So many times, I'd be reading a book and just suddenly zone out. I'd look at the last 5 pages I read and have absolutely NO idea what happened. In fact, I don't even remember ever setting eyes on those pages. This happens A LOT. Especially when I'm reading my history book. But with Great Expectations, I try really hard to stay focused on what I'm reading. Still there are passages that I reread like 5 times and still have no clue what it's saying. Here's an example.
"I have reason to think that Joe's intellects were brightened by the encounter they had passed, through, and that on our way to Pumblechook's he invented a subtle and deep design. My reason is to be found in what took place in Mr. Pumblechook's parlor: where, on our presenting ourselves, my sister in conference with that detested seedsman.(127)"
Anyways, I'm going to try to break this passage down in this blog and try to get the general gist of this paragraph. A little background info: 'the encounter' is when Pip's brother in law (Joe) goes to visit a rich, financially stable old women. Having very little money, this is a brand new experience for Pip's brother in law. Pumplechook is Pip's uncle.
So pretty much I interpret this to mean that visiting someone living by different standards of himself was an enlightening experience for Pip's brother in law. He inevitable became more experienced and thus 'smarter'. by "a subtle and deep design", I believe the narrator means that along the journey, Joe took on a very scholarly appearance and attitude.Whether this was to impress his host or just to fit in with his surroundings is open to interpretation.
Well, I had heard of the word 'parlor' before and imagined a petite little room decorated with fine china and little stone statues. The curtains would be tied back with sophisticated ribbons. There'd be a soft velvet couch planted in the middle and sunlight would radiate from the side windows. This was the beautiful picture I had invented. And then I looked it up in the dictionary and...... it was not all I set it out to be. Turns out, a parlor is, simply put, an antique looking living room...
Continuing, the narrator wanted to know what will happen in Pumblechook's living room where, upon their entering, Pip sees his sister is engaging in conversation with the strongly disliked 'sower of seeds', who I take to be Mr. Pumblechook. Wow, the word 'seedsman' is really quite literal....
Although a trivial passage, it has helped me improve my understanding of the syntax of the book.
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