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Even Pip knows that his justifications for staying at the Blue Boar are no more than justifications...so why does he choose to stay there anyway?
It's odd that Pip's convict gave another convict (a stranger) the two pound notes to give to Pip. Very naive, indeed. So why did the convict from the Blue Boar give Pip the money instead of spending it himself?
Pumblechook is shameless. Why does he spend so much time and energy trying to convince others that Pip's great expectations are due in large part to Pumblechook's doings?
5 comments:
I think that Pip's convict gave him money instead of spending it because he feels remorse for his actions and cruelty to such a young boy. I also think that even though he was eventually caught, he is showing his extreme gratitude towards Pip and his bold gesture. I think the convict will play a large role in Pip's life later in the novel! As for Pumblechook, he just doesn't quite! If i was Pip I would be so annoyed. When Pip was a child he constantly chastised him for not being respectful to his sister/gaurdians. I think he is telling everyone Pip became who he is from him because he wants some sort of recognition for something in his life... I feel that it is pathetic.
It seems like Pip actually feels ashamed of the way that he treated Joe, and now is having a really hard time going to stay with Joe because he can't seem to bring himself to try and face Joe. It's like Pip can't admit to Joe that he was wrong head on, he has to somehow skate around it so he can do it at a time that will only allow him to talk to Joe for a short amount of time, such as before Pip returns to London. The reason behind Pip's convict giving the two-pound notes is kind of odd to me and I'm having a hard time figuring out why exactly he did it. I guess it could be out of kindness, but that just doesn't seem like it fits. Or maybe it's just the convict’s way of staying in some way in Pip's life for whatever reason, as it seems that the convict will eventually play a big role in this book since he just keeps popping up. Pumblechook annoys me more than Pip does. Pumblechook has annoyed me from the beginning, it's like he's this arrogant cockroach that just won't go away! Anything to make himself look better in some way, shape, or form he'll do because he wants to be known for something great, making himself feel better even if it's under false pretenses.
Pip stays at the Blue Boar because he remains ashamed of where he comes from. He makes excuses that are unselfish and reasonable, but doesn't even buy them himself. I think him desicion to stay away from the forge is a very shameful one; he shows now respect to Joe after everything Joe had done for him. It's curious that Pip recognizes this as well but still can't make himself stay with Joe. I think a combination of not wanting to relive his common past and fear that others would dissaprove keeps him from doing so.
The reason or reasons that the convict decided to give Pip the money are left to speculation. I agree with Robin that it could have been a small sort of redemption for something in his past. I also think that when someone puts faith in another person, that faith makes the person want to remain loyal and stay worthy of it. Both of these reasons would require a sense of morality, and the fact that this is seen in a convict is really quite uplifting if you think about it; there is some good in everyone.
Why Pumblechook spends so much energy into convinving the public that he plaayed a part in Pip's great expectations is simple: he loves attention and admiration. The man is so wrapped up recieving both that he is willing to twist the truth to put himself in the spotlight.
I agree with Myranda. Pip knows what he is doing is shameful, and wrong, yet he continues to make the same low-life decisions. He is ashamed of where you came from and who raised him, but is too proud of himself to admit that he has a flaw in his character. He cant even face Joe while he has these grudges against him. I love the irony of this book. The Convict, who is seen as a bad person to most people, even bad enough to not want to be in the same vicinity, is the one person you wouldn't expect to keep a promise that has to deal with money, but yet he does. Its also funny how if you think about it, i bet none of the "gentlemen" in this book would actually keep that promise. Its a comparison between what society sees as good character and what actually is good character. Maybe the convict did it because he has made a mistake in life and wants to turn things around and make himself a better person for himself. Again i hate Pumblechook, he is a an arrogant human who will lie, cheat, go against all morals to make himself be seen as a hero in the spotlight. Pumblechook believes he is Gods gift to this world and wants everyone to see it too, even though he isnt, and everything people are reading and hearing about are lies.
Pip needs a good slap in the face at this point in the book. His "justifications" for not staying with Joe are just masks for his true feelings; that Joe is common and would rub dirt on Pip's now "good name". Which is ironic because he is actually a foul man at heart at this point in the novel. He is starting to become like Pumblechook. His ways of staying center stage and more haughty than he really is at his roots are traits right from Pumblechook, his dear, first benefactor. If Joe had a single jealous or mean bone in his body, he would have had enough of Pip and Pumblechook's behavior by now. He should of stood up long ago and told Pip he was being cold, and he should have told Pumblechook that he was Pip's least favorite person as a child. The convict keeping his promise, well I can't take a guess at that because I finished the novel, and I found it quite shocking!
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