Great Expectations 10

• "They were all in excellent spirits on the road home, and sang "O Lady Fair!" (p. 105)

At this point in the novel, Pip confirms his apprenticeship with Joe, yet is disappointed and angry with this decision. Pip's sister and Joe take him out to celebrate with Pumblechook and Mr. Wopsle. On their way home, Mr. Wopsle begins to recite Collins's Ode and sing the song, 'O Lady Fair' by Thomas Moore. Charles Dickens alludes to this particular song as it was very popular for a late night walk. The lyrics read:

"Oh, Lady fair! where art thou roaming? The sun has sunk, the night is coming. Stranger, I go o'er moor and mountain, To tell my beads at Agnes' fountain. And who is the man, with his white locks flowing? O Lady Fair! where is he going? A wand'ring Pilgrim, weak, I falter, To tell my beads at Agnes' alter."

The poems' tone and many questions asked reveal the curiosity of the speaker; much like Pip describes Mr. Wopsle as always wanting to know others "personal affairs." Still regarding Mr. Wopsle, Pip directly answers the lines in the poem by saying "he was the man with the white locks flowing, and that he was upon the whole and weakest pilgrim going." (p. 105) Pip's emphasis on "he" suggest that he was mocking Mr. Wopsle. His overall tone in this excerpt appears critical and annoyed with Mr. Wopsle's curiosity.

Work Cited:
"Great Expectations." Google Books. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://books.google.com/books?id=d55huNQmSGgC&pg=PA491&lpg=PA491&dq=o+lady+fair!+-+great+expectations.