Great Expectations Chapter Twenty-Nine Summary

Pip is totally excited that he gets to see Estella today. He decides to go for a walk before he visits Miss Havisham. On the walk he thinks about nothing but Estella. He loves her with all of his being and against his better judgment. He knows she’s tough, moody, and cold but he can’t help but be totally drawn to her. He’s not deluded about who she is a person, but he is swimming in de Nile about his destiny. You see, Pip believes that he and Estella are meant to be. End of story. Get the pumpkin carriage ready so that they can ride off into the sunset. He thinks that Miss Havisham wants to throw the two lovebirds together so that they will bring warmth and light to her dreary, scary house.
Pip knocks at Miss Havisham’s gate, and who should appear but Orlick, that aggressive, mean man who used to work in the forge. Orlick is the new gatekeeper and he lives like a dormouse in a little room next to the gate.
Pip and Orlick exchange some words, and it’s quite clear that they like each other about as much as cats like dogs.
Pip finds Miss Havisham sitting her living room watching a lady. Pip doesn’t recognize the lady at first, but when she looks at him, he is nearly struck dead by her beauty. It is Estella! All grown up and lady-like.
Pip suddenly feels like a nerdy little boy again next to Estella, and he doesn’t quite know what to do about it. Pip realizes that Estella is at the heart of why he must stay away from Joe, why he must reject his family.
Estella and Pip go for a walk in the garden outside, but it doesn’t go so well for Pip. Estella can’t remember any of the stories he tells her about their encounters when they were little.
Pip worships the hem of her skirt. Estella doesn’t really care.
Estella tells Pip that she doesn’t have a heart, that she doesn’t feel anything for anyone. Pip doesn’t believe her. He can’t imagine how someone so beautiful could be heartless. Estella tries to drive the point home.
Pip and Estella see a ghost in the brewery. It’s a strange moment, and we’re not quite sure what to make of it.
Pip is scared, but tries to change the subject by proclaiming that he doesn’t believe Estella when she tells him she doesn’t have a heart. She tells him he’s a silly boy.
Pip is totally convinced that he is meant to marry Estella.
They go back inside, Estella leaves to get ready for din-din, and Miss Havisham grills Pip about Estella. In one of her creepiest moments yet (it's hard to believe she can outcreep herself), Miss Havisham demands that Pip love Estella. She commands, "love her!" over and over and over again (2.29.84). She’s like a broken record.
She tells Pip that she built Estella to be loved and to break hearts.
Miss Havisham works herself into a tizzy and has to be calmed down.
Jaggers shows up. It’s a real party now.
They have dinner. Sarah Pocket is green with envy over Pip’s newfound fame and fortune. Jaggers won’t look at Estella. They drink some port.
After dinner, Jaggers, Estella, and Pip play cards, and both men are totally dumbfounded by her beauty. Miss Havisham puts jewels in her hair.
Pip hates having Jaggers around. His presence diminishes Pip’s love for Estella for some reason.
Jaggers and Pip say goodnight, and Miss Havisham asks Pip to escort Estella from London to Richmond when she comes to town in the next few weeks. Pip gladly agrees.
Pip goes to bed professing his love to an imaginary Estella.
He realizes that he can never go back to Joe now. He really believes that he and Estella are meant to be.

Next Page: Chapter Thirty

Previous Page: Chapter Twenty-Eight