Chapters 58 and 59 Summary
Chapter 58
Pip, no longer wealthy, returns to his hometown. He does not receive the same elite treatment at the Blue Boar that he experienced in the past, but he rests well. Upon waking, Pip travels to Satis House and is shocked to find that the property has been auctioned off and that the land has been divided into lots. He then returns to the Blue Boar for breakfast, where he must endure a lecture and passive-aggressive treatment by Pumblechook.
Once Pip has had his fill of Pumblechook's treatment, he leaves to find Joe and Biddy. After searching for Joe and Biddy at the schoolhouse and at the forge, Pip finds them at the house, where he is surprised to find they have just been married. He is overwhelmed by this news and inwardly grateful that he never told Joe that he wanted to marry Biddy. Rather than become sour, however, Pip blesses the couple and congratulates them. He then apologizes for not being a solid friend as of late and informs them that he is heading to Cairo. He bids them farewell and promises to repay them for paying off his debts.
Chapter 59
Pip is in Egypt, where he writes to Joe and Biddy often. He eventually returns to England after eleven years of being away. Upon returning, he immediately visits Joe and Biddy. He discovers that they have children, including a son named Pip, whom adult Pip becomes fond of. Biddy asks Pip if he has finally married, and Pip replies that he is a happy bachelor living with Herbert and Clara and that although he thinks of Estella, he has given up on the chance of the two of them being romantically involved. He has also heard that Drummle was abusive to Estella and was eventually kicked to death by one of his own horses, likely because he beat the horse.
There are two existing endings to the novel. In the first, official ending, Pip revisits the place where Satis House used to stand. All that is left is a fence and the wall of the garden. While he is there, he runs into Estella. She has aged and is softer as a result of the abuse she suffered from Drummle. The two speak and then leave together, hand in hand. Pip says that he "saw no shadow of another parting from her."
The second ending is the original ending, which Dickens eventually changed. In the original ending, Pip is called upon by Estella, who married a doctor after Drummle died. She has gone through many rough years and assures Pip that her suffering has caused her to soften and develop empathy for others.
Expert Q&A
What does the last line of Great Expectations mean?
The last line of Great Expectations suggests that Pip and Estella enter a romantic relationship, though Charles Dickens leaves this vague.
Why do Joe and Biddy name their son Pip in Chapter 59 of Great Expectations?
Joe and Biddy name their son Pip to honor the original Pip, reflecting their affection and hope that their son might grow to be like him. Despite Pip's past arrogance and distance, Joe's forgiving nature and fondness for Pip lead to this gesture. This act symbolizes reconciliation and the enduring bond between them, highlighting Joe's charitable heart and the deep connection they share.
In Chapters 58 and 59 of Great Expectations, what does Pip ask of Joe and Biddy, and what change occurs in their relationship?
In Chapters 58 and 59, Pip returns to Joe's house intending to propose to Biddy, only to discover that she has just married Joe. Pip asks Joe and Biddy for forgiveness for his past neglect and arrogance. He also requests that they not tell their future children about his ungrateful behavior, signifying a change in their relationship as Pip seeks reconciliation and absolution for his previous actions.
Summarize the next eleven years of Pip’s life in Chapter 58 of Great Expectations.
In Chapter 58, Pip spends the next eleven years working in Cairo for Herbert at Clarriker & Company. The business thrives, and Pip eventually becomes a partner. He lives frugally, pays off his debts, and maintains contact with Joe and Biddy. Over time, Pip grows wiser, recognizing the virtues in Herbert and others he once scorned, realizing his past judgments were flawed and rooted in his own deficiencies.
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