Pip is really a fish out of water in London. When he first gets there, he finds the city dirty and disturbing. It does not at all live up to his expectations.
We Britons had at that time particularly settled that it was treasonable to doubt our having and our being the best of everything: otherwise, while I was scared by the immensity of London, I think I might have had some faint doubts whether it was not rather ugly, crooked, narrow, and dirty (Chapter 20).
Pip has other disappointments. Pip finds Jaggers and Wemmick confusing. Jaggers refuses to tell him anything, and Wemmick is enigmatic and contradictory. Off work, Wemmick does give Pip some guidance, but he basically just lets Pip dig himself into a hole.
So now, as an infallible way of making little ease great ease, I began to contract a quantity of debt. I could hardly begin but Herbert must begin too, so he soon followed (Chapter 34).
Pip and Herbert are helpless when it comes to money. Never having had any, Pip does not know how to manage it. Wemmick and Jaggers do not intervene. Pip really should not have debts since he can get money from Wemmick. Still, he just keeps buying things on credit.
By far the greatest misery Pip has is related to Estella. He assumes that, when he was elevated to a gentleman, he was designed for her. This relationship never really materializes, though. Estella tells Pip she likes him more than most people, as a friend, but can never love him or anyone else. When Drummle says he is with Estella, Pip gets angry. It turns out to be true, though.
But, Estella, do hear me speak. It makes me wretched that you should encourage a man so generally despised as Drummle. You know he is despised (Chapter 38).
Ultimately, Pip will lose everything he gained or thought he had gained. Estella marries Drummle. Magwitch turns out to be his benefactor, not Miss Havisham. He loses the money and Magwitch, and ends up in debtors' prison.
No comments:
Post a Comment