Great Expectations
Compeyson
The gentleman swindler
A smooth, well-bred criminal who ruined both Miss Havisham and Magwitch.
Compeyson is a swindler who passes as a gentleman. He is polished and cold. He appears on the marsh in the first night's chase as the second convict, and he comes back as the villain behind everything.
He is the link between Magwitch's past and Miss Havisham's. Magwitch tells Pip that Compeyson used him in forgery and fraud and then got off lightly because he looked like a gentleman. Pip and Herbert realize he is the same man who jilted Miss Havisham.
“You have a returned transport there... That's the man!”
In the story
Contains spoilers.
Compeyson is caught fighting Magwitch on the marsh. Later, Pip hears that he is behind Magwitch's misfortunes. Mr. Wopsle sees him at a London theater behind Pip. When Pip and his friends try to row Magwitch to a steamer, Compeyson points him out to the police boat.
Magwitch leaps on the galley and drags Compeyson into the river. Compeyson drowns beneath the steamer's wheel, taking his enemy's revenge with him.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
