Blog #3 Realizations+ Ramifications+ Future

     In chapters 38-39, a lot happens involving Pip and Estella, causing them to form many realizations.  First, in chapter 38, while visiting Miss Havisham, Estella finds Miss Havisham to be very clingy.  She tries to break away from Miss Havisham's cling, angering Miss Havisham and sparking a big fight between the two of them.  This leads to many realizations for Estella.  First, she realizes that Miss Havisham has made her into who she is.  Miss Havisham has taught her to break men's hearts and to also be very cold and rude.  For example, Estella says, "I am what you have made me.  Take all the praise, take all the blame; take all the successes, take all the failure; in short, take me." (p.304).  In this quote, Estella is admitting that Miss Havisham has made her who she is.  In addition, Estella also recognizes that Miss Havisham has taught her not to love anybody, which is why she can't love Miss Havisham.  Estella admits that she owes everything to Miss Havisham, but because of her training she can't not truly love her.  Next, Estella has realizes that she will never be the same because she will never be able to forget Miss Havisham's teachings and all of their wrong causes.  Finally, Estella says, "The success is not mine, the failure is not mine, but the two together make me." (p.306)  In this quote, the success refers to Estella's coldness and cruelty and the failure refers to how Estella can not express emotions or show love.  Here Estella realizes how she has been made and what her successes and failures are.  Although Estella realizes a lot during this fight, it also has some consequences.  First, this fight instills some sort of fear in Miss Havisham, so every time she sees Estella, she is very scared of her.  Therefore, this fight damaged their relationship.  Next, this fight also causes Miss Havisham great pain as Pip hears he crying in the middle of the night.  Estella has caused this, which is bad considering Estella is her prized possession.  While Estella realizes a lot of things in chapter 38, Pip also has a few himself in chapter 39.  A stranger arrives at Pip's house one stormy night and Pip soon recognizes this man as the convict that he helped earlier on in the book.  Soon after, Pip discovers that this man has been his benefactor the whole time.  He has been the mysterious stranger that has been supplying Pip money in order to become a gentleman.  This comes as a big shock to Pip because he never expected the convict to be his benefactor.  This leads to some realizations for Pip.  First, Pip realizes that Miss Havisham is not his benefactor and all the time he spent in the Satis House was for nothing.  He says, "Miss Havisham's intentions towards me, all a mere dream;  Estella not designed for me; I only suffered in the Satis House as a convenience, a sting for the greedy relations, a model with a mechanical heart to practice on when no other practice at hand." (p.323).  Next, Pip also realizes that he was not meant to marry Estella, which is a huge disappointment to him, considering his huge expectation was to marry Estella.  Also, Pip realizes that he deserted Joe for the convict's money, which is something he feels very ashamed about.  Finally, Pip recognizes what grave danger the convict is in because if he were to be found then he would be hung.  The convict is on the run from the law, which scares Pip.  In addition to theses realizations there are also some consequences.  First, there is no turning back for Pip now and that he must carry on from his present state.  He can never return to Joe or Biddy because he has gotten himself so involved.  He says, " I could never, never, never undo what I had done." (p.323).  Next, Pip feels tainted by the criminal and does not want to be associated with him but he must.  

      It is very hard to tell where Pip and Estella are going to go from here.  First, Estella having realized that she can not love anybody, may try to actually break away from Miss Havisham.  She might try to change what Miss Havisham has made her, which I don't think will work.  I think that Estella will always abide by Miss Havisham's teachings because that is all she knows.  Estella has not learned anything but the cold and heartbreaking lessons Miss Havisham has taught her.  I also think that her relationship may become rocky with Miss Havisham and the fight was only setting the stage for the rest of the book and her relationship with Miss Havisham.  Next, I think Pip also has a very uncertain future, considering his benefactor is on the run from the law and if he is caught, he will be hanged.  Pip feels like the convict is a burden and this feeling will only get worse because he can not tell anyone who is benefactor is.  he is scared for his future and I predict that the rest of the book will be hard for Pip.  He does not know what to do about his benefactor, making matters worse.