Tuesday, January 14, 2014

In chapter 13 of Great Expectations, what does Miss Havisham give Joe and what does she tell him?

Miss Havisham has instructed Pip that he needs to be
apprenticed and he should bring Joe Gargery with him when he next comes.  Pip is also to
bring his indentures, a contract binding an apprentice to a master.  This event becomes
a grand occasion for the Gargerys.  Joe dons his "court suit" and Mrs. Joe sports a
beaver hat for the procession to Satis House.


After they
are inside, Joe and Pip stand before Miss Havisham.   Joe is so uncomfortable before
Miss Havisham that he does not speak directly to her, but to Pip. who becomes ashamed of
him.  Miss Havisham says to Joe, "You expected...no premium with the boy?"  When he does
not respond, Miss Havisham states that Pip has earned a premium, and she tells Pip to
give the "five-and-twenty guineas" in a bag to his master,
Joe.


After this, Joe yet persists in addressing Pip rather
than Miss Havisham: 


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"And now, old chap...may you and me do our duty,
both on us by one and
another."



The "basest of
swindlers, Pumblechook" echoes the message that Joe gives his wife upon their arrival at
Pumblechook's.  The corn chandler echoes the "five-and-twenty pounds" and congratulates
Mrs. Joe with "I wish you the joy of the money!"  indicating his cupidity and desire to
rise to riches himself.


At the end of the chapter, Pip
notes that



It
is a most miserable thing to feel ashamed of home.....Now it was all coarse and common,
and I would not have had Miss Havisham and Estella see it on any
account.



It would seem that
Pip, too, values more the "joy of money," as well.

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