Pip has softened much himself by this point in the novel. He has given up his snobbish attempt to distance himself from the criminal stain and is genuinely caring to Magwitch, whom Pip has come to realize is a better man than he is. He does this from his heart, not for financial gain, and even Magwitch notices that Pip is more comfortable with him now as a condemned man than as a free one. Some literary analysts feel that Pip felt free to love Magwitch only because he knew the man was dying and that if Magwitch lived, Pip would not have been able to sustain that emotion. However, Pip’s concern appears genuine and he does offer great comfort to the dying man by staying by his side. Abandoned his whole life, Magwitch treasures Pip’s loyalty as he dies.
Pip is overwhelmed with emotion during his own illness. After everything Pip has done to hurt them both, Joe has come to nurse him and Biddy sent him. Joe and Pip are able to talk about some long-standing issues between them, such as Joe’s guilt over not protecting Pip more as a child, and Pip’s guilt over lying to him about the convict on the marshes. Joe makes it all a non-issue when he points out that if Pip forgives his failure, he sees no failure on Pip’s part. Maybe a more full and open discussion would have been a better choice, but Joe waves away people’s failures and focuses on the present. Joe also points out that Pip’s good word to Miss Havisham got Matthew Pocket a lot of money.
