Chapters 24 and 25 Summary
Chapter 24
Pip meets with Matthew Pocket to discuss his plans for the future. Mr. Pocket hopes to educate Pip for his intended career as best he can. Pip admires Mr. Pocket for treating him with such honesty and respect.
Pip goes to Mr. Jaggers to request money so he can start furnishing his apartment at Barnard's Inn. Mr. Jaggers and Pip haggle over how much money he'll take out before settling on twenty pounds. Mr. Jaggers's unsmiling and even suspicious demeanor is off-putting to Pip, but Wemmick tells him not to worry about it, as it is merely Jaggers's way of conducting business.
Wemmick gives Pip a tour of the firm and introduces him to the other clerks. He also shows Pip Jaggers's office and shares the story behind the two grotesque death masks Jaggers has upon the wall. They are both former customers of Jaggers's who ended up murdering other people, the first murdering his own master and the other being a will-forger who murdered the alleged testators.
Wemmick invites Pip to come home with him sometime, and Pip accepts. He asks if Pip has ever dined with Jaggers, and when Pip replies in the negative, Wemmick advises him to observe Jaggers's housekeeper when he gets the chance, since she is "a wild beast tamed" by her master's hands.
Pip and Wemmick then visit a police-court, where they witness Jaggers ruthlessly at work examining and cross-examining accused persons. His manner impresses Pip greatly.
Chapter 25
Pip is introduced to two of Pocket's former students, the sullen Bentley Drummle and the effeminate Startop. While Startop's indulged manner and obsessive love for his mother are off-putting, Pip still prefers him to Drummle. Pip considers Herbert Pocket his best friend, since Herbert is the person with whom he is most intimate. The two spend much time together.
Pip meets Herbert's relatives, who turn out to be Mr. and Mrs. Camilla (the latter being Mr. Pocket's sister) and Georgiana (whom Pip originally encountered at Miss Havisham's house). They dislike Pip, but due to their snobbishness, they are overly nice to him because of his rise in station and his money.
Meanwhile, Pip becomes loose with his money, spending more than he ought. However, he is a good student "through good and evil."
After some weeks of not seeing him, Pip meets Wemmick again. Wemmick informs Pip that Jaggers will likely invite Pip to dinner soon. After that, Wemmick asks Pip to dine with him at home.
Pip takes up Wemmick's offer to visit his house, which turns out to be a small cottage made to appear like a castle. There are gardens about as well. Wemmick is proud of his eccentric little home, which he shares with his elderly father.
While at Wemmick's house, Pip is astonished by how different Wemmick's demeanor is. At the office, Wemmick is hard, but at home, he is personable and affectionate with his father. It seems that he switches between these two personas often, for the moment the two men walk back to work the next day, Wemmick reverts to his "dryer" and "harder" law-office self, as though his friendlier side never existed at all.
Expert Q&A
What information did Herbert reveal to Pip about Estella in Chapter 25?
In Chapter 25, Herbert reveals to Pip that Estella is raised by Miss Havisham to seek revenge on men, making her hard and capricious. Pip learns his role as a plaything in this scheme. Herbert also discloses Estella's parentage: she is the daughter of Magwitch and Molly. Molly works for Jaggers, and Magwitch is the convict Pip aided as a child. Estella was placed with Miss Havisham to ensure her safety, despite Miss Havisham's instability.
How can Drummle and Startop be compared in Chapter 25 of Great Expectations?
In Chapter 25, Drummle and Startop are contrasted in several ways. Drummle is physically described as heavy and sluggish, with a large, awkward tongue, reflecting his idle and proud nature. He comes from a wealthy background. In contrast, Startop has delicate features, resembling his mother, and is light-hearted and likeable. Raised and spoiled by a weak mother, he is devoted to her, which makes him more sympathetic and approachable than Drummle.
Why does Pip struggle to ask Mr. Jaggers for a specific amount of money for furniture in Chapter 24?
Pip struggles to ask Mr. Jaggers for a specific amount of money for furniture because he is inexperienced in managing finances and purchasing items like furniture. Raised as a blacksmith's apprentice, Pip lacks the knowledge of a gentleman's lifestyle. When Mr. Jaggers suggests fifty pounds, Pip is unsure if this is appropriate, as he has no concept of the costs involved and does not want to overstep his bounds.
In Chapter 24 of Great Expectations, what is the purpose of Pip's education?
The purpose of Pip's education is to transform him into a gentleman, as desired by his benefactor Abel Magwitch. Magwitch, being uneducated, only wants Pip to look and act the part, focusing on English grammar and manners. This aim leaves Pip without practical skills, leading to his realization of the superficiality of being a "gentleman." Despite this, Pip becomes self-educated through reading, ultimately achieving Magwitch's vision of gentlemanly status.
In Chapter 24 of Great Expectations, what mixed feelings does Pip experience during Joe's visit?
In Chapter 24, Pip experiences mixed feelings during Joe's visit. He feels embarrassed and ashamed of Joe, fearing that others, like Bentley Drummle, will see his humble origins. Despite being bound to Joe by many ties, Pip wishes he could avoid the visit. However, he also wants to impress Joe, decorating his rooms lavishly. Pip is critical of Joe's mannerisms and dress, highlighting how his expectations have distanced him from his family.
Why does Mr. Wemmick say Mr. Jaggers is "deeper than Australia" in Great Expectations Chapter 24?
Mr. Wemmick describes Mr. Jaggers as "deep as Australia" to highlight Jaggers' profound and mysterious nature. Wemmick uses Australia, a penal colony far from England, to symbolize depth and secrecy, reflecting Jaggers' enigmatic character and his involvement with transported convicts like Magwitch. This metaphor also foreshadows Pip's eventual discovery of his benefactor's identity. Wemmick, admiring Jaggers, tries to emulate his depth, enjoying the possession of secret knowledge without revealing it.
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