Wemmick and Jaggers display their careful habit of staying just within the law by referring to Provis as an agent of Magwitch, who they are “sure” is in Australia. They are careful in all their statements so that no one can trace them to the knowledge that Magwitch is in England illegally. Ominous events are foreshadowed when Pip suspects that Magwitch has been followed to his apartment and that someone is now watching them.
Magwitch’s motives are a mixture of good and bad; part reward, part revenge. He is obviously grateful for Pip’s help years ago and is generously rewarding him with an easy life. Even his manner of holding Pip’s hands is much more honest and heartfelt than Pumblechook’s “May I?” However Magwitch can be “low” as well. He wants to show society that a low dog like him can make a fine gentleman. By showing Pip off to the world he gets revenge for how the world treated him.
Pip’s and Herbert’s reactions to Magwitch’s money are interesting and somewhat snobbish. Pip is essentially dependent, living off of someone else’s money. Whose money it is should not make any difference — he is dependent no matter what. But even though the money is honestly earned, Pip cannot bring himself to accept the convict’s gift. In one respect it is a good decision because finally Pip is deciding to fend for himself and to care for another out of higher motives than money. But at the same time, refusing the gift solely because of who gives it is sheer snobbery.
Dickens continues to show his skills in the descriptive scenes of Magwitch’s eating habits, and the use of the face casts in Jaggers’ office to reflect Pip’s thoughts and feelings.
