Pip and Biddy are talking to each other in the very end of this week's reading...
"Biddy," said I, "I made a remark respecting my coming down here often, to see Joe, which you received with a marked silence..." "Are you quite sure, then, that you WILL come to see him often?" (ch 35, 306)
I don't understand at all why all of a sudden Biddy was extremely mean and condescending to Pip. I get that he says that he'll visit Joe often, and he doesn't, so Biddy doesn't believe him, but why is she just so mean? That is what I want to know, because the two used to be extremely close.
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The way I interpreted this passage was that Biddy sees the arrogant, egocentric person Pip has become, and is one of the only people that doesn't kiss up to him. Like any honest, true friend would do, Biddy is calling Pip out on something she knows isn't right. Since she knows him well enough to understand that he won't really come back to visit, she choses not to believe him.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Biddy is harsh on Pip because of Pips new selfish attitude and the way he takes advantage of Joe.
ReplyDeleteYa, the reason biddy is all of a sudden so mean, is just because she has seen how arrogant and snobby Pip has become, and doesn't want him to hurt Joe anymore than he already has!
ReplyDeleteHi Alex! This is Amanda's cousin Kaisha...
ReplyDeleteFunny thing...I was reading Great Expectations until I got really busy recently. I should pick it up again...it's good stuff! (Weird and creepy too, I have to say, but good.)
Hmmm...I think Biddy cares alot about Pip and Joe. And she really doesn't want to see either of them get hurt. Especially by each other.
I think she also knows that Pip's weaknesses...he's ashamed of his upbringing, trade, Joe, and home-life in general. Like everyone else said, Pip's become a snob. He does love Joe, but he isn't thankful, and isn't even gracious and humble enough even to come visit. He thinks he's too god for Joe.
Joe on the other hand is kind of clueless. He's not dumb, but he's easily taken advantage of. He's sweet and kind and isn't going to force his trade and way of living on Pip, even though Pip ignores him and is rude to his face about it.
So I think Biddy knows all that, and it hurts her to see innocent humble Joe taken advantage of by Pip, her best friend who's turned prideful and arrogant. She's hurt and offended for Joe, and upset and hurt that Pip has changed so much.
Plus, Pip's being ashamed of Joe kind of means he's also ashamed of Biddy. Because she lives with Joe, cares for him, and lives his type of life, he must also be ashamed of her as well...even if he doesn't say it or show it as much.