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Unit 13: Great Expectations: Detailed Study of Text-II

Still, Pip feels uneasy. By the mere proximity of the convicts and their story, Pip is reminded Notes
how his past will always cling to him.

Part II: Chapter 10

Pip imagines that Miss. Havisham has adopted both he and Estella to raise them to be with
each other. Pip imagines he and Estella inhabiting the old Satis House and flinging open the
windows to let the sun and the breeze in.
He meets Orlick at the gate of The Satis House and learns that he is now working for
Miss. Havisham. He goes in to meet her and Estella, who is now older and so much more
beautiful that he doesn’t recognize her at first. Facing her now, he slips back “into the coarse
and common voice” of his youth and she, in return, treated him like the boy he used to be.
She is coming from France and on her way to live in London. They talk of his new friends and
his old friends: “Who is fit for you then is not fit for you now,” Estella said, asking about Joe.
Pip agrees and, at that moment, decides not to go see Joe and Biddy.
It is here that Pip sees something strikingly familiar in Estella’s face. He can’t quite place the
look, but an expression on her face reminds him of someone.

Later, they all have dinner with Jaggers, who, curiously, does not look at Estella the whole
meal.

Analysis

We are given a much greater look into the character of Estella in this chapter. It is evident, or
at least Estella wants to be convinced of the fact, that Miss. Havisham has been successful in
raising her as a beautiful but emotionless woman. “I have no heart,” she tells Pip.

Notes Miss. Havisham will have her revenge on the male gender: “I developed her into
what she is, that she might be loved,” she tells Pip. “Love her!”

The master-apprentice archetype is seen in a number of different relationships through Great
Expectations, sometimes demonstrating the positive nature of the relationships, sometimes
demonstrating the negative. The Miss Havisham/Estella master-apprentice relationship is decidedly
negative. Miss. Havisham raised Estella not as an individual, but as an extension of herself to
fulfill that which she had not in her own life (not to find love, however, but to revenge love).
In contrast, Pip was an apprentice to Joe, but Joe raised him out of generosity and love as
opposed to any selfish reasons. Other master/apprentice relationships — Mr. Trabb and his
boy, Pip’s own “Avenger” servant boy — are more of a comment on the abusive treatment of
children in Victorian times.

13.2 Part II, Chapters 11–20 (30–39)

Part II: Chapter 11

Pip and Jaggers return to the inn in town. Pip mentions to Jaggers that Orlick may not be a
trustworthy assistant to Miss Havisham and Jaggers tells Pip that he will see him fired.
Pip stays away from Joe and Biddy’s house and the forge, but walks around town, enjoying
the admiring looks he gets from his past neighbors. This pleasant walk is disturbed by the

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