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Unit 12: Great Expectations: Detailed Study of Text-I

Analysis Notes

Pip’s fear that Joe would “think worse of me than I was” if Pip told him about the file and
pork pie is a fear that Pip will revisit throughout his young life. Joe is the only friend in the
world for Pip, he is his entire society.

Did u know? Pip fears to lose this companionship by telling the truth. In the future, Pip
will struggle with telling the truth because of the fear that society will
think less of him.

Chapter 7
Pip describes a little of his education with Mr. Wopsle’s great aunt, a “ridiculous old lady”
who had started a small school in her cottage. The education, as Pip describes it, is less than
satisfactory, but Pip does learn some basics from Biddy, an orphan girl who works for
Mrs. Wopsle.
While doing his homework one night, Pip discovers that Joe is illiterate. Joe explains that he
never stayed in school long because his father, a drunk and physically abusive to him and his
mother, kept him out. Joe goes on to explain to Pip that, because of his father, Joe stays
humble to Mrs. Joe. “I’m dead afeerd of going wrong in the way of not doing what’s right by
a woman,” he says. He lets Mrs. Joe “Ram-page” over him because he sees how difficult it is
to be a woman, remembering his mother, and he wants to do the right thing as a man. Pip has
new understanding and respect for Joe.
Mrs. Joe comes home, quite excited, and proclaims that Pip is going to “play” for
Miss. Havisham, “a rich and grim lady who lived in a large and dismal house.” Uncle Pumblechook
suggested Pip to Miss. Havisham when she asked if he knew any small boys. Pip was to go
tomorrow and spend the evening at Uncle Pumblechook’s in town.

Analysis

Chapter Seven and Chapter Eight mark a key turning point in the novel, separating Pip’s
young childhood in the humble company of Joe from the beginnings of greater expectations
in the company of higher society.
The chapter presents a relationship between Joe and Pip which is growing in love and respect.
Joe is at the bottom of the social hierarchy, and, particularly, at the bottom of his household’s
hierarchy but Pip finds new respect for his position. “I had a new sensation of feeling conscious
that I was looking up to Joe in my heart.” The image is almost ideal: the young Pip and Joe
sitting next to the fire, Pip admiring him and teaching him the alphabet.
Dickens contrasts this humble setting with the opportunity presented at the end of the chapter
by the noisy entrance and rather insolent announcement by Mrs. Joe. She introduces the first
of Pip’s “great expectations” in the form of the job given to Pip “to play” for Miss. Havisham:
“...this boy’s fortune may be made by his going to Miss Havisham’s.” Although little is known about
the wealthy woman, and less is known exactly how Pip is supposed to “play,” the opportunity
is one where Pip will be in the company of a higher social and economic class of people.

Chapter 8
Pip spends the evening at Mr. Pumblechook’s and is brought to Miss. Havisham’s after a
meager breakfast. They are met at the gate by a young woman, Estella, “who was very pretty

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