As you accompany Pip on his journey to become a gentleman,you may experience some challenges. I will post several discussion questions to help you reflect and interact with others on your reading of Great Expectations.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Chapters 48-51
How is the theme of illusion reinforced in these chapters? In other words, nothing is what it orginally seemed for Pip. How so?
Dear Lord, there are more plot twists in this section than an M. Night Shamalan movie. Estella isn't an orphan, Magwitch is her Dad, Molly is her mom. Ms. Havisham repents and burns, really, half of the accepted character's backgrounds are changed. Oh, and something cool I realized is that when Ms. H. repents and catches fire what saves her is the wedding feast that pretty well symbolizes her past. So, when her past burns away, she's saved. Coupled with this is her request that she be wrapped in it when she dies at the beginning of the book. But back to the question, everyone had a face they were showing to Pip, and all the barely interconnected lies come crushing down when he figures it out, and it takes him time to adjust to new reality. ~Oliver Stein
The theme of illusion seems to be expressed mainly towards the end but is also expressed through out the entire book. The theme of illusion is strictly reinforced within these chapters as well for example in the beging of the story Pip has a mind set where Magwitch seems to be a horrible nasty criminal, and Pip wishes to become an uncommon boy, a rich boy with much intellegence he sees this as a happy life. In these few chapters Pips mind set is completely flipped almost like hes been tricked, Pip discovers that Magwitch is actually Estellas real father, and Estella is adopted. This is such a change for Pip because of his previous veiws on Magwitch. In these chapters, Pip discovers who Molly actually is. Pip originally thought Molly was just a house keeper but the truth is ths Molly is Estellas birth mom. Lastly Pip is served with a great disapointment where Estella reveals that she will be marrying Drummel. This is one of the greatest illusions in these chapters because Pip is led into believing that he will marry Estella because she loves him like he loves her but to his disapointment it is nothing but an illusion. Monica Palucci
Throughout these chapters the theme of illusion is shown thrown more so than in previous chapters. For Pip it seems as if every charecter in the book has a new story he just found out about. Although Pip thought he new all about the people in his social circle he was greatly surprised when the missing holes of information were closed. First, it is revealed to Pip that Molly is the original mother of Estella and her father is Magwitch. Pip led to believe that Magwitch was just a criminal who did a good dead but when he figured out he was Estella's father it was a geat shock to all of us. Pip also figures out that Estella is adopted and that is how she got in the hands of Miss Havisham. As these select chapters unfolds everything and every charecter seem to all be connected in some way. Finally, Estella announces to Pip that she will shortly be marrying Drummel. Not only was this a shock to Pip but it was a great dissapointment. Due to being led on that Estella and him were to marry it caused a great burden on Pip when he was revealed the information about Estella and Drummel. As we can see the theme of illusion is greatly inforced in these chapters. -Kerry Schwartz
When Pip was first asked to come to London he figured that he was going there to receive an education and finally become a gentlemen. However, since time has moved on Pips past intertwines with new characters that he meets in the present day. Things that he first thought were simple have now turned complicated and problematic. For example, finding out who Estella’s parents are and the crimes that the mother was convicted of, that don’t seem to be true. The theme of illusion is expressed by everyone seeming to be fine with the situation when it is actually not okay. Pip is the only one who seems to want to find out the truth about what really happened in the past with the case. -Dayna Weintraub
THERE'S SO MUCH STUFF GOING ON IT'S HARD TO KEEP TRACK. The entire novel has been twisted and everything is beginning to tie together! So many unanswered questions have been answered and it's becoming more and more obvious that everyone is connected, in some way, by Estella and Miss Havisham. Molly's Estella's mother, who's living with Compeyson, who's the man pursuing Magwitch, Molly's ex-lover and Estella's father! Miss Havisham's secrets and inner feelings have also been brought out. In the last section of the book, so cold and heartless, but now, in chapter 49, she's actually clinging to Pips feet and begging for his forgiveness! She's completely gone from her vengeful old self to utter remorse and guilt. Pip's life has turned upside down what with Estella's engagement to Drummel and Miss Havisham not being his benefactor, and Estella's entanglement with Molly and Magwitch (being given up to Miss Havisham after the murder trial). It seems to me that everyone BUT Pip is aware of all of these connections...
In these chapters everything is starting to tie together. You find out that Estella's father is Magwitch, you find out that Magwitch's partner in crime is the one who left Miss Havisham at the alter, and much more. As oliver said, that when "her past burns away, thats what saves her". Pip came to london expecting a simple, easier-way-of-living kind of life, and to have Estella as his own. But what he finds out about the past, and present is completely different then what he expected. The illusion in this book, is that everyone is not what they seemed to be, Once you see their past.
Illusion is undoubtably present in these chapters. Myserious coincidences that seemed strange were revealed to be completely uncoincidetal. First, Molly, Jaggers' serant was pointed out to Pip in the beginning of the book, and her strong, scarred hands were shown to Pip. He later figured out that Molly was Estella's mom. Wemmick most likely told Pip to take notice of her, so he would put the two together. Also, Miss Havisham was characterized as cold and ruteless. She had trained Estella to seek revenge on men. When she breaks down and apologizes for her actions, it is shown that she only ever wanted to protect Estella from the misery she had suffered. It was never he intentions to turn her heart cold. Further, Magwitch who seemed to be nothing but a dirty convict who wanted to make a gentleman out of a random child beacuse he knew he would ever be one himself, turned out to be Estella's father! It appeared that Jaggers had known nothing of Estella's background, but it was revealed that he was responsible for her being placed in Miss Havisham's care. All of this newly found iformation in such a short period of time was hard to believe.
Within chapters 48-51 this theme of illusion constantly is reinforced. Like everyone stated above, Pip’s intention was for him to become a gentlemen. Once he is surrounded by a bunch of different people, his life suddenly isn’t how he expects. Surprisingly, within this chapters he becomes aware that the convict is his benefactor and also, Estella’s father. From this knowledge, Pip takes in the fact that he was never intended to marry Estella and it was all pretty much some “fantasy”. Furthermore, he soon discovers through observation that Molly, Mr.Jaggers servant resembles Estella, and could likely be her mother. While he set behind his life of poverty in Kent, and is exposed to a higher class in London, he soon is encountered with his benefactor which he makes his duty to protect along with Herbert. Lastly, in chapter 49, a new side of Miss Havisham is released. She now regrets her treatment toward Pip, as she can relate to that awful feeling she had during her wedding day. Originally, Pip thought her intentions were to “break his heart”, but now, he sees a new, caring side of her that he had never gotten the opportunity to see before while visiting the Satis House.
Illusion was reinforced in these chapters in many ways. First off, Magwitch who is Pip's benefactor also turns out to be Estella's father. Also, Pip had lived his life fearing Magwitch's return because of the time he was threatened by him as a child. But when Magwitch returns he cares for him and tries to keep him safe. Pip also comes to find out that Molly, Mr. Jaggers housekeeper, is Estella's mother. This makes sense of how Mr. Jaggers brought Estella to Miss Havisham. Miss Havisham also becomes nothing of what she originally seemed. This is when she starts to break down and beg Pip for forgiveness. This is a huge contrast to Miss Havisham in the beginning of the book because she was viewed as harsh. She also was seeking revenge on the male sex, but then feels guilty for Estella breaking Pip's heart. This shows how the many characters were nothing of what they originally seemed.
This is like a mystery novel, but with no murderer lying at the end, waiting for the protagonist to waltz along and say, "Hey, you are under arrest." Or it's equivalent. Magwitch, Pip's previously unknown benefactor, is Estella's father, Molly her mother. Miss Havisham goes up in flames after asking Pip for forgiveness, cats and dogs are living together, MASS HYSTERIA!! The character backgrounds are all tangled together, like someone took a food chain and switched around all the animals. -_- Irritating. I'm glad that Pip managed to save Miss Havisham before she died.
This really is like a soap opera. You find out that everyone connects to everyone else. There's so much revealed about the character's pasts at the end. Estella is Magwich's daughter,Jaggers saved Estella and brought her to Havisham. Dickens really shows that not everything is how it seems. Magwich seemed like just a convict but really was important for Pip to grow as a character, try to improve himself, and then when he's lost his old friends because of his snobbishness, learns to care about someone again and put his problems aside and really feel for another person who he first thought was a lowly criminal. Miss Havisham at first was this creepy old lady who was stuck in the past and liked to watch men suffer, but then turned out to be a sensitive lady who was hurt and now just tries to protect herself even if she does do it through wrong ways like raising a little girl to break hearts and end up breaking Havisham's heart in the end. This woman who shut herself down and had nothing to live for and seemed cold, at the end broke down and begged Pip for forgiveness for the way he was treated by Estella.Jaggers seemed cold and tough, and it showed in court when he is harsh and doesn't show emotions. But he felt for a little girl and knew the hard life she would have had of he hadn't given her to Miss Havisham. Estella was an important character to Pip because she and the way she treated him when they first met made Pip want to become a gentleman and prove her wrong and at the same time win her over. But Estella was just raised that way, to be cruel to men. Even Wemmmick seemed dry and cynical at work but at home was happy and merry. Every character had their past tangled up with each other's. The characters don't seem to be what they originally were at the beginning.
Dear Lord, there are more plot twists in this section than an M. Night Shamalan movie. Estella isn't an orphan, Magwitch is her Dad, Molly is her mom. Ms. Havisham repents and burns, really, half of the accepted character's backgrounds are changed. Oh, and something cool I realized is that when Ms. H. repents and catches fire what saves her is the wedding feast that pretty well symbolizes her past. So, when her past burns away, she's saved. Coupled with this is her request that she be wrapped in it when she dies at the beginning of the book. But back to the question, everyone had a face they were showing to Pip, and all the barely interconnected lies come crushing down when he figures it out, and it takes him time to adjust to new reality.
ReplyDelete~Oliver Stein
The theme of illusion seems to be expressed mainly towards the end but is also expressed through out the entire book. The theme of illusion is strictly reinforced within these chapters as well for example in the beging of the story Pip has a mind set where Magwitch seems to be a horrible nasty criminal, and Pip wishes to become an uncommon boy, a rich boy with much intellegence he sees this as a happy life. In these few chapters Pips mind set is completely flipped almost like hes been tricked, Pip discovers that Magwitch is actually Estellas real father, and Estella is adopted. This is such a change for Pip because of his previous veiws on Magwitch. In these chapters, Pip discovers who Molly actually is. Pip originally thought Molly was just a house keeper but the truth is ths Molly is Estellas birth mom. Lastly Pip is served with a great disapointment where Estella reveals that she will be marrying Drummel. This is one of the greatest illusions in these chapters because Pip is led into believing that he will marry Estella because she loves him like he loves her but to his disapointment it is nothing but an illusion.
ReplyDeleteMonica Palucci
Throughout these chapters the theme of illusion is shown thrown more so than in previous chapters. For Pip it seems as if every charecter in the book has a new story he just found out about. Although Pip thought he new all about the people in his social circle he was greatly surprised when the missing holes of information were closed. First, it is revealed to Pip that Molly is the original mother of Estella and her father is Magwitch. Pip led to believe that Magwitch was just a criminal who did a good dead but when he figured out he was Estella's father it was a geat shock to all of us. Pip also figures out that Estella is adopted and that is how she got in the hands of Miss Havisham. As these select chapters unfolds everything and every charecter seem to all be connected in some way. Finally, Estella announces to Pip that she will shortly be marrying Drummel. Not only was this a shock to Pip but it was a great dissapointment. Due to being led on that Estella and him were to marry it caused a great burden on Pip when he was revealed the information about Estella and Drummel. As we can see the theme of illusion is greatly inforced in these chapters.
ReplyDelete-Kerry Schwartz
When Pip was first asked to come to London he figured that he was going there to receive an education and finally become a gentlemen. However, since time has moved on Pips past intertwines with new characters that he meets in the present day. Things that he first thought were simple have now turned complicated and problematic. For example, finding out who Estella’s parents are and the crimes that the mother was convicted of, that don’t seem to be true. The theme of illusion is expressed by everyone seeming to be fine with the situation when it is actually not okay. Pip is the only one who seems to want to find out the truth about what really happened in the past with the case.
ReplyDelete-Dayna Weintraub
THERE'S SO MUCH STUFF GOING ON IT'S HARD TO KEEP TRACK. The entire novel has been twisted and everything is beginning to tie together! So many unanswered questions have been answered and it's becoming more and more obvious that everyone is connected, in some way, by Estella and Miss Havisham. Molly's Estella's mother, who's living with Compeyson, who's the man pursuing Magwitch, Molly's ex-lover and Estella's father! Miss Havisham's secrets and inner feelings have also been brought out. In the last section of the book, so cold and heartless, but now, in chapter 49, she's actually clinging to Pips feet and begging for his forgiveness! She's completely gone from her vengeful old self to utter remorse and guilt. Pip's life has turned upside down what with Estella's engagement to Drummel and Miss Havisham not being his benefactor, and Estella's entanglement with Molly and Magwitch (being given up to Miss Havisham after the murder trial). It seems to me that everyone BUT Pip is aware of all of these connections...
ReplyDeleteIn these chapters everything is starting to tie together. You find out that Estella's father is Magwitch, you find out that Magwitch's partner in crime is the one who left Miss Havisham at the alter, and much more. As oliver said, that when "her past burns away, thats what saves her". Pip came to london expecting a simple, easier-way-of-living kind of life, and to have Estella as his own. But what he finds out about the past, and present is completely different then what he expected. The illusion in this book, is that everyone is not what they seemed to be, Once you see their past.
ReplyDeleteIllusion is undoubtably present in these chapters. Myserious coincidences that seemed strange were revealed to be completely uncoincidetal. First, Molly, Jaggers' serant was pointed out to Pip in the beginning of the book, and her strong, scarred hands were shown to Pip. He later figured out that Molly was Estella's mom. Wemmick most likely told Pip to take notice of her, so he would put the two together. Also, Miss Havisham was characterized as cold and ruteless. She had trained Estella to seek revenge on men. When she breaks down and apologizes for her actions, it is shown that she only ever wanted to protect Estella from the misery she had suffered. It was never he intentions to turn her heart cold. Further, Magwitch who seemed to be nothing but a dirty convict who wanted to make a gentleman out of a random child beacuse he knew he would ever be one himself, turned out to be Estella's father! It appeared that Jaggers had known nothing of Estella's background, but it was revealed that he was responsible for her being placed in Miss Havisham's care. All of this newly found iformation in such a short period of time was hard to believe.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWithin chapters 48-51 this theme of illusion constantly is reinforced. Like everyone stated above, Pip’s intention was for him to become a gentlemen. Once he is surrounded by a bunch of different people, his life suddenly isn’t how he expects. Surprisingly, within this chapters he becomes aware that the convict is his benefactor and also, Estella’s father. From this knowledge, Pip takes in the fact that he was never intended to marry Estella and it was all pretty much some “fantasy”. Furthermore, he soon discovers through observation that Molly, Mr.Jaggers servant resembles Estella, and could likely be her mother. While he set behind his life of poverty in Kent, and is exposed to a higher class in London, he soon is encountered with his benefactor which he makes his duty to protect along with Herbert. Lastly, in chapter 49, a new side of Miss Havisham is released. She now regrets her treatment toward Pip, as she can relate to that awful feeling she had during her wedding day. Originally, Pip thought her intentions were to “break his heart”, but now, he sees a new, caring side of her that he had never gotten the opportunity to see before while visiting the Satis House.
ReplyDeleteIllusion was reinforced in these chapters in many ways. First off, Magwitch who is Pip's benefactor also turns out to be Estella's father. Also, Pip had lived his life fearing Magwitch's return because of the time he was threatened by him as a child. But when Magwitch returns he cares for him and tries to keep him safe.
ReplyDeletePip also comes to find out that Molly, Mr. Jaggers housekeeper, is Estella's mother. This makes sense of how Mr. Jaggers brought Estella to Miss Havisham.
Miss Havisham also becomes nothing of what she originally seemed. This is when she starts to break down and beg Pip for forgiveness. This is a huge contrast to Miss Havisham in the beginning of the book because she was viewed as harsh. She also was seeking revenge on the male sex, but then feels guilty for Estella breaking Pip's heart.
This shows how the many characters were nothing of what they originally seemed.
This is like a mystery novel, but with no murderer lying at the end, waiting for the protagonist to waltz along and say, "Hey, you are under arrest." Or it's equivalent. Magwitch, Pip's previously unknown benefactor, is Estella's father, Molly her mother. Miss Havisham goes up in flames after asking Pip for forgiveness, cats and dogs are living together, MASS HYSTERIA!! The character backgrounds are all tangled together, like someone took a food chain and switched around all the animals. -_- Irritating.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that Pip managed to save Miss Havisham before she died.
This really is like a soap opera. You find out that everyone connects to everyone else. There's so much revealed about the character's pasts at the end. Estella is Magwich's daughter,Jaggers saved Estella and brought her to Havisham. Dickens really shows that not everything is how it seems. Magwich seemed like just a convict but really was important for Pip to grow as a character, try to improve himself, and then when he's lost his old friends because of his snobbishness, learns to care about someone again and put his problems aside and really feel for another person who he first thought was a lowly criminal. Miss Havisham at first was this creepy old lady who was stuck in the past and liked to watch men suffer, but then turned out to be a sensitive lady who was hurt and now just tries to protect herself even if she does do it through wrong ways like raising a little girl to break hearts and end up breaking Havisham's heart in the end. This woman who shut herself down and had nothing to live for and seemed cold, at the end broke down and begged Pip for forgiveness for the way he was treated by Estella.Jaggers seemed cold and tough, and it showed in court when he is harsh and doesn't show emotions. But he felt for a little girl and knew the hard life she would have had of he hadn't given her to Miss Havisham. Estella was an important character to Pip because she and the way she treated him when they first met made Pip want to become a gentleman and prove her wrong and at the same time win her over. But Estella was just raised that way, to be cruel to men. Even Wemmmick seemed dry and cynical at work but at home was happy and merry. Every character had their past tangled up with each other's. The characters don't seem to be what they originally were at the beginning.
ReplyDelete