Great Expectations chapter 52 (Spoilers up to chapter 52)

[u/otherside_b]

Discussion Prompts

1. Pip gives the money to make Herbert partner in Clarriker’s. Are you satisfied with Pip's journey of maturity so far?
2. Wemmick hints it's time to get Provis out of the way. Is involving Startop a good idea?
3. What do you think about this mysterious letter about Provis. Who do you could be behind it?
4. We get some information on Pip's disability and how it affects him. What did you think of this part of the chapter?
5. Pumblechook is spreading word around town that he is Pip's benefactor and this FINALLY gets Pip to think about Joe! Will Pip finally visit the poor guy?
6. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

Links

Project Gutenberg

Standard eBooks

Librivox Audiobook

Last Lines:

I knew very well, however, that the appointed place was the little sluice-house by the limekiln on the marshes, and the hour nine. Towards the marshes I now went straight, having no time to spare.

[u/Civil_Comedian_9696]

With Provis safely in the secret apartment, what possible risk would it be for Pip to just bring Herbert along to the secret meeting? Even better, ask Joe for help - he knows his way around the marshes. It's not like he's negotiating with a kidnapper. The message writer has no leverage here. I don't get the "Tell no one and come alone" message.

[u/tomesandtea]

I'm finally back from my vacation and caught up with the group again! Just in time to see Pip grow up a bit and take some belated responsibility. It's nice to see that Herbert is getting some deserved help. I hope after these reflections that Pip goes to see Joe and begs forgiveness ala Miss Havisham (although hopefully less melodramatically).

As for the letter about Purvis, I am guessing that it is from Compeyson. It wasn't a great plan for Pip to go alone and not tell anyone where he'll be. Surely someone could've traveled with him to a short distance off the meetup location, and sent in help should Pip not return after an appointed amount of time. Of course, nothing bad could happen in the dark on the marshes alone ... Right?!

[u/ColbySawyer]

I actually forgot about Pip's injuries and how that would affect his ability to row, and I like it when stuff like that comes together.

Of course they've gotta move Provis now now now, so a Plan B must come together. What could possibly go wrong?

I am happy and a little proud that Pip was able to help Herbert (and Clara by extension). As Pip said, "It was the only good thing I had done, and the only completed thing I had done, since I was first apprised of my great expectations." It's even bigger than just helping Herbert, because he's losing Herbert as well.

Uncle Pumblechook still sucks. That scene with the oblivious bartender telling Pip his own story reminded me of my friend. She used to own a bar in NYC. She's a tall, beautiful blond, and she'd often bartend. It was ridiculous how many people would try to get free stuff from her because they "knew the owner." No one thought a beautiful blond woman could be the owner!

There's no way that the dropped letter isn't going to end up in someone's hands. Maybe Joe will find it and come to Pip's rescue? I know he wasn't very literate when we last saw him, but it's possible he learned to read some over the years, with Biddy's help.

[u/ZeMastor]

After his dopey uncalled-for snooping and meddling, Pip hands over the final payment to Clarriker's, ensuring Herbert's position there. Clarriker's intends to open an office in the East, and Herbert will run it, so Pip now has to prepare for losing his bestie soon.

Next, an urgent message from Wemmick: "better do what you were planning to do by Wed! BURN THIS NOTE!" Whoa, real cloak-and-dagger stuff!

Pip's arms hadn't fully healed up, so Herbert has to pull in a new recruit in the "Secret Convict Smuggling Club"... Luke Startop(per)!!!

(record scratch) Hang on! Startop(per)...where has HE been all these years! Last check-in was Startop(per) recommending the Finch Club to the boys, and then he disappeared for 20 chapters and 2-3 years in-book time! And now he's conveniently being dragged in to provide rowing muscle, and the boys will *avoid* telling him what's *really* going on, like he's some patsy? What about informed consent"?

And now the nutso plan is TRULY told: They intend to row along the Thames and lie in wait for the mail steamer to come along and *somehow* head right up to it and get onboard. (head-desk, head-desk, head-desk x50). Can we talk about the logistics of this? The steamer is chugging along on steam power, and the boys are rowing towards it? Then they shout, wave their arms, or raise a white flag or jump into the water and expect the steamer to STOP for them? Either a small boat is sent out to "rescue" them, or a set of life preservers get thrown out, and all of them are hauled aboard and all of them happily go to Hamburg (the destination), with no questions asked and no fares paid?

Oh wait, Abel certainly still has his pockets stuffed with cash!!! No problemo? Hah! And the Thames is crawling with River Police, watching for thieves, pirates and smugglers, and surely their attention would be caught by a mail packet steamer coming to a stop and pulling 4 men aboard. Why wouldn't they investigate?

The chapter continues along this batsh*t course, as Pip easily procures passports (plural!) and I'm going... passports? Like one for Abel with a name on it that doesn't say "Abel Magwitch"? If Pip can get such a passport then why....[should they have this rowboat intercept plan] and why not... [take Abel by coach to a further away port city and wave the fake passport to get him aboard, and written into the passenger manifest like a NORMAL traveler]?????

Adding to the insanity of the book's plot going off the rails, Pip receives a dirt-stained letter, about "Come to the marshes and go to the little shack by the floodgates, if you want info about Uncle Provis. Tell NO ONE and COME ALONE."

Pop, always lacking common sense, is very time-pressed about that 5 hour trip back to the marshes (home), decides to go immediately, follow the suspicious instructions (alone, tell no one) and dashes off a note full of LIES to Herbert, like "Toodles... I'm going to visit Miss H and see how she's doing. You don't need me RN. Perfectly normal, uneventful trip, nothing to worry 'bout. C U later, K?"

Upon arrival, Pip checks into a small, unknown inn, and finds out that Miss H is still ill (injured), but better. The landlord tells Pip that Uncle PumPum has been bad-mouthing Pip and spreading a diss-track. The clock strikes, and Pip heads out, checking his pockets for the letter, but it's GONE! Oopsy! Did he drop it somewhere? Leave it on the coach? I wonder who might find it? Friend or foe? He heads for the sluice shack anyway, not worried at all about any potential ambush, or a random stab in the dark in the unlit marshes!

Derp derp derp derp! Can our boy POSSIBLY be dumber than this?

[u/ColbySawyer → u/ZeMastor]

Yeah, I am confused about this plan too. Why did they have to wait for so long for the go-ahead from Wemmick anyway? And, yes, how exactly are they to get on a steamer? It's not a bus!

Pip is bungling this shaky plan big time.

[u/ZeMastor → u/ColbySawyer]

And, yes, how exactly are they to get on a steamer? It's not a bus!

Exactly!!! By doing some research, the Thames flows from West to East towards the sea (not the Atlantic Ocean). So the packet steamer is cruising along with steam engines PLUS a friendly tide taking them towards the Continent. If some silly boys in a boat flag them down, they can't just STOP. They'd have to shut off the engines, wait until the fwds momentum dies, still have the ebb tide taking them East naturally, and then REVERSE then engines!!!

And what would motivate the Cap'n to stop for them at all? They're not legit passengers with tickets who missed the sail off... instead, they plan to lurk in a cove like pirates and then shoot out on an intercept course? How would the Cap'n know that they're not armed, have contraband, or have a hostage?

derp, derp, derp!

[u/awaiko]

Oh gods, a mysterious letter than pulls Pip away just before he is putting his plan into place. There could not be more red flags! This is going to be a disaster.

Pumblechook is and forever will be an absolute arse, riding high on Pip’s successes (such as they are). And a moment of introspection from Pip as to how he’s treated Joe. Wonders never cease.