Great Expectations: Chapters 18-19

The What Chapter 18: In this chapter Pip is being sought out by Mr. Jaggers, a London lawyer who also happened to work for Ms. Havisham in the past (chapter 11). He brought the news that an unknown benefactor, who he thinks is Ms. Havisham, had taken an interest in him and would like for "Mr. Pip" to move to London to become a gentleman. This will effect his family a great deal, but Joe refused to accept any compensation and even felt discouraged by the offer. While Pip is surrounded by this new world, he has never felt lonelier.  Chapter 19: Pip is very excited for his exploration of London, but becomes very haughty. He speaks down to his family and friends, insincerely stating how much that they would "miss" him. Pip has a conversation with Biddy about teaching his brother in law every manner that she knew so that  one day he might fit in with him and his new life. Biddy stands up to Pip saying that its possible that Joe is proud of his life now and does not want to change into someone he is not. It's not until he is on his way to London in the carriage that he realized how much he would miss his family.

The Why The characters justify the importance of Pip's choices by giving excuses. For example, like when he let the significance of his exotic new life ruin and insult his alternate bleak one. Pip's friends and family recognize the momentous risk that he was about to take and are proud that he has "worked" so hard to get to where he is now.

The How Pip's choices affect everyone around him. His choice to not give up on Estella affects Biddy. His decision to go work in London instead of the blacksmith shop affects Mr. And Mrs. Joe Gargery and their income. Pip becomes very full himself at this point in the book and doesn’t care how his choices affect them.

THe Message In chapter 18, the theme is "a quest for power will not always succeed". This is true because he is taking many risks and losing family along the way to become something he's not positive he can actually be. In chapter 19, the theme is "you don’t know what you have until it's gone", because as the carriage is leaving his home, he realizes how much he will miss them.

Satire Relation/ figurative Language These chapters are very satirical because the characters used to mess with or make fun of the upper class, but now one of their own have become a part of that group. Ex: "We were deeply persuaded that the unfortunate Wopsle had gone too far, and had better stop in his reckless career while there was yet time." (pg 144) Simile: "I thought Mr. Jaggers glanced at Joe as if he considered him a fool for disinterestedness." (pg 145) This is a great example of figurative language from "Great Expectations" because it shows the drastic difference between the upper and lower classes of the United Kingdom at the time. Metaphor: "But I encouraged Joe at the time. I was lost in the mazes of my future fortunes, and could not retrace the bypaths we had trodden together." (pg 149) This type of figurative language is powerful because it showed how lost he was at the moment and how he didn't know how to handle the pressure he was under.

Works Cited Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1942. Print.  Shmoop Editorial Team. "Great Expectations Chapter 19 Summary." Shmoop. Shmoop University, 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 24 Jan. 2017. "Great Expectations Quotes by Charles Dickens." By Charles Dickens. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2017.