# Mr. Wopsle — Great Expectations character guide

> Mr. Wopsle in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Wopsle, stimulating Mr. Wopsle, the unfortunate Wopsle, Mr. Waldengarver, Waldengarver

**First appearance:** 0004-v

## Snapshot

The village church clerk with theatrical ambitions, who abandons the pulpit for the stage and reappears in London as the tragedian Waldengarver.

## Who they are

Wopsle reads the lessons with such gloomy relish that the congregation feels judged, and his dream of dramatic glory is the running joke of the village. When he finally takes to the London stage, his Hamlet is greeted with orange-peel and a dresser's unsolicited advice about his legs. His absurd trajectory shadows Pip's own ascent, a comic reminder of how ordinary people chase transformation.

## In the story

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/iv)

Wopsle delivers theatrical moral lessons at dinner, using the pork as a text to criticize Pip's character.

### [The Soldiers at the Forge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/v)

Wopsle asks the sergeant if the pursuit is for convicts, in a matter-of-course way. He initially wants to go back but stays with the party.

### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/vi)

Present at the discussion, but his objections are dismissed.

### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/vii)

His great-aunt runs the village school; he occasionally 'examines' the scholars with dramatic readings.

### [The Stranger at the Jolly Bargemen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/x)

Mr. Wopsle is present at the Jolly Bargemen, recites from Richard the Third, and accompanies Joe and Pip home.

### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xv)

Mr. Wopsle reads 'George Barnwell' dramatically at Pumblechook's, making Pip feel accused.

### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xxvii)

Wopsle has left the church and taken up playacting in London; Joe brings a playbill announcing Wopsle's performance.

### [Chapter XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xxxi)

Performs as Hamlet under the stage name Waldengarver; endures audience mockery but remains proud of his performance.

### [XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xlvii)

Performs in a play and later tells Pip that Compeyson was in the audience, sitting behind Pip.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/characters/wopsle
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/characters