6.16.2017

Great Expectations - Charles Dickens - Chapter seven

It seems that Pip is changing his views about his father's figure. He is questioning how good his father was to his mother and his family.
"I should have formed the worst opinions of that member of the family"
 
Pip is getting classes with Mr Wopsle great-aunt. He is now able to read and write - the latter, not very well. Pip describes Mr Wopsle great-aunt as "... a ridiculous old woman of limited means and unlimited infirmity!"
 
There is the introduction of a new character, Biddy, Mr Wopsle’s great-aunt’s granddaughter. She is an orphan like Pip and basically, she manages a kind of "shop" that Mr Wopsle’s great-aunt keeps at her Educational Institution.  Pip sets out her as "... her hair always wanted brushing, her hands always wanted washing, and her shoes always wanted mending and pulling up at heel."
 
Pip writes his first letter to Joe with great effort. When Joe receives the letter and reads it, he starts to cry emphasising how good is Pip. However, Pip suspects that Joe doesn't understand all the matter of the letter. Joe confirm that he understands only his name in the letter - J O E, but he imagines that the whole meaning of the letter is gorgeous.

Joe starts to describe how his childhood wasn't easy, with his father restricting his access to studies and how he had to look after his mother in order to avoid his father brutality.
Pip is surprised when Joe starts to emphasising qualities in his sister and bringing recollections when they met each other in the early days.
"... your sister is a fine figure of a woman."
 
Also, Joe remembers when he asked her if she was ready to move with him and have a life together. Thus, Pip's sister said yes, but with one condition - bring Pip with her. 

Mrs Joe arrives at home with Uncle Pumblechook after a day in the market's farm. She bought new clothes for Pip and says that from now on he will play at Miss Havisham house. Pip describes Miss Havisham as "... an immensely rich and grim lady who lived in a large and dismal house barricaded against robbers, and who led a life of seclusion."
 
The purpose of that idea, and may be who had the idea was Uncle Pumblechook, is to teach good manners to Pip. The chapter closes with Pip going to Miss Havisham with Uncle Pumblechook. 

See you on Chapter eight.

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