Great Expectations Chapter 19-20

The beginning of chapter nineteen is laden with extreme symbolism. The first instance is that of morning representing a fresh start; a new beginning. "Morning made a considerable difference in my general prospect of life, and brightened it so much that it scarcely seemed the same." page 147. This shows that the light of morning helped to bring a new outlook on life for Pip. Another important symbol is that of fire. That very same day, Joe brought Pip's indentures and placed them in the fire. Pip notes that he felt as if he were free at that moment. The fire is symbolic because not only is Pip literally free, in that he is under no legal obligation to remain as Joe's apprentice, but he is also metaphorically free. Free in the sense that he is no longer bound to his old life and is free to move up in life. Joe once again shows his love and compassion for Pip by sitting at his bedside waiting for him to wake up. However, it is at this point that a noticeable change in Pip begins to take place.

Pip because semi-obsessed with making sure that Joe gains more knowledge so that he will be "worthy" of moving up in status when people is finally able to make that happen. However when Pip hints to Joe that he should try learning more, Joe basically states that he is content exactly how and where he is. So, Pip shifts his attention to Biddy, and seeing if she will be able to impart some of her knowledge onto Joe. However, Biddy proves once again to be the voice of reason and poses the question to Pip of "Have you never considered that he may be proud?" page 149. Pip finds this to be a concept that he is unable to grasp; instead he accuses Biddy of being jealous. "You are envious, Biddy, I did not expect to see this in you...If you have the heart to be so, you mean, Biddy," said I, in a virtuous and superior tone;"don't put it off upon me." page 150. This is when the change in Pip becomes even more evident. His rise in status is causing him to be cocky and take a superior air with those around him.

Pip ends up apologizing to Biddy later on but it is still clear that his opinion on the situation has not changed. In this part of the novel it can be seen just how money can change those around you. For instance Mr. Pumblechook, whom has been nothing but cruel to Pip, suddenly begins treating him as if Pip is his best friend.Before leaving for London, Pip goes to see Miss Havisham. Miss Sarah Pocket answers the door and accompanies Pip up to see Miss Havisham. Miss Havisham tells Miss Pocket not to leave and seems to relish in her reaction of hearing about Pip's rise in society. Also, it is hinted at that Miss Havisham is the benefactor that aided in Pip's opportunity to be taught as a gentlemen. Upon arriving in London, it seems as if maybe London is not going to be want he expected. This initial reaction that Pip has to London, may be foreshadowing some event that will come later on in the novel.

Great Expectations Chapter 17-18

Chapter seventeen begins with Pip talking about the path his life has taken. It appears as if Pip life has taken on a monotonous routine. He mentions that the only break in his routine is his visit to go see Miss Havisham on his birthday and even that venture seems to have taken on a monotonous turn. "I found Miss Sarah Pocket still on duty at the gate, I found Miss Havisham just as I had left her, and she spoke of Estella in the very same way, if not in the very same words." page 125. From this quote it can be seen that Pip does not even enjoy his trips to Miss Havisham, even though in the previous chapter the very thought of going to see Miss Havisham had filled him with joy. Due to the unchanging consistency of Pip's routine, he continued to secretly loath his life and the profession of blacksmith.

It is at this point of his life that Pip begins to take notice of Biddy. He notes that "I observed to myself  one evening that she had curiously thoughtful and attentive eyes; eyes that were very pretty and very good." page 126.After accidentally making Biddy cry, Pip suggests that they take a walk together on the marshes so that they can have "a long chat." page 127. At this point of the novel it seems as if Pip might be growing as a person, this is due to the fact that he is putting someone needs before his own and trying to actively make things right between him and Biddy. During his walk with Biddy, Pip reveals his desire to rise above his current station and even mentions that the true reason for his desire it Estella. Biddy shows that she is the voice of reason in the novel by asking Pip, "Do you want to be a gentlemen to spite her or to gain her over?" page 129. It shows that Biddy is very insightful and forces Pip to truly look at himself and reflect upon the motives that are driving his life.

At the start of chapter eighteen Mr. Wopsle is reading from the paper about a murder that is popular at the moment. Upon completion of his reading, Mr. Wopsle is confronted by a strange man about his readiness to jump to conclusion about the guilt of the current suspect. Mr. Wopsle tries to defend himself, but it is to no avail, the strange man is very adamant about his views. Finally the man stops his attack on Mr. Wopsle and asks for the company of Joe and Pip. Pip recognizes that the man is the same one that he met on the stairs at Miss Havisham's house, so long ago. This reintroduction of a character that was predicted to have some sort of impact on a main characters life proves to have been an accurate prediction. This man's name is Jaggers and he offers Pip the chance to be brought up as a gentlemen. The fact that Pip's life is about to change in the exact way that he always wanted might prove to have disastrous effects later on in the novel.

Great Expectations Chapter 15-16

It chapter fifteen Pip yearns to gain as much knowledge as possible. Unfortunately he feels as if he has outgrown Mr. Wopsle's great-aunt. However, he waits until Biddy has taught him everything she knows, before he asks Mr. Wopsle if he would teach Pip personally. However, this does not end of working out well at all. Eventually Pip decides to decline this form of education. Pip informs the reader that he has made it his mission to teach Joe everything he has learned. However, Pip states that his intentions are not entirely pure. "This statement sounds so well that I cannot let in my conscience let it pass unexplained. I wanted to make Joe less ignorant and common, that he might be worthier of my society and less open to Estella's reproach." page 109. From this quote a lot is revealed about Pip's character. It shows that while he does indeed care about Joe he is also embarrassed by him as well. However, it is good that Pip is able to be honest with himself. Awareness of one's flaws is the first step in eventually working to changing them. It also becomes quite evident that Pip is slightly obsessed with Miss Havisham and Estella. Whenever he has a moment for his mind to wonder, it always drifts to Estella and Miss Havisham.

Pip runs the idea across Joe that he plans to go visit Miss Havisham. Joe tries to hint at the fact that he believes that this is not the best idea. He tells Pip that he goes to Miss Havisham, she might believe that has come because he wants something. Pip gets somewhat defensive because he had the same thought. He says "I had thought of that too, and it was very far from comforting to me to find that he had thought of it, for it seemed to render it more probable." page 111. Basically this means that Pip feels as if  Joe, someone he is not exactly highly intelligent, was able to come to this conclusion, it is possible that others will feel this way as well. However, despite his reservations Joe agrees to give Pip a half-day holiday in order to go Miss Havisham. Orlick, who works for Joe as well, demands that he should have a half-day holiday as well. Joe agrees that Orlick can have a holiday as well and his wife is not very happy about this. Orlick puts Pip's sister in her place and she throws an extreme tantrum about how Orlick treats her. In order to resolve everything, Joe fights Orlick to pacify his wife. Fortunately Orlick understands and everything between them is alright.

Pip heads off to Miss Havisham's house, where he is greeted at the front door by Miss Sarah Pocket. As predicted Miss Havisham does initially believe that Pip wants something. Once that is cleared up she inquires to whether or not he is looking for Estella. It becomes clear that he is and that is when she informs him that Estella is abroad getting an education. Miss Havisham seems to draw great pleasure from Pip's loss and eventually orders him to go. On his way back home Pip encounters Mr. Pumblechook and ends up spending a great deal of the evening at his home participating in a murder mystery. After this Pip heads home with Mr. Wopsle and Orlick, whom they encounter along the way. Upon arriving home Pip discovers that his sister has been attacked. Some of Pip's old guilt returns because he feels as if the iron used to hit his sister belonged to the convict he had helped all that while ago. However, out of tragic rising a spark of hope. Pip's sister changes her whole nature after the attack. "her temper was greatly improved, and she was patient." page 122. Another change is that Biddy comes to stay with Pip and his family to help out and this greatly improves the dynamics of the family.

Great Expectations Chapter 13-14

Chapter 13 starts off the day after Miss Havisham requests a meeting with Joe. Joe is getting all dressed up in his Sunday best, and Pip is reluctant to tell him that he looks better in his work clothes and in order not to hurt his feelings, Pip keeps his opinion to himself. At breakfast Pip's sister informed him that she would be going to town with them and would wait at Uncle Pumblechook's. Once everyone was ready, they headed off to town. When Joe and Pip arrived at Miss Havisham's house Estella lets them in. It becomes immediately clear that Joe is extremely nervous. This can be seen by the fact that whenever Miss Havisham asks him a question he would address Pip. Pip goes on to describe Joe as "like some extraordinary bird, standing, as he did, speechless, with his tuft of feathers ruffled, and his mouth open as if he wanted a worm." page 99. This shows exactly how uncomfortable Joe is in this new situation.

Pip is completely embarrassed by Joe's behavior, especially when he notices Estella smirking at Joe's answers to Miss Havisham's questions. However, Miss Havisham seems to understand Joe's true nature. "Miss Havisham glanced at him as if she understood what [that] he really was better than I had thought possible, seeing what he was there," page 100. This shows that she is able to see that Joe is truly and kind person and that he is simply nervous. When Miss Havisham is done asking questions, she tells Pip and Joe that they may leave. She informs Pip that he does not need to come over any longer since is officially apprenticed to Joe now. Miss Havisham requests to speak to Joe for a moment alone. Pip wonders how Joe was able to make it alone with Miss Havisham but Joe manages to survive.  Pip and Joe return to Mr. Pumblechook's house.

At first Mr. Pumblechook and Joe's sister ridicule Miss Havisham, that is until they find out that Miss Havisham gave them some money. Pip notices just how hypocritical Mr. Pumblechook is by stating "That abject hypocrite, Pumblechook, nodded again, and said with a patronizing laugh...." page 103. At this point in the story Mr. Pumblechook and Pip's sister were guessing how much money Miss Havisham gave them. Pip had previously mentioned his strong dislike for Mr. Pumblechook, however, now he has actually put a name to one of Mr. Pumblechook's character flaws. After they go to the court to officially apprentice Pip to Joe, everyone goes out to celebrate. Pip is unable to enjoy his self and it is because he has come to the realization that he no longer looks forward to learning Joe's trade. Time goes on and Joe never reveals to Joe how much he actually hates the profession of blacksmith. The reason he never tells Joe is because of how much Pip cares about him and the fact that he would never want to hurt Joe.

Great Expectations Chapter 11-12

Chapter eleven begins with Pip paying another visit to Miss Havisham's house. However, this time he is taken into another part of the house than he had previously been in. Pip notes that there is yet another clock that has stopped at twenty minutes to nine. There is a possible symbolism that all of the clocks have stopped at exactly the same time. It could represent that everything in the house, including the people are stuck in time. Estella takes Pip into a room where there are already four other people. Pip stands there uncomfortable until Estella summons him away. The introduction of these four new characters might prove to be significant later on in the novel. On the way to Miss Havisham's room Estella questions Pip on whether or not he finds her pretty. When Pip says that he does, Estella reacts violently, yelling at him and even slapping him. Pip is rightfully confused by her reaction. Also while on the way to Miss Havisham's room Pip and Estella encounter "a burly man of an exceedingly large head and a corresponding large hand." page 81. Pip alludes to the fact that this man might prove to be significant in the future and not necessarily in a good way.

Pip finally arrives to Miss Havisham's room and he ends up walking her around the room across from hers. Eventually the four people from the other room join Pip and Miss Havisham and a conversation ensues. Eventually Miss Havisham's tires of her company, especially the fact that they keep mentioning that Matthew has not come, and asks everyone except Pip to leave. Miss Havisham reveals that it was her birthday, but that she does not want anyone to mention. Also she reveals that is the reason that the others had come to visit. Miss Havisham makes Pip and Estella play cards together and then when she tired of this Pip was let downstairs for his meal. Pip is left to wonder around on his own. It is at this time that Pip encounters the pale gentlemen. Pip and the pale gentlemen engage in a fight and Pip ends up winning. After the fight the two politely part ways. As Pip is leaving Estella tells Pip that he may kiss her if he would like and so Pip kisses her on the cheek. However Pip has a deep feeling that she might just be toying with him.

Pip continues to be plagued by guilt from the fight he had with the pale gentlemen. He believes that he will eventually be reprimanded for it although technically he has done nothing wrong. The time comes again for him to meet with Miss Havisham and nothing happens, so for the time being his conscious is cleared. It becomes a routine between him and Miss Havisham that he will walk her around two rooms and when she gets tired he will wheel her around. Also Pip and Estella are made to play cards and Miss Havisham seems to encourage all of Estella's violent mood swings.After every one of her outbursts Miss Havisham "would embrace her with lavish fondness, murmuring something in her ear that sounded like, 'Break their hearts, my pride and hope, break their hearts and have no mercy!" page 94. From this quote it can be assumed that Miss Havisham has possible been hurt in the matters of love and that this has shaped who she is. It is also quite possible that Biddy likes Pip, this is alluded to on page 95 when Pip mentions how much Biddy enjoys listening to everything he tells him. Time passes and finally Miss Havisham realizes that Pip has grown. It is at this time that she asks for a meeting with him and Joe. When Pip's sister finds out about this she takes it as a personal attack against her and this further shows her personality flaws.

Great Expectations Chapter 9-10

In chapter nine Pip returns home from from Miss Havisham's house and is bombarded by questions from his sister and Mr. Pumblechook. If his sister was not satisfied by Pip's answer than she would shove him. This incident shows Pip's sister's true nature once again. That she is indeed not a very nice woman; that in fact she can be quite cruel and only thinks of herself. Pip's sister is not the only one badgering him, Mr. Pumblechook is guilty of this crime as well. Pip states that "The worst of it was that bullying old Pumblechook, preyed up by a devouring curiosity to be informed of all I had ever seen and heard..." page 64. When the two are still not satisfied by Pip's answers Mr. Pumblechook goes on to ask Pip a mathematical question. At first Pip is confused but then he manages to answer the question correctly. This rattles Mr. Pumblechook and it take him a minute to recollect himself. However when he does gather his wits, he goes on to question Pip about Miss Havisham again. This is when Pip tells his first lie concerning his time at Miss Havisham's.

When Pip's sister asks Mr. Pumblechook to confirm Pip's physical description of Miss Havisham and he agrees with the lie, Pip comes to a realization. His realization is that Mr. Pumblechook has never met Miss Havisham in person. This gives Pip a sort of go head to continue his lies and they only get more extravagant has he goes along. Pip does not feel guilt at anytime until Joe comes in from the forge and Pip's sister informs him of all the lies Pip has told her. Pip begins to feel progressively more guilty until finally he goes out to the forge and tells Joe all about his lies. He also informs Joe that Estella called him a commoner. Joe does not get angry at Pip, instead he comforts him. However, he does make Pip promise to stop telling lies and Pip quickly agrees. At the end of this chapter the author uses a different technique. In this technique he directly addresses the reader. He posses a rhetorical question that makes the reader think deeply.

Pip decides that for him to be "uncommon" is to become more educated. So he goes to Biddy and asks her to teach him. Biddy readily agrees to help. He states that Biddy "...was one of the most obliging of girls, ... and indeed began to carry out her promise within five minutes." page 71. This shows that Pip really thinks highly of Biddy. One day after school, Pip's sister asked him to go fetch Joe from the public-house. So Pip goes to retrieve Joe and this is when he spots a strange man. Pip takes a seat next to Joe and the strange man insists on buying Joe a drink. Joe reluctantly agrees and they partake in some casual conversation. However, the entire time the stranger keeps staring at Pip. Finally Pip notices that the stranger is stirring his drink with the file that Pip had stolen and given to the convict. Upon leaving the stranger gives Pip two pounds. All that night Pip is plagued by nightmares. This is evidence of Pip's guilty conscious.

Great Expectations Chapter 7-8

In chapter seven the reader learns that Pip is being educated  by Mr. Wopsle's great aunt. It can be seen that Pip draws a sort of connection with Biddy, the granddaughter of Mr. Wopsle's great aunt.. This is due to the fact that Biddy is an orphan just like him and that she was brought up by hand like his sister is doing to him. He goes on to talk about her physical description by mentioning that she was always well kept and dressed up nicely and that it only got better on Sundays "On Sundays sh e went to church elaborated." page 43. This shows that Biddy was able to dress up even fancier that what was her average wear. Pip explains that he struggled greatly with the learning of his alphabet and that Mr. Wopsle's great aunt was not much help, that in fact Biddy was more help then she ever was. The use of a simile is employed to explain his struggles, "I struggled through the alphabet as if it had been a bramble-bush, getting considerably worried and scratched by every letter." page 43. This simile helps provide the reader with a visual image of Pip's hardship.

The story goes on to discuss that one night Pip had been practicing his writing by writing a note to Joe. Joe exclaimed emphatically when he received this letter. Joe points out everywhere that there is a J or an O. Pip realizes that he has never seen Joe read to any greater degree than this. Even he goes on to remember that at church last Sunday when he had his prayer book upside down, Joe did not seem to notice. Pip decided to press the issued and inquires on whether or not Joe knows how to read. Joe informs him that he does not know how to read. He goes on to explain that the reason for this was that Joe's father was abusive. So, Joe never really had the opportunity to learn because he was busy running away with his mother and then eventually Joe just began working as a blacksmith and began perfecting his art. As this conversation continues even more about Joe is revealed.The reader learns how he and Pip's sister met and the whole situation that surrounded him agreeing to let Pip and his sister come and live with him.Upon hearing Joe's explanation of how he invited Pip and his sister to come and stay with him, Pip breaks down from an overflow of emotion. "I broke out crying and begging pardon, and hugged Joe around the neck: who dropped the poker to hug me, and to say, 'Ever the best of friends; ain't us, Pip? Don't cry, old chap!'" page 47. From this quote it can be seen just how close and tight the bond Pip and Joe have.

Soon after the completion of this conversation Pip's sister returns from her outing with Uncle Pumblechook. Pip's sister informs Pip that Miss Havisham has requested Pip's company for the next day. Pip's sister spends the rest of the night preparing Pip for this meeting.On the next morning Pip goes with Uncle Pumblechook, whom is going to deliver him to Miss Havisham's home. Uncle Pumblechook spends the entire morning quizzing Joe on multiplication problems, so much so that Pip did not even get a chance to eat breakfast. The first description of Miss Havisham describes her as being dressed all in white. This is symbolic in that white usually signifies purity, however, in this case it appears that it is being used ironically. The introduction of Miss Havisham's character seems to signify that there will be some sort of shift in what is important in the novel. This is due to the fact that she is the first high-class rich character to be seen within the novel. Also the introduction of Estella's character might prove to have some consequence on the outcome of the novel.