Great Expectations
Chapter 11 - Emma C
In Chapter 11 Pip goes back to Miss Havisham's House to find out that it Miss Havisham's birthday and she has guests. He is directed to a different room, where Camilla, Cousion Raymond, and Sarah Pocket are. Pip feels very vunrable at this point and his lower class contrasts against Miss Havisham's friends "'Poor dear soul' said this lady, with an abruptness of manner quite like my siste's 'Nobody's enemy but his own!'" Estella then guides Pip to Miss Havisham's room still taunting him and calling him "A boy" this is where he first meets Mr Jaggers although he doesn't know who he is till later on in the novel. Miss Havisham then shows Pip to another room, this room is like all the other rooms in Satire House, decaying. Pip sees a scene of a wedding feast which had been prepared when Miss Havisham was to be married. Miss Havisham also pointes out her rotting wedding cake "It's a great cake. A bride-cake . Mine!". She then orders him to walk her round and round the room, this shows how obessed Miss Havisham is. Miss Havisham's friends are then invited into the wedding cake room. She admits to Pip that it is her birthday "I was going to wish her many happy returns, when she lifted her stick" but she prefers not to worry about dates and times because she is so involed in her broken heart and staying in the past. Pip is then let out into the gardern where he meets the younge Herbert Pocket "pale younge gentleman with red eyelids and light hair" Herbert and Pip ends up in a fight and Pip ends up hiting Herbert in the mouth and winning. When Pip goes to leave Estella lets Pip kiss her "Come here! You may kiss me, if you like." whether she is showing affection to him or just taughting him Pip does not know.
Chapter 12 - Gemma
Pip feels guilty about his fight with 'the pale young gentleman' in the previous chapter. 'I felt the pale young gentleman's blood was on my head, and that the law would avenge it.' Everywhere Pip goes, he is cautious as he feels 'offices of the county jail should pounce upon me.' Pip visits Miss Havisham again at Satis House and hides evidence of the fight by covering up 'traces of his gore' with garden mould. He also complains about the long walks he has to take with Miss Havisham and how she 'relishes' Estella's contradictory moods. Miss Havisham invites Pip and Joe to come over to Satis House soon so he can be apprenticed to Joe. Pip's sister finds out and 'went on a rampage' as she feels left out and used.
Chapter 13 - Louise
In this chapter Pip returns to Satis house, however this time he is with Joe as told by Miss Havisham. When Pip and Joe are getting ready to leave, Joe puts on his best suit. Pip notes that ‘he made himself so dreadfully uncomfortable’ and says that he would prefer to go wearing his ordinary ‘working-dress’ as Joe is used to wearing it and is far more comfortable in it. Dickens does this to highlight Joe’s class.
When they arrive at Satis house Estella opens the gate for them, however she ignores them showing her coldness to Pip and Joe and their class. When Joe and Pip reach Miss Havisham’s room Joe finds himself very nervous in front of Miss Havisham. Questions asked by Miss Havisham to him he answers nervously and directs the answers to Pip. Miss Havisham asks Joe about Pip becoming his apprentice and gives him a ‘premium’ (initial fee for a new apprentice paid to his master) of ‘five and twenty guineas’.
Returning home, Joe hands the money over to Mrs Joe who is delighted with the generous amount of money given. Pip now has to go and ‘become bound’ (a legal term for becoming an apprentice) in the town hall, whilst Mrs Joe and her friends go and celebrate in the Blue Boar. Dickens uses a strong contrast of emotions here; whilst everybody is thrilled at the amount of money given Pip is dreading becoming Joe’s apprentice.
Chapter 14 - Rachel A
Pip reflects on his feelings about home and reveals how miserable he is to "feel ashamed of home". He remembers how he used to think of his house as elegant and magnificent, but, how within only one year, his perceptions have changed and now he sees it as "coarse and common". He can't work out whether this is his own fault or Miss Havisham's fault. The prospect of working as Joe's apprentice no longer seems appealing. Pip prepares his own perspctive with the "windy marsh view" and feels glad that while his indentures lasted he never revealed to Joe his feelings. He realises that it was Joe's faithfulness that kept him from running away. He is scared that Estella will find out who he really is and this paranoia causes him to see visions of Estella in the fire, scorning him. Pip recalls how he would go home and have a supper and feel "more ashamed of home than ever". He describes how he has an "ungracious breast".
The whole chapter is very reflective. Pip resents his attitude towards home but cannot escape his feelings of shamfulness and embarassment.
Attitudes and values: Class and background are explored throughout the chapter and peoples' perceptions of stereotypes within classes. Pip thinks Estella will look down on him even more when she finds out he is apprenticed to a blacksmith.
Key Quotes: "It is a most miserable thing to feel ashamed of home" "...I would feel more ashamed of home than ever, in my own ungracious breast."
Chapter 15 - Alice
Pip's education under Mr Wopsle's great-aunt comes to an end. Eager to learn and understand more, he tries to teach Joe to make him "less ignorant and less common...worthier of my society and less open to Estella's reproach". The character of Orlick is introduced - a journeyman blacksmith for Joe. He is described as always "slouching" indicating laziness, and generally a not very nice person. He is likened to "Cain or the Wandering Jew" - both said to be outcasts (note that Cain killed his brother Abel, out of jealousy - Magwitch's first name!).
Joe, Orlick and Pip are at work when Pip reminds Joe of his half-holiday. Orlick becomes angry and says he should get a half-holiday too. Joe refuses, and Orlick threatens Pip by picking up a red-hot bar, but puts it down at the last minute. Mrs Joe looks on and taunts Orlick. When he retailiates, she gets angry and leaves. Joe also becomes angry and has a fight with Orlick.
Pip then goes to visit Miss Havisham and learns that Estella is abroad. Miss Havisham is cruel and laughs at the thought that Pip is saddened by this. She dismisses him. Pip wanders the High Street, and finds Mr Wopsle. When walking home together, they see Orlick. Mr Wopsle learns at The Jolly Bargeman, that something has happened at Pip's home. After running back, they find Joe, a group of women and a surgeon crowded round Mrs Joe, who has been attacked.
Chapter 16 - Chantel
Pip feels that he is responsible for what has happened. This is reinforced by the discovery of the weapon Mrs Joe's attacker used. It is an iron leg and he is convinced that it is the one from his convict but still feels unable to tell Joe the whole story. Pip thinks its Orlick or the stranger with the file. Officers come from London but fail to solve anything. Mrs Joe is brain damaged and unable to communicate easily. However, she makes signs that she wants to see Orlick. Pip hopes that she will denounce him but, instead, she is pleased to see him. Biddy now takes her place in the household.
We have a fresh mystery and serveral possible solutions. The leg-iron does seem to make Pip guilty by association. It carries the taint of crime. He has unknowingly provided the weapon and must deal with resentment against his sister. Mrs Joe is now a vegetable and with Biddy in charge, the forge has become gentler & more secure. Pip has less excuse to leave. Mrs Joe's sign of the hammer on the slate recalls the comedy of Pip's letter to Joe in Chap 7 but the mood is now much darker...
Chapter 17 - Holly
In this Chapter Pip begins to understand the importance of Biddy's Friendship. Biddy has thoughtfully decided that she is going to help nurse injured Mrs. Joe to full health after the incident in the previous Chapter. Pip grows to admire Biddy and when he returns to Statis House he took a long walk with Biddy and this is when he begins to see the goodness within her. He realizes that although she isn't particularly attractive he enjoys her company and thinks she is pleasant. As they indulge in deep conversation the new, vain Pip shines through. He patronizes Biddy in a very unfavorable way and talks about his feelings for Estella. He tells her of his desire to become a gentleman. Generally a better man to win over Estella. Down-to-earth Biddy tells Pip that Estella is not worthy of his effort. She understands that Estella has treated Pip harshly in the past and warns him that it may never change. Arrogant Pip then asks Biddy why he cannot love her. Biddy reacts to this insulting behavior maturely by telling him that if they were to have a relationship it wouldn't ever work. In addition to Pip and Biddy talking, Orlick is also following them whilst they speak. He makes passes at Biddy and Pip becomes increasingly jealous. Pip then tries his best to undermine and humiliate Orlick so Biddy and himself can continue with their conversation.
Chapter 18 - Daisy
Plot: Pip has been apprenticed for 4 years when a stranger asks to speak to him and Joe. He announces himself as Mr Jaggers, a solicitor, and says Pip has come into fortune by an unknown benefactor. Pip is to leave for London in a week’s time and Biddy and Joe are very upset by this.
Style: How Dickens Presents Jaggers.
Jaggers’ issues lots of orders ‘Now you are to understand’ is repeated and ‘you are most positively prohibited’ with its alliteration emphasizes the strength of the order. This shows how controlling Jaggers is.
Jaggers uses lots of legal lexis ‘liberal’ ‘benefactor’ ‘prohibited’ and ‘binding’ revealing the world he come from and making him seem impressive and intelligent.
Long sentences and superlatives such as ‘strongest’ and ‘greatest’ display his almost obsessive attention to detail (reflected in the constant hand-washing) as well as making the whole thing seem more dramatic and life-changing.
Jaggers looks down on Joe ‘Mr Jaggers glanced at Joe, as if he considered him a fool’ and acts aloof, cold and impersonal ‘I tell you at once, I am paid for my services, or I shouldn’t render them’.
Jaggers speaks in Standard English with no regional accent identifying him as an educated man of a higher class.
Attitudes and Values
Generosity and Loyalty – Joe will not take any money for his loss of Pip and only wants him to be happy.
Advancement: Pip is going up in the world and that is all he cares about.
Ungratefulness: Pip is eager to leave Joe and Biddy behind and ignores all they have done for him.
Key Quotes:
‘Lord Forbid that I should want anything for not standing in Pip’s way’ – Joe, Page 113.
‘Mr Jaggers glanced at Joe, as if he considered him a fool for his disinteredness’ – Page 113.
‘Mr Pip, that the name of the person who is your liberal benefactor remains a profound secret’ – Jaggers, Page 114.
Chapter 19 - Hannah W
Pip tells Biddy that he would like Joe to visit him in London and that he would like to help him but that he is worried Joe may seem out of place. Pip is starting to see himself as superior to his friends. When Biddy tells him that Joe is proud he answers: “You are envious, Biddy, and grudging”.
He visits Mr Trabb the tailor who, on hearing of Pip’s wealth “respectfully bent his body” and treats him with great deference. This contrasts with the cruelty he shows to his apprentice who had been, until recently Pip’s equal. This draws attention to the power and prestige which money could give.
Pip visits Pumblechook who treats him as a close friend and gives him good wine and food. He insinuates that it was his influence that has led to Pip finding his fortune. His attitude towards Pip is very different to before.
Pip dresses in his new suit and visits Satis house to take his leave of Miss Havisham. She tells him he must keep the name of Pip which seems to reinforce that she is the benefactor. He describes her as “the fairy godmother”.
Pip says goodbye to Joe and Biddy and takes the coach to London. It is only when he is alone that he starts to reflect that perhaps he had not been thoughtful towards Joe.
Chapter 19 concludes the first part of Pip’s Great Expectations.
Chapter 20 - Sarah
The first chapter involving Pip’s second stage of Great Expectations. He arrives in London for the first time and it is his first experience of Jaggers’ office. He spends a great deal of time describing the dismal office. He also sees how Jaggers treats his clintelle – which in this chapter is badly. You can tell that Jaggers’ values are his business, he doesn’t care about peoples’ feelings, only their cases. You can see this from the way he talks to ‘Amelia’. Pip is scared of Jaggers, after the way he treats people in his office. At the end of the chapter, Pip meets Wemmick, and he feels equal to him. You can tell this, as they leave the chapter walking ‘side by side’.
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