblance to Compeyson's. As inCompeyson's case, the court isconvinced of Molly's innocence based onher appearance rather than on hardevidence. Mr. Jaggers' bragged aboutMolly's wrists in Chapter 26, suggestinghe has always known that she was strongenough to strangle someone. Did Mr.Jaggers' win an acquittal for a guiltywoman, in the case that made hisreputation and built his practice? Is hislaw firm built on protecting criminalsfrom justice?

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 49Next day, Pip visits Miss Havisham,who is melancholy and distracted andtells him she wants to show Pip thatshe "is not all stone" by helping himhelp Herbert. She agrees toanonymously supply nine hundredpounds towards Herbert's career.

Miss Havisham wants to redeem herimage in Pip's eyes by proving she iscapable of generosity.

Showing tender concern for Pip'sunhappiness, Miss Havisham hopesPip will someday be able to write out"I forgive her" under her name. Pipresponds that he can forgive her now,that he has made far too many of hisown mistakes to begrudge MissHavisham hers.

Pip's readiness to forgive Miss Havishamshows he has matured as a character. Hisown struggles have made him morecompassionate and less begrudging. Heis more like the kind, gentle boy he oncewas.

Miss Havisham kneels at Pip's feetcrying "What have I done!" She tellshim that witnessing him profess histrue love for Estella reminded her ofthe true love she herself felt in thepast and made her realize she hadraised Estella wrongly. She tells Pipthat she had originally only meant tosave the girl from her own misery, buthad gradually done worse as Estellagrew older, depriving Estella of ahuman heart.

Watching Pip express such selflesscompassion rekindled a sense ofcompassion in Miss Havishamherself—generosity breeds generosity;integrity inspires integrity. She regretshaving raised Estella as a puppet, with nolife or heart of her own, to play out herown revenge fantasy.

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Pip asks about Estella's past. MissHavisham tells him Mr. Jaggersbrought Estella to Satis House afterMiss Havisham asked him to find heran orphan girl. She does not knowwhose Estella's birth parents are.

Miss Havisham may not know whoEstella's parents are, but Mr. Jaggersprobably does...

Pip takes a farewell walk around thegrounds and, seeing again hischildhood vision of Miss Havishamhanging from a brewery beam, returnsupstairs to check on her one last timebefore leaving. There, sparks from thehearth set Miss Havisham on fire andPip tackles her to kill the flames,burning his arms. On the ground, thetwo struggle "like desperate enemies."All of Miss Havisham's weddingclothes are burned away but shesurvives, albeit with injuries. Lying insemi-conscious delirium all night, MissHavisham repeatedly asks for Pip'sforgiveness.

There is an implication that MissHavisham is trying to kill herself. Thesight of Pip and Miss Havisham wrestlingeach other recalls Provis andCompeyson's struggle on the marshes. Insaving Miss Havisham from the fire, Pipsymbolically also frees her from herbitterness and anger, as the weddinggown that she has worn for the twentyyears since her betrayal by Compeysonburns away. As Miss Havisham's pleasfor forgiveness indicate, the vengeful partof her has died in the fire.

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 50Pip returns to London, where Herberttells Pip about a story he had heardfrom Provis the night before. Abouttwenty years ago, Provis had a young,fiery, jealous wife who strangledanother woman to death andthreatened to murder their toddlerdaughter, which Provis believes shedid. During his wife's murder trial withMr. Jaggers, he hid to spare her hisdamning testimony about themurdered child. Compeyson had usedhis knowledge of the circumstances toblackmail Provis into working harderfor even less pay. Part of Provis'tenderness towards young Pip wasnostalgia for his own child.

Provis' generosity towards Pip wasinspired by true paternal love.Meanwhile, the threads of the novel areall coming together, as it is now clear thatMolly is Provis's former wife and that...

Pip realizes that Provis is Estella'sfather and tells Herbert.

...Provis' daughter is alive after all—she'sEstella! Not how it does not even occurto Pip that this now makes Estellasomehow of lesser birth than even he is.She's the daughter of a criminal, after all.His love for her makes such thoughtsinapplicable.

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 51Pip goes to Mr. Jagger's office andcollects Miss Havisham's money forHerbert. Pip tells Mr. Jaggers' that henot only knows who Estella's motheris, but who her father is too. Pip cantell from Mr. Jaggers' surprise that hehadn't known about Provis. Still, Mr.Jaggers' tries to ignore Pip's news andgoes right back to work withWemmick, Pip makes a "passionate,almost an indignant appeal to him" toconfide in Pip as Pip has in him, tohonor Pip's love for Estella. Pip thenentreats Wemmick to side with him,calling on Wemmick's "gentle heart"and "cheerful playful ways" at home.Mr. Jaggers is shocked to hear aboutWemmick's home life. He consents toshare his knowledge with Pip.

As usual, Mr. Jaggers' tries to avoid anyinteraction with human emotion. Yet,this time, Pip won't let him get away withit, calling on Mr. Jaggers' to honor hishonesty as a matter of dignity and callingon Wemmick's Walworth personality forsupport. And Pip wins out, his ownintegrity overcoming Jagger's dedicationto cold, hard business.

Mr. Jaggers insists on describing "thecase" entirely hypothetically, and sayshe admits "nothing." Without namingnames, he describes the possibility ofhaving given the child of a murdererto a rich woman to save the child fromthe rough world the mother lived in,telling her that her child would besaved regardless of the mother's fate,and that he had used the mother'sconcern for her child to keep herdocile and calm, that the mother knewnothing of her husband. Mr. Jaggers'then asks Pip who he wouldhypothetically benefit by revealing hisnews, as it could only bring harm anddisgrace to mother, father, anddaughter. Mr. Jaggers then restoreshis professional persona and getsback to business.

Mr. Jaggers' makes a distinction betweenacting honestly and acting with integrity.He argues that telling the whole truthmay not be the most generous course ofaction in this case.

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 52A few weeks pass until, one Mondaymorning, Pip receives a letter fromWemmick insinuating that it might bepossible to escape with Provis thatWednesday. Because Pip is stillrecovering from his burns, he andHerbert arrange for Startop to helpthem row up the river beyondGravesend. They will there meet aforeign steamer leaving London andProvis and Pip will climb aboard.

Startop proves he is a generous friend,willing to assist Pip and Herbert even insuspect activities.

After Pip goes out to securepassports, he comes home to athreatening anonymous letter tellinghim to meet the writer in secret onthe marshes in order to getinformation about "your Uncle Provis."Convinced by the mention of Provis'name that he must obey, Pip writesHerbert a note saying that he is goingto check on Miss Havisham andtravels to the village.

The writer of the letter seems far morecapable of inflicting harm than he doesof offering useful information. Pip's lie toHerbert places himself at risk.

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In the village, Pip stays at an innwhere he isn't known. The obliviouslandlord tells Pip UnclePumblechook's version of Pip's storyin which Pip returns to the village tovisit his "great friends" butungratefully neglects "the man thatmade him," Mr. Pumblechook. Pip isovercome with sympathy for Joe, whonever complains and seems "truer"and "nobler" to Pip as he compareshim with Pumblechook's falseness andmeanness.

Mr. Pumblechook and Joe are opposites.Pumblechook is false and self-serving,always making himself look like a goodgenerous person. Joe, meanwhile, isgenuinely generous, and as such nevertries to make himself seem generous. Joedoesn't care how he seems; only how heis.

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 53That night Pip walks out onto themarshes where he is ambushed byOrlick and tied up. Orlick gloats thathe lured Pip out on the marshes inorder to kill him as revenge for costinghim his job as Miss Havisham's porterand for coming between him andBiddy. He adds that it was Pip who's toblame for Mrs. Joe getting clubbed,because it was Pip being treated as afavorite at the forge that causedOrlick to club her. He tells Pip he haslong plotted to kill Pip out ofresentment. He plans to dissolve Pip'scorpse in the nearby limekiln so as toleave no trace. Pip is consumed bythoughts of friends and family he willnot get to say goodbye to or to askforgiveness of.

The intensity of Orlick's resentment forPip comes as a surprise. Pip had no ideaOrlick had been plotting his revenge onPip for so long nor that his violencetowards Mrs. Joe was done to hurt Pip.Orlick is filled with a kind of hatred andresentment that mirrors MissHavisham's, but as a man Orlickexpresses that hatred through violence.

Orlick tells Pip that he now works forCompeyson, who is going to makesure to get rid of Provis. The strangerin the dark hall outside Pip'sapartment was Orlick. Spying on Pipto plot his own revenge, Orlickoverheard Provis' story and reportedit to Compeyson.

Now that Orlick has fallen into a criminalcareer, his malicious work matches hismalicious personality.

As Orlick readies his stone hammer tostrike, Pip screams and Trabb's Boy,Herbert, and Startop rush in to tackleOrlick and rescue Pip. Orlickdisappears into the night. Pip passesout and, when he comes round,Herbert explains how he had foundOrlick's note in their apartment inLondon where Pip had accidentallyleft it. Disturbed by its tone, Herbertand Startop had followed Pip to thevillage and had Trabb's Boy lead themout to the limekiln where they'd cometo the rescue as soon as they heardscreams.

Herbert and Startop continue to provetheir virtue as generous andcompassionate friends.

When Pip recounts Orlick's story,Herbert wants to go immediately tothe magistrate and get out a warrantfor him. But Pip is anxious to get backto London to prepare for Provis'escape on Wednesday, and theydecide to delay pursuing Orlick tilllater. Pip pays Trabb's Boy andapologizes for having thought ill ofhim (Trabb's Boy ignores the apologyand takes the money). They return toLondon where Pip spends Tuesdayrecovering from the ordeal. Hisburned arm is still in pain but, byWednesday morning, he feelsstronger and ready to carry out theirplan.

Two examples of incomplete attempts atserving justice: the boys neglect to reportOrlick to the police and Trabb's Boyseems unable to appreciate Pip's attemptto do justice by him.

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 54Wednesday morning, Pip, Herbert,and Startop pick up Provis in the boatand head upriver. The boys areanxious but Provis is calm anddelighted to be outside, sayingimprisonment has given him thegreatest appreciation for freedom.After a long day on the river, they stopfor the night at a public house wherethey hear about a four-oared galleywith two suspicious-seemingpassengers. The man who describesthem suspects the men weredisguised custom house officers. Pip,Herbert, Startop, and Provis have allbeen wary of being followed and aredisturbed by this news. While theothers are sleeping that night, Pip cansee through his window that two menare examining his boat.

Customs house officers sail the Thamessearching for illegal activity. If theydetect the boys' plot, Provis will surely besent to jail.

Next morning, Pip, Herbert, Startop,and Provis row further upriver,meeting the scheduled steamer thatPip and Provis plan to flag down, climbaboard, and ride out of England. Thesteamer, though, is late and, just as Pipand Provis are bidding the othersgoodbye, the four-oared galley they'dheard about pulls up alongside themand one of the two passengers—acustoms officer - identifies Provis asAbel Magwitch, and demands that hesurrender. Provis leans across andpulls the cloak off the other man onboard the galley—it is Compeyson.Compeyson staggers overboard,Provis falls with him, and Pip's boatoverturns and sinks. Everyone butCompeyson manages to climb aboardthe galley. Provis, badly injured,describes how he wrestledunderwater with Compeyson. Back onshore, all of Provis'possessions—including the pocketbook full of money—are confiscated.

Provis finally has his revenge onCompeyson just at the moment thatCompeyson thinks he is getting his(unjust) revenge on Provis. Yet, as on themarshes at novel's start, Provis must payfor revenge with both his own freedomand the money he has earned over theyears and planned to use to turn himselfinto a gentleman.

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The customs officer gives Pippermission to accompany Provis backto London. Pip does his best to nurseProvis' wounds and comfort him. All ofhis "repugnance" for Provis has"melted away" and he sees him now asa kind, loyal, generous man, "a muchbetter man than I had been to Joe."

Pip has finally matured out of hissuperficial class-consciousness and isable to recognize Provis' immensegenerosity and kindness. And in doing so,he can also see the ways in which hehimself has been unkind.

On the boat back to London, Provisadvises Pip to leave him for "it's bestas a gentleman" not to be publiclyassociated with Provis. Pip refuses,telling Provis, "I will be as true to youas you have been to me." Pip realizesthat all of the money Provis saved forPip will now be confiscated by thecrown but resolves not to tell Provis inorder to protect Provis' dreams of"enriching" Pip.

Further evidence of Pip's growth: he is nolonger worried about protecting hispublic reputation as a gentleman andinstead prioritizes loyalty to personalrelationships. He has also learned thatone does not always need to tell thewhole truth if you are actingconscientiously to protect anotherperson.

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 55Back in London, Pip retains Mr.Jaggers for Provis' defense. Mr.Jaggers is mightily disappointed in Pipfor not securing Provis' fortune aheadof time from confiscation, but Pip isunconcerned. Compeyson's corpse isfound on the river with notesindicating he had hoped to berewarded money from Provis' fortune.Provis' trial is set for a date one monthaway.

Mr. Jaggers' and Compeyson may havebeen concerned with Provis' fortune, butPip is able to rise above financialconcerns.

Herbert reveals that he is beingtransferred to a branch of hismerchant's house in Cairo (which Pip,of course, already secretly knows,since he arranged it). Herbert invitesPip to come and live with him andClara and work at the counting houseas a clerk (a position Herbert offerssheepishly). Pip is grateful, but says heneeds several months to decide—tocontinue to keep Provis company andto tend to "a vague somethinglingering in my thoughts."

Herbert hesitates in offering Pip a clerkposition because taking it would mean adecline in status for Pip, and Pip has untilnow cared a lot about status. At thesame time, the offer shows how Pip'sown generosity to Herbert has, withoutHerbert even knowing it, come back topotentially repay Pip. Pip refuses theoffer for now not out of any care of hisreputation, but because he wants to helpProvis and better understand his ownthoughts, i.e. relearn about himself.

Herbert says he will soon marry ClaraÐ Clara's father is nearly dead—and isdelighted by her lack of not just a titlebut any family at all, joking, "What afortune for the son of my mother!"

Herbert's comment is sarcastic: Mrs.Pocket would unhappy, to say the least,to hear about the marriage.

Later that week, Wemmick visits Pipto apologize for the failure of hisescape plan—he realizes thatCompeyson must have plantedrumors that he was out of London sothat Wemmick would overhear andadvise Pip to enact his plan.

Compeyson is a savvy schemer, whichhelps account for his past success as acriminal.

Wemmick asks Pip to join him for awalk that Monday. The walk, it turnsout, leads to Wemmick's wedding toMiss Skiffins, which he has planned toseem completely spontaneous. Pip isthe best man and the Aged gives MissSkiffins away. Wemmick asks Pip notto mention the wedding in LittleBritain.

Perhaps the most extreme example ofWemmick's rigidly divided work andhome lives. He doesn't even hint to Pipthat the walk will lead to his wedding, orwant anyone at work to even know aboutit.

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 56In the prison infirmary, Provis lies sickand wounded but uncomplaining. Pipstays by his side as long as he isallowed to each day. In court, Provis isswiftly found guilty of having run awayfrom his sentence in New SouthWales.

Provis may be legally guilty of escapingfrom New South Wales but, because heescaped out of love for Pip, he is morallyinnocent.

Court procedure entails announcingall the death sentences together onone day. In court, Pip and a largeaudience of onlookers watch Provisstand among thirty-two other menand women condemned to death. Thejudge singles out Provis, describinghim as one who "almost from hisinfancy had been an offender againstthe laws." Provis—described as "theprisoner"—responds, "My Lord, I havereceived my sentence of death fromthe Almighty, but I bow to yours."After the sentencing, the audiencerises to leave and rearranges theirclothes, "as they might at church orelsewhere."

Provis was "almost from infancy" anoffender against the laws, because hehad no other way to survive. The lawseems like it was almost designed toforce Provis, who Pip now knows as agood-hearted and kind man, to become acriminal. The people in the court watchthe death sentences—the end of a man'slife—with the same response they mightgive to the weekly sermon at church, orany other experience. The law, it is clear,does not have a conscience.

Pip writes petitions to every authorityhe can think of to appeal Provis'sentence, and hopes that Provis willdie on his own before he is hanged.The prison officer and other prisonersare kind to Provis and nurse him.Provis dies ten days later with Pip athis side. He is calm, and grateful forPip's loyalty even in hard times. Hislast words: "I don't complain of [pain],dear boy." Just before he dies, Pipwhispers in Provis' ear that hisdaughter is alive with powerful friendsand that Pip loves her. Provis kissesPip's hand and dies in peace. Pipthinks of the parable of the two menat the Temple and prays for heavenlymercy for Provis.

The parable Pip thinks of contrasts self-righteousness and self-importance withhumility and admitting one's own sins.The parable points out the virtues of thelatter, virtues Provis himself possesses.Provis, though he never becomes agentleman, does die peacefully as himself(as opposed to getting hanged publiclyand painfully as a criminal), and is, in asense, reunited with his daughterthrough Pip's generosity.

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BOOK 3, CHAPTER 57Pip is deep in debt. In the days afterProvis' death, Pip falls deliriously ill.Two creditors come to his apartmentto arrest him for debt but Pip, too sickto move, suffers feverishhallucinations. When he next gainsconsciousness, weeks have passedand Joe is at his side, having nursedhim through his sickness. Pip isashamed, feeling he doesn't deserveJoe's kindness, but Joe is warm andloving and holds no grudge. Biddy hastaught Joe to write and he updatesher on Pip's state by letter.

Joe's generosity is boundless. Unlike somany other characters, he holds nogrudges. Though Pip spurned Joe whenhe was rich, Joe has rescued him whenhis fortune fell away.

Joe updates Pip on the village news:Miss Havisham has died and left alarge sum of money to MatthewPocket, crediting Pip's account ofMatthew's character. She has leftinsultingly small amounts of money toall her other relatives, leaving the bulkof her fortune to Estella. Orlick is injail for robbing and torturing UnclePumblechook.

Miss Havisham's generosity towardsMatthew Pocket complements Pip'stowards Herbert. Orlick also reaps whathe sowed, while Pumblechook is alsopunished (though the punishment seemsrather harsh).

Pip and Joe spend the days of Pip'srecovery in tender companionship. Piphas lost all pretense around Joe and iswholly loving. When Pip, not knowinghow much Joe knows of his recentaffairs, broaches the subject of Provis,Joe brushes it off, telling Pip thatBiddy has convinced him not to dwellon "unnecessary subjects" andemphasizes that he and Pip are "everthe best of friends."

Joe's belief that Pip need not come cleanabout all the details of the past presentsa parallel Mr. Jaggers' lecture thatcomplete honesty is not, ultimately, themeasure of compassion and generosity.Instead, following one's conscience inorder to protect and help those you loveis.

As Pip grows stronger, Joe becomesless comfortable around him. WhilePip was weak, Joe called him "old Pip,old chap," as he had in Pip's childhood,but the day Pip is strong enough towalk on his own again, Joe calls him"sir." Pip is ashamed that his behaviorin the past has warranted Joe'swariness. When Joe is certain that Pipis nearly well, he leaves withoutwarning and Pip wakes up to a noteexplaining that Joe doesn't wish do"intrude." Enclosed in the note is areceipt for Pip's debts, which Joe haspaid off unbeknownst to Pip, whothought Joe didn't know about them.

While Pip was sick, he reverted to hischildhood dependency on Joe. Pip andJoe's relationship likewise reverted to theold familiarity and comfort. Yet, once Pipgets well, he again becomes theindependent adult who abandoned Joe,and the two reenter the fraughtrelationship they've had in the recentpast. Joe meanwhile, generously paid offthe debts Pip was too ashamed to evermention.

Pip is eager to thank Joe and toapologize to him. He is also eager topropose to Biddy, whose goodness hewants hereafter to be guided by. Pipresolves to work in the forge or at anytrade Biddy sees fit. After a few days,he makes a trip to the village.

Pip's moral development is complete. Heis finally able to recognize his own errorsand to value internal rather thansuperficial worth.

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 58News of Pip's fall from fortune haspreceded him to the village and thestaff at the Blue Boar treats himindifferently where it had oncetreated him lavishly. Pip doesn't mind.Uncle Pumblechook makes a great,obnoxious show of pitying Pip's newcircumstances, then pontificatingloudly on Pip's ingratitude when Pipsays he has come to see Joe. UnclePumblechook proceeds to spreadrumors about how ungrateful Pip wasto Pumblechook's generosity.

As superficial villagers began to fawnover Pip as soon as they heard bout Pip'srise in fortune, they will now spurn himagain once they hear of his decline. Theycared for his money, not for him. Pip nowrealizes it is only his true friends whocared for him, and that was regardless ofhis money.

Pip walks to the forge, excited to beback and delighted to see the oldfamiliar landscape. Upon returninghome he discovers that Joe and Biddyhave just been married that morning.They are overjoyed to see Pip and Pipcongratulates them both tenderly andthanks them both for all they havedone for him. He tells them that he isgoing abroad and will earn the moneyto repay Joe, though he will always beindebted to them. He asks them not totell their future child of his prioringratitude but only of his respect forthem both.

Planning to propose to Biddy, Pip has,ironically, walked in on her wedding day.Joe and Biddy's marriage unites thenovel's two moral heroes. But Pip reactsnot with anger or dismay or resentment,but rather heartfelt joy at the happinesshis two great friends have found in eachother. He responds to their endlessgenerosity to him with generosity of hisown.

Pip moves to Cairo and joins Clarriker& Co. as a clerk, living with Herbertand Clara who have married after Mr.Barley's death. Years go by and Pipeventually becomes a partner in thehouse and repays his debts. Hemaintains close correspondence withJoe and Biddy. Eventually,, Clarrikerreveals Pip's secret investment inHerbert and Herbert is surprised butwholly grateful. The firm prospersadmirably, though not excessively, andPip wonders how he could ever havedoubted Herbert's ability to succeedin life.

Pip and Herbert may not be gentlemenof leisure, but they become respectablymiddle-class merchants of comfortablemeans—model participants in theVictorian era's capitalist economy. Piprealizes his earlier assessment of Herbertwas based on his false ideas about socialclass, not a true measure of Herbert'sabilities. And Pip's generosity is paid forby Herbert's gratefulness and friendship.

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 59Pip does not return to England foreleven years. He comes back to theforge one night in December and findsJoe and Biddy sitting happily at thehearth with their young son Pip. Pipgets along famously with little Pip.Biddy coaxes Pip to marry and, whenPip says he is settled in bachelorhood,asks about Estella. Pip says he nolonger pines for her.

Joe and Biddy's family provides thenovel's first model of a functional andcompassionate two-parent household.And Pip is a part of this family, too, withno further feelings of needing to improvehimself or leave this "commonness"behind.

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Still, Pip secretly wishes to revisit thesite of Satis House for Estella's sake.He has heard that she has beenabused by and separated fromDrummle, who has since died. Pipwalks to the site in the misty dusk andfinds only the garden wall stillstanding. He is stunned to find Estellaherself walking the grounds. She, too,has never been back until this night,though the grounds are her onlyremaining possession. She tells Pipshe has thought of him often and hasregretted throwing his love away. Shesays suffering has given her a humanheart. They walk out together in therising mist and Pip says he "saw noshadow of another parting from her."

Estella has acquired humanity andintegrity through suffering. The last lineof the ending is ambiguous—it's unclearwhether or not Pip and Estella go on tomarry or whether they simply stayfriends. This ending is a revision ofDickens' original ending in which Pip andEstella's final meeting definitely doesn'tresult in their marriage. Dickens rewrotethe ending after the public was unhappywith the first, and this second, happierending, is the one published as the realending in most versions of the novel.

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