Great Expectations
Chapter 46
by Charles Dickens
Herbert and Pip construct a plan for Magwitch's escape.
Herbert and Pip construct a plan for Magwitch's escape.
Booker's travels throughout Europe introduce him to a number of new teaching methods, as well as instilling a since of hope for equality in the United States.
Abbe Busoni visits Valentine on her deathbed to pray for her.
The Preface explains the circumstances that led to the novel being written. The Letters are from Robert Walton to his sister, detailing his travels. In the fourth letter, Walton tells his sister about seeing a strange creature, and then about finding a starved man who he takes aboard and convinces to tell his story.
Mark and Ruth spend time with Uncle Christopher. Mark attends mill school. In October, Mark, Ruth, Edna May, and Uncle Christopher take a voyage to Wakulla.
Kate, captivated by George, pays him a visit.
Preparations for Jane and Rochester’s wedding do not run smoothly. Mrs. Fairfax treats Jane coldly because she doesn’t realize that Jane was already engaged to Rochester when she allowed him to kiss her. But even after she learns the truth, Mrs. Fairfax maintains her disapproval of the marriage. Jane feels unsettled, almost fearful, when Rochester calls her by what will soon be her name, Jane Rochester. Jane explains that everything feels impossibly ideal, like a fairy-tale or a daydream. Rochester certainly tries to turn Jane into a Cinderella-like figure: he tells her he will dress her in jewels and in finery befitting her new social station, at which point Jane becomes terrified and self-protective. She has a premonitory feeling that the wedding will not happen, and she decides to write her uncle, John Eyre, who is in Madeira. Jane reasons that if John Eyre were to make her his heir, her inheritance might put her on more equal footing with Rochester, which would make her feel less uncomfortable about the marriage.
Carol reluctantly returns to Gopher Prairie, where she is welcomed back by many of the townspeople. Carol becomes active in local activities, and soon gives birth to her daughter. Although much time has passed, life in Gopher Prairie proceeds as it always has.
Victor studies with enthusiasm and ignores his social life. He learns all his teachers have to teach him and begins his fascinating and absorbing work on an animate being because of his fixation on discovering the secret of life.
Raymond enlists, as America enters World War I. Kennicott's desire to enlist is discouraged by the Doctor's Council of Gopher Prairie. Now a wealthy businessman in Boston, Percy Bresnahan returns to visit his hometown amidst a great celebration from the all of Gopher Prairie.
Donatello takes Kenyon to the old tower.
The author diverts the emperor, and his nobility of both sexes, in a very uncommon manner. The diversions of the court of Lilliput described. The author has his liberty granted him upon certain conditions.
Dick Datchery, a new arrival to Cloisterham, talks to number of the townspeople about the Drood disappearance.
George and a client take a tour of a local tenement. George meets his father-in-law to ensure a good price on a future purchase. George decides to have a conversation about "morals" with his son.
Esther confesses that she’s still worried about their friends Gabriel and Mordaunt. The General comes clean.
Von Kempelen discovers how to turn lead into gold.
An unnamed narrator tells how a Parisian detective, Auguste Dupin, solves a case of a “purloined letter.” The letter belonged to the Queen, and the man who took it had switched it with a plain letter, and was using the information contained in the stolen letter to blackmail the Queen. The police Prefect wants Dupin to figure out how to catch the man, and Dupin reasons his way through the case, eventually nabbing the thief by using his own technique against him—switching letters back.
Jane’s students become more familiar and endeared to her, and Jane becomes quite popular among them. At night, though, she has troubling nightmares that involve Rochester. Jane continues to pay attention to the relationship between St. John and Rosamond, who often visits the school when she knows St. John will be there. Rosamond asks Jane to draw her portrait, and as she is working on it one day, St. John pays her a visit. He gives her a new book of poetry and looks at the drawing. She offers to draw him a duplicate, and then boldly declares that he ought to marry Rosamond. St. John admits that he loves her and is tempted by her beauty, but he explains that he refuses to allow worldly affection to interfere with his holy duties. The flirtatious, silly, and shallow Rosamond would make a terrible wife for a missionary. Suddenly, St. John notices something on the edge of Jane’s paper and tears off a tiny piece—Jane is not certain why. With a peculiar look on his face, he hurries from the room.
An essay/argument for Sir Isaac Newton and the author’s mathematical beliefs and philosophies. The full title is "A Defence of Free-Thinking in Mathematics: In answer To a Pamphlet of Philalethes Cantabrigiensis, intitled, Geometry no Friend to Infidelity, or a Defence of Sir ISAAC NEWTON, and the BRITISH Mathematicians. Also an Appendix concerning Mr. WALTON’s Vindication of the Principles of Fluxions contained in the ANALYST."
The Reverend Crisparkle visits with Mr. Honeythunder before stopping by the Staple Inn to see Neville. Grewgious questions Crisparkle about Jasper's whereabouts. Neville becomes acquainted with Tartar.
Zenobia and Coverdale meet again, though much has changed since their first meeting at Blithedale.
Fernand de Morcerf visits the house of the Count of Monte Cristo.
David tells Dora about his current financial situation, causing Dora to become visibly upset.
Hilda laments her current situation.