As a novel that was serialized, Great
Expectations contained suspenseful installments that would encourage readers
to purchase the next segment when it was
published.
Book the
First
During the Christmas dinner, Pip
worries what will happen when Mrs. Joe discovers that the meat pie has been taken.
Then, when Mrs. Joe offers brandy to Uncle Pumblechook, Pip holds tightly to the leg of
the table, waiting for his fate as he is discovered as the thief. This installment ends
with Pip narrating
But I ran no farther than the house door, for
there I ran head foremost into a party of soldiers with their muskets, one of whom held
out a pair of handcuffs to me, saying: "Here you are, look sharp, come on!" (Ch
4)
In Dickens's time, readers
would have worried that Pip would go to jail as petty thieves were sent to
prison.
Then, in Chapter 5 when the constables come to the
door, asking about the convicts and Joe and Pip go out onto the marshes, Pip worries if
he will see his convict and be implicated. As they return, they seek the blacksmith.
Pip's convict is caught and Pip worries that he will tell on Pip for
stealing.
Of course, the visit from Mr. Jaggers with the
news of Pip's "great expectations" leads the read to wonder what it is that Pip has
inherited at the end of Chapter 18.
Book the
Second
In this stage, Herbert tells Pip the
history of Miss Havisham, and Pip wonders about this mysterious past of the woman he
beieves is his benefactor. He also wonders if he will get to marry Estella. In Chapter
33, Pip is concerned about Estella's resemblance to someone else he has
seen.
More suspense is contained in Chapter 35 when Pip
returns to the forge, Biddy tells Pip that Orlick pursues
her.
In Chapter 36, Pip turns twenty-one and hopes to
learn the name of his benefactor, but Mr. Jaggeers is
evasive.
In Chapter 39, Pip is startled by footsteps on the
stairs outside his door, and to his horror and dismay, he discovers the old convict.
Magwitch, who calls himself Provis has come to visit, but Pip is shocked when informed
that he is his benefactor. Dismayed and repulsed by thoughts that all this time
Magwitch has supported him, Pip is caught between his fear of Magwitch and his fear for
the old convict.
Book the
Third
In Chaper 47 Pip waits for Wemmick's
signal to transport Magwitch; in addition, he feels that Compeyson is following
him.
In Chapter 53 Pip enters the old sluice house because
of a letter he has received. This is, indeed, a very suspenseful chapter, one in which
Dickens describes the scene,
There was a melancholy wind, and the marshes
were very dismal. A stranger would have found them insupportable, and even to me they
were so oppressive that I hesitated, half inclined to go back. But, I knew them and
could have found my way on a far darker night, and had no excuse for returning, being
there. So, having come there against my inclination, I went on against
it.
The letter is from
Orlick, who ties Pip and says he will kill him.
Then, in
Chapter 54, Pip and Herbert try to get Provis to steamer, but when Provis sees
Compeyson, he jumps into the water to fight the man, and is injured. He is rescued, but
becomes very ill as he awaits trial. Pip hopes he will be granted a reprieve, but
Jaggers holds no hopes for him.
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