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Fiction

Notes Part II: Chapter 15

Pip’s conscience bothers him with regard to Joe and Biddy who he continues to ignore. As
well, he feels guilty for leading Herbert into a life of debt by carrying him along on a very
expensive lifestyle of dinners, drinks and shows.
Pip describes his life at Bernard’s Inn with Herbert: “We spent as much money as we could,
and got as little for it as people could make up their minds to give us. We were always more
or less miserable and most of our acquaintances were in the same condition... our case was in
the last aspect a common one.”
They “check their affairs” by shuffling papers and bills and realize that, though they are in
far in debt both, are quite unsure just how far in debt they have gone.

After one evening of “checking their affairs,” a letter comes for Pip announcing the death of
Mrs. Joe Gargery.

Analysis

Pip makes clear in this chapter that, in general, he is not happy with his lifestyle. He is not
happy with his state of mind, feeling guilty about Joe and Biddy, nor with his day-to-day life
as a young gentleman about town. A symbol of the emptiness he feels with being a gentleman
around town is indicated by his joining a men’s club called “Finches of the Grove.” The group
meets over dinner, argues, and gets drunk and Narrator Pip does not respect the group of
young gentleman enough to even introduce their names.

The only true friend Pip has met is Herbert, and Pip feels that he is betraying even that
relationship by living the high life with a man who cannot afford it.
The chapter reinforces what the reader already knows about Pip: He has chosen a lifestyle
which alienates himself from the people he loves, and even alienates him from his true self.

Part II: Chapter 16
Pip returns home to attend the funeral — which turns out to be a ridiculous affair put on by
Trabb the tailor and made worse by the pompous Pumblechook and the foolish Hubbles.
Later, however, Joe and Pip sit comfortably by the fire like times of old. Pip finds out that
before she died, his sister put her head on Joe and said, “Joe... Pardon... Pip.”
Later, Biddy and Pip go for a walk and Pip asks what she will do now. She tells him she is
going to open her own school. Biddy insinuates that Pip will not be returning soon as he
promises. Pip leaves insulted.

Analysis
As Joe predicted, the environment of the forge was a better environment for an honest relationship
between he and Pip. Joe is much more comfortable with Pip in the comfort of his own home,
smoking his pipe by the fire.
Discomfort continues, however, between Pip and Biddy. Biddy’s honest evaluations of Pip are
the cause of this discomfort. It is like talking to his own conscience. Biddy seems to be able
to see right through Pip, as when she predicts that he will not be back too often, while at the
same time she seems to sympathize with his position. Biddy’s relationship with Pip appears
as a contrast to Estella’s relationship with him. In the former, Pip is loved by a woman who

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