Who is Biddy in Great Expectations?

Biddy is a clever orphan girl from Pip’s village who teaches him to read and later keeps house at the forge. She is one of the kindest and wisest people in the book.

Pip is fond of her and sometimes wishes he could love her instead of Estella. Near the end he plans to propose, but she has already married Joe.

Who does Biddy marry?

Biddy marries Joe Gargery, and they name their son Pip.

From Great Expectations

Biddy

A village friend • Clever and kind

A clever village girl who helps Pip learn to read and always tells him the gentle truth.

Who is Biddy?

Biddy is an orphan girl from Pip’s village who helps at the little evening school and later keeps house at the forge. Clever, patient and plain-spoken, she teaches Pip everything she knows. She always tells him the truth, but she tells it kindly.

Biddy is a character in Great Expectations, the 1861 novel by Charles Dickens, retold for ages 6–9 by Sean Lee.

What is Biddy like?

clever
patient
wise

Biddy’s story

Biddy is the granddaughter of the old woman who keeps the village evening school, and she is an orphan like Pip. She helps him learn his letters when nobody else can teach him much. When Pip’s sister is badly hurt in an attack, Biddy comes to live at the forge and looks after her with great patience.

Pip confides in Biddy as they walk on the marshes, telling her he wants to be a gentleman because of Estella. Biddy wonders aloud whether that is really worth it, and whether Estella is worth winning at all. When Pip goes to London, she writes letters for Joe and teaches him to read and write, and later she becomes the mistress of the new village school.

Pip comes home after his illness meaning to ask Biddy to marry him, and finds he has arrived on her wedding day: she has just married Joe. She forgives Pip warmly for his pride. Years later Pip finds her with two children, a little girl and a boy named Pip, and Biddy gently asks whether he still thinks of Estella.

“You know best, Pip; but don’t you think you are happier as you are?”

Biddy, answering when Pip says he wants to be a gentleman. From the original 1861 novel by Charles Dickens.

A moment to remember

When Pip confides that he wants to be a gentleman, Biddy gently asks whether he is not happier as he is.

Pip: childhood friend
Joe Gargery: friend she later marries
Estella: the girl Pip compares her with

Talk about it

Biddy told Pip the truth even when he did not want to hear it. Why is it brave to tell a friend the truth in a kind way?

Questions about Biddy

Who is Biddy in Great Expectations?: Biddy is a clever orphan girl from Pip’s village who teaches him to read and later keeps house at the forge. She is one of the kindest and wisest people in the book.
Does Pip love Biddy?: Pip is fond of her and sometimes wishes he could love her instead of Estella. Near the end he plans to propose, but she has already married Joe.
Who does Biddy marry?: Biddy marries Joe Gargery, and they name their son Pip.