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Living in a world where much about a person’s character is measured by wealth, it has become increasingly important to maintain a separation between material characteristics and intangible moral values. Pip, in Dickens’ Great Expectations, must learn from his series of disappointments and realize the importance of self-reliance over acceptance to social norms. Through his unwavering faith in wealthy “ideals,” such as Miss Havisham and Estella, Pip develops both emotionally and morally, learning that surface appearances never reveal the truth in a person’s heart.
Pip, through spending time with Estella, quickly picks up the desire for social improvement through games, whether physical or emotional, and it is not until he realizes the difference between fantasy and reality that he truly understands the game of life. Just as Estella uses card games to torment Pip, telling him that he is “a common labouring boy” Pip unknowingly begins to see every human interaction as a competition (Volume I, Chapter 8). His physical fight with Herbert represents Pip’s gradual addiction to always winning, never stopping until others are defeated. Pip takes his early, innocent ambition to improve himself and, without even realizing it himself, turns it into a ruthless fight for revenge. Parkinson argues that he sees “the role of chance” influencing his life, forcing himself to submit to whatever life throws at him (Parkinson, 121). Soon, however, Pip becomes the one who forces others, including Joe and Biddy, to simply accept his desire to become an “uncommon” gentleman through his unfailing faith in the wealthy (Volume I, Chapter 8). The problem is not his “fairy-tale expectations,” but his admiration in the wrong people; though he looks up to Miss...
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...ry tale-like ending to the novel.
Overall, Pip transforms morally throughout the book by realizing the limitations to fortune, the truly transcendental nature of social class, and understanding the balance of self-interest and consideration essential to a good life. Some may argue that this is no longer relevant, as the world has come to transcend social class. However, the reality is that money is still a symbol of worthiness. It is not until wealth and nobility are separated that true progress can take place in the world.
Works Cited
Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. New York: Knopf, 1992. Print.
Parkinson, Kristen L. "What Do You Play, Boy?; Card Games in Great Expectations." Dickens Quarterly (2010): 119-37. Web.
Campbell, Jessica A. "Beauty and the Beast in Great Expectations." Dickens Quarterly (2014): 32-40. Web.
‘Great Expectations’ showcases the variety of ways in which Pip discovers a sense of belonging and makes us question our own choices in life and how belonging is not always apparent at the time. Relationships and places are closely intertwined with a person’s sense of acceptance and can make all the difference in being fulfilled mentally in life which is shown in both a negative and positive note in ‘Great Expectations’ and ‘Pleasantville’.
Ricks, Christopher, "Great Expectations," from Dickens and the Twentieth Century. Ed. John Gross and G. Pearson, 1966. pp. 199-211.
The first way that Pip demonstrates these themes is by reaching for things that are unattainable to him. For example, Pip is in love with Estella, but he can't have her because she doesn't like him. Also Miss Havisham's man-hating ways have brushed off on her, and she wants nothing to do with Pip. Another thing that Pip strives for is to become a gentleman. He cannot become a gentleman, however, because he is just a commoner. He is very smitten, for example, with "the beautiful young lady at Miss Havisham's and she is more beautiful than anybody ever was and I admire her dreadfully and I want to be a gentleman on her account" (780). Thus, Pip wants to become a gentleman only for Estella.
Now, just because Pip is a gentleman, he realizes that his materialistic hope of being a gentleman does not make him happy. In this quote, Victorian era values become evident, as money, which is desired and thought to make happiness, changes Pip’s feeling from happy to dissatisfied. Now, the reader realizes that Dickens believes that money has nothing to do with being happy, but, what a society values. Finally, Pip realizes Estella’s adversity when she declares “suffering has been stronger than all other teaching[s]" (515). Through this quote, Pip finally realizes that, even though Estella was brought up with money, it does not help her any more than being raised without money.
Two juxtapositions are made, the first describing the difference in Pip’s futures with “iron or gold” (65). The iron is representative of being a blacksmith as it is seen as uglier and more brutish even though it is more durable and functionable. Living as a blacksmith would be less exciting and glamorous for Pip, but it holds stability and gives him something to be good at and content with. The gold is representative of being a gentleman as it seems much better and more beautiful when it is less useful except for being ornamental. He could live with a certain purpose in life and on a higher pedestal than others, but his life could easily be manipulated with less promise of useful tools being given to him.
In Charles Dickens novel Great Expectations, the main character, Pip might seem like an innocent boy growing up to be a respected gentleman. However, in Julian Moynahan’s literary criticism “Parallels Between Pip, Orlick, and Drummle,” different sides to this fundamental character are shown. At first sight, Orlick and Drummle seem like complete contradictory characters to Pip. They could be portrayed almost as villains compared to the innocent Pip. Nonetheless, when different parts in the novel are studied, this opposite comparison changes to an eerily similar one. In Dickens novel, Great Expectations, Pip shows striking parallels with both Orkick and Drummle, even though he disapproves of actions that they take and how they handle themselves.
The money from his anonymous benefactor led him to London to fulfill his “great expectations” of becoming a true gentleman and climb the social ladder. Estella, who is young and beautiful, influences Pip significantly. He falls in love with her, becoming even more snobbish and foolish to please her. Pip is “naturally decent” however for a time; his ambitions lead him to selfishness, moral cowardice, and the trappings of snobbery (Leone
Pip has a changing perception of himself, other characters, and the world around him throughout Stage One of the book Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. In this part of Pip’s story, his life is centered around his own home and the Satis House. Characters in each of these settings shape and change his paradigms about the world by showing him different forms of contentment and people who he does not want to be like. Joe and Biddy, Mrs. Joe and his Uncle Pumblechook, and Miss Havisham and Estella are the characters that most directly affect Pip’s outlook of himself, his life, and other characters.
“Charles Dickens: Great Expectations.” (2 Feb, 2006): 2. Online. World Wide Web. 2 Feb, 2006. Available http://www.uned.es/dpto-filologias-extranjeras/cursos/LenguaIglesaIII/TextosYComentarios/dickens.htm.
Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens is a fascinating tale of love and fortune. The main character, Pip, is a dynamic character who undergoes many changes through the course of the book. Throughout this analysis the character, Pip will be identified and his gradual change through the story will be surveyed.
Great Expectations, a novel published by Charles Dickens in 1862, is about a young boy named Pip who explores the differences between divisions of each social class. He starts at the very bottom as a common young boy, then he inherits a large amount of money and slowly starts climbing his way up to the top of the social pyramid. This change in social status brought change to his personality also. He went from being a caring gentlemen, to a rich, apathetic snob. Charles Dickens uses humor and satire throughout the novel, lots of irony, repetition, and the use of inanimate objects to show emotion. The plot is very complex, with many different twists and surprises. There are a few different locations in this book that are in London or around the marshes of Kent. The social classes range in this book from the lowest of the low, to the richest lady in the town. (“Cliffs Notes”).
It can be seen through Dickens’s highly successful novel Great Expectations, that his early life events are reflected into the novel. Firstly the reader can relate to Dickens’s early experiences, as the novel’s protagonist Pip, lives in the marsh country, and hates his job. Pip also considers himself, to be too good for his ...
The wealthy people had a great advantage over the poor in the industrial revolution. Even though the poor families did most of the work they still had the short end of the stick. Having their young children work in factories coal mines and mill. Having their wives take care of the wealthy children and clean their houses, the men themselves did labor work for the wealthy. Without the natural human instinct to fight for survival the industrial revolution would have ever happened. Money was the soul point in the separation of classes. The wealthier you were the less work you had to do and I their eyes even a better life style even though when they had boring childhood. Pip has lived in both life styles the rich and the poor. The wealthy people of the Victorian era were at a huge advantage, leaving the poor in the worst living conditions.
Throughout Dickens’ novel Great Expectations, the character, personality, and social beliefs of Pip undergo complete transformations as he interacts with an ever-changing pool of characters presented in the book. Pip’s moral values remain more or less constant at the beginning and the end; however, it is evident that in the time between, the years of his maturation and coming of adulthood, he is fledgling to find his place in society. Although Pip is influenced by many characters throughout the novel, his two most influential role models are: Estella, the object of Miss Havisham’s revenge against men, and Magwitch, the benevolent convict. Exposing himself to such diverse characters Pip has to learn to discern right from wrong and chose role models who are worthy of the title.
Andrewa, Kenneth. "Suffering in Great Expectations." . N.p., 15 June 2010. Web. 17 May 2014. .