Quick and dirty update on Pip's expectations

Herbert and Pip go see Wopsle perform Hamlet. Later, Pip receives a post from Estella informing him that she will be coming to London and that he is to meet her and arrange for her further transportation. While haunting the carriage house obsessively early for her arrival, Pip encounters Wemmick and goes with him to Newgate (prison). Pip then meets Estella's carriage, arranges for her further transport through London and tea at the carriage station. She toys with his affection. Pip is complete longing and heartache. Saying (to us) how he would always imagine he would be happy in the future, knowing she was with him even as he realizes he is not happy in this moment with her. Estella gives him enough encouragement to extract the devotion. Pip is miserable, but wants her all the same, it's crumbs to a starving man. Pip and Herbert figure out their debt, which is considerable. Pip has been living large, and Herbert has been following suit, only he has no inheritance, no large income, so dig deeper into debt they do. Pip feels guilty for this, but doesn't change his foolish behavior.

Next letter is to inform Pip that Mrs. Gargary has passed on. He goes to the house for the funeral. Makes attempts at mending relations with Biddy and Joe. Promises he will be more in contact. Biddy calls him out on that, both know he will not. Pip and Herbert come of age (21.) Pip meets with Jaggars to discuss his benefactor, inheritance and allowance.  Jaggers questions him on his debt, grants him 500 pounds a year.  Pip arranges to meet Wemmick at the "Castle" he shares with his father in order to ask advice as to whether or not he should provide a business loan to Herbert. Meets Wemmick's lady love.

Pip and Herbert talk about women, I burn my tongue

Pip has returned to London and confessed his feeling for Estella to Herbert. Herbert, in turn tries to play the devil's advocate regarding Estella, but Pip is unable to believe he could ever feel otherwise about her. Herbert then confesses his love for a woman named Clara, whom neither we nor Pip meet yet. And then I fell asleep on the bus, only to wake the two times where the trolley lines became disconnected from their electrical lines and lurched the bus to a hard stop. Got off bus to check out an art opening and then stood outside freezing in order to watch a mobile short film festival on the sidewalk. Later went and got soup at a Mexican joint and burnt my tongue because I tried eat it too soon out of the pot. Maybe back to the book later today.

Estella

So, he does meet with Estella and it does seem that Miss Havisham is trying to set them up, but in her twisted mind, she's probably just setting Pip up to suffer, as a revenge for how she was left to suffer. Also, we find out that Estella's last name is Havisham.  This section is a treasure trove. I'll add to this post. I need to look at it again. Dickens is at the top of his game in understanding relationships and longing here. Estella tells Pip flat out that she doesn't have a heart for love. That she is incapable of loving someone. He also feels beneath her, yet still entranced by her beauty and believing that Miss Havisham has brought them together for marriage, when she is not capable of wishing joy on anyone, particularly not a man. And Estella is a puppet for her to torture men with for her own loss. (And unwillingness to move forward from her earlier betrayal.)

About half-way through now

Joe's purpose for visiting Pip in London was to let him know that Miss Havisham had some news for him about Estella. (And because Joe loves Pip, he also wanted to see him, but even he picked up and Pip's distance.) Of course, Pip perks up at the news and after Joe leaves, hurries to make arrangements to visit Miss Havisham. He doesn't visit the Gargarys, making excuses to himself that they wouldn't be expecting him, blah, blah, blah. He's ashamed of his past because of Estella and because someone gave him money (not Havisham, like he still believes.) He has arrived at the house and found Orlick (formerly working as a blacksmith with Joe) as the new doorman there. I haven't gotten so far as to his meeting with Estella, if such a thing even occurs. Apologies for just a summary, but as I said elsewhere, in another blog, I'm feeling very blank. Cheers. Maybe I should walk to work in the rain, wake up my senses.

I am reading again

just not sure if I have anything to say about it. Pip has had supper with the clerk and Jaggers, was warned of an enemy in Drummles, and Joe has come to visit and Pip is embarrassed by him (he who loved Pip always unconditionally) and has wished that he would not come.