# XXVI explained — Great Expectations

> Chapter companion for Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.

## What happens

Pip and his friends dine at Mr. Jaggers' house in Gerrard Street, Soho, where Jaggers takes a peculiar interest in the surly Drummle, whom he calls 'the Spider.' The housekeeper, Molly, is forced by Jaggers to display her powerfully muscled but deeply scarred wrists, hinting at a violent past. The dinner conversation becomes heated, with Drummle's boorish behavior provoking Pip into revealing that Drummle had borrowed money from Startop.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

Jaggers' house appears stately but is shabby; the housekeeper's gentle demeanor contrasts with her powerful, scarred wrists, hinting at hidden violence.

### Wealth and Moral Corruption

Jaggers' wealth is displayed through fine food and wine, yet his home is gloomy and his profession involves criminal law, suggesting moral ambiguity.

## Character check-ins

### Pip

Dines at Jaggers' house with his friends, observes the housekeeper's strange appearance, and quarrels with Drummle over money.

### Jaggers

Hosts dinner at his home, shows a strange interest in Drummle, and forces his housekeeper Molly to display her scarred wrists.

### Drummle

Referred to as 'the Spider' by Jaggers; behaves boorishly, boasts of his strength, and quarrels with Pip.

### Startop

Present at the dinner; described as having a delicate face; has lent money to Drummle.

### Herbert Pocket

Present at the dinner; tries to check Pip during the quarrel with Drummle.

### Molly

Jaggers' housekeeper; a pale woman with streaming hair and scarred wrists, forced by Jaggers to show her hands.

## Key lines

> I cannot say whether any diseased affection of the heart caused her lips to be parted as if she were panting, and her face to bear a curious expression of suddenness and flutter; but I know that I had been to see Macbeth at the theatre, a night or two before, and that her face looked to me as if it were all disturbed by fiery air, like the faces I had seen rise out of the Witches' cauldron.

Pip cannot tell if a heart condition makes the housekeeper's lips part as if she is out of breath, but her face reminds him of the witches from Macbeth he recently saw at the theater.

_Pip's theatrical comparison emphasizes the housekeeper's eerie, otherworldly appearance._

> If you talk of strength, I'll show you a wrist. Molly, let them see your wrist.

Jaggers interrupts the arm-wrestling boasting by commanding the housekeeper to show her wrist as proof of real strength.

_Jaggers uses Molly's scarred hands to assert dominance and reveal hidden power._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xxvi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/great_expectations_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters