Happily Ever After... I Think

A little while after the convict's death, Joe came to visit me. It was a great surprise, although I had expected him to treat me differently. He was not angry or ashamed of me at all; he treated me as if we were still back at the forge. When Joe left, I decided that I would return home and propose to Biddy. Much to my surprise, Joe and Biddy were already being married! I was upset at first, but my thoughts have gone back to Estella. Eleven years have passed, in which I have been living in the East with Herbert and Clara. I finally feel that I am happy, without the money and fame. Friends are all that matter to me now. I decided to come to visit my hometown and the Satis House. Who should I find there but Estella! I realized that it was not a coincidence, and that fate must have some part in this. I think that we will be together forever.

"Oh Joe, you break my heart! Look angry at me, Joe. Strike me, Joe. Tell me of my ingratitude. Don't be so good to me!"

-Pip reacting to Joe's kindness, page 493

"I took her hand in mine, and we went out of the ruined place; and, as the morning mists had risen long ago when I first left the forge, so, the evening mists were rising now, and in all the broad expanse of tranquil light they showed to me, I saw no shadow of another parting from her."

-Pip and Estella, happily ever after, page 516

The Attempted Escape

Like I had said before, we had developed a plan for Magwitch's escape. Mr. Wemmick sent me a letter telling me that Wednesday was the day to leave. However, I also received a mysterious letter telling me to go alone to the sluice house on the marshes. I was terrified, but decided to go. It turned out to be Orlick, who tied me up with a nuse and was going to kill me before I was rescued by Herbert, Startop, and Trabb's boy. I did gain some information by this visit: Orlick was the one who killed Mrs. Joe, he was the man I tripped over on the stairs, and he had been in contact with Compeyson.

When Herbert, Startop, and I headed down the river, we began to think that someone was following us. We stayed at a terrible and dirty hotel called "The Ship." Here the attendant informed us that I boat was lurking on the river, and then I saw a man looking around. I was terrified and could not sleep very well. Then, in the morning, we had planned to sneak onto the vessel. However, Magwitch was recognized. He went into the water with Compeyson, and it seems as though he has drowned him. Magwitch was badly injured, and died a few days later. Before his death, we he told me about his life and everything he had done.

"If your are not afraid to come to the old marshes tonight or tomorrow night at nine, and to come to the little sluice-house by the limekiln, you had better come. If you want information regarding your uncle Provis, you had much better come and tell no one and lose no time. You must come alone. Bring this with you."

-Letter from Orlick to Pip, page 444

"Everybody knowed Magwitch, and Magwitch could come, and Magwitch could go, and nobody's head would be troubled about him. They ain't so easy concerning me here, dear boy - wouldn't be, leastwise, if they knowed where I was."

-Magwitch's philosophy of life, page 465

Learning about Magwitch

Since the convict showed up in my apartment, I have been trying to hide him from the police. We decided that Clara's house would be ideal because of its location on the river. I made a habit of rowing up and down the river daily, so that when the time came, I could escape with Magwitch without anybody thinking of it. Also, I found out that Compeyson is the convict who is enemies with Magwitch. Compeyson was the one that abandoned Miss Havisham on her wedding day. In addition, Magwitch had been married to Molly, who was insane at the time, and so he gave their daughter, Estella, to Miss Havisham to protect her. Compeyson had been using this criminal activity of Magwitch's wife to blackmail him. Now I am finally beginning to understand the full story between Estella, Miss Havisham, and the convicts.

"Him and Compeyson had been in a bad thing with a rich lady some years afore, and they'd made a pot of money by it..."

-Magwitch explaining Compeyson's past, page 369

"That evil genius, Compeyson, the worst of scoundrels among many scoundrels, knowing of his keeping out of the way at that time, and his reasons for doing so, of course afterwards held the knowledge over his head as a means of keeping him poorer, and working him harder."

-Herbert describing Compeyson's blackmailing of Magwitch, page 432

Who?!?

On a dark and stormy night, while I was in Marseilles, France, a man came into my apartment. I finally recognized him as being my convict! He revealed to me that he is a sheep farmer and has been making money. I first was hinting at him, trying to get him to leave; I am still haunted by memories. However, he revealed that he is my benefactor. The whole time, he has been giving me money and controlling my life. He explained that I am like a son to him, and that he has been thinking of me for a long time. As surprised as I was, I soon realized the disappointment in this news. It meant that Estella and I were really not meant for each other because Miss Havisham was not my benefactor. Once again, I feel terrible about my life.

THIS IS THE END OF THE SECOND STAGE OF PIP'S EXPECTATIONS.

"Not knowing what to do-for, in my astonishment I had lost my self-possession-I reluctantly gave him my hands."

-Pip's surprise as he realized it is the convict, page 336

"For an hour or more, I remained too stunned to think; and it was not until I began to think, that I began to fully know how wrecked I was, and how the ship in which I had sailed had gone to pieces."

-Pip thinking about the fact that the convict is his benefactor, page 344

Hard Feelings Again

Joe came to visit me a while ago. I really didn't want him around, and he kept embarrassing me in front of Herbert. Then, several days later, I received information that my sister, Mrs. Joe, had died. I feel so terrible right now; I have not seen her in many years and I regret being rude to Joe. Her funeral was more of a parade than a simple mourning. The whole ceremony seemed like a joke, and nobody took it seriously. To make the situation worse, people in my home town have been treating me differently. Trabb's boy has been making fun of me, and even Biddy thinks of me differently. I still have hopes with Estella even though she does not seem to like me as much as I like her. However, for the first time in a while, I have decided to do something for a friend. I am going to do what I can to help Herbert in finding a job and helping him with the financial situation. I hope I will feel better about myself.

"Words cannot state the amount of aggravation and injury wreaked upon me by Trabb's boy, when, passing abreast of me, he pulled up his shirt collar, twined his side-hair, stuck an arm akimbo, and smirked extravagantly..."

Pip describing Trabb's boy harassing him, page 261

"My thoughts were further distracted by the excessive pride of Mr. and Mrs. Hubble, who were surpassingly conceited and vainglorious in being members of so distinguished a procession."

-Pip explaining the inappropriate attitude behind the funeral, page 298

Getting to Know New People

Over the past several days, I have gotten to know Mr. Jaggers, Mr. Wemmick, and the Pockets. Mr. Jaggers' name says it all. He is a cruel, abrupt, man who lacks emotion. His home life isn't much different; Jaggers seems to bring out the worst in people and even got me into an argument with Drummle. Mr. Wemmick is Mr. Jaggers' clerk, and his home life differs greatly from his work life. He lives in basically a small castle with a drawbridge, flags, and a moat. He is a very nice man and I think that we will be friends. Matthew Pocket, my new tutor, lives with his wife, Sarah, and several children. Two servants named Flopson and Miller run the household and raise the children. Mrs. Pocket is clueless and only cares about the fact that her father was a knight. I also met and befriended Herbert Pocket, who turned out to be the pale young gentleman from Miss Havisham's. Last but not least, I have gotten to know Drummle and Startop, two other students of Mr. Pocket. I am finally feeling like I have friends, and there is some enjoyment in this new upper-class life.

"Still, Mrs. Pocket was in general the object of a queer sort of respectful pity, because she had not married a title; while Mr. Pocket was the object of a queer sort of forgiving reproach, because he had never got one."

-Pip explaining Mrs. Pocket and her concern over titles, page 200

"By degrees, Wemmick got dryer and harder as we went along, and his mouth tightened into a post-office again. At last, when we got to his place of business and he pulled out his key from his coat-collar, he looked as unconscious..."

-Pip describing Wemmick's home life vs. business life, page 222

This is London?

The city of London is much different than I had expected. I had been picturing a beautiful, upper-class city, but instead it is very dirty, dull, and poor. It turns out that Mr. Jaggers is an abrupt, cruel lawyer who is more concerned about money than helping people. His office reminds me of a jail cell, with a frightening and dirty interior. Mr. Wemmick is a clerk at Mr. Jaggers' office, and I believe that we may be able to become close friends. Also, I met Herbert Pocket, who turned out to be the pale young gentlemen who I fought at Miss Havisham's. He informed me about Miss Havisham's story; she had been planning to marry a gentleman who abandoned her. She adopted his daughter, Estella. Herbert thinks that I should be named "Handel" after the music composer, but I am not sure because I was told to keep the name "Pip."

"...while I was scared by the immensity of London, I think I might have had some faint doubts whether it was not rather ugly, crooked, narrow, and dirty."

-Pip describing his first impressions of London, page 171

"I was content to take a foggy view of the Inn through the window's encrusting dirt, and to stand dolefully looking out, saying to myself that London was decidedly overrated."

-Pip's opinion of London and the Inn, page 183

My "Great Expectations"

A few days ago, I was at the Jolly Bargeman with Joe and Mr. Wopsle. As Mr. Wopsle was telling us a story about a murder case when a man named Mr. Jaggers came to tell me that I had some great expectations. I recognized this man by the smell of scented soap, which was on the man at Miss Havisham's house. Mr. Jaggers informed me that a benefactor wants me to become a gentleman and live in a new sphere of life. Since that day, I have been dealing with even more internal conflicts. Joe is upset about my expectations, which makes it difficult for me. I want to be excited about this new life, but I also have to recognize the pain that it could cause my friends and family. People such as Uncle Pumblechook treat me differently now; it's as if they suddenly have some respect for me. While I rode in the carriage heading away from home, I realized that I am actually upset and guilty about leaving my family and what is familiar to me.

"All night there were coaches in my broken sleep, going to wrong places instead of to London....fantastic failures of journeys occupied me until the day dawned."

-Pip explaining his anxiety, page 169

"I deliberated with an aching heart whether I would not get down when we changed horses and walk back, and have another evening at home, and a better parting."

-Pip having second thoughts about his leave, page 170

Miss Havisham's House

Recently I have been making visits to Miss Havisham's House. She is a bizarre old woman who knows nothing of time. Miss Havisham lives in a dilapidated old house, and it seems as though she still thinks it is her wedding day. Everything is aged and yellow, including the dress that she is still wearing. All the clocks are stopped at twenty-to-nine. This creepy residence has been worsening my mental state, which has not been great recently. One day, I thought I saw her figure outside the house, hanging in front of me. A girl named Estella lives with Miss Havisham who sometimes makes fun of me and other times is very friendly. Even my guilt has been getting worse; I told lies to my family about what I did at her house. Also, I fought a boy about my age and injured him at Miss Havisham's. Yesterday I was bound to Joe, meaning that I will have to serve as his apprentice. I have decided that I really do not want to work as a blacksmith for the rest of my life. This is another situation that is causing me to be confused about my feelings.

"And then I told Joe that I felt very miserable, and that I hadn't been able to explain myself to Mrs. Joe and Pumblechook who were so rude to me, and that there had been a beautiful young lady at Miss Havisham's who was dreadfully proud, and that she had said I was common..."

-Pip explaining his feelings, page 73

"My mind grew uneasy on the subject of the pale young gentleman. The more I thought of the fight, and recalled the pale young gentleman on his back in various stages of puffy and incrimsoned countenance, the more certain it appeared that something would be done to me."

-Pip describing his thoughts of the fight, page 98

Feeling Guilty

Yesterday as I was visiting my family's graves, a came in contact with a convict. This rough, dirty man ordered me to bring him wittles and a file for him. So this morning I stole bread, cheese, mincemeat, brandy, and some meat from my pantry. I feel terribly guilty for robbing my sister, Mrs. Joe. She has not been the best sister to me, seeing as she raised me "by hand." However, she has taken care of me and I feel like I have done the wrong thing by stealing from her. By this point, it seems as if I am off the hook because the convict did not tell anyone that he knew me.

In addition, during Christmas dinner, I was constantly harassed by the guests. They have described me as a nuisance and a terrible boy. Joe is the only one similar to me who I can confide in, although I haven't told him about the robbery because I don't want to hurt our close friendship. Joe is the only one equal to me, and we have developed a stronger relationship recently.

-Pip

"My state of mind regarding the pilfering from which I had been so unexpectedly exonerated, did not impel me to frank disclosure; but I hope it had some dregs of good at the bottom of it."

-Pip describing his mixed feelings over the robbery, page 42

"Young as I was, I believe that I dated a new admiration of Joe from that night. We were equals afterwards, as we had been before; but, afterwards at quiet times when I sat looking at Joe and thinking about him, I had a new sensation of feeling conscious that I was looking up to Joe in my heart."

-Pip describing his close friendship with Joe, page 51

First Posting

Shane Coffield
Pip
Period 7/8
February 22, 2010