CHAPTER 48

Summary
Pip dines with Jaggers and Wemmick. Jaggers delivers a message to
Pip from Miss Havisham that she would like to see him.

Watching Molly closely, Pip is reminded of Estella. Wemmick

narrates Mollys story to Pip. She was guilty of murder and was
acquitted by Mr. Jaggers in a case that made him famous. She later
had a baby girl. After she was acquitted of murder, she came to
work for Mr. Jaggers and has remained in her services ever since.

Notes
Pip begins to suspect that Estella is Mollys child because of their
similarities and because of the coincidences in their plights. The
irony is that Pip has always sought to be uncommon for Estella; in
reality, she is not far removed from the low life of crime. Pip has
been completely betrayed by his own aspirations.

CHAPTER 49

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Summary
Miss Havisham agrees to extend financial help to Herbert on Pips
request. She seems kinder, almost warm. She wants Pips
forgiveness for all she has done and she wants to show him she is
not a heartless old woman. Pip asks about Estella and has his
suspicions confirmed by the news that Jaggers brought Estella to
Satis House when the child was barely two or three years old.

Pip goes for a walk to clear his head. When he returns, he sees Miss
Havisham and her old faded wedding dress go up in flames. Pip
rushes to save her, and once again she begs him to forgive her. The
doctor arrives and the badly burnt Miss Havisham is lain on the
table where her cake sits. The doctor says that although she has
been badly burnt, the greatest danger to her life is the terrible
shock. Pip is burnt as well, and he kisses the old lady good-bye and
goes off in search of Herbert.
Notes
This part of the novel advances the theme that no matter how one
conducts oneself in life, ones good nature always asserts itself at
the end. Miss Havisham--after having manipulated Estellas life,
encouraging false illusions in Pip, and using Pip as an instrument to
make her relatives envious--realizes her mistakes and feels
remorseful. She begs Pip for forgiveness with a broken heart. Here,
Pip sees a different Miss Havisham than he has ever known--a
tenderhearted woman who genuinely wishes to help Pip and Herbert
and earn forgiveness. She also realizes that Estella and Pip should
have been together and that because of her bitter heart Estella was
brought up to spite Pip. Miss Havisham holds herself responsible for
separating Pip and Estella and making their lives miserable.

CHAPTERS 50 AND 51

Summary
Pip receives severe burns in the attempts to save Miss Havisham,
and Herbert nurses his wounds. Herbert tells Pip that he has
learned more about Magwitch. From what he tells Pip, Pip realizes
Magwitchs wife is Molly and his daughter is Estella.

Pip goes to Jaggers to collect the money for Herberts career and
tells Jaggers what he has learned. Jaggers tells Pip this news is
better if it is kept secret. He says Estella was the one child through
the years whom he could save from the criminal world.

Notes
From this point on, the novel is winding down, tying up loose ends
and closing certain mysteries. Pip makes a fascinating deduction
about Estella, but he loves her too much to reveal anything that
would ruin her life. For him it is merely an exercise in learning more
about the young woman.