Page 176 - DENG404_FICTION

Fiction

Notes Part III: Chapter 12

Pip wants to make sure he has the whole thing straight and goes to see Jaggers the next
morning.
Pip tells Jaggers that he knows his servant woman is the mother of Estella and that Jaggers
brought her to Miss Havisham. He also tells him Magwitch is the father. Jaggers was not
aware of this and is as visibly amazed as Jaggers can get. Then Pip asks him to give him more
details on the story and appeals to Wemmick, standing by, to help him. While doing so, he
tells Jaggers of Wemmick’s warm castle and of his “Aged” relative. Jaggers is amazed at this
as well, and tells Pip more of the story.
Jaggers had, in fact, talked (or rather threatened) his servant woman out of keeping the child
and knew that Miss Havisham was looking to adopt. His reasoning amazes Pip, and Wemmick
moreso, with its humanity. Jaggers says he wanted to save the child, to give it a chance in life,
because he had seen too many children in her situation grow up in and out of jails and
surrounded by the dangerous world of crime.

Analysis

The solving of the mysteries is coupled with the unveiling of the true personalities of the
characters involved. In this chapter, we are pleased to learn that Jaggers does indeed have a
heart, and his heart went out to little Estella. Before this scene, Young Pip had often imagined
that the face casts of the two dead criminals in Jaggers’ office had a different expression
everytime he walked in, implying that the masks of two dead men had more feelings and
emotions than the living occupant of the room, Jaggers. Now, Jaggers is revealed, though only
for a moment.

Wemmick’s private self, too, is revealed in the presence of his employer. In a humorous
commentary, Pip describes how uncomfortable they are with their new relationship. By berating
a harried convict for his show of emotion, the two revert immediately to their old selves and
find themselves on a much more comfortable plane.

Part III: Chapter 13

Wemmick sends Pip a note indicating that now may be a good time to escape with Magwitch
and get him out of the country.
Herbert and Pip plan to take the boat out with Magwitch in a few days, take him down the
Thames until they run into a steamer headed for a foreign port.
In the meantime, Pip gets another letter, this one by an anonymous author, telling him to come
down to the limekiln in the marshes that night. Once again, Pip goes to his hometown and
walks out to the marshes.

Analysis

On returning his village yet again, Pip hears his own story from an innkeeper who didn’t
know his identity. The story was about a young man from the village who had come into some
property. This young man would often come back, but would give a cold-shoulder to the man
who had been his initial benefactor and protector. The innkeeper is talking about Pumblechook
as Pip’s initial benefactor as Pumblechook in his loud mouth likes to identify himself. But for
Pip it is yet another reminder of the “cold shoulder” that he has given Joe all these years. Joe
truly was his benefactor and never asked for anything in return (unlike Pumblechook). With

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