Great Expectations: Book 1, Chapter 17 Summary & Analysis

Pip persists in the same routines, varied only by a birthday visit to Miss Havisham's where she gives him a guinea he spends on books to study. But Pip sees Biddy changing: she is cleaner and neater, noticeably pretty. One evening, while Pip sits studying, Pip realizes that Biddy has learned everything that Pip has from books and the forge without ever studying. He asks her how she's learned and she says she "must catch it—like a cough." Pip is impressed and praises Biddy's making "the most of every chance." Biddy begins to cry, asking Pip to remember their first lessons together. Pip is moved and, wanting to express his gratitude and trust, invites Biddy on a weekend walk on the marshes.

On their walk, Pip confesses to Biddy his dissatisfaction with the blacksmith trade and his wish to be a gentleman to disprove Estella's disdain for his commonness. At the same time, he admits he would have been happier if he could be as content with the forge as he was in childhood. Biddy is skeptical about Pip's ambitions and calls them "a pity." She is disturbed by Estella's insults and tells Pip they are rude and untrue, asking him, "Do you want to be a gentleman to spite her or to gain her over?" If the former, Biddy says, spite would be better expressed by ignoring her insults, and, if the latter, Estella isn't worth gaining over. Pip agrees but knows, to his chagrin, that he will not be able to follow Biddy's wise advice.

Pip cries and Biddy comforts him and tells him she is glad that Pip feels he can confide on her, that he always can. Pip hugs her and says he will always tell her everything. "Till you're a gentleman," says Biddy. They walk on and Pip, thinking how miserable he would be if he were walking with Estella, tells Biddy he wishes he could get himself to fall in love with her. "But you never will, you see," says Biddy.

As they are walking, Orlick appears out of nowhere and tries to walk them home but Biddy whispers to Pip not to let him, saying she doesn't like him. Pip and Biddy walk alone with Orlick following at a distance and Biddy confesses to Pip that she is afraid Orlick likes her. Pip is hot with anger and from that day on tries to obstruct Orlick's advances on Biddy. Pip himself goes back and forth between believing Biddy and forge life are superior to Estella, then remembering the Havisham days and growing dissatisfied and ambitious again.