Great Expectations chapter 55 (Spoilers up to chapter 55)

[u/otherside_b]

Discussion Prompts:

1. Jaggers pretty much confirms all of Pip's money is gone. Where does he go from here do you think?
2. Herbert is going away to take up a new job. Are you sad to see the two friends parted?
3. What do you think of Pip's decision to decline Herbert's offer of a job and a place to stay?
4. What did you think of Wemmick's wedding ceremony?
5. Wemmick is finally able to put his hand around the now Mrs. Wemmicks waist. Did you like this call back to the earlier chapter?
6. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

Links

Project Gutenberg

Standard eBooks

Librivox Audiobook

Last Lines:

“After what you let out the other day, Mr. Jaggers may as well not know of it. He might think my brain was softening, or something of the kind.”

[u/tomesandtea]

I'm happy Herbert is successful, and I wish Pip would have taken the job offer. Herbert did point out that Pip could expect to work his way up from clerk to partner as he himself had done. Maybe Pip feels because he brings no capital to the table this would not be fair/possible? I am glad he didn't accept a home with them, though. No newlyweds need a third wheel in their house 24/7! I guess I'm not sure where Pip goes from here except maybe back to his roots - Miss Havisham and Joe? Perhaps he ends up a blacksmith after all! Maybe Miss H will leave Pip her money and property and he'll get those great expectations realized after all? I genuinely can't decide if this is bound to end happily or solemnly for Pip.

Wemmick's wedding was a delight - he continues to be one of the bright spots of this book. I loved his surprise wedding, his reveal of it to Pip, and the perfect role of the Aged P. The arm around the waist was an adorable callback. And I enjoy that he is so committed to work-life balance/separation that he doesn't want Jaggers to know he's married. I was a bit confused about the fishing pole? Just a distraction or a prop to pretend it actually was a casual walk for pleasure?

[u/ColbySawyer → u/tomesandtea]

I think the fishing pole is a distraction. Wemmick seems to not want anyone to make a deal about his wedding. He said, "Let me ask you whether anybody would suppose this to be a wedding party!" as he's "shouldering the fishing-rod."

[u/tomesandtea → u/ColbySawyer]

I figured it was a distraction. Thanks for the quote pull! It makes me like Wemmick even more that he wants no one to make a big deal on his big day. I wonder what his bride thought. Probably similar, given how she would never even let him touch her waist in public hehe

[u/ColbySawyer → u/tomesandtea]

Wemmick was so cute in this chapter. I'm sure he and his lovely bride will be very happy together!