Summary: Chapter 40
In the morning, Pip trips over a shadowy man crouching
on his staircase. He runs to fetch the watchman, but when they return
the man is gone. Pip turns his attention to the convict, who gives
his name as Abel Magwitch. To keep the servants from learning the
truth, Pip decides to call Magwitch “Uncle Provis,” an alias Magwitch
made up for himself on the ship from Australia to England. Pip arranges
a disguise and calls on Jaggers to confirm Magwitch’s story. Magwitch
tramps around the apartment, embarrassing Pip, “his” gentleman,
with his bad table manners and rough speech.
Summary: Chapter 41
After five days of enduring his guest, Pip is forced to
confront his problem head-on when Herbert returns home. Magwitch
leaves, and Herbert and Pip discuss the situation, agreeing that
Pip should no longer use Magwitch’s money. They plan for Pip to
take Magwitch abroad, where he will be safe from the police, before
parting ways with him.
Summary: Chapter 42
The next morning, Magwitch tells the young
men his story. He was an orphaned child and lived a life of crime
out of necessity. His earliest memory is of stealing turnips to
feed himself. As a young man, he met a gentleman criminal named
Compeyson and fell under his power. Compeyson had already driven
another accomplice, Arthur, into alcoholism and madness. Arthur,
Magwitch says, was driven to despair by the memory of a wealthy woman
he and Compeyson had once victimized. Magwitch remembers a woman
from his own past and becomes distraught, but he does not tell Herbert
and Pip about her. He continues, saying that when he and Compeyson
were caught, Compeyson turned on him, using his gentleman’s manners
to obtain a light sentence at the trial. Magwitch wanted revenge,
and Compeyson was the man Pip saw him struggling with that night
on the marsh.
At this point, Herbert passes Pip a note that
tangles the situation even further. The note reveals that Arthur
was Miss Havisham’s half brother; Compeyson was the man who stood
her up on their wedding day.
Summary: Chapter 43
Ashamed that his rise to social prominence is owed to
such a coarse, lowborn man, Pip feels that he must leave Estella
forever. After an unpleasant encounter with Drummle at the inn,
he travels to Satis House to see Miss Havisham and Estella one final
time.
Summary: Chapter 44
Miss Havisham admits that she knowingly allowed him to
believe she was his benefactor, and she agrees to help Herbert now
that Pip can no longer use his own fortune. Pip finally tells Estella
he loves her, but she coldly replies that she never deceived him
into thinking she shared his feelings. She announces that she has
decided to marry Drummle. Surprisingly, Miss Havisham seems to pity
Pip.
