1. Great Expectations Part 3

2. Chapter 25 This chapter gives us a sense of suspense and mystery. Pip has woken up wondering how he’s going to get the convict out without anyone seeing him. On his way out of his apartment he trips over a man who was sleeping on the stairs. Weird! The night watchman confirms that the convict (who he thinks is Pip’s uncle) was followed in! Who could it be?

3. Chapter 25 To anyone Pip encounters he tells them the convict is his uncle. The convict’s name is Abel Magwitch Symbolism: Abel- son of Adam and Eve; brother of Cain. Abel is slain by his brother! Pip starts to question Magwitch about whether or not anyone knows he’s in London, if anyone came with him (b/c of man the night watchman saw enter with Mag). Pip thinks they are in danger. Pip sees how Magwitch eats very much like an animal- this makes him uncomfortable.

4. Chapter 25 Magwitch offers Pip more money to spend on things like horses and carriages but Pip wants none of it! Pip just wants to know “what the deal is” what he should do with the convict, how long he’s gonna be around, how can he be kept safe…total flip out! Magwitch replies that he is staying for good, no one is going to be able to recognize him b/c too much time has passed and he thinks he’ll be kept safe through disguises. Magwitch also tells Pip that if he is found, he will be put to death. Pip is going to tell Herbert the truth about Magwitch so he can help too.

5. Chapter 25 Pip finds Magwitch a room at a near by inn, some clothes, then goes to see Jaggers about what to do/confirm that Magwitch is the benefactor. Jaggers confirms that Magwitch is the benefactor. We notice even more how distant Jaggers makes himself when dealing with Pip. Plus anyone who has direct contact with a felon becomes an accessory and is punished by the law. Jaggers explained to Pip that he warned Magwitch to never return to London because if he is caught he will die. He won’t be able to help him at all. Pip realizes that Jaggers doesn’t want to know any further details of Magwitch to protect himself from being arrested.

6. Chapter 25 Pip brings the clothes to Mag but he feels that it will be too hard to disguise him- that nothing can mask the true nature of a convict. Pip has A LOT mixed feelings towards Magwitch- he hates him yet he is grateful that he gave Pip the opportunity to become a gentleman and make something of his life. Finally…..Herbert comes home! Herbert meets Magwitch immediately and he makes him swear on a bible to not tell a soul who he is. As a reward for his silence, he (Magwitch) has vowed to make Herbert a gentleman too.

7. Chapter 26 Herbert is completely dumbfounded by all of this. Both guys don’t know what they should do especially because the convict likes Pip soooooo much and wants to spend lots of $$$$ on him. At this point, Pip can’t even take advantage of the fact that Magwitch wants to give him money- he feels guilty! Pip realizes that without Magwitch’s money he is not trained in any job other than blacksmithing and he does not want to go back to that! Maybe he could go work for Herbert! Ironically enough, Herbert says that the company he’s working for (Clarriker’s) could use the extra funding- little does he know that Pip has been financing this company all along to help Herbert!

8. Chapter 26 Herbert warns Pip that turning his back on Magwitch now (after he risked life and limb to see him) would probably be a dangerous thing- he is a convict after all! Pip has such mixed feelings towards Magwitch. On one hand he is completed revolted and hates Magwitch, the convict who terrorized him as a child. On the other hand, he has a strong sense of obligation to his benefactor to whom he is in considerable financial debt. They start to develop a plan: Magwitch needs to get out of England- so that he agrees to go, Pip is going to go with him. Once the two (Magwitch and Pip) are out of England, Pip will leave him and have nothing more to do with him. BUT first before anything more can be done with they need to know more about Magwitch and his history.

9. Page 201 starts Magwitch’s story. It seems he has spent his whole life in and out of jails; misfortune has followed him for as long as he can remember. He recalls having to rob in order to eat even as a youngster. A solider taught him to read, a traveling circus man taught him to write. The way he describes how he was “in and out of jail” and repeats it over and over provides a bit of humor in this chapter. Why would Dickens want to include humor here?!?! To break up the tension and suspense..duh! Over 20 years ago he was introduced to Compeyson, a smooth talking, educated, good looking man. The two decided to go into “business” together: swindling, handwriting forging, stolen bank-note passing.

10. Soon after, Magwitch met Compeyson’s accomplice, a man named Arthur. Apparently this guy and Compeyson had conned a lady years before and got a ton of money out of it but Compeyson gambled it all away. At this point, Arthur was dying and going nuts- had a bunch of hallucinations of a lady dressed in white holding a shroud for him. The scariest thing about this woman was that over where her heart was, the clothing was stained blood red. Arthur died not too long after that- Compeyson looked at it as a blessing. Are we seeing a connection yet?? Compeyson and Magwitch were then captured and tried for committing a felony. Both men were tried for the same offense BUT Compeyson was given only 7 years because he appeared to be a gentleman who had gotten into the wrong crowd. Now Magwitch, because of his appearance and his past convictions, received 14 years!

11. Both men were sent to the Hulks (jail) where Magwitch sought an opportunity to kill Compeyson. He slapped Compeyson across the face, but he was apprehended/stopped before he could do any more damage to him. After the two convicts were captured on the marshes and returned to the Hulks, Magwitch was put in irons, brought to trial again, and given life in prison. **This is where Pip met the two!** Obviously these two do not have the best relationship- they want to kill each other! There’s even a chance that if Compeyson finds out where Magwitch is, he would do whatever he can to permanently get rid of him!

12. Chapter 26 Herbert and Pip connect the dots as Magwitch tells the story!! Did you figure it out? Miss Havisham’s half brother’s name was Arthur Compeyson was the man who left her at the altar The hallucinations that Arthur was having about the woman in white with the blood over her heart were caused by…. Survey says…… GUILT!

13. Chapter 36 Magwitch lies in prison with two broken ribs which have injured one of his lungs. He breathes with a great deal of pain. Pip visits with him often: talks with him, reads to him, and tries to comfort him. Jaggers tries to get the trial postponed but b/c the court knew this request was made b/c Magwitch would not live much longer, it was refused. The law apparently requires that he is tried before he dies. Magwitch’s trial comes, and he and 32 other men and women are sentenced together by the judge. They are judged guilty and sentenced to death.

14. Chapter 36 The judge does single out Magwitch saying he was a law breaker since childhood and even through being punishes and imprisoned and exiled he has yet to learn his “lesson”. Why is it though that the judge fails to accept or realize that for many years Magwitch lives a peaceful and honest life in Australia?! Pip begins to write petitions to anyone who might help Magwitch. Appeal after appeal is written and sent on Magwitch’s behalf. Pip has become obsessed with trying to find a way to save his benefactor from hanging. For 10 days, Pip sits with his hand in Magwitch’s hand as the convict becomes weaker and weaker.

15. Chapter 36 He values his time with Magwitch, down to the very second, and is ashamed to recall that at one time he had wanted to desert him (Magwitch). Pip realizes that Magwitch is dying (as in will pass away any moment now) so he leans down, and tells him that his daughter is alive, has powerful friends, is very beautiful, and that he (Pip) loves her. Pip tells him this because Magwitch was very fond of his daughter and had he been a part of her life, would have made sure she had the finest upbringing and opportunities life could offer. Being he believed she was dead, Magwitch exerted those energies into making Pip a great gentleman. Magwitch would’ve wanted to know that he was the father of a beautiful woman.

16. Chapter 36 Magwitch lifts Pip’s hand to his lips, lets it gently sink down upon his chest, and passes away. Magwitch dies nobly. He accepts the punishment of the court, although he knows he will die before it is carried out. He does not make excuses for himself, his life, or for his actions. He complains about nothing, not even the painful injury he sustains that will be the eventual cause of his death.

17. Chapter 37 Pip returns to his apartment where he becomes extremely ill. It can be argued that dedicating his time and energies to writing petitions and caring for Magwitch is the cause of it. He is in a immense amount of debt and has hardly any money to pay it. His sickness is so bad that he falls in and out of consciousness, can barely move him limbs, and has absolutely no energy.

18. Chapter 37 He barely remembers being arrested for lack of payment for a jeweler’s debt. He also thinks he sees Joe’s face in everyone else’s face. Finally, Pip asks the person in his room for a drink, and it is really Joe! Pip feels terrible that Joe is taking care of him- even insists that Joe stops helping him because he is a horrible, ungrateful person.

19. Chapter 37 Joe comforts Pip and tells him that it is the end of May, and the first of June is tomorrow. Pip has been ill about a month. As Pip begins to recover, he asks about Miss Havisham. Joe tells him that she passed away about a week after Pip became ill and has left most of her wealth to Estella. Upon Pip’s request, she left Matthew Pocket 4,000 pounds and the rest of her relatives very small amounts of money. Joe tells Pip that Orlick is in jail for breaking into Mr. Pumblechook’s house.

20. Chapter 37 Finally, Pip is able to go for a ride with Joe. But it’s awkward: Pip is trying to decide how to tell Joe how he feels about him, because as Pip became stronger, Joe began to become more distant. Joe even addresses Pip as “sir”! If we look at his from a psychologist’s point of view, it can be argued that while ill, Pip is the child and Joe the caretaker. Once, healthy, Pip becomes the gentleman he’s grown to be. Let me rephrase that! Pip’s illness is like a second childhood during which Joe can again nurture and protect him. Pip’s “purification” that started with the fire burning his hands is complete. Pip can now begin again on a new path to maturity, to become a true type of gentleman (one who is strong, loyal, humble, forgiving, and compassionate).

21. Chapter 37 One morning Pip gets up earlier than usual because he has decided that today he will tell Joe how he feels. How does he feel? Pip realizes how wrong and ungrateful he has been and wants their relationship to return to the way it used to be when Pip was a child. Upon going to his room, he finds that Joe has left and gone back to the marshes. Biddy has taught Joe how to write, and he leaves Pip a note. Enclosed in the letter is a receipt for all of Pip’s debts, paid for by Joe. Pip decides to go to the marshes, tell Joe how he feels, and asks Biddy to forgive him and to marry him.