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The Guardian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Herbert Pocket is far from a minor character in Great Expectations
Well, Zoe Williams, I have heard of Herbert and so has anyone else who's read Great Expectations (Think you know a lot about Dickens? Then who's this Herbert character?, 28 May). Herbert Pocket is a relative of Miss Havisham who fights Pip and is beaten by him. When Pip comes into money, he lives with the Pocket family, aiming to acquire the manners and knowledge of a gentleman. Pip and Herbert share chambers as young men, and so Herbert becomes aware of the Magwitch secret. He helps Pip with the failed escape. Dickens' books teem with characters, but among the crowd Herbert stands out. As does a close friendship between young men to which teenagers can relate. Jane LindenDarsham, Suffolk Herbert Pocket is not a minor character in Great Expectations. We first meet him as a boy on one of Pip's visits to Miss Havisham, where Pip fights with, and defeats, Herbert, which delights Estella, who says to Pip: 'You may kiss me if you like.' Later, when Pip acquires wealth and goes to London, Herbert lodges with him and becomes his guide to behaviour suited to his new station in life: 'It isn't usual to eat peas with a knife.' Anyone who thinks he is a minor character has not read the book properly or only in summary – a practice that I believe is becoming more RobertsManosque, France As a lifelong admirer of Great Expectations, I was puzzled that Zoe Williams could see so little in the character of Herbert Pocket. He is the 'pale young gentleman' who fights with Pip near the beginning of the story. He later becomes Pip's closest friend and shares all his experiences throughout the rest of the book. Pip confides in him about his unrequited love for Estella, and Herbert is able to explain the reason for Miss Havisham's obsessive resentments. Together they respond to the shock of the convict Magwitch's return from transportation and join in the desperate attempt to spirit him to safety. Of all the things that Pip does with his inherited fortune, the only one that he does not regret is setting Herbert up in business. I don't know the wording of the GCSE question about Herbert, but I should think he understands Pip better than any other character. His take on Pip's life story would be kind and sympathetic, but searching and perceptive as well. He seems a very good choice for students to write RigbyOldham, Greater Manchester Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Irish Examiner
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Wish List: Eight ideas for home and outdoor living this summer
Cushion covers In company, I do love to proclaim loudly how much I love the sea. What I fail to acknowledge is how much distance there needs to be between me and the sea to admire it from afar (cue: plenty). As a defiant toddler, I refused to learn how to swim but I like to think in another life I'm a sea swimmer, with ruddy cheeks and sea salted hair and a dry robe I wear even to the shops. Alas, why should I dream of being anyone but myself? A creature of comfort surrounded by the jauntiest cushions of waves and surfers. These unbleached linen cushions from BTS Concept Store, €68.95, are now my entire personality. Starlight Remember the glow-in-the-dark, stick-on stars you begged your mum for as a teenager? Brace your inner child: I may have found the grown-up equivalent. The Paulina sculptural lamp, approximately €453.59, is the brainchild of celebrated Belgian designer Anita Le Grelle. A constellation of tiny, indiscernible holes in the lamp shade produces a shimmering starlight effect that twinkles throughout your room. Shop this and more unique vintage and modern finds at LNV Home in Belfast or online at A clock of ages Literature fans, listen up. Close your eyes and recall the first time you read about Miss Havisham; the clocks frozen in time at Satis House, and all around her, decay. Or the 'low, dull, quick sound' of the ticking timepiece in Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart. Now replace the clocks with a mobile phone and see if the impact is the same. Analogue clocks aren't just anachronistic windows to our past, they have the potential to become family heirlooms. The Otto floor clock by Formae, €747.95, is the perfect antidote to digital disconnectivity. A decorative winding key and pendulum hark to old-world charm while inbuilt shelving offers a unique update. As an investment item or a character in your memoirs, this freestanding clock can be purchased from Mirror, mirror Originating in the 17th century, bobbin furniture is having its very own renaissance (a bobbinaissance?). With a subtle nod to nostalgia, the forest green Ruan mirror, €149, from Foy & Company packs a punch without overpowering. An aesthetically pleasing mirror won't perfect the art of applying winged eyeliner, but hey, at least it looks good in your selfies. With two brick-and-mortar locations in Letterkenny and Ballybofey, Foy & Company is a family-run business with a wide choice of stellar homeware brands. Shop this mirror online at or pick it up in one of the stores. Chunky flower pot Home of the mirror that launched a thousand replicas, and now, the bed for throuples, Gustaf Westman is the designer every interiors enthusiast worth her salt is obsessed with. From the cult curvy mirror to the puzzle shelves and spiralling book stands, Westman's fresh, playful approach to furniture-making defies norms and sets a new standard for innovation in design. Is he the enfant terrible of the furniture world? If redefining intimacy as an interactive bed for three and creating complementary pieces like the 'One Night Stand' shocks you, then yes. Don't judge, though — he's not all form, no function. Take the chunky cup and saucer, for example. Designed to minimise spillage for those of us who love to have tea in bed (me!), it's a stroke of genius. From just €210, the glazed ceramic 'Chunky' flower pot is the ideal starter piece for Westman fans, available at selected retailers like SSense and on Pot of gold While the ginger jar was originally utilitarian, its craftsmanship soon cemented its status as a highly coveted decorative object. A testament to China's strong track record of artistry, especially when it comes to porcelain making, the high shoulders and domed lid make it ideal for showcasing fresh or dried floral arrangements or storing tea, spices, or bath salts. Interior designer Cormac Rowell handpicked this striking yellow piece — find it in his store in Dublin and check out his website at for more design inspiration. Garden chic Outdoor dining has come a long way since banana sandwiches on mattresses in the back garden and a light sprinkling under the hose (just me?). Want to elevate your backyard cookouts so entertaining guests gets a chef's kiss every time? Dutch outdoor furniture brand Weltevree makes design-forward stoves, chairs, hot tubs and the niftiest outdoor waterworks with a sink, storage space and worktop to boot. Unlike a traditional indoor set-up, there are no wrong answers — imbibe a signature summer mocktail, showcase your plants or simply pose and pretend to do the above for a selfie. The Waterworks, €395, available at comes with a powder green-hued outdoor sink and water station with worktop, perforated wall and a place to hang your garden tools. Top of the table You know you take your tablescaping seriously when you anthropomorphise the accoutrements. Nobody wants to see their table scantily clad in a skimpy leg-skimming tablecloth, right? Dressing the table intentionally is a delight, and one of my favourite artists working with linen is Jennifer Slattery. Laying the table for your garden party with the forest green, ivory or earthy stripes sets the scene for the night ahead — it's giving luxury, abundance and homegrown. Order yours from €210 at Read More Wish List: Seven super home buys that are hot on the scent of summer
