The Maturation of Pip in Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, the author begins the tale by revealing Pip's arrogance towards previous companions. By the end of the story, we learn of Pip's love and compassion for everyone.
In Great Expectations, during the middle of the book, Pip creates a rather low opinion of himself acting arrogant and conceited to others. For example, When Joe is coming to visit Pip, Pip thinks to himself, "I was looking forward to Joe's coming not with pleasure, thought that I was bound to him... If I could have kept him away by paying money, I would have paid money (pg.841). Evan though Joe protected and assisted Pip throughout his juvenile years, Pip was still embarrassed by him. Pip is an ungrateful person showing Joe no gratitude. In addition, when Pip learned who his benefactor was he replied, "The abhorrence in which I held the man, the dread I had of him, the repugnance with which I shrank from him, could not have been exceeded if he had been some terrible beast (pg.876). Pip is surprised by this intrusion of his mind realizing that Miss Havisham did not raise him to be with Estella. Evan though Pip was not raised to be with Estella he is an vicious human being thinking such vile thoughts against a man that gave him the life of a gentleman. In relation, as Provis lays down to sleep Pip reflects on meeting him, "Then came the reflection that I had seen him with my childish eyes to be a desperate violent man:" (pg.879). Pip can only think of what horrible things Provis performed. Pip is an unforgiving person, still thinking of Provis as a convict after all he did for him. Pip displays himself as a heartless feign, believing himself to be of upper society and forgetting people who helped him through his journey of life.
In the end of the novel, Great Expectations, Pip redefines himself as a dependable honorable character. For example, when Pip is hovering over Provis' deathbed he says, "Dear Magwitch, I must tell you, now at last, You had a child once whom you loved and lost, she lived and found powerful friends. She is living now. She is a lady and very beautiful and I love her (pg.826). In doing this Pip lays to rest any final confrontations going on in Provis' mind when reflecting over his life. Pip also is telling Provis that his daughter will be safe with a gentleman who he raised. In addition, when Pip has returned home to Biddy and Joe he says, "Dear Joe, I hope you will have children to love....tell him that I honored you both so good and true (pg. 933). Pips telling Joe how much he loves him for helping him through the hard times, and how much he respects him for forgiving him. Pip wishes the best for Joe and to continue to have a long life full of enjoyment and harmony. In conclusion, when Pip meets Estella in the garden he thinks to himself, "The freshness of her beauty was indeed gone, but its indescribable majesty and its describable charm remained. Those attractions in it I had seen before; what I had never seen before was the saddened, soft-ened light of the once proud eyes; what I never felt before was the friendly touch of the once insensible hand" (pg. 935). Estella's heart has been torn and broken and when mending itself created a soft delicate side of her. Like Pip Estella was once a snobbish girl, but over time changed in to an honorable character. Pip by the end of the story replenishes the reader's respect for him.
In the novel, Great Expectations, written by Charles Dickens, Dickens presents Pip as an immature man, but by the end reveals him as a true gentleman. When we read a book we follow a characters life and how it grows up and changes. Often maturity is the feature each character will go through. Throughout literature authors have used contrasting maturity levels to excite the reader and accentuate the story.
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