Wemmick Character Analysis in Great Expectations

As Mr. Jaggers' clerk, Wemmick models his character on Mr. Jaggers while in the office where he is rational, unemotional, and money-minded. Yet when Wemmick is at home, his personality changes dramatically and he is warm, empathetic, domestic, and nurturing towards his elderly father, the Aged. Pip and Wemmick are good friends outside of the office but maintain a strictly professional relationship in front of Mr. Jaggers.

Wemmick Character Timeline in Great Expectations

The timeline below shows where the character Wemmick appears in Great Expectations. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...gloomily decorated with weapons and casts of swollen faces. Mr. Jaggers is in court and Wemmick, Jaggers' clerk, shows Pip in. While waiting, Pip takes a walk through filthy, bloody neighborhood... (full context)

...returns and sharply dismisses each of his clients, checking to make sure they have paid Wemmick and threatening to drop their cases if they try to involve themselves any further. Mr.... (full context)

Wemmick walks Pip to Barnard's Inn and Pip observes his wooden features and all the little... (full context)

...Jaggers hassles Pip about the sum, making Pip uncomfortable. When he confides his discomfort to Wemmick, Wemmick assures him that Mr. Jaggers' intends that reaction but that "it's not personal....only professional." (full context)

After dispensing his money, Wemmick gives Pip a tour of Mr. Jaggers office and Pip sees four other shabby clerks... (full context)

Wemmick invites Pip to visit him at home in Walworth. He also warns Pip that, if... (full context)

A few weeks later, Pip arranges to take Wemmick up on his dinner invitation to Walworth. They meet at Mr. Jaggers' office and Wemmick... (full context)

Ambition and Self-Improvement Theme Icon

Pip and Wemmick walk to Walworth, which is an eccentric, tiny imitation-Gothic cottage with a drawbridge, a flagstaff,... (full context)

Mr. Jaggers only servant is his housekeeper, Molly, whom Wemmick has urged Pip to take note of. She is a quiet, witch-like woman with streaming... (full context)

While he's waiting, Pip bumps into Wemmick who invites Pip to come along to Newgate Prison. Pip notes that prisons at that... (full context)

...now receive this annual sum to manage his own expenses rather than drawing allowances from Wemmick. He tells Pip that his patron's identity is still a secret. (full context)

In the outer office, Pip privately proposes to Wemmick that Pip invest money in Herbert's career. Wemmick objects vehemently to Pip's proposal, telling Pip... (full context)

The next Sunday afternoon, Pip goes to Walworth to hear Wemmick's "Walworth sentiments." While waiting for Wemmick to return home from his walk, Pip learns from... (full context)

Pip and Wemmick stroll around the property to discuss Pip's question. Pip describes his wish to invest in... (full context)

Pip stays at the castle for a cozy tea with Wemmick, Miss Skiffins, and the Aged. Throughout teatime, Wemmick periodically tries to slide his arm around... (full context)

Wemmick carries out Pip's plan, meeting with him again several times at Walworth and in London... (full context)

...alone. At the gate to his home, the porter gives him a note written in Wemmick's hand that tells him not to go home. (full context)

...an anxious, sleepless night at a hotel. In the morning, he goes to Walworth where Wemmick (speaking in code to avoid mixing Walworth and Little Britain) tells Pip he wrote the... (full context)

Immediately after hearing the news, Wemmick enlisted Herbert to arrange a hiding place for Provis. Herbert has taken Provis to rent... (full context)

...Wopsle. Back at the apartment, Pip tells Herbert and sends the news by post to Wemmick. He tries to live even more cautiously. (full context)

...later, Pip runs into Mr. Jaggers, who invites Pip home to dinner with him and Wemmick. Mr. Jaggers' informs Pip that Miss Havisham has requested that Pip visit her. To Pip's... (full context)

Walking alone with Wemmick after dinner, Pip finds out that Wemmick has never seen Estella and asks Wemmick to... (full context)

...Still, Mr. Jaggers' tries to ignore Pip's news and goes right back to work with Wemmick, Pip makes a "passionate, almost an indignant appeal to him" to confide in Pip as... (full context)

A few weeks pass until, one Monday morning, Pip receives a letter from Wemmick insinuating that it might be possible to escape with Provis that Wednesday. Because Pip is... (full context)

Later that week, Wemmick visits Pip to apologize for the failure of his escape plan—he realizes that Compeyson must... (full context)

Wemmick asks Pip to join him for a walk that Monday. The walk, it turns out,... (full context)