"When suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has thought me to understand what your heart used to be. She had been bent and broken, but - I hope - into a better shape." (p.412)
The classic book, Dickens’s thirteenth novel, was first published in the pages his weekly magazine All the Year Round between December 1860 and August 1861. The 412-page edition is published by Wordsworth Classics (inexpensive edition), in 2000, Great Britain. Though this edition preserves notes to help the reader to grasp the old words or terms back to 1860’s, but the book is still difficult one for me. I read it twice.
The classic book, Dickens’s thirteenth novel, was first published in the pages his weekly magazine All the Year Round between December 1860 and August 1861. The 412-page edition is published by Wordsworth Classics (inexpensive edition), in 2000, Great Britain. Though this edition preserves notes to help the reader to grasp the old words or terms back to 1860’s, but the book is still difficult one for me. I read it twice.
Lately I only recognize
Dickens from the adaption movie of Christmas
Carol and Oliver Twist. But back to
decades ago, David Copperfield, Bleak House,
Oedipus Rex, had gotten familiar on my ears. I had heard them in my class, but
I am totally has forgotten all about them. At the first sight when I saw this book at the bookstore, I was not so sure to purchase this edition. But since I
never have Dickens’s works before, the
Great Expectation will be a good idea. After reading this book, I now realize
that I am so lucky having this book. The book is not only a rich book, but also
a beautifully constructed one.
Pip, the central character,
never does heroic acts. At the first scene he met a convict at the churchyard. The
orphan boy lives with his sister who marries to a blacksmith, named Joe Gargery.
He frequently gets the violence from his sister, Mrs Joe, then a strange and
rich woman invites the boy to play at her large house called Satis House. Miss
Havisham, the lady in wedding dress is the victim of trauma, and imprisons herself
in a house like a crypt. The grown up Pip moves to London where he has a good
life and a classy neighborhood. A secret benefactor has funded his luxurious life
and now he goes to the party with his new educated and rich friends. He falls in love
with Estella, the girl from Satis House, and this passion runs throughout his life. The element of surprise
reveals at the end of story, Pip finds that ex-con Abel Magwitch, the convict
he met at the churchyard at the first scene, is the biological father of
Estella and his benefactor.
Great
Expectations is a romantic drama. Pip, Estella,
Magwitch, and Miss Havisham, all the central characters in the book, are living
in the shadow of past. Pip too obsesses with the beautiful Estella, and I find the
tone quite similar to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The
Great Gatsby.
Great Expectations (1860 & 1861),
a Classic Novel by Charles Dickens: summary
His name was Philip
Pirrip, he called himself Pip. His infant tongue made of both names nothing
longer or more explicit than Pip. As he never saw his mother of his father, and
never saw any likeness of either of them. They had died before the days of the
photograph’s invention. He drew into a childish conclusion that his mother was
freckled and sickly. There were five little stone had arranged neatly row
beside the grave, and they were sacred to the memory of five brothers of him.
The seven-year-old Pip
was on the grave at the churchyard when a stranger approached him. A man with
no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round head. A man who
had been soaked in water, and smothered in mud. After the boy gave his name and
pointed to where his village lay, the man emptied the boy’s pocket.
A piece of bread
had made him strong and threatened the boy to bring him food and a file. Later
the man with ironed leg discovered that the boy’s was an orphan and now who
lived with his sister who married to a blacksmith with the name of Joe Gargery.
He made the boy to take an oath not to tell anybody and bring him things in the
next day. The very early morning Pip brought him the things that he asked him,
the man limped towards to the low church wall, then picked the food and the
handsaw.
His sister was more
than twenty years older than him. Mrs Joe Gargery was not good-looking woman,
she must have made Joe Gargery marry her by hand. Joe was a fair man with curls
of flaxen hair on each side of his smooth face. He was a mild, good-natured,
sweet-tempered, easy-going, foolish, dear fellow- a sort of Hercules in
strength, and also in weakness. His sister with black hair and eyes, had such a
prevailing redness of skin. She was tall and bony, and almost wore a coarse
apron, fastened over her figure behind with two loops.
Pip’s sister was angry
to him, for he went to the churchyard. He was hungry but he dared not eat his
bread. Joe also lost his appetite, but he had tried to entertain the boy. But this
time, his sister was quite desperate, so she pounced on Joe, and taking him by
the two whiskers, knocked his head or a little while against the wall behind
him. Pip sat on the corner, looked guiltily on it. His sister made a dive at
him, and fished him up by the hair then said the awful words.
It was a Christmas Eve,
and he had to stir the pudding at the next day. Joe said there was another
convict off. The soldier was firing warning another from Hulks. Hulks were
prison-ship. Pip did not understand what a convict was. He was never allowed a
candle to light him to bed, and he went upstairs in the dark. He was afraid to sleep
for he knew that at the firs dawn at morning he must rob the pantry. Pip stole
some bread, some cheese, about half of mincemeat, some brandy. He was nearly
going away without pie. A man was dressed in coarse gray, and had a great iron
in his leg, he had not had the same face, felt hat on, and was lame. The man
caught Pip, but he was sure that he was not the same man that he met yesterday.
He called him a thief. Pip’s friend later found him, but the man with hat had
ran and taken the food.
Mrs. Joe was
prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for festivities of the day, and
Joe had been put the kitchen door-step to keep him out of the dustpan. They
were to have a superb dinner, consisting of a leg pickled pork and greens and a
pair of roast stuffed fowls. Mrs Joe was a very clean housekeeper, but had an exquisite
art making her cleanliness more uncomfortable and unacceptable than dirt
itself. Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
Joe and Pip were going
to church. Mr Wopsle, the clerk at church, was to dine with them; and Mr
Hubble, the wheelwright, and Mrs Hubble; and Uncle Pumblechook (Joe’s uncle,
but Mrs Joe appropriated him), was well-to-do corn-chandler in the nearest
town, and drove his own chaise-chart. They dined on that occasions in the
kitchen, and the soldiers were at the door of the kitchen. The sergeant looked
for the blacksmith. There was an accident, he found the lock of one of the
convicts went wrong. Joe was to hammer and clink for them. At last, Joe’s job
was done. The sergeant took a polite leave of the ladies.
Mr Wopsle, Joe and Pip
were joining the soldier to hunt the fugitives. Joe had heard the shouting of
two voices. Both the voices would seem to be stifled in a struggle. The
sergeant ran Water was splashing, and mud was flying, and oaths were being
sworn, and blows were being struck, when more men went down into the ditch to
help sergeant, and dragged out, separately, Pip’s convict and another one. Both
bleeding and panting and execrating and struggling, but of course Pip knew them
directly. The two convicts yelled each other, then they took apart, and each
walked surrounded by a separate guard. Pip’s convict never looked at him. He
admitted that he had stolen some wittles from Joe the blacksmith. By the light
of the torches, they saw the black Hulk lying out a little away from the mud of
the shore.
At the time he stood in
the churchyard, reading the family tombstones, Pip just enough learning to be
able to spell them out. When he was old enough, he was to be apprenticed to
Joe. Mr Wopsle’s great aunt kept an evening school in the village, that is to
say; she was a ridiculous old woman limited means and unlimited infirmity, who
used to go to sleep six to seven every evening. She rented a small cottage and
Mr Wopsle had the room upstairs, where the students used to overhear him
reading aloud in a most dignified and terrific manner, and occasionally bumping
on the ceiling.
Mr Wopsle’s great aunt,
besides keeping the educational institution, kept – in the same room-a little
general shop. She had no idea what stock she had, or the price of anything in
it was; but there was a little book in the drawer which served as a catalogue
of prices, by this oracle Biddy arranged all the shop transaction. Biddy was an
orphan like Pip, had been brought out by hand. She was most noticeable, in
respect her extremities, for her hair always wanting brushing, her hands always
wanting washing, her shoes always wanting mending and pulling up the heel.
Pip never heard Joe
read aloud to any greater, and Pip had observed at the church last Sunday. Joe
did ever go to school. His father was a drunkard, he hammered away at his
mother. Joe and his mother ran away from his father several times. His mother
had ran away and get a job. She wanted to send Joe for school, but his father
took them home, and hammered them. Joe had worked tolerable hard, and his
father went off in a purple leptic (apoplectic) fit. His mother was in poor
health, and quite broke. She died soon. Joe was lonesome and he got acquainted
with Pip’s sister. For him. Pip’s sister was a fine figure of a woman. Young as
he was, he believe that he dated a new admiration of Joe from the conversation.
They were equal afterwards.
Mrs Joe made occasional
trips with Uncle Pumblechook on market days to assist him in buying such household stuffs and goods as required a
woman’s judgement; Uncle Publechook being a bachelor and reposing no confidences
in his domestics servant. Uncle Pumblechook brought the news from up town, Miss
Havisham wanted Pip to go and play in her house. She was a rich and grim lady
who lived in a large and dismal house barricaded against robbers and who led a
life of seclusion. Uncle Pumblechook may be a tenant of hers. Pip was put into
clean linen of the stiffest character and then delivered over to Mr Pumblechook,
who formally received him as if he was the Sheriff.
Mr Pumblechook and Pip
breakfasted at eight o’clock in the parlor behind the shop, Pip considered Mr Pumblechook
wretched company. For such reason, the boy was very glad when ten o’clock came
and they started for Miss Havisham. The house had a great many iron bars to it.
There were courtyard in front and that was barred. The girl raised a window and
asked the visitor’s name.
The boy was now in Satis
House, the pretty girl explained the name was equal to enough house. They went
into the house, the first thing he noticed was that the passages were all dark,
and she had left a candle burning there. It was all dark, and only the candle
lighted them. Pip was a half afraid.
In arm-chair, with an
elbow resting on the table and her head leaning on that hand, sat the strangest
lady he have ever seen. She was dressed in rich materials – satins, and lace,
and silks – all of white. Her shoes was white. She had along white veil
dependent from her hair. Some bright jewels lay sparkles on her necks and on
her hands, and some other jewels lay sparkled on the table.
It was then Pip began to
understand everything in the room. He noticed Miss Havishman just wanted to
play and Estella dealt the cards. So Miss Havisham sat, corpse-like, as they played
at cards, the frillings and trimmings on her bridal dress looking like earthy paper.
Pip misdealt, as was only natural, and she denounced him for a stupid, clumsy
laboring-boy. The lady knew Pip liked to see Estella again, though he said she
was very insulting.
When he reached home,
his sister was very curious to know all about Miss Havisham’s and asked a
number of questions. Pip described Miss Havisham’s as his eyes had seen it.
Uncle Pumblechook said Estella was Miss Havisham’s niece. And then he told Joe
that he felt very miserable and that he had not been able to explain himself to
Mrs Joe and Pumblechook were so rude to him, and that there had been a
beautiful lady at Miss Havisham’s who was dreadfully proud, and that she had
said Pip was common. How common Estella considered Joe, a mere blacksmith with
thick boots and coarse hands. Pip thought how Joe and his sister were then
sitting in the kitchen, and how Miss Havisham and Estella never sat in the
kitchen, but far above the level of such common doings. It was a memorable day
to him, for it made a great changes in him.
Of course there was a
public –house in the village, and of course Joe liked sometimes to smoke his pipe
there. Pip received strict orders from his sister call for him at The Three
Jolly Bargemen that evening, on his way from school that day, bring him home at
his peril. There was a bar at the Jolly Bargemen, Joe was smoking his pipe in
company with Mr. Wosple and a stranger. He was a secret-looking man whom he had
never seen before. He had a pipe in his mouth and looked hard on Pip, and
nodded to him more than once. All the while, the strange man looked nobody but
Pip, and looked as if he were determined to have a shot at him at last, and
bring him down.
At the appointed time
he returned to Miss Havisham, and his hesitating ring at the gate brought out
Estella. His coming had stopped the conversation in the room. There were three
ladies in the room and one gentleman. The lady, whose name was Camilla, very
much like reminded him of his sister, with the difference was she was older. Mr
and Mrs Camilla, Cousin Raymond, Sarah Pocket, Georgiana, were there. It was
Miss Havisham’s birthday.
Pip had exhausted in
the garden when he met a pale young gentlemen with red eyelids and light hair,
He had been at his books when he had found himself staring at him. The pale boy
asked Pip to fight. Pip judged him to be about his own age, but he was much
taller, and had a way of spinning himself about that was full of appearance.
Pip let out his first bow the pale boy lay on his back with a bloody nose. His
spirit inspired Pip with great respect. He seemed no strength, never once hit
Pip hard. He seemed so brave and innocent. Estella saw the fight and already
waiting with the keys. She offered him to kiss her, so Pip kissed her on the
cheek. The birthday visitors, the cards, fight had lasted so long. He never
forgot the kiss since then.
As they began to be
more used to one another, Miss Havisham asked him such questions and his plan
in the future. He only wanted to be apprenticed to Joe. Miss Havisham asked Pip
to bring Joe for the next visit. It was a trial to his feelings, to see Joe
arraying himself in hi Sunday clothes to accompany him to Miss Havisham.
His sister declared her
attention of going town with them, and being left at Uncle Pumblechook. Estella
opened the gate as usual. Pip was afraid he was ashamed of Joe. Miss Havisham said
Pip has earned a premium in her house, and she also gave some money to Joe.
Then she said Joe was now his master and never coming back.
Pip was now an apprentice
to Joe. He had a thought of making Mrs Havisham a present. Pip tried to visit
Mrs Havisham’s house, but there was no Estella anymore. It was Sarah Pocket who
opened the door. Pip said that he only came to see how Miss Havisham was, but in
fact he looked for Estella. Estella was on board attending education for a
lady.
The guns have been
going since dark at the Hulks. The house seemed to have been violently entered
when Joe Gargery was out. Somebody has been attacked and hurt. Pip and some men
from bar were running too fast and made no stop until
they got into their kitchen. It was full of people, the whole village was there,
and there was Joe. His sister laid without sense movement and she had been
knocked down by tremendous blow on the back of her head. Nothing had been
taking away from any part of the house.
It was a horrible to
think that Pip had provided the weapon. The Constables from London were about
the house for week or two. They took up several obviously wrong people. Long
after the constitutional power had dispersed, his sister lay very ill in bed.
Her sight was disturbed, her hearing was greatly impaired, her memory also; and
her speech was unintelligence. However her temper was greatly improved and she
was patient.
Pip now fell into a
regular of apprentice-life, by no more remarkable circumstances than the
arrival of his birthday and his paying visit to Miss Havisham. He still found
Miss Sarah Pocket still on duty at the gate. So unchangeable was the dull of
the house. Daylight never entered the house.
Biddy
Imperceptibly he became
conscious of change in Biddy, however. Her shoes came up to the heel, her hair
grew bright and neat, her hands were always clean. She was not beautiful – she was
common, and could not be like Estella – but she was pleasant and wholesome and
sweet –tempered.
It came of his lifting
up his eyes from writing some passages from the book. He laid down his pen and
Biddy stopped in her needlework without laying it down. She managed our whole
domestic life, and wonderful too. She said how Pip managed to be a very clever
man while she was still very stupid. Since the conversation Pip began to think
her rather an extraordinary girl. She was crying, she was Pip’s first teacher. It
was like her self-forgetfulness, to transfer remark to his sister. His sister
was never left alone now, Joe more than readily undertook the care on her on
that Sunday afternoon, Biddy and Pip went together. They were out the marshes
and began to see the sails and the ships. When they came to riverside, Pip told
her that he was not at all happy as he was. He want to be a gentleman on
Estella account. He really wanted to be a gentleman. Having made his lunatic
confession to Biddy, he began throw his torn-up grass to the river. She listened
and comforted him with her coarse hands.
The strange gentleman
with an air of authority not to be disputed came at the door. He looked Joe’s
apprentice. His name was Jagger, a
lawyer from London. The communication he had gotten to make was, that Pip has
Great Expectations. The lawyer had instructed to communicate with Pip. He would
be come into a handsome property. Pip’s dream was out; his wild fancy was
surpassed by sober reality; Miss Havisham was going to make his fortune on
grand scale. His heart was beating so fast, and there was no any objection.
Jaggers had recommended Mr.
Matthew Pocket, Pip knew the name from Miss Havishman household. The Matthew whom
Mr and Mrs Camilla had spoken of. The Matthew whose place was to be at Miss
Havisham‘s head, when she lay dead, in her bride dress on the bride’s table.
Pip extended clemency to
Biddy. Putting the best clothes he had, he went into the town as early as he
could to find the shops open, and presented himself before Mr Trabb, the
tailor. Mr Pumblechook treated and welcomed him well. His ill-manner to Pip had
removed drastically since he knew Pip’s life now had changed. He mentioned to Mr Pumblechook his new clothes
sent to his house. He went circuitously to Miss Havisham, rang the bell constrainedly,
on account of the stiff long finger on the glove.
She already heard about
London’s stuff from Mr Jaggers. Pip was adopted by a rich person. She stretched her
hand, and Pip knelt down on his knee and put it to his lips. Biddy was astir early
morning to get his breakfast, it was a hurried breakfast with no taste in it.
He kissed his sister, who was laughing and nodding and shaking in her usual
chair, and kissed Biddy, and threw his arms and Joe’s neck. The last he saw of
them was, and looking back, saw Joe throwing an old shoe after him, and Biddy throwing
another old shoe. Biddy was crying.
******This is the end of the first stage of Pip’s expectation******
Pip
in London
The journey from his town
to the metropolis was a journey of about five hours. It was a little past
mid-day when the four-horse stage coach
by which he was a passenger into
ravel of traffic frayed out in London. Mr Jagger was dully sent him his
address. Mr Jaggers was in Court when Pip arrived at his office. Mr Jaggers’s
room was lighted by a skylight only, and was a most dismal place.
The Finches Club
Of course he had no
experience of a London summer day, and his spirits may have been oppressed by
the hot exhausted air, and by the dust and grit that lay on everything. He made
a little tour and now he became aware that other people were waiting about for
Mr Jaggers. All the others whose were waiting, saw him at the same time. Two men
waved to the lawyer and the suitor kissed his the hem of the lawyer’s garment.
His guardian took him to his room, informed him what arrangements he had made
for him. Pip then found that Wemmick was the clerk in the next room. Another
clerk was rung down upstairs to take his place when Pip was down.
Pip was to go
to Barnard’s Inn to young Pocket’s room, where a bed had been sent it
for his accommodation. He had nearly madded himself with looking out for half
an hour, and written his name with finger several times in the its of every pane
in the window. Mr Pocket gradually there arose before the hat, his clothes, of
a member of society of about Pip standing. He had a paper-bag under each arm.
He exclaimed he extremely sorry, he just went to market to get some food.
The pale young
gentleman and Pip stood contemplating one another in Barnard’s Inn, until they
both burst out laughing. He was still a pale young gentleman. He had not a
handsome face, but it was better than handsome. Herbert Pocket told him everything
about Miss Havisham’s household. Estella was Miss Havisham’s adopted daughter,
Mr Jagger was Miss Havisham’s lawyer. The lawyer was the one who suggested
Herbert to be Pip’s mentor.
Miss Havisham
Miss Havisham’s mother
died when she was a baby, and her father denied her nothing. Her father was a
county gentleman down in the part of the world, and was a brewer. Mr Havisham
was very rich and very proud. She was not the only child, she had a
half-brother. Her father privately married again – his cook. His second wife
died and Mr Havisham told his daughter what he had done. Her half brother and
she were stronger differences. The brother cherished a deep ad mortal grudge
against her, as having influenced her father’s anger. He pursued Miss Havishman
closely, and professed to be devoted to her.
She had not shown much
susceptibility up that time, but all she possessed, certainly came out then, and
she passionately idolized him. He practiced on her affection in that systematic
way, he got great sums of money from her, and he induced her to buy her
brother out of a share in the brewery, on the plea that when he was her husband
he must hold and manage it all. The marriage day was fixed, the wedding dresses
were bought, the wedding tour was planned out, the wedding quest were invited.
The day came, but not the bridegroom.
When she recovered from
a bad illness that she had, and she has never since looked upon the light of
day. He may had been married already, and her cruel mortification have been a
part of her half-brother’s scheme.
Mr Pocket
He had been educated at
Harrow and at Cambridge, he had married Mrs Pocket very early life. Mr and Mrs
Pocket had a toady neighbor, a widow lady of that highly sympathetic nature
that she agreed with everybody, shed smiles and tears to everybody. Mrs Coiler
had Pip the honor of taking her down to dinner. It came to his knowledge,
through what passed between Mrs Pocket and Drummle while Pip was attentive to
dinner instruments, that Drummle, whose Christian name was Bentley, was actually
the next heir but one to a baronetcy. After dinner Pocket’s children were
introduced. There were four little girls, and two little boys.
Bentley Drummle
He came of rich people
down in Sommersetshire, who nursed this combination of qualities until they
made the discovery that it was just age and a blockhead. Thus, Bentley drummle
had come to Mr Pocket when he was a head taller than that gentleman, and half a
dozen heads thicker than most gentlemen. When Pip stayed in Pocket’s family in
a month, Mr and Mrs Camilla turned up. Camilla was Mr. Pocket’s sister. Georgiana,
whom he had seen at Miss Havisham’s on the same occasion, also turned up. She
was a cousin. These were surroundings among which Pip settled down, and applied
his to education. Pip soon econtracted expensive habits, and began to spend an
amount of money.
Joe Gargery in London
Pip received a letter
form Biddy which announced that Joe would be in London to see him. If he could kept
him away by paying money. He certainly would paid money. His greatest reassure
was, that he was coming to Barnard’s inn, not to Hammersmith, and consequently
would not fall in Bentley Drummle’s way. He had little objection to his being
seen by Herbert or his father, but he had the sharpest sensitiveness as to his
being seen by Drummle.
He knew it was Joe, by
his clumsy manner of coming upstairs. A ghost-seeing effect on Joe’s own
countenance informed him that Herbert had entered the room. Having settled he
must go to the Blue Boar. The coffee room at the Blue Boar was empty. At the
time it was customary to carry Convicts down to the dockyards by stage-coach.
There stood the man whom he had seen on the chair at the Three Jolly Bargemen.
She was in her chair
near the old table, in the old dress, Sitting near her, was an elegant lady,
whom he never seen before, and the he saw that eyes were Estella’s eyes.
One day when Pip was
busy with books and Mr Pocket, he received a note from Estella by post. In her
furred traveling-dress, Estella seemed more delicately beautiful than she had
ever seemed yet, even in his eyes. Her manner was more winning than she had cared
to let it be to him before, and he thought Miss Havisham’s influence in the
change. Estella would live at Richmond, she had a great expense, with a lady
there, who had the power.
They fell into other
talk, and it as principally about the way by which they were traveling, and
about what parts of London lay on his side of it, and what on that. When they
passed through Hammersmith, Pip showed her where Mr Matthew Pocket lived, and
said it was no great way from Richmond, and that he hoped he should see her sometimes.
They came to Richmond all too soon, their destination there was a house by the
Green, a staid old house. Pip stood looking at the house thinking he should be
at that house with her.
He got into the
carriage. To be taken back to Hammersmith, and he got in with a bad heart-ache.
At the door, he found little Jane Pocket coming home from little party escorted
by her little lover. Mr Pocket was out lecturing; for he was a most delightful
lecturer on domestic economy, and his treaties on the management of children and
servants were considered the very best text-books on those themes. But Mrs
Pocket was at home, and was in a little difficulty on account on the baby’s
playing the needle.
As he had grown
accustomed to his expectations, Pip had insensibly begun to notice their effect
upon himself and those around him. Their influence on his character, but he
knew very well that it was not all good. He lived in a state of chronic
uneasiness respecting his behavior to Joe. As an infallible way of thinking way
of making little ease great ease, Pip began to contract a quantity of debt. He
could hardly begin but Herbert must begin too, so he soon followed.
They put themselves
down for election into the club called the Finches of the Grove: the object of
which institution he never divined. The Finches spent their money foolishly,
and the first Finch he saw, when he had the honor of joining the Grove, was
Bentley Drummle.
In thus confidence in
his own resources, he would willingly have taken Herbert’s expenses on himself;
but Herbert was proud. They spent as much money as they could. As they got more
and more into debt, breakfast became a hollower. They got a memorandum of
Pip’s debt and a memorandum of Herbert’s debt. At the same time, Pip got a
letter from village and it was signed by Trabb & Co. His sister had died.
At the moment of his
arrival, he confused by occasion. Poor Joe entangled in a little black cloack
tied in a large bow under his chin, was eaten apart at the upper end of the
room. Biddy, looking very neat and modest in her black dress, went quietly here
and there, and was very helpful. She was so quite, and had such an orderly, good, and pretty way with her. She had been speaking to Mrs Hubble and she would
work for her. Biddy was going to try to get the place of mistress in the new
school nearly she finished. Early in the morning after the funeral, he was to
go.
Herbert and Pip went on
from bad to worse, in the way of increasing their debt. Herbert himself had
come of age, eight months before him. On the one-and twentieth birthday, Pip’s
guardian, Mr Jagger, handed him a bank note, the handsome sum of money. It was
birthday present, in earnest of his expectations. It was a Pip was beginning to
express his gratitude to his benefactor for the great liberality with which he
was treated.
When the money had come
into his pocket, a thought had come into his head which had been often there
before, and it appeared to him that Wemmick was a good person to advise him. He got the idea to
invest portable property. Deeming Sunday the best day for taking Mr Wemmick’s
Walworth sentiments, he devoted the next ensuing Sunday afternoon to a
pilgrimage to the castle.
Estella
The lady with whom
Estella was placed, Mrs Bradley by name, was a widow with one daughter several
years older than Estella. The mother looked young and the daughter looked old;
the mother set up for frivolity, and the daughter for theology. Mrs Bradley had
been a friend of Miss Havisham’s before the time of her seclusion. Estella had
admirers without end. She mad use of me to tease other admirer, and she turned very
familiarity between herself and him.
On a certain occasion
when the Finchs were assembled in force, and when the good feeling as being promoted
in the unsul manner, Drummle had not yet toasted a lady, he picked Estella for
the game. The Finches were divided. Pip express his regret as a gentlemen and a
Finch. However, it was decide at last that if Mr Drummle would bring never so
slight a certificate from the lady. The next day Drummle appeared with a polite
avowal in Estella’s hand. The spider a Mr Jaggers had called him, was used to
lying in wait, and had the patence of his tribe. Hehad a blokhead confidence in
his money and in his family greatness.
The
Benefactor
His twenty-third
birthday was a week gone. Herbert and Pip ha left Barnard’s Inn more than a
year, and lived in the Temple. They had some time parted company as to their
original relations, though they continued on the best terms. Pip had a taste
for reading, and read regularly so many hours a day. Business had taken Herbert
to Marsailles, he was alone.
A voice from the
darkness came out and wanted to meet Pip. Pip stood with his lamp held out very the stair-nail, he had seen a face that was strange to him. The stranger was
substantially dressed, but roughly; like a voyager by sea. He had long iron-gray
hair, his age was about sixty. His had was furrowed and bald, and that log
iron-gray hair grew only on its sides. He shook his head at me with a deliberate affection, at once most unintelligence and more exasperating. Pip could not
recalled single feature.
He had been a
sheep-farmer, stock-breeder, and the other trades besides, away in the new
world. After having some drink, Pip took
out his purse. He watched Pip as he separated a bank note from its contents. The
stager knew about Pip’s guardian, all the truth of his position came flashing on
him. He said he was Pip’s second father. He got the money left by his master
which died and had been the same as him, then he got his liberty and went to
himself. The gains of first few year what he sent to Mr Jagger and all to Pip,
when the lawyer first came after Pip, for agreeable to his letter.
His benefactor was sent
for life, and it was death to come back. He should of certainty to be hanged. When
he stood at the table drinking rum and eating biscuit, Pip saw his convict on
the marshes at his meal again. He had the sharpest and the deepest pain of all.
It was for the convict, the secret person who was making him to be a gentlemen.
Miss Havisham’s intentions towards him, all a mere dream; Estella was not
designed for him. He had deserted Joe, he would not have gone back to Joe now.
Pip had seen him with his childish eyes to be a desperately violent man, and he
had heard that other convict reiterate that he had tried to murder him.
******This is the end of the
second stage of Pip’s expectation******
A strong man’s hand,
sometimes a strong man’s breast, was set against his mouth to deaden his cries.
The man was in no hurry, and struck again with the flint and steel. Presently
he saw his blue lips again, and then a flare of light flashed up, and showed
him Orlick. He had been drinking, and his eyes were red and bloodshot. Around
his neck was slung a tin bottle.
Pip supposed it was
Miss Havisham, but he found his real benefactor was Abel Magwitch from New
South Wales. Wemmick had received a letter from Portsmouth, from a colonist of
the name of Pruvis, asking for the particulars of Pip’s address, on behalf of
Magwitch. After his arguing with Mr Jaggers about his benefactor, Pip went
straight back to the Temple, where he found the terrible Provis drinking
rum-and water and smoking negro-head, in safety.
Whatever he put on, he
became less. There was something in him that made it hopeless to attempt to
disguise him. The more Pip dressed him, and the better he he dressed him, the
more looked like the slouching fugitive on the marshes.
It lasted five days.
Expecting Herbert all the time, Pip dared not to go out except when when he
took Provis for an airing dark night. As usually Herbert came at the door,
yelled at Pip, usually called him Handel. Herbert got an idea to send away
Provis. His power would over him as long as he remained in England.
Abel
Magwicth’s Confession
He spent his life in
jail and out of jail. He first became aware of himself down in Essex, a thieving
turnips for his living. He was a ragged little creature as much to be pitied as
ever he see, even he got the name of being hardened. He could not read and made
him speeches what I could not understand. Tramping begging, thieving, working
sometimes when he could.
A deserting soldier in
a Traveler’s Rest, what lay hid up to the chin under a lot of taturs, learned him to read; and traveling Giant what he
signed his name at a penny a time learned him to write. He had a good share of
key-metal skill. At up some races, a matter of over twenty years ago, he got
acquainted with a man named Compassion. That was the man was in the ditch that
the truly Pip comrade after he was gone in the other night.
He set up for a
gentleman, Compassion, and he had been to a public boarding-school and had
learning. He was smooth one to talk, and was like the ways of gentlemen. He was
good looking too. Jail’s records had tangled Abel into bad appearance,
Compassion offered him for a new luck. His business was the swindling,
handwriting forging, the stolen bank-note passing, and suchlike. There was
another in with Compassion, as was called Arthur. He and Compassion had been in
a bad thing with a rich lady some years before, and they made a pot money by
it.
Arthur lived at the top
of Compassion’s house. And Compassion kept a careful account agent him for
board and lodging, in case ever get better to work it out. Arthur came down
into Compassion’s parlour late at night, in only a flannel gown. Later Compassion and Abel found his wife,
Sally, was standing in the corner at the foot of Arthur’s bed, awful mad. Compassion
was so angry and ordered Abel to give him a lesson. Sally was shaking the
shroud at Magwitch, and she was gone. Since then Compassion took Abel as his
man. Abel was always in debt to him, At last, Abel and Compassion, were both
committed for felony on a charge putting stolen notes in circulation. Abel was
so miserable poor, then he sold all the clothes he had, except what hung on his
back, before he could get Jaggers.
They were sentenced; he
got only seven years, but Abel got fourteen. They were at the same prison-ship,
but Abel could not get at him for long. At last, Abel hit him on the cheek and
got a smashing one at him. Abel escaped to the shore, and he was hiding among
the graves, and that was the first time he met Pip.
Compassion was out on
them marshes too. Abel also haunted him too. He had escaped when he was made
half wild by Abel, and his murderous intention, and his punishment was light.
Abel was put in irons and sent for life. Herbert noticed that Young Havisham’s name
was Arthur, and Compassion was the man who professed to be Mrs Havisham’s lover.
Pip
in Satis House
Mrs Bradley’s maid was
called to tell him that Estella had gone into the country. Pip knew Estella
must be going home. Unpredictably he met Drummle there. Miss Havisham retorted
rather angrily to Pip and warned him never to marry Estella. Meanwhile the
preparations for Estella’s marriage were making and shall be married soon. Though
Pip already insisted that he knew worthier person than Drummle.
For he had by that time
come to himself so far, as to consider that he could not go back to the inn and
see Drummle there. As the seldom happened that he came in at the gate after the
Temple was closed, the messenger handed him a warning note from Wemmick: Don’t go home. He left the direction and
directly went to Wemmick’s place. A certain person, bad guy, was in Pip’s
place. By all that time, why he was not to go home, and whether Provis was safe
at home, were questions occupying his mind so busily. The more painful feeling
he had, he and Estella had parted that day for ever. In short, he was always full
of fears for the rash man who was in hiding. Someweeks passed without bringing
any change. Herbert and Pip waited for Wemmick, and he made no sign.
His worldly affairs
began to wear a gloomy appearance, and Pip was pressed for money by more than
one creditor. He began to know the want of money, and to relieve it by converting some easily spared articles of jewelery into cash. He was an
unhappy life that he lived, and its one dominant anxiety.
Herbert
first knew Clara Barley when she was completing he education at an
establishment at Hammersmith, and she had confided their affection the
motherly Mrs Whimple, by whom with had been fostered and regulated with equal
kindness and discretion, ever since. Clara was a very pretty, slight, dark-eyed
girl of twenty. She really was a most charming girl. Her father was very ill. Old
Barley was growling and swearing when they passed his door. As they passed Mr
Barley’s door, he was heard hoarsely muttering within. In his two cabin rooms at
the top of the house, which were fresh and airy, and in which Mr Barley was less
audible than blow, Pip found Provis comfortably settled.
Miss Havisham’s note
had made Pip was on Jagger’s place. That lady wanted to see him. Pip was invited
to Jaggers’s place. A woman, Jagger’s maid, had helped Pip to set his luggage. Molly
stood looking at her master, not understanding whether she was free to go, or
whether he had more to say to her. Her look was very intent. Pip looked again
at those hands and eyes of the housekeeper, and thought of the inexplicable
feeling. He had passed a chance swift from Estella’s name to the fingers with
their knitting action, and the attentive eyes. Pip felt absolutely certain that
the woman was Estella’s mother.
Mr Jaggers had seen him
with Estella, was not likely to have missed the sentiments he had been at no
pains to conceal. Only twice more did the housekeeper reappear, and then her
stay in the room was very short, and Mr Jaggers was sharp with her. But her
hands were Estella’s hands, and her eyes were Estella’s eyes. Wemmick knew nothing about Mrs Drummle’s biological mother. He only knew the housekeeper has
been with Jaggers many long years. The woman was tried at the Old Bailey for
murder, and was acquitted. She was a very handsome young woman, and had some
gipsy blood in her.
Mr Jaggers was for her,
it was a desperate case. Jaggers worked it himself at the police-office, day
after day for many days. The murder person was a woman, it was a case of jealousy.
It was attempted to be set up in proof of her jealousy, that she was under
strong suspicion of having, at about the time of murder, frantically destroyed
her child by this man-some three years old - to revenge herself upon him. Mr
Jaggers was altogether too many for the Jury, and they gave in. She had been in
his service ever since immediately after her acquittal, tamed as she was now.
She then had a baby girl.
Satis
House
Pip began explaining to
her that secret history of partnership. Miss Havisham set her hand upon her
stick, in the resolute way that sometimes was habitual to her, and looked, at
the fire with wit a strong expression of forcing herself to attend. She gave
him the money he needed. To see her with her white hair and her and her worn
face kneeling at my feet, gave him a shock through all his frame. He had never
seen her shed a tear before, and in the hope that the relief might do her good.
She regret bout what she had done to Estella. When Estella first came to her
life, she meant to save her from misery like her own. Now it happened to Estella,
the lady found that Drummle was not a good husband.
Miss Havisham had never
known who Estella’s biological’s mother was. Jaggers had brought the three-year-old
baby and told her as an orphan child. Twilight was closing in when Pip went downstairs
into the natural air. He made his way to the ruined garden. He went to upstairs
and assured himself that Miss Havisham was as safe and well as he had left her.
He looked into the room where Pip had left her, and saw her seated in the
ragged chair upon the earth, close to the fire, with her back towards him. He
saw a great flaming light spring up. He saw her running at him, with a whirl of
fire blazing all about her. Pip still held her forcibly down with all his
strength, she was insensible.
On examination it was
pronounced that she had received serious hurts. By the surgeon’s directions,
her bed was carried into that room and laid upon the great table. Though her
dress was burnt, she still had something of her old ghastly bridal appearance.
He found, on questioning the servants, that Estella was in Paris, and he got a
promise from the surgeon that he would write to her by the next post. Miss
Havisham’s family Pip took upon himself, and intending to communicate with Mr
Matthew Pocket only.
Pip’s left arm was good
deal burned to the elbow, and less severly, as high as the shoulder; it was
painful. His right hand was not so badly burnt that Pip could move the fingers.
It was bandaged. His hair had been caught by the fire, but not his head or
face.
Herbert had been down
to Hammersmith and seen his father, he came back to Pip at their chambers. He
was the kindness of nurses, and stated times took off the bandages, with a
tenderness that Pip was deeply grateful for. They fell into conversation about
Provis and the jealous woman. Molly had presented herself before Provis for one
moment, and swore that she would destroy the child, then he should never it
again, then, she vanished.
Avoiding the Blue Boar,
Pip put up at an inn of minor reputation down the town, and ordered some
dinner. Pip went to Satis House and inquired for Miss Havisham; she was still
very ill, though considered something better.
Towards the marshes Pip
went straight, having the direction to his old home lay. His back was turned
towards the distant Hulks as Pip walked on, and he could see the old lights
away on the spits of sand. He knew the limekiln as well as he knew the old
battery, but they were miles apart.
It came to his understanding
that Orlick was Compassion. He had hunt for his Uncle Magwitch and had attacked
his sister. Pip shouted out with all his might, and struggled with all his
might. In the same instant Pip heard responsive shouts, saw figures and a gleam
of light dash in at the door, heard voices, and saw Orlick emerge from struggle
of men. Herbert and Trabb’s boy had rescued Pip from the drunken Orlick. They determined
to go back to London.
Their plan was to
shipping Provis out of London. They transported him by the boat through the river
at the dark night. They lied by all night in waiting a vessel. At that time,
the steam-traffic on the Thames was far below its presents extent, and watermen’s
boats were far more numerous. Provis had his boat-cloack on him, a natural part
of the scene. The Rotterdam steamer no came up, apparently, not understanding
what had happened, came on speed.
By the time she had been hailed and stopped,
both streamers were drifting away from them, and they were rising and falling
in trouble wake of water. Provis got the injury to his chest. The officer had
caught them, he further gave Pip leave to accompany Provis to London. Pip only
saw a man who had meant to be his benefactor. He had felt affectionately,
gratefully, and generously towards him with great constancy throughout a series
of years. He was committed to trial, which would come on in a month. It was
dark time of his life that Herbert returned home and pursue a fine opportunity.
He shall soon have to leave him, he was going to Cairo.
He lay in prison very
ill, during the interval between his committal for trial. Being far too ill to
remain in the common prison, he was removed, after the first day or so, into the
infirmary. The trial very short and clear. Provis said to the judge that he received
his sentence of Death from the Almighty, but he bowed to them. Pip earnestly
hoped and prayed that he might die before the Recorder’s report was made. He
began to write out a petition to the Home Secretary of State, setting forth his
knowledge of him.
The daily visits he
could make him were shortened now, and he was more strictly kept. He had spoken
last words. At last Pip told him about his daughter that lived and found
powerful friends, she was a lady and Pip loved her. Provis understood what he
had said, He raised Pip’s hand to his lips, then he gently let it sink upon his
breast again, with his own hands lying on it. He died.
Pip was under arrested
by the men for his debt. Pip had a fever and was avoided, and he suffered
greatly. He was very ill and he noticed Joe was at his side. Biddy had taught Joe
to write, and his figure was quite changed. Miss Havisham was dead only a week
after Pip was very ill. She left four thousand to Mr Matthew Pocket. Mr Pocket
said Pip’s account of him.
As he became stronger
and better, Joe became a little easy with him. In his weakness and entire dependence
on him, the dear fellow had fallen into the old tone, and called him by the old
names, He too had fallen into the old ways. It was on the third or fourth
occasion o his going walking in the Temple Gardens leaning on Joe’s arm. Pip
went to his room, Joe was not there. He found a letter and an enclosed in it. A
receipt fro the debt and cost on which he had been arrested. He never dreamed
of Joe’s having paid the money. And the receipt was in his name.
After three days more
of recovery he went down to the old place. It was evening when he arrived, the
Boar could not put him into his usual bedroom. Early in the morning he strolled
round by Satis House. There were printed bills on the gate, and on bits of
carpet hanging out of the windows, announcing a sale by auction next week. When
he got back to his breakfast in the Boar’s coffee room, he found Mr Pumlechook
conversing with landlord.
The schoolhouse where
Biddy was mistress, he had never seen. The day was holiday, no children were
there, and Biddy’s house was closed. He listened the click of Joe’s hammer. The
house was not deserted, and the best palour, seemed to be in use. Joe and Biddy
stood befire him arm in arm. Biddy looked so fresh and pleasant. It was her
wedding day.
For eleven years, he
had not seen Biddy nor Joe with his bodily eyes, he laid his hand softly on the
latch of the old kitchen. Joe named his son the name of Pip for his sake. Biddy
was holding the little girl sleeping in her lap. Clara and Herbert had so settled
down in their home, but Pip was still an old bachelor. Pip secretly intended to
revisit the site of the old house that evening, alone, for her sake. Estella had
a most unhappy life, and as being separated from her husband, who had used her
with great cruelty. Pip had heard of the death of her husband, from an accident
consequent on his ill-treatment of a horse. She was married again.
There was no house now,
no brewery, no building whatever left, but the wall of the old garden. Pip could
trace out where every part of the old house had been, and where the brewery had
been, and where the gate. He saw the figure of a woman. She was greatly
changed. She knew that Pip still lived abroad. They shared their story. The
suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has thought her to understand
what her heart to be. She had been bent and broken, but she went into a better
shape. They were friends.
It was two years more,
before he saw Estella. He had heard that the doctor was not rich, and they
lived on her own personal fortune. He was in England again, and walking along
Piccadilly with little Pip, a servant came running after him to ask would he
stepped back to a lady in a carriage who wished speak to him. It was a little
pony carriage, which the lady was driving; both of the two looked sadly enough
on one another. She gave him the assurance, that suffering had been stronger than
Miss Havisham’s teaching.
*****
April 9, 2018
Sekapur
Sirih
“Ketika
penderitaan lebih besar daripada semua ajaran lainnya dan telah membuatku
memahami seperti apa hatimu sebelumnya. Ia telah bengkok dan patah, tapi aku
berharap ke bentuk yang lebih baik.” (hlm. 412).
Great Expectations,
novel Dickens yang ketiga belas, pertama kali diterbitkan dalam majalah mingguan
All the Year Round antara Desember
1860 dan Agustus 1861. Saat ia menuliskan karya ini, Dickens berada pada puncak
sukses sebagai penulis terbaik dalam kesusastraan dalam seperempat abad.
Pip sebagai tokoh
sentral, walau bukanlah pahlawan, mampu menarik perhatian di awal. Bocah Pip
berumur 7 tahun dengan berbagai keluguannya dan kejadian menggelitik cara
kakaknya menghukum Pip. Kakaknya sangat bawel dan abusif. Joe abang iparnya,
pandai besi yang baik hati dan lugu. Nona Havisham wanita aneh yang tidak
pernah keluar kamar dan putri adopsinya Estella, tumbuh menjadi gadis cantik.
Tokoh Abel Magwitch menjadi tokoh awal dan kelak pengikat dan menjadi elemen
pengejut pada akhir cerita.
Kehidupan masa kecil Pip
di desa, saat tumbuh menjadi pemuda, ia pindah ke kota London, menjalani
kehidupan berkelas dan mewah, hingga sempat malu mengakui Joe bagian dari
hidupnya. Dalam perjalanan cerita, tiap tokoh selalu mengingat romantisme masa
lalu seperti the Great Gatsby milik
Fitzgerald. Tokoh Pip tertarik gravitasi kenangan masa kecilnya, terobsesi
tiada henti menginginkan Estella, padahal gadis itu telah memiliki kehidupan
baru.
Karakter pendukung lain
dalam kisah ini berhasil membuat pembaca jatuh ke dalam perasaan iba, jengkel
dan gemas, dan beberapa ekspresi pengampunan, kasih, kekeluargaan, dan
persahabatan. Joe, pandai besi yang baik hati dapat memaafkan dan menerima kembali
Pip. Kemewahan dan kenikmatan hidup di kota London dengan pesta-pesta bersama
orang-orang kaya dan berkelas, sempat membuat Pip malu dengan sikap ceroboh dan tidak terpelajar Joe.
Sebelum memutuskan
membeli fiksi drama romansa ini, sempat ragu. Karya klasik sulit dinikmati. Font-nya yang terlalu kecil, memang cetakan
setebal 412 halaman ini dikeluarkan oleh Wordsworth Edisions tahun 2000, sebuah
edisi tidak mahal diperuntukkan bagi pelajar dan umum. Selama ini belum pernah memiliki
karya Dickens, padahal di bangku kuliah cukup kerap membahas karya-karyanya
secara umum. Christmas Carol dan Oliver Twist adalah dua judul terbersit
ketika mendengar nama Dickens, lewat bentuk film, karya lain akrab di telinga
seperti David Copperfield, Oedipus Rex, dan
Bleak House.
Kebetulan sekali,
beberapa minggu sebelumnya, saya baru menikmati sebuah film fantasi berjudul the Man who Invented Christmas (2017), diadaptasi
dari buku dengan judul sama ditulis oleh Les Standiford. Kisah berfokus pada
saat Charles Dickens menemukan ide dalam menuliskan Christmas Carol. Dalam film bagus ini, diselipkan kehidupan masa
kecil Dickens susah, harus berjuang bekerja dan hidup di pabrik sepatu karena
ayahnya di penjara. Sekalipun sudah
terkenal hingga Amerika, ia mengalami masa bangkrut, jengkel menghadapi sifat ayahnya
yang cukup menggangu konsentrasinya saat menulis, ditolak penerbit, namun ada
sisi baik dalam semua kekalutannya, ia terinspirasi dari cerita rakyat yang
dibawakan pengasuh anak. Pengasuh berasal dari desa Irlandia tersebut hobi
membaca dan gemar pula membacakan cerita untuk anak-anaknya.
Terjemahan
dalam Bahasa Indonesia, Great Expectations, Novel Klasik dari Charles Dickens:
ringkasan
Hari sudah sore, seorang
bocah berumur 7 tahun tampak masih berada di depan kuburan di halaman gereja.
Namanya Philip Pirrip, karena lidah bocahnya kesulitan mengeja, ia pun menyebut
dirinya Pip. Sebuah batu nisan
bertuliskan nama ayah dan ibunya, di pinggiran kuburan juga tersusun lima batu,
tanda sakral baginya mengenang lima saudara kecilnya.
Pip tidak sempat
mengenal wajah ayah ibunya, ditambah kala itu belum ada alat fotografi. Pip
hanya membayang-bayangkan saja ayah dan ibunya dalam pikirannya. Anak yatim
piatu itu kini dibesarkan oleh kakaknya biasa dipanggil Mrs Joe Gargery.
Mendadak seorang lelaki
dewasa keluar dari balik semak, sigap menangkap bocah, bajunya kumal dan
kakinya terikat besi. Tangannya pun berhasil mengambil sepotong roti dari
kantong Pip. Lelaki kotor berlumpur itu, tanpa topi, baju compang-camping mirip,
bagi bocah pria di hadapannya mirip perompak laut. Pip ketakutan, pria itu pun
meminta Pip bersumpah untuk tidak memberitahu siapapun keberadaannya. Dari jawaban bocah, pria
kumal pun mengetahui Pip adalah anak yatim piatu yang tinggal dbersama kakaknya
pandai besi bernama Joe Gargery. Dia menyuruh Pip membawa makanan dan gergaji
esok paginya.
Ketika kembali di
rumah, kakak Pip begitu marah, dia mencari-cari anak itu. Kakaknya hingga
menyumpahi Pip yang tidak tahu diuntung. Bocah tentu semakin takut mengatakan
bahwa ia bertemu orang asing dan mencuri makanan dan gergaji. Joe, kakak
iparnya, bertolak belakang dengan sikap bawel kakaknya. Pandai besi itu sangat
baik pada Pip dan mereka berkawan akrab, Ny. Joe pun sering memarahi suaminya.
Kakak Pip bukanlah
wanita cantik, Joe menikahinya karena tangannya. Ny. Joe Gragery pandai besi
handal dan pekerja keras. Sepanjang hari dia mengenakan apron tebalnya, tanpa
pernah melepaskannya. Rambutnya hitam, bertubuh tinggi, dan wajahnya memerah. Bagi
Joe dia wanita baik. Ny Joe mengutamakan kebersihan, rumah harus bersih hingga
sampai membuat Pip dan Joe tidak nyaman. Kebersihaan dekat dengan keilahian.
Sebuah tembakan
terdengar dari luar, penjahat telah melarikan diri malam itu. Pip mendengar percakapan Joe dan kakaknya, ia pun menanyakan
apa arti penjahat dan Joe menjelaskannya dengan kebingungan. Bocah itu baru mengetahui
orang yang suka mencuri dan membunuh adalah akan disebut penjahat dan dijadikan
tahan. Mereka dimasukkan ke dalam penjara kapal bernama Hulks.
Malamnya Pip tidak bisa
tidur, karena ia dihantui tugasnya mengantarkan makanan untuk orang yang di halaman
gereja. Dalam gelap ia mencuri makanan dan brandy milik Ny Joe, dan seorang
lelaki yang berpakaian yang sama dengan lelaki kemarinnya menyergapnya. Semua
makanan dan menuman disita dan pria itu kembali masuk ke semak. Jelas, lelaki itu bukan
temannya yang kemarin, lelaki pakaian yang sama dengan rantai besi di kakinya,
namun dia bertopi.
Malam Natal, Ny Joe mengundang Paman Pumblechook, paman dari Joe (tapi kakak Pip akrab dengannya), Tn Wopsle, seorang pekerja gereja, dan Tuan Humble, pemilik usaha roda, dan istrinya. Hidangan terenak pun
tersaji, dari roti, bandy, dan hidangan dari kaki babi. Ny. Joe pun mendapati kehilangan roti dan kuenya, termasuk brandy. Pip semakin takut, jika
kakaknya mendapatinya. Tiba-tiba ketukan terdengar dari balik pintu, seorang
sersan muncul dan menanyakan tentang pandai besi. Serdadu kerajaan tersebut
meminta pertolongan Joe membetulkan sesuatu. Rupanya mereka mendapat kecelakaan, dan salah satu dari gembok tawanan rusak dan menyakiti
tawanan dan dua orang tawanan telah melarikan diri.
Tuan Wopsle, Joe, dan
Pip pun mengikuti sersan mencari tawanan yang lari malam itu juga. Joe mendengar perkelahian dari balik semak, sersan dan anak buahnya akhirnya menangkap dua orang buron yang sedang berkelahi. Pip mengingat kedua pria tawanan, tak lain pria berbelenggu besi di kakinya di kuburan dan yang mengambil makanannya. Tawanan
Pip, tidak berani melibatkan bocah, setelah ditangkap, ia mengaku telah mencuri
makanan dari rumah Joe, si pandai besi. Kurungan kapal bernama Hulks berisi tawanan
pun akhirnya berangkat berlayar meninggalkan kampung.
Pip kembali mengunjungi
pusara keluarganya, bocah itu sudah mulai bisa mengeja tulisan pada nisan. Bibi
tua Wopsle mengadakan sekolah sore di rumahnya. Wanita aneh itu telah menyewa
sebuah tempat dan Tn. Wopsle tinggal di lantai atas. Murid-murid tidak jarang
mendengar Tn.Wopsle membaca kuat dan perangainya yang aneh. Di lantai bawah dan tempat yang sama
dengan muridnya, Bibinya Wopsle membuka toko. Wanita itu tidak pernah tahu berapa
banyak stok barangnya maupun harga-harganya, namun ada sebuah buku di dalam
laci, katalog harga. Biddy gadis malang yang juga seorang yatim piatu seperti
Pip, mengelola toko. Pip prihatin melihat tampilan Biddy, rambut gadis itu
perlu disisir, bajunya perlu dicuci, sepatunya perlu disol.
Malam itu, Pip sedang
belajar membaca dan meminta Joe mengajarinya. Bocah itu telah menduga, Joe
tidak bisa membaca. Saat di gereja suara Joe hampir tidak pernah terdengar saat
pembacaan ayat. Joe pun berterus terang, dia tidak pernah sekolah. Ayahnya
seorang peminum berat dan kerap membelasah Joe dan ibunya. Berkali-kali ibu Joe
melarikan diri membawa Joe, ia sangat ingin menyekolahkan Joe. Ibu Joe sudah
sempat mendapat pekerjaan, tapi ayah Joe mendapati keberadaan mereka dan
membawanya pulang ke rumah.
Tidak lama kemudian,
ayah Joe sakit dan meninggal dunia, Joe harus bekerja keras, tidak lama
kemudian ibunya jatuh sakit dan meninggal. Saat itu Joe hidup sebatang kara. Ia membutuhkan
teman dan Joe akhirnya menikah kakak Pip. Baginya perempuan itu wanita cantik
dan baik padanya. Sejak malam itu Pip merasa senasib dengan Joe.
Kakak Pip sangat akrab
dengan Paman Pumblechook (Pamannya Joe), orang tua itu hidup sendiri dan
memiliki kereta sendiri. Ny. Joe sangat senang bila Pumlechook menjemputnya
belanja, sang paman tidka begitu percaya pada pembantunya di rumah, ia butuh
pertimbangan wanita dalam berbelanja. Pip nyamn bersama Joe. Ia tidak berani
mengatakan betapa kasar perlakuan kakaknya dan Tn Pumblechook padanya.
Tiba dari kota, Tn
Pumblechook membawa kabar gembira dari wanita kaya pemilik rumah besar, Nn
Havishman. Tentu saja, Pip tahu rumah yang dimaksud. Bocah diminta datang bermain
ke sana. Paman tidak pernah ungkapkan hubungannya dengan wanita kaya tersebut,
tapi Pip menduga, Tn Pumblechook adalah penyewa salah satu rumahnya.
Rumah
Satis dan Nn Havisham
Sesuai dengan waktu
yang ditentukan, Pip berangkat dengan pakaian terbaiknya, dijemput paman dan dihantarkan
ke rumah besar. Pagar besi sangat tinggi mengelilingi rumah untuk menghindari
perampok. Tampak gadis kecil menanyakan identitas mereka, sebelum membukakan
gerbang. Rumah sangat besar dilengkapi taman luas. Gadis itu memegang lilin
memasuki ruangan gelap, suasana yang membuat Pip setengah ketakutan. Akhirnya
mereka sampai di sebuah ruangan besar, wanita dengan pakaian putih, pakaian
nikah dengan perhiasan lengkap di pergelangan, tangan dan lehernya. Ia sedang duduk
di sebuah kursi tinggi berlengan bagus. Di sampingnya terdapat sebuah meja
besar, setumpuk perhiasan, buku kecil, dan alkitab. Jendela tertutup gorden
besar, tidak ada cahaya matahari masuk sama sekali.
Wanita dalam pakaian
mewah itu menanyakan namanya, tanpa basa-basi mereka pun bermain kartu. Estella
gadis pembuka pintu, memulai permainan dan membagikan kartu. Percakapan mereka,
membuat Pip tersinggung. Estella dan Nn Havisham meremehkan dirinya, dan
memanggilnya bocah buruh. Pip mengagumi
kecantikan Estella, tapi sisi lain perlakuan gadis membuat dirinya marah. Permainan
selesai, setelah diberi makan, Pip pun meminta pulang. Kesal dan malu, ia
meratapi diri dan kemiskinan keluarganya, hingga kaki kecilnya menendang tembok
sebelum Estella membuka gerbang untuknya.
Begitu sampai di rumah,
kakak dan Paman Pumblechook bertanya banyak dan penasaran dengan sosok Nn.
Havisham, wanita misteri bagi mereka. Pip menjawab apa yang dilihatnya, dan malam
itu ia susah tidur. Memikirkan sikap dari orang kaya itu padanya, ia menjadi
tahu pandai besi adalah kelas rendah, dan membandingkan kemewahan rumah Nn
Havisham. Membayangkan kakaknya dan Joe hari-harinya berada di dapur, sementara
orang kaya seperti Estella dan Nona Havisan tidak pernah ke dapur. Walau begitu,
keinginannya bermain di rumah mewah tetap membuncah, ia sudah menanti hari yang
ditetapkan.
Kunjungan berikutnya,
bocah miskin itu dikagetkan dengan banyaknya tamu di rumah, Nn Havisham sedang
merayakan ulang tahun. Tetamu yang tadinya sedang berbincang terdiam seketika
begitu melihat Pip, Estella pun menjelaskan bocah itu bukanlah siapa-siapa,
hanya anak tetangga. Hari itu menjadi hari terpanjang dalam hidupnya, dari
bermain kartu, bertemu tamu banyak, bermain tinju dengan anak sebayanya, putra
dari tamu Nn Havsiham. Anak pucat itu datang menantang Pip dalam permainan
tarung. Berulang kali bocah pucat kalah dan berdarah, tapi ia tetap semangat. Pip
sangat kagum pada bocah pucat, anak itu tidak cengeng dan marah dan tetap ikuti
aturan permainan. Dari balik jendela, Estella diam-diam memerhatikan mereka, mengagumi
kehebatan Pip. Saat hendak menghantarkannya ke pintu, gadis itu mengijinkan Pip
memberinya sebuah kecupan jika ia mau, tentu saja Pip sangat senang, dan
mencium pipi gadis itu. Semenjak itu hidupnya berubah.
Pip sudah agak besar,
kakaknya menyuruhnya memanggil Joe dari rumah komunitas. Rumah itu menjadi
tempat berkumpulnya penduduk desa. Joe sering ke sana menghabiskan rokoknya,
ada sebuah bar di sana. Pip sangat heran
melihat seorang pria asing yang selalu memerhatikan dirinya.
Semakin lama Pip dan Nn
Havisham semakin akrab. Wanita itu pun banyak bertanya tentang rencana hidup
Pip. Saat ia memasuki 14 tahun, ia akan belajar pandai besi dan melanjutkan
usaha kakak iparnya. Nn Havisham menyuruh Pip mengajak Joe ke rumahnya, dan
wanita kaya itu memberi Joe setumpuk uang dan berpesan pada Pip, agar belajar
dengan baik dari tuannya. Joe adalah tuannya mulai saat itu. Semenjak itu Pip
tidak diperbolehkan bermain lagi ke rumah besar yang disebut juga Rumah Satis
(cukup).
Hari-hari Pip diwarnai belajar
pandai besi dari Joe, sesekali ia mengingat Estella dan Nn Havisham. Ia pun
terpikir membuatkan sesuatu sebagai ucapan terima kasih pada wanita kaya itu. Rumah
itu menua dan pintu gerbang masih seperti dulu, namun kali ini Sarah Pocket
yang membukakan pintu untuknya, ia sudah sangat berharap ada Estella. Gadis itu
sudah pergi ke kota, bersekolah untuk menjadi seorang wanita, Nn Havisham dan
masih serumahnya masih seperti dahulu, tidak ada tidak berubah.
Saat Joe dan Pip keluar
rumah, seseorang telah memaksa masuk ke rumah dan menyerang Ny Joe. Kakak Pip
ditemukan berdarah tergeletak di lantai. Sebelumnya warga sudah mendengar
tembakan dari penjara kapal Hulks. Dua minggu ditangani polisi, tapi perampok
yang dimaksud tidak tertangkap, malah menangkap orang yang tidak bersalah. Sejak
itu Pip merasa memerlukan senjata.
Ia tetap rajin belajar dan
menulis. Biddy sangat kagum dengan kepintaran Joe. Gadis itu tertinggal jauh, padahal
ia adalah guru pertama Pip. Biddy meratapi nasibnya kian hari membodoh,
disibukkan pekerjaan rumah tangga untuk berthan hidup. Pip baru menyadari Biddy
telah tumbuh menjadi gadis, tapi tidaklah cantik, biasa saja. Kecantikan
Estella selalu membayangi ingatannya. Pip melakukan pengakuan konyol pada Biddy
betapa ia tergila-gila dengan Estella. Hidupnya tidaklah segemberi yang
terlihat, ia sedih dengan keadaannya yang miskin. Keinginannya menjadi seorang
lelaki terhormat sangat kuat agar dapat mendapatkan Estella. Dengan sabar Biddy
mendengar dan dengan bijak membesarkan hati Pip. Pemuda itu tidak tahu apa yang
ia lakukan, dengan spontan ia memberi ciuman pada Biddy.
Malam itu, lelaki asing
mengetuk pintu mencari dirinya. Tn Jaggers, seorang pengacara dari London,
meyampaikan sebuah tawaran dari orang yang tidak ingin disebut identitasnya. Orang kaya telah memberi hunian, mentor, dan mendanai
Pip, orang itu memberinya kesempatan, Great
Expectation, harapan besar. Pengacara itu meninggalkan uang dan alamatnya
di London. Setelah menjahitkan jas bagus, ia pun bertolak ke London. Pemuda
desa itu sangat bersedih meninggalkan Joe dan Biddy. Kakaknya sendiri kini
sakit-sakitan dan hanya bisa mengangguk dan daya berpikirnya menurun. Biddy
telah tinggal di rumah keluarganya. Tidak lupa, ia pamit pada Nn Havisham, semula
ia menduga yang dimaksud donaturnya adalah nyonya kaya itu. Wanita itu tidak
kaget dengan perubahan nasib Pip, ia juga sudah mengetahuinya dari Tn Jaggers.
Selamat
Tinggal Kampung Halaman
Lima jam menaiki kereta
berkuda, ia dan beberapa penumpang lainnya akhirnya tiba di London. Keramaian
kota adalah hal menakjubkan baginya. Tn Jaggers sedang berada di pengadilan
ketika ia sampai di alamat, sebuah kantor pengacara. Ia pun dihantarkan ke apartemennya
dan mendapati mentornya bernama Matthew
Pocket. Ia pun akhirnya mengingat kembali, pemuda berpenampilan rapih itu tak
lain adalah bocah pucat di rumah Nn Havisham. Matthew, pemuda kota berkelas,
tugasnya mengajari Pip tentang etika dan pergaulan orang kaya.
Hingga suatu ketika, ia
menerima sepucuk surat dari Biddy, Joe hendak berkunjung ke London. Pip takut
malu dengan kelakuan Joe yang gegabah, lelaki tidak berpendidikan yang dapat
merusak reputasinya. Pertemuan kaku itu membuat Joe menyadari dirinya tidak
layak lagi berteman dengan Pip. Hati kecil Pip terkoyak dan malu pada dirinya, telah
memperlakukan Joe seperti itu.
Seorang pria kaya mencarinya,
Pip sangat kebingungan siapa lelaki tua itu. Abel Magwitch orang tua dalam
pakaian bagus, menjelaskan dirinya adalah lelaki yang diskuburan, orang yang
ditolong Pip. Mantan tahanan itu kini menjadi orang kaya. Ia pula menceritakan
kisahnya, sebenarnya tidak melakukan kesalahan, ia telah dituduh. Ia menolong
Pip, ingin membalas dan sangat berterim kasih atas kebaikan Pip. Ia terpisah
dari istri dan putrinya, seandai saja putrinya hidup mungkin sudah sebesar Pip.
Tn Jaggers menjelaskan
semuanya. Lelaki itu menjadi buron, ancaman hukuman mati di kota London, ia tidak diperbolehkan
memasuki kota London. Wanita pembantu di kantor Jaggers adalah istri Magwitch,
ibu dari bayi Estella. Jaggers adalah pengacara wanita kaya itu. Sejak
kegagalannya menikah, Nona Havisham berubah menjadi penyendiri, tidak pernah
keluar rumah, dan membuat meja perkawinan di kamarnya. Rumahnya seperti
kuburan, dan mengenakan baju nikah setiap waktu. Jaggers berpikir bayi Estella
akan menghibur wanita kaya itu. Pip tidak kaget mengenai status Estella, anak
adopsi bukanlah keponakan seperti pemikirannya selama ini. Herbert banyak
bercerita tentang keluarga Havisham.
Pip sangat kaget
mengetahuinya, dermawan penyumbang dananya selama ini adalah Abel Magwitch, sekaligus ayah
kandung Estella. Joe dan Matthew pun akhirnya menolong Abel Magwicth melarikan
diri dari pencarian polisi untuk bisa keluar kota London. Polisi berhasil
menangkapnya, Abel terluka dan sakit itu dirawat rumah sakit. Sebelum hembuskan
nafas terakhir, Pip memberitahu bahwa putrinya masih hidup, bernama Estella.
Pip
mendapat surat, kakaknya meninggal dunia, selepas pemakan ia menyempatkan diri
berkunjung ke rumah Nn Havisham dan menemui Estella di sana. Nn Havisham dengan
tegas menolak Pip untuk mendekati putri adopsinya. Wanita itu kuatir Pip tidak akan sanggup membahagiakan putrinya. Estella juga tengah dekat dengan putra orang
kaya bernama Bentley Drummle, pria berkelas yang menjanjikan dari keluarga
terpandang. Kedua wanita itu tidak pernah tahu tabiat buruk Drummle muda yang suka
berfoya-foya dan Estella hanyalah objek taruhan di klab yang juga diikuti Pip. Pip
sangat tahu Drummle dan bahkan telah mengingatkan Estella.
Sepulang dari kampung, sepucuk
catatan dari Wemmick menyuruhnya agar tidak pulang ke rumah, beberapa lelaki
kasar mencarinya. Pip dengan rasa penasaran menyusul ke rumah anak buah Jagger
itu. Wemmick mengatakan mereka adalah anak buah dari orang jahat.
Abel
Magwitch
Ia tidak pernah
mengingat dengan jelas seperti apa orang tuanya, ia kerap
berpindah-pindah dari satu keluarga ke keluarga lainnya, hingga akhirnya tinggal
di pinggir jalan. Ia sudah mencuri dan keluar masuk penjara sejak kecil. Suatu ketika Abel sudah memiliki uang dan kini tampil dalam jas, namun tetap
saja perilakunya terlihat kaku dan tidak cocok dengan pakaiannya. Pakaian itu tidak mampu mengangkat derajatnya, apalagi ia
tidak bisa membaca. Bahasa tubuhnya terbaca oleh seorang pria.
Seorang pria necis berada
di sebuah bar mendatanginya dan mereka pun berteman, dan mengajarinya membaca serta melibatkannya dalam bisnis. Compassion lelaki berkelas tersebut memperkenalkannya
dengan seorang teman bernama Arthur. Ketiganya pun menjalankan sejumlah
aktifitas gelap seperti bisnis pemalsuan dokumen dan bank note. Tidak kalah
dari ketampanan dan kharisma Compassion, Arthur juga berpenampilan terpandang dan berkelas.
Arthur menempati loteng atik kediaman Compassion, dan betapa kaget Compassion
mendapati Arthur sedang menggoda istri kesayangannya.
Compassion kehilangan
Arthur dan istrinya, yang dimilikinya saat ini hanyalah Abel. Keduanya pun sukses dalam
menjalankan bisnis gelapnya. Hingga suatu saat mereka tertangkap atas pemalsuan
bank note dalam jumlah besar. Keduanya berhubungan dengan pengadilan. Abel pun
mengenal pengacara Jaggers, di saat di proses seorang wanita muda membunuh
lelakinya karena cemburu. Pengacara itu merasa iba dengan perempuan muda
yang tengah hamil itu. Jaggers pun menyogok juri dan membebaskannya dari
tuduhan pembunuhan. Semenjak itu Molly bekerja dan tunduk pada Jaggers.
Hukuman Abel lebih
berat, padahal yang paling diuntungkan dan otak kejahatan adalah Compassion,
pria bodoh itu merasa ditipu. Keduanya menjalani hukuman di penjara yang sama,
penjara kapal yang tidak jauh dari kampung Pip. Abel sangat menghindari
Compassion selama di penjara, tak terhindarkan keduanya berkelahi. Abel
berhasil melarikan diri dari kapal penjara, dan ia tidak tahu kalau Compassion
juga menyusulnya. Abel bersembunyi di kuburan gereja dan sore itu Pip berada di
sana dan baginya Pip penyelamatnya. Semenjak mengetahui bocah itu yatim piatu, semenjak
itu pula hatinya menganggap Pip adalah anaknya. Compassion adalah orang yang berkelahi
dengan tahanan Pip pada malam penangkapan.
Abel menyelesaikan masa
hukumannya dan bekerja pada sejumlah tuan silih berganti hingga akhirnya ia
bertemu tuan baik hati, orang kaya itu mewariskan harta dan usahanya kepada
Abel. Untuk menebus kesalahannya dan mengingat kebaikan bocah Pip, ia pun
mencari Pip lewat pengacara Jaggers, dan rutin mengirimi Pip uang, sebagai rasa
terima kasihnya. Pip adalah anak yatim piatu seperti dirinya, Abel inginkan
anak itu tidak jatuh dalam kebodohan seperti dirinya, ia inginkan Pip menjadi pria terdidik dan terpandang.
Kehidupan
Pip lambat laun berubah, ia sekarang hidup dalam lingkungan borjuis. Ia semakin
malu dengan masa lalunya kebodohan dan
kemiskinannya semasa di desa. Dalam suratnya Biddy memberitahu bahwa Joe akan
berkunjung, tapi ia sangat malu dengan tingkah Joe di depan Herbert, sangat memalukan. Pip merasa
bersalah ketika Joe menyadari dirinya tidak lagi setara dengan Pip, ia pun
memutuskan menginap di sebuah hotel kecil ketimbang harus satu ruangan dengan
Pip. Rasa bersalah bergejolak dalam hati Pip, tapi dia juga sudah tidak nyaman
dengan kehidupan kelas rendah. Sekarang ia bergabung ke sebuah klub orang kaya
lajang di London, bahkan dia juga yang membiayai Herbert Pocket.
Pip hidup dalam
pesta-pesta dan terbiasa dengan budaya membaca yang ditularkan keluarga Matthew
Pocket padanya. Pip sekarang dalam masalah keuangan, terlilit utang besar. Dan dicari-cari penagih utang hingga akhirnya membuatnya sakit keras, Joe pun mengunjunginya dan membayar seluruh hutangnya. Seperti
sebuah tamparan baginya. Beberapa kali ia pulang kampung disurati oleh
Ny Havisham. ia menginap di hotel tanpa mampir di rumah lamanya.
Nyawa Abel dan Pip kini
terancam, membuat mereka dalam persembunyian dan berpindah-pindah. Sepucuk
surat dari Nn Havisham membuat dia pulang kampung. Nona Havisham mengungkapkan
penyesalannya tidak mengindahkan larangan Pip. Kini Estella jatuh ke dalam
lubang masalah dalam pernikahan, wanita idaman Pip tidak bahagia.
Sebelum masuk ke
huniannya bernama Temple, seorang pesuruh memberinya sepucuk pesan dari
Wemmick, agar tidak memasuki kamarnya. Seseorang yang berpenampilan kasar
mendatanginya, diduga adalah anak buah Compassion ataupun Arthur, orang yang
ditemui Abel di hari-hari sebelumnya.
Abel disembunyikan dalam rumah penduduk di pinggiran daerah Sungai Thames dan bermaksud akan dikapalkan meninggalkan London. Rencana
sudah disusun, tapi petugas patroli laut menangkap basah Abel dan dibawa kembali
ke penjara. Tidak berselang waktu lama, dia harus dirawat di rumah sakit
penjara karena sempat terluka parah dalam malam pelarian. Persidangan berjalan
dan Pip berusaha keras agar pria malang itu terbebas dari humannya. Kondisi
kesehatan Abel semakin kritis dan dalam benaknya ia berharap agar Abel
sebaiknya meninggal sebelum hukuman mati dilakukan.
Setiap harinya dengan
setia ia menjenguk tahanan Abel di tengah penjagaan sipir yang semakin ketat
karena menunggu waktu hukuman mati. Menit-menit terakhir Pip akhirnya
mengungkap bahwa putri Abel yang hilang kini tumbuh menjadi wanita terhormat
dan Pip mencintai putrinya itu.
Setelah peristiwa
kebakaran, kondisi kesehatan sempat membaik, dan ketika Pip kembali ke desa Ny
Havisham sudah meninggal dunia. Pip terjebak kesibukan mengurus persidangan
hingga pemakaman Abel, saat yang bersamaan pula Nn Havisham meninggal dunia. Nn
Havisham mewariskan hartanya dalam jumlah besar kepada Matthew Pocket (ayah Herbert)
dan Pip termasuk di dalamnya.
Demi menjaga harga
dirinya yang baru, Joe masih menginap di penginapan Boar di tengah kota dan
kebetulan tidak jauh dari rumah Pumblechook dan Nn Havisham. Subuh sebelum
sarapan, ia sempatkan diri berjalan pagi ke rumah Nn Havisham, sebuah tulisan
dijual terpampang pada jendela rumah mewah itu, timbunan tagihan masih menempel
di gerbang yang sudah mulai dililit rumput.
Sore hari, ia
mengujungi rumah lamanya, melewati rumah sekolah Biddy yang terlihat sepi,
karena memang hari itu adalah libur. Langkahnya pun menuju kediaman Joe yang
sederhana, sekarang terlihat namun terlihat hidup. Sekarang penampilan dan bahasa
tubuh Joe sudah agak berubah, membaik. Biddy telah banyak mengajarinya hingga
membaca dan menulis. Ia kaget rumah itu sepi, ternyata ada seseorang di sana. Si
tua Orlick dalam keadaan mabuk meneyrang Pip hendak membunuhnya. Pria kasar itu mengetahui bahwa Pip
adalah anak angkat Abel, orang yang menjadi musuhnya.
Orlick adalah
Compassion, lelaki yang menghancurkan hati dan menipu Nn Havisham, juga orang
yang berkelahi di malam Abel ditemukan di samping gereja. Compassion selama ini
dikenal dengan nama Orlick. Orang yang hidup dalam caravan, dan sempat berteman
dengan Joe. Ny Joe, kakak Joe, semasa hidupnya tidak suka Orlick yang
dianggapnya tidak wajar dekat-dekat kehidupan rumah tangga mereka.
Si tua Orlick dikenal
berpindah-pindah. Malam itu pula, ia mengakui disanya, dialah penyerang kakak Joe. Orang
tua mabuk itu sangat membenci Abel Magwitch, dan ia datang ingin membunuh Pip. Ocehan
dan hinaan kakak Joe membuat darah Orlick mendidih hingga menyerangnya. Semenjak
itu kakaknya sakit menahun dan meninggal dunia. Sekuat tenaga Pip berusaha menyelamatkan
diri dari pisau tajam Orlick dan bertarung melawan pria mabuk itu. Beruntung saja,
ada putra pemilik penginapan Boar dan Herbert menyelamatkan Pip.
Malam itu juga Pip
dibawa pulang ke London, luka Pip cukup parah dan membuatnya hingga harus
dirawat di rumah ayah Herbert. Kebaikan dan ketekunan Herbert merawatnya setiap
hari membuatnya semakin terharu. Pip sangat sedih setelah kesembuhannya Herbert
berangkat merantau ke Mesir, ada perkerjaan menunggunya di sana, dan harus
terpisah dari gadis yang dicintainya, Clara.
Tahun berganti tahun, Pip
banyak mengelana ke luar negeri. Sebuah undangan dari Joe tiba. Hari pernikahannya
dengan Biddy. Pip sangat bahagia dan pulang.
Beberapa tahun
kemudian, Pip pulang ke kampung, Biddy sudah menggendong bayi perempuan dan kaget melihat seorang bocah lelaki yang sedang belajar berjalan dinamai Pip. Biddy sempat
menyinggung kapan Pip mengakhiri kesendiriannya, Herbert telah kembali dan menikahi kekasihnya, keduanya telah bahagia berada di rumahnya sekarang.
Ia pun sempat menghampiri Satis House.
Kenangannya dengan Nn Havishman dan Estella membawanya kembali ke rumah yang
tidak terawat dan ditumbuhi rumput. Tampak Estella muncul, Kini ia sudah
menjanda, Bentley Drummle meninggal terjatuh dari kuda. Pip dan Estella tampak akrab
dan banyak bertukar cerita dan sepakat untuk tetap menjalin pertemanan.
Dua tahun berlalu tidak
ada kabar tentang Estella. Hingga hari itu, Pip membawa Pip kecil berjalan-jalan di pusat kota
London, seorang pesuruh, memberitahu jika tuannya ingin bertemu dirinya. Pip
cukup kaget mendapati wanita dalam kereta kecil itu adalah Estella. Reaksi kurang percaya diri tidak mampu disembunyikan wanita itu. Tidak heran, Pip sudah pernah mendengar rumor tentang kehidupan Estella yang kurang cemerlang, ia menikah lagi dengan seorang dokter yang jauh dari kaya.
Hari itu Pip membawa Pip
muda, putra Joe, dan memperkenalkannya kepada Estella. Tatapan kesedihan dari
Pip tidak terelakkan ketika melihat penampilan Estella yang agak kurang, wanita
yang dikasihinya, dan tidak pernah dimilikinya.
*****
9 April 2018