Pride and Prejudice

Thank you for joining us February and March for our study of Great Expectations.

Please begin reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. We will study this book during April and May. The discussions will begin next week on the first few chapters. We love comments, so please feel free to ask questions, answer questions, and post general feelings about what we are studying.

Good Luck and Happy Reading!

A Happy Ending?

GREAT EXPECTATIONS has two endings. In the original Pip and Estella meet briefly, she is married, and there is no hope that they will end up together. Dickens rewrote a more "hopeful" ending that has Pip and Estella meeting once again at the ruins of Satis House. They gaze into each other’s eyes, both are single, Pip forgives her everything, and the reader is left with the impression that they will end up together.

Is this second ending preferable? Should Pip and Estella be together in the end? These are the same questions being discussed by the director and creators of GREAT EXPECTATIONS the musical. Should the musical end with the hope that these two characters will finally marry? Let us know your opinion.

Production Questions

One of our blog readers posted the following questions:

"There are a lot of different settings - the marshes, the town, Joe's House, Satis House, the town, London, the river, Mr. Jaggers' house - how will all of these places be depicted? Will there be a young Pip and Estella? What moments will be presented through song?"

All great questions! The primary setting will be Satis House, which will remain onstage throughout the musical. The other locations will be represented through furniture pieces, props, and lighting. The cast will actually feature four young actors who will play Young Pip, Young Estella, Young Biddy, and Young Herbert. Because the show is a musical, most of the major character and plot moments will be represented by a song. Sometimes one song will cover vast amounts of time in the novel. For example, one song illustrates Pips rise in fortune and at the end of the song he is a gentleman. All of the main characters have at least one song that is specific to them: Pip (he has several), Magwitch, Joe, Estella, Miss Havisham, Biddy, etc.

Magwitch's End

As they try to smuggle Magwitch out of London, their boat was overtaken by Compeyson and ends in disaster. Compeyson and Magwitch fight and Compeyson dies by drowning in the water, while Magwitch is discovered, wounded, sent to jail, and dies.

How do you think this scene will be staged in Great Expectations, a new musical? What might the challenges be with two boats on stage?

Miss Havisham's Demise

In chapter 49, Miss Havisham begins her efforts to make up for her past cruelty to Pip. This is also the point in the novel where Miss Havisham meets her tragic end. Pip readily forgives her, and even becomes her savior in more ways than one. After saving her life, at least for a short time, he doesn't hesitate to write "I forgive her" under Miss Havisham's name.

This scene will be staged in such a way that it should thrill audiences who come to see the musical this summer. It will include some exciting special effects. In fact, Satis House will be the focal point of the stage design, and "Miss Havisham's Lair" will include many eerie technical elements.

March Preparations

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold--when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade."

This is how Dickens begins chapter 54 of GREAT EXPECTATIONS. This statement also describes March in Cedar City, Utah--home of the Utah Shakespearean Festival and the location for the world premiere musical, GREAT EXPECTATIONS. This week we will complete our discussion of the novel and discuss our preparations to bring this story to the stage. What questions came to your mind while reading the novel regarding the musical? Post them here.

Trusting Wemmick

As Pip and Wemmick become better acquainted Wemmick communicates a distinction between his "Walworth sentiments" and his "official sentiments." There is a difference between the advice he gives Pip while they are speaking in a "private and personal" capacity at the castle, and the official advice he will give Pip while they are at the office in Little Britain. It is Wemmick's personal life, not his professional life, that engenders Pip’s respect. In chapter 47, Pip says "If I had never known him out of Little Britain, and had never enjoyed the privilege of being on a familiar footing at the castle, I might have doubted him."

This is a valuable lesson. Although Jaggers is "a thousand times better informed and cleverer" than Wemmick, Pip trusts Wemmick and turns to him for guidance. Dickens’ recognizes that it is important to have a work/life balance. Jaggers has no Aged, he has nothing and nobody to help "unbend his brows."

The Nemesis

In chapter 42, we learn that Magwitch's nemesis, Compeyson, is also the man who broke Miss Havisham's heart. Her situation becomes even more tragic once the identity of the man is revealed. To throw your life away on such a man? It is almost impossible to fathom why a formerly fine lady would give that level of power to such a scoundrel. He clearly feels no remorse. Her actions accomplished nothing.

Have you ever wasted a portion of your life or devoted more time and energy than you should have to such an undeserving person?

Declaration of Love

In chapter 44, Pip is finally driven to confess his love to Estella after learning of her engagement to Drummle. My heart goes out to Pip, and this scene brings many interesting things to light. First, Miss Havisham shows pity and remorse for the first time. She finally recognizes what she has done to the innocent Pip. Secondly, Estella shows no pity, only "incredulous wonder." Finally, we learn why Estella chooses to marry Drummle and her reasoning makes sense. In fact, her reasons for marrying Drummle make her character more agreeable and more sympathetic. She knows that she is incapable of love, so she chooses someone who is also incapable of love. It is an action that enables her to avoid hurting another human being. She says "I shall do well enough, and so will my husband."

I think that by choosing to marry Drummle instead of Pip she is actually doing Pip a kindness. Other thoughts?

Provis Comes to Town

Pip's relationship with his benefactor is interesting to behold. It is easy to have conflicting opinions regarding the behaviors of both characters. Pip's fear and resentment are understandable upon discovering the identity of his benefactor. One can only imagine how it would feel to meet someone in adulthood that had so terrorized one in childhood. When I consider that thought I am astounded by Pip's kindness. On the other hand, I feel such pity for Magwitch. It broke my heart to see Magwitch saddened by the reception that he receives from Pip after coming so far and risking so much. However, how can he expect things to be otherwise? It is moving to see Pip warm to Magwitch so quickly, and to watch Pip work so hard to protect him. These actions speak volumes about Pip’s character.

If you were in Pip’s shoes, would you continue to accept assistance from Magwitch after discovering his identity?

Pip's Benefactor

Pip's benefactor definitely wasn't Miss Havisham. Were any of you surprised? The convict, Magwitch, is such an interesting character to choose as Pip's benefactor. I find that this twist gave new life (and conflict) to the story. Magwitch is such a meaty character. His past life, his escape, the money he earned to make Pip a gentleman, his need for disguise.

What do you think of Pip's benefactor?

Miss Havisham vs. Estella

I loved the fight between Miss Havisham and Estella in Chapter 38. What did Miss Havisham expect? She created Estella to be proud and hard so she shouldn't require anything less for herself from the girl she raised.

What do you think? Should Estella have tenderness for her "mother by adoption" that raised her to be so cold and heartless?

The Funeral

It was inevitable, of course, that Mrs. Joe would pass. It is the "last nail in the coffin" for poor Joe trying to keep a family. With Mrs. Joe gone, Biddy would leave and Pip didn't visit often enough. How lonely he must have felt. The description of what Trabb & Co. dressed everyone in was wonderful. I could see everyone in their black clothes as they walked down the street. The imagery made me feel like I was there.

Bentley Drummle

Bentley Drummle is an unpleasant character. The description of him as a spider is fitting. Throughout chapter 26 I found myself wondering why Mr. Jaggers is so taken with him. Then he warns Pip to stay clear of him. What do you think he means by calling Drummle a "true sort." What do you think Drummle's supposed fortune will be?

Word Play

While continuing to read GREAT EXPECTATIONS, I repeatedly find myself stunned by Dickens' descriptive language and his word play. In chapter 22, the description of the Pocket children as "tumbling up" and the various ways in which Dickens uses that phrase is quite charming. I have known families who children seem to "tumble up" rather than being "brought up," but I never thought to describe it in such a way. I also enjoy the descriptions in chapter 23 of Mr. Pocket's attempts to lift himself up by the hair.

Are there descriptive phrases and instances of word play that have caught your attention while reading the book?

Great Expectations Onstage

A blog participant mentioned a tendency to visualize how this story will be presented onstage while reading the book. The stage production will be exciting, and it is a musical to boot! The set designer's model shows a representation of Satis House (Miss Havisham's house) as the central point of the design. Casting will be announced within the next two weeks. The company will include notable returning actors as well as many new actors who will be working at the Festival for the first time.

Toward the end of this month, the online blog will focus on bringing this production to the stage. As you are reading, think of scenes that you are excited to see onstage and we will discuss them here.