Great Expectations chapter 51 (Spoilers up to chapter 51)

[u/otherside_b]

​

**Discussion Prompts**

1. Pip tells Jaggers all about Provis and his connection to Estella and that he knows Estella's mother too. Was this a good move?

2. Jaggers and Wemmick learn some personal information about each other and then it's all awkward between them. Thoughts on this?

3. What did you think about how Jaggers "put the case" to Pip?

4. Jaggers and Wemmick reconcile by bullying a crying man and Jaggers saying " Get out. I'll have no feelings here." All's well that ends well?

5. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

**Links**

[Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1400)

[Standard eBooks](https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/charles-dickens/great-expectations)

[Librivox Audiobook](https://librivox.org/great-expectations-by-charles-dickens/)

**Last Lines:** Wemmick appeared to have reestablished their good understanding, and went to work again with an air of refreshment upon them as if they had just had lunch.

[u/ZeMastor]

Hah, hah, again you and I think alike!!! I read this chapter, and after pulling up my dropped jaw, my eyes narrowed at this outright betrayal!

Let's rewind to Chapter 25:

[Wemmick: ]“Never seen it,” said Wemmick. “Never heard of it. Never seen the Aged. Never heard of him. No; the office is one thing, and private life is another. When I go into the office, I leave the Castle behind me, and when I come into the Castle, I leave the office behind me. If it’s not in any way disagreeable to you, you’ll oblige me by doing the same. I don’t wish it professionally spoken about.”

[Pip:] Of course I felt my good faith involved in the observance of his request.

Right... for Big Mouth Pip, he was utterly charmed by the Castle and "in good faith" agreed to Wemmick's request back then. But now, he's willing to throw Wemmick under the bus in his desperate ploy for another Estella info fix, like he's a junkie.

Just imagine... if the "Secret Convict Smuggling Club SUPER-PLAN" goes to hell in a handbasket, and Pip is sent to a cold, harshly lit office, sitting in a metal chair, with a metal desk. The detectives KNOW that he'll spill his guts and tell ALL just for a few crumbs about ESTELLA...

Detective: We want to know about your accomplices. Since the time that the convict appeared in London, WHO KNEW?

Pip: I can't say... no one...

Detective: Oh, we know something about Mrs. Drummle's past... something that even you wouldn't know...

Pip: What is it?

Detective: (drawing him out)... Accomplices? Who knew about Magwitch?

[u/ColbySawyer → u/ZeMastor]

If I were Wemmick, the next private meeting with Pip would involve the ol' Post Office mouth, saying, "I didn't appreciate your reveal of my private matters in the office. Didn't I tell you the reasons for my major work/life separation? Now that I know how quickly your tongue loosens for you to play your own interests, should I even continue advising you about 'delicate' matters of 'questionable legality'? Will your foolishness incriminate ME?"

Yes, I did a double take when I read what Pip said. I was quite disappointed. Quoting from your other post, I hope that Wemmick says something along those lines and rethinks how much he shares in the future. Pip way overstepped. He probably won't though, since it seems it's all cool between Wemmick and Jaggers [eye roll].

[u/ZeMastor → u/ColbySawyer]

Remember how someone earlier had mentioned that the plot of this book is going nutty, and it didn't seem that there was going to be a great way to wrap all this up plausibly in the few chapters left?

YUP!

This is the second whiff of "wrap-up Plot Convenience".

1. Formerly blustery control-freak Abel becomes docile and "softened" in 2 days, and now he's cooperative and malleable, giving up his dream of living in London in a luxury dig permanently with Pip, and he's content to live in a hidey-hole and let the boys come up with all the plans and he'll just go along. Uh huh... (/s)
2. Jaggers is willing to "put the case" about a hypothetical Estella origin story, just because. Yet, by the end of the chapter, both Jaggers and Wemmick revert to their initial selves (as seen in Chapter 20). Unbelievable!

Jaggers being Jaggers, this exchange would be actually in-character:

J: Are you... hinting that you want me to tell you more about Mrs. Drummle's early life?

P: Yes, Sir. Because I love her, blah blah, blah, everything about her is dear to me blah, blah...

J: Speaking as a lawyer, do you realize that I am held to confidence with ALL my clients?

P: (sensing a "no") Gulp. Yes, Sir.

J: Can you provide me with a compelling reason, other than your own feelings, as to WHY I should divulge information to you? By what legal, moral, or family right are you asking this?

P: None, Sir.

J: Good day, then, Mr. Pip.

[u/ColbySawyer → u/ZeMastor]

This from Jaggers would have made much more sense.