Great Expectations Chapters 42-59
Summary
Chapter 44
Miss Havisham admits to Pip that she allowed him to believe she was his secret
benefactor and agrees to help Herbert now that Pip can no longer use his own fortune.
Pip finally reveals his love for Estella, but she denies having lead him to those feelings.
She announces to him that she is going to marry Bentley Drummle. Surprisingly Miss
Havisham feels pity for Pip. A note is given to Pip from Wemmick not to go home.
Chapter 45
Pip spends the night at an inn called the Hummums. The next morning he finds
Wemmick and is informed that Compeyson is looking for Magwitch. Wemmick tells Pip
that Herbert has hidden Magwitch at Clara’s house. Pip leaves to go there.
Chapter 46
Pip meets Clara’s father only to find that he is a drunken ogre. Pip feels good that he was
able to help Herbert in business so she could escape her father. Pip finds Magwitch
upstairs and is surprised by his feelings he now feels for the convict’s safety. He doesn’t
tell Magwitch that Compeyson is looking for him. Pip is protecting this vile criminal as
he did fifteen, or so, years earlier. This again leads us to the theme of crime, guilt, and
punishment. Herbert and Pip begin to discuss ways to help Magwitch escape up the river
and makes plans to stay with him after his escape.
Analysis 40-46
Pip is caught between powerful, conflicting feelings. He is caught between his fear of
Magwitch and his fear for Magwitch. He is afraid of the convict, but fears for his safety.
Magwitch’s story of Compeyson has combined the two sides of Pip’s life into one. He
learns how the early meeting with the convict and his many encounters with Miss
Havisham are connected. This means that the world of his secret guilt and his highest
aspirations share a common history. The story of Compeyson highlights the theme of
social class. Magwitch is of a low social class and Compeyson is an educated man.
Compeyson shows his education by being able to sweet-talk his way into a lighter
sentence, while Magwitch gets a harsher sentence because of his uneducated gruff
exterior. Magwitch shows he has a raw sense of honor underneath his powerful
personality.
Summary
Chapter 47
Pip awaits for Wemmick’s signal to transport Magwitch down river. Although Pip’s
softening towards Magwitch, he still feels compelled to stop using the convict’s money.
Because of this his debts begin to pile up. Pip learns that Compeyson must be following
him. Pip rushes home to tell Herbert and Magwitch.
Chapter 48
Jaggers invites Pip to dinner and gives him a note from Miss Havisham. Molly enters the
room and realizes that Molly is the person he couldn’t place when he was trying to
determine who Estella resembled. He believes that Molly must be Estella’s mother. Pip
questions Wemmick about Molly and learns that she was accused of killing a woman
over her common-law husband and of murdering her little daughter to hurt him. Pip feels
certain that Estella is the missing girl.
Chapter 49
Pip visits Miss Havisham who feels guilty about for having Estella to break his heart. She
seeks Pip’s forgiveness. He acts kindly to Miss Havisham and as he walks in the garden
he has a morbid dream that Miss Havisham is dead. He looks up at her window in time to
see her bend over the fire and burst into flames. He saves Miss Havisham’s life by
putting out the fire, but she becomes an invalid. The next day he leaves her in the care of
her servants and returns to London.
Chapter 50
Pip is burned while trying to save Miss Havisham and while Herbert changes his
bandages they both agree they are growing fonder of Magwitch. Pip does in fact learn
that Magwitch was Molly’s common-law husband and is Estella’s father.
Chapter 51
Ironically it is Wemmick’s lighter side that impresses Jaggers enough to confirm that
Molly is Estella’s mother, but he proclaims he did not know Magwitch’s role in the
situation.
Chapter 52
Herbert finishes his business in securing Herbert’s partnership and learns he is going to
be transferred to the Middle East. Herbert fantasizes about escorting Clara to the land of
the Arabian Nights. Wemmick sends a message that Magwitch should be ready to be
moved in two days. Pip finds a note threatening to harm “Uncle Provis,” and that he must
return to the marshes in secret. The trip home reminds Pip how much he has neglected
Joe, and feels remorse at losing his friendship with Joe.
Analysis 47-52
These chapters help completely connect the world of Miss Havisham to Magwitch. He
realizes that Estella is, and has been, of lower origins than he was from. This does not
change his attitude toward Estella and strengthens it because of his fondness for
Magwitch. The most important development in this section is Miss Havishams
repentance for her behavior toward Pip. Their roles are reversed in chapter 49 when she
drops to her knees to beg forgiveness. She was once the manic, powerful old woman, and
Pip the cowering child. Although bedridden she tells Pip to write under her name “I
forgive her.”
Summary
Chapter 53
Pip returns to the marshes which look gloomy as always signaling danger. He is attacked
and put into a chokehold to find Orlick is his attacker. Orlick accuses Pip of coming
between him and a woman he fancied and vows revenge. Orlick admits to killing Mrs.
Joe, but blames it on Pip because he did it to get back at Pip. Pip responds in bold
fashion, but is afraid that he will die before he can let his family know that he tried to
better himself to help his family. Orlick admits he is in cahoots with Compeyson and has
figured out Magwitch, and that he was the shadowy figure lurking in Pip’s stairwell.
Orlick tries to attack Pip, but Herbert rushes in to save him. Orlick manages to escape and
they leave to get Magwitch to safety.
Chapter 54
During their escape on the Thames River, their trip becomes dismal. They stop at a ratty
hotel and are told about another boat that has been following them. As they approach the
German ship the police call for Magwitch’s arrest. Magwitch sees Compeyson and
attacks him. They fight in the water and only Magwitch resurfaces. He his chained and
arrested. Pip declares to stand by Magwitch.
Chapter 55
Jaggers is certain that Magwitch will be found guilty, but Pip remains loyal. The state is
going to appropriate Magwitch’s fortune including Pip’s share. Herbert prepares to marry
Clara, Wemmick marries Ms. Skiffins, and Herbert offers Pip a job.
Chapter 56
Magwitch is sick and imprisoned, and works to free Magwitch. Magwitch is found guilty
and sentenced to death. Pip tells Magwitch about Estella and he dies in peace. Pip prays
for his benefactor.
Analysis 53-56
Orlick’s reappearance reintroduces the element of pure evil. Orlick is a man who has no
redeeming qualities and hurts people simply because he enjoys it. Orlick blames Pip for
ruining his chances with Biddy, losing his job at Miss Havisham’s and always being
favored by Joe. Pip reflects justice, punishment, and guilt; Orlick reflects the exact
opposite. Orlick is the perfect tool for Compeyson who has orchestrated the whole ordeal.
Pip’s trip down the Thames River to help Magwitch escape has shown us how he has
matured from a nervous, ambivalent child to a confident adult. Pip is redeemed by his
new found love for his secret benefactor; Magwitch is redeemed by his inner nobility and
love for Pip; Miss Havisham is redeemed by her repentance. Though Magwitch and Miss
Havisham die, they die at peace. Magwitch’s dies an uncomplaining man, believing his
death to be forgiveness from God, and this renders his life a victory.
Chapter 57
After Magwitch’s death, Pip falls into a feverish illness. He is arrested for debt, and
nearly carted away to prison; he is spared only because of his extreme illness. Pip begins
hallucinating many aspects of his life including Joe. But Joe has returned to help nurse
Pip through his illness. Miss Havisham dies and distributes her fortune among the
Pockets. Orlick resurfaces, robs Pumblechook and is caught and put in jail. Biddy has
helped Joe how to learn to read and write. Joe leaves London and pays off Pip’s debt. Pip
returns home and vows to marry Biddy.
Chapter 58
When Pip arrives in Kent he finds Satis House pulled apart and set for auction.
Pumblechook treats Pip poorly, but he leaves and tries to find Joe and Biddy. Pip learns
that Joe and Biddy have been married, although disappointed he bids them happiness and
decides to take a job with Herbert.
Chapter 59
Eleven years have passed and Pip is happy with his life in the mercantile business and
tries to convince Biddy he is resigned to be a bachelor. Pip learns that Estella was never
happy with Drummle and Drummle has died. He sees Estella and they share some fond
memories.
Analysis
Pip has learned that social class is not a criterion for happiness; that strict designations of
good and evil, and even of guilt and innocence, are nearly impossible to maintain in an
ever changing world. He learns that the treatment of his loved ones must be the guiding
principle in his life. Pip still judges himself harshly; he has forgiven his enemies, and
been reconciled with his friends.