GE Blog 3: Realizations

In these last couple chapters of book II, Pip and Estella discover a few things about themselves. Pip finally finds out that his benefactor is the convict instead of Miss Havisham, which destroys his hopes of being meant for Estella. He also realizes that he is just Estella's escort as she meets her various suitors. On top of this, he realizes he abandoned everything he loved in his old life for a false hope that is even further now than ever. At the very end of book II it says that Pip wakes up to find that a storm is brewing, which we can assume is a metaphor for a tough road ahead for Pip and the convict considering Dickens' tendencies to make setting and detail an important factor in the story. Pip shows another sign of being a kind person by once again helping the convict elude the law. I believe Pip will try to mend his relationships of the past and also build a strong bond with the convict.

Estella realizes that she was "created" to be evil by Miss Havisham. During her discussion with Miss Havisham she is asked why she is being "tired" with her. Estella responds by saying that she was taught to be evil to people, so how can Miss Havisham expect to be treated well when she taught Estella to be the opposite. Estella, realizing that she was all along Miss Havisham's puppet, will now attempt to forget her past and live her life in her own way, which doesn't mean that she will be a better person, but she will be cold and heartless because that's all she knows. She will get together with Drummle because she discovered that she cannot have strong emotions for someone, and she doesn't want Pip to feel any worse about himself.