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   mwestwood Teacher
   Community / Jr. College

   eNotes Editor

   One of the novel's genuinely good people, Wemmick has created a little world for his "Aged Parent."  For instance, the ritual of firing the cannon at night is done because the cannon is the only thing the old man can hear.  In addition, Wemmick tells Pip that he enjoys the ritual each night as it "helps to sweep away the Newgate cobwebs." 

   The Wemmick "museum" acts as a diversion from the grey and morbid job that Wemmick has at times.  While he works for Jaggers, Wemmick is wooden, his mouth "like a postbox" and he follows coldly businesslike methods he has learned from Mr. Jaggers.  But, at home Wemmick is gentle, relaxed, and devoted to this father.  Thus Wemmick has two type roles; seeing him as a warm person does much for Pip as it teaches him that "proper" people can have warm hearts, as well.

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   Posted by mwestwood on Friday January 30, 2009 at 9:00 AM