Victorians! discussion

Please discuss chapters 40 - 49. Please avoid spoilers from later in the novel.

I have reached chapter 45. The two earlier plotlines of Miss Havisham & Estella, and that of the convict have now come together in a rather surprising way.

Pip continues to wrestle with how people in his new life will judge people from his earlier life and vice versa. He is caught between his fear of Magwitch and is fear forMagwitch's safety. The return of the convicts and their stories again highlight the class differences throughout the book.

Again, Pip is lucky to have some really good friends he can fully trust to help him with solutions to the quandary he now finds himself in.

You raise a good point about Pip's conflicting inner emotions towards Magwitch. Herbert and Wemmick certainly, in their own ways, help ground Pip in this section, and we begin to see more clearly that Pip's earlier sightless and insensitive character begin to shift. Pip's transformation back into a more caring and sensitive person will be slow, but his continuing kindness to help set up Herbert in business, his worry about Magwitch and his acceptance of losing Estella do indicate changes in his personality.

Wemmick continues to delight me, the back story of Magwitch is made clearer and then we have Miss Havisham. Wow! What and ending to this section's reading. Figuratively and literally, Pip's realization of his past character and personality will be painful to shed. Let's hope he finally will be happy and content in his life.

Chapter 49 - the visit to Miss Havisham is Wow alright! Didn't we learn the story there and what an ending to the visit.

I continue to like Wemmick too. He and Jaggers certainly know all the background and play a big part in Pip's current life.

I don't think I'm going to be able to wait a week to finish this story now.☺

I have finished the novel but will stay faithful to the posted schedule ... but it is difficult! I enjoy watching and reading how Dickens is starting to tie up the story, bring all the various parts together and watch how his earlier comments and hints and bits of foreshadowing are now all raising their heads as we read towards the conclusion.

Mmmm, I've just finished chapters 50/51 and I'm bursting! I think I will restrain myself and not read further just now, keeping to the posted schedule too Peter. Makes for more interesting discussion to have it fresh in my mind and than arriving there early!

Talk to you more next week.☺