Matthew has been very engaged and perceptive in our recent class discussion of the novel. As we approach the book's dramatic closing chapters, we added to our textual evidence list further examples of Pip's redeeming his previously distorted moral compass. For example, at great risk of injury, Pip saves Miss Havisham's life when she immolates herself . Matthew did well recognizing the metaphorical significance of Pip's severe skin burns as suggesting a shedding of his old class conscious self. We discussed the difficult choice Pip faces regarding whether to disclose to Estella her parentage or to disclose to Magwitch that his child, Estella , is actually alive and rich. In this regard, we noted how a public disclosure of Estella's criminal class parents would destroy her standing in polite society. This led to a discussion of the wisdom of the reunification( on some basis) of adopted children and their biological parents, perhaps at the behest of the biological parents many years later. Last ,we again studied Dickens' satire of the legal profession as he parodies lawyers for their pride in their lack of compassion. Hw- r. next chapter. Test Friday.