“And as to the condition on which you hold your advancement in life, – namely, that you are not to inquire or discuss to whom you owe it, – you may be very sure that it will never be encroached upon, or even approached, by me, or by any one belonging to me.”
– Charles Dickens
Great Expectations, Chapter 22. After telling Pip the full story of Miss Havisham, Herbert promises that he will never inquire about the identity of Pip’s secret benefactor. Pip takes that as a sign that Herbert believes Miss Havisham to be his patron, as Pip does. This excerpt speaks to one of the novel’s most important themes, self-improvement and Pip’s journey to advance himself socially, financially and in social standing.