Great Expectations

Chapters 24 to 26

Chapter Breakdown

 

Chapter Twenty-Four

Pip goes to Jaggers’s office to request staying at Barnard's Inn with Herbert.  He meets Wemmick, who shows him around the office and then invites him to dinner. They also sees Jaggers in court, who acts authoritative and dominant.

Chapter Twenty-Five    In this chapter we get a more descriptive idea about who Bentley Drummle is and how he acts.  Pip feels that the friends and family of Mrs. Pocket hate him in a very strong way.  Pip plans to meet up with Wemmick and enjoy a dinner with him as he would soon be doing with Jaggers.  When in Wemmick's house Pip meets an Aged man who is Wemmick's father.  While in the house Pip realizes how differently Wemmick acts at home and how he is a much more joyful man.  Wemmick explains to Pip that he has two lives; one is in the office with Jaggers and the other is at his castle with the Aged man.  Narrator Pip tells us that Drummle finishes his tutoring and leaves the Pockets about a month later.

Chapter Twenty-Six    Pip gets an invitation for him and his friends to join Jaggers for dinner.  Pip introduces his friends when they enter the unwelcoming house of Jaggers.  As Wemmick told him, Pip takes an interest in the housekeeper, Molly, and notices sadness in her.  After dinner, Jaggers has Molly reveal the scars that are on her wrists and explains the power of women.  Pip notices that Jaggers took an immediate liking to Drummle and is following him often.  As everyone leaves Jaggers, Pip goes up to him to say goodbye.  Jaggers leaves Pip with a warning to stay away from Drummle, which suprises Pip, for he thought Jaggers surely enjoyed Drummle's company.

Development of Pip• Pip notices that Jaggers is very professional, and

interprets his many odd wayso Serves his guests himself, although he has a

housekeepero Obsessively washes his handso Takes an immediate interest in Drummle, but

tells Pip to steer clear of him• He realizes the distinctions between Startop and

Drummle• He becomes even closer to Herbert and his father• Pip also notes that Wemmick is different inside his

own home than at their first meeting at the law office

Other Literary Findings

• Imagery (pg. 189): “Heavy in figure, movement... reserved, and suspicious.”

• Simile (pg. 189): “He would always creep in... upon his way.”

•  Personification (pg. 184): “Mr. Jaggers never laughed… and suspicious way.”

• Alliteration (pg. 185): “In the front first floor…”

• Irony (pg. 202): “No, no… fortune teller.”

Important Characters

an interactive game

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Jaggers's clerk

Wemmick

 

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A firm and intimidating lawyer

Jaggers

 

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Jaggers's desolate housekeeper

Molly

 

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Pip is not fond of this fellow pupil and finds him unpleasant

Bentley Drummle

 

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Earlier known as the pale young gentleman, and Pip's closest friend

Herbert

 

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Matthew Pocket's third student, other than Pip and Drummle

Startop

 

Round Two

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Wemmick's old, kind father

"the Aged"

 

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Mr. Pocket's sister and her husband (last name)

Mr. and Mrs. Camilla

 

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Wemmick warns Pip to keep an eye out for this person, describing him/her as "a wild beast tamed"

Molly

 

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Jaggers calls him "the Spider," and describes him as "the blotchy, sprawly, sulky, fellow."

Drummle

 

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Lent money to Drummle, who has not yet returned it

Startop

 

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Visits the Pockets with the Camillas; Pip met her once at Miss Havisham's

Georgiana

 

Questions for Discussion

 

 

1. Compare and contrast the homes of Wemmick and Jaggers and their ways of hospitality.

 

2. What do you think the cuts on Molly's wrists are?  Why do you think Jaggers pointed them out? How do you predict she will relate to the developing plotline?

 

3. Why do you think Jaggers is so interested in Drummle? Why did he warn Pip to avoid him?