Chapters 32 and 33
Chapters 32 and 33 Summary
Chapter 32
Pip receives a letter from Estella informing him that she will be visiting London. She tells him to meet her at the stage. The ecstatic Pip arrives at the stage office several hours early, too excited to wait. As he is waiting, he runs into Mr. Wemmick, who suggests that the two men visit Newgate Prison.
Pip is disturbed the chaos of the prison and the neglect of the prisoners. Wemmick knows all of them, at least in passing, and he is popular among them. He stops to speak briefly with them, and he introduces Pip to a colonel who is soon to be hanged. The experience leaves Pip feeling dirty and uneasy. He returns to the stage office, and Estella arrives.
Chapter 33
When Estella arrives, Pip finds her more beautiful than ever, and he detects a few subtle changes in her attitude. She instructs Pip to order a carriage to take her and her possessions on to Richmond. In Richmond, Estella is to live with a well-connected woman who will supervise her entry into society. As they wait, they discuss Miss Havisham’s intentions, Estella notes that her guardian’s relatives hate Pip. She, in turn, despises them because of their deceitful, sycophantic behavior.
While Estella and Pip take tea in a less-than-elegant private sitting room, she asks about the developments in Pip’s life. He thinks to himself that he would be happy to stay there with her forever. They continue to talk as they take the carriage to Richmond, where she assures him that he may call on her. Safely delivering her to an old house in an old neighborhood, he again thinks how happy he would be to stay with her.
Back in London, Pip goes to visit Mr. Pocket but learns that is he has gone to give a lecture. He speaks with Mrs. Pocket, who is distressed because she had used a packet of needles to the calm the fussy baby and she has realized that several needles are missing. Attempting to reconcile this error with her husband’s expertise in family and household management, Pip concludes that he should not confide in Mr. and Mrs. Pocket.
Expert Q&A
How do Miss Havisham's relatives feel about Pip in chapter 33 of Great Expectations?
Miss Havisham's relatives harbor deep resentment towards Pip, wishing for his failure and attempting to tarnish his reputation with Miss Havisham. They spread malicious gossip and write disparaging letters, hoping to undermine his standing. Estella reveals that these relatives are obsessed with Pip's downfall, but she reassures him that Miss Havisham disregards their negative reports. Estella finds amusement in their futile attempts to influence Miss Havisham's opinion of Pip.
How does Estella feel about visiting London in Chapter 33 of Great Expectations?
In Chapter 33, Estella expresses resentment toward Miss Havisham during her visit to London. She warns Pip against loving her, highlighting her emotional detachment due to Miss Havisham's upbringing. Estella refers to Miss Havisham as an "impostor of a woman," acknowledging her own inability to feel love. Her tired sigh at the mention of Miss Havisham missing her suggests a growing awareness of Miss Havisham's manipulative intentions.
Why is Wemmick compared to a gardener among his prisoners in Chapter 32 of Great Expectations?
Wemmick is compared to a gardener among his prisoners because of his detached and methodical manner as he tours Newgate Prison. He observes the inmates' progress towards their trials much like a gardener checks on plants. Wemmick acknowledges prisoners with nods, similar to how a gardener might acknowledge plants, and considers the "replacement" of executed prisoners as if rearranging pots in a garden.
Does chapter 33 of Great Expectations suggest Estella sees Miss Havisham's revenge plan as ill-advised?
Chapter 33 of Great Expectations suggests that Estella views Miss Havisham's revenge plan as ill-advised. Estella, shaped by Miss Havisham to be cold and unfeeling, is indifferent to Pip and follows orders without emotion. Estella's remark, "We are not free to follow our own devices," implies her lack of agency. Her later confrontation with Miss Havisham reveals Estella's awareness of her own emotional detachment as a direct result of Miss Havisham's influence.
Why doesn't Pip confide his heartache to Mr. Pocket in chapter 33 of Great Expectations?
Pip refrains from confiding his heartache to Mr. Pocket because of the dysfunctional atmosphere in the Pocket household. Despite Mr. Pocket's reputation for giving excellent advice, Pip is discouraged by Mrs. Pocket's obsession with social status and her neglectful behavior, which makes him uncomfortable. This incident highlights Pip's fear of being misunderstood and reinforces Charles Dickens's critique of the overemphasis on social class in the novel.
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