Chapter 25 (Volume 2, Chapter 6) (Instalment 16):

My Fellow-pupils / I go home with Wemmick

Synopsis of Chapter 25 (Volume 2, Chapter 6) (Instalment 16)

Pip describes Bentley Drummle in damning terms and is becoming more socially confident. When he again meets Mr. and Mrs. Camilla and Georgiana he judges them severely. He begins to spend extravagantly, but also keeps to his programme of reading.

He goes to dine at Wemmick's house, a small whimsical retreat, built like a wooden castle. In his devotion to his elderly father, an entirely different aspect of Wemmick's character emerges. The next morning, as they walk back to the city, Wemmick is again transformed into Mr. Jaggers' business-like clerk.

Commentary on Chapter 25 (Volume 2, Chapter 6) (Instalment 16)

half a dozen heads thicker than most gentlemen Pip's description of Drummle combines his reaction at the time to an unpleasant man with the confidence of a superior social position with the judgement of the older Pip.

Georgiana, whom I had seen at Miss Havisham's The reappearance of this character begins to link Pip's present life with Satis House, and perhaps reinforces the belief that Miss Havisham is his benefactor.

an indigestive single woman, who called her rigidity religion and her liver love Pip recognizes and assesses a character who has much in common with his sister. Dickens satirises those who confuse judgemental self-righteousness with more compassionate Christian attitudes

‘Very much,' was Wemmick's reply ‘Mr. Wemmick' has now become ‘Wemmick' for Pip.

the aspect of a rather dull retirement Walworth is clearly a very different place to the city.

The bridge … and two deep Wemmick has built a castle for himself. Compare this description with the description of Satis House in Chapter 8: there the forbidding appearance was intended to keep people out, and to keep Miss Havisham's unhappiness in; here the fortifications keep out an unbearable world so as to keep happiness in.

It brushes the Newgate cobwebs away, and pleases the Aged Wemmick is determined that his life in Walworth will be different from his working life, and provide a safe haven for his father.

Little Britain The name of a street in London (close to Smithfield meat market) ironically echoing ‘Great Britain'.

 

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