Name Game

Has anyone else thought that the names really fit the characters for the most part?  Literally just hearing the names of the characters, you could probably describe what they are.  For example, Magwitch.  That sounds dirty and rough, which our intial impression of him.  Estella, that just sounds stuck up! Mrs. Havisham sounds like a scary old lady that any young child, or older person for that matter, would be creeped out by.  Pumblechook makes me think of bumble, which makes me think of an idiot, which is what he is.  Any other names that fit the character you can think of?

Confusion...

So I understood the vast majority of the book. Even through  all of the ridiculously difficult language, I was able to grasp most of what was going on. However, near the end, there was the whole thing with someone watching them, and they had the boat to escape, but they needed a sign before escaping... That I didn't understand. And was Provis the same person as Magwitch? Help?

WHAT?!

So I was all excited when Pip realized that he liked Biddy! And he was going off to go find her, but where was she? Coming out of the freaking church married to Joe!!!!!! WHAT?!?!?! I thought that Biddy was supposed to marry Pip! It makes the most sense too! They would have been together in the beginning if he hadn't become infatuated with Estella, so I thought that was going to be the final resolution in the end. But NOOOOOOO! She had to get married to Joe! And good for Joe, he really deserves someone as great as her, but it just really threw me off. Was I alone here in thinking that they were supposed to be together?

Biddy's Love Advice

"'Because, if it is to spite her,' Biddy pursued, 'I should think--but you know best--that might be better and more independently done by caring nothing for her words. And if it is to gain her over, I should think--but you know best--she was not worth gaining over.'"

So, besides that fact that I'm DEFINITELY using this for my passage, I thought that it was a really cool quote. I think that it plays a lot into today's society as well. Biddy's telling Pip that if she's not happy with Pip and if he has to change in order to win her over, then she's not worth the time or effort. I think that's a really cool message that we should listen to today. It also describes how if someone's insulting you, don't take it to heart. Just block them out because you should be happy with what you have been given.

Original vs. Revised Ending

*SPOILER ALERT* This might give away some details of the ending!

The revised ending was indeed written by Charles Dickens, and it's the one featured first. It was suggested by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, the man who came up with that terrible first line: "It was a dark and stormy night." He also said, "the pen is mightier than the sword." 

If you haven't read the original ending, it in our copy of the book but comes after the story is finished. I read it (it's only a page and a half) and I actually like it better. Though the revised ending is happier for Pip, I think the original fits better with Estella's characterization. Also, I feel like the knot has been tied between Pip and Estella (ending their story) in the original ending, whereas the revised one suggests that the knot will literally be tied (they will be married). Abuse does change a person, and it's interesting to think that Estella is now broken, but she isn't a normal human, so I think the original is more fitting. Thoughts?

Tears for Magwitch

*SPOILER ALERT* IF YOU AREN'T DONE WITH THE BOOK, DON'T READ THIS!!!

Alright, I'll admit it. I teared up a little when Magwitch died.

Ever since he reentered Pip's life, he has been the most wonderful person and I just loved him. It irritated me greatly when Pip was repulsed by the man, and Pip only realized how much he cared for the ex-convict when the man was on trial. Magwitch himself even said it:

"And what's the best of all," he said, "you have been more comfortable alonger me since I was under a dark cloud than when the sun shone. That's best of all." (pg. 428)

At the same time, I understood Pip's sentiment about wishing Magwitch would die. The alternate would have been surely worse. In any case, Pip finally did the right thing when he spoke about Estella to Magwitch. His love for Estella finally proved to be helpful...