Great Expectations Pip Character Analysis

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Pip in Great Expectations is a character who is ruled by his dissatisfaction in his actions in the beginning of the novel, but meets the harsh reality of life and changes. Charles Dickens develops Pip's character as a young boy who lost his parents and lives with his sister and her husband. Pip is a poor, common boy who grows to dislike his life, wants to fulfill his great expectations, and in the end learns who he truly is as a person. Pip is an abused orphan living with his ungrateful and prideful sister and her husband who is a blacksmith. Uncle Pumblechook took him to see Miss Havisham and Estella. To entertain the lonely old lady, Pip would play with Estella, her adopted daughter. During these times, Pip gets called out on his course hands, dirty clothes, and his commonness by Estella. On page 43, Pip says, "I had never thought of being ashamed of my hands before; but her contempt …show more content…

Moving away to London, Pip was expecting great things and freedom by living on his own, but he quickly learns about the reality of being in debt and the struggles of day to day life (164). From the beginning of Mr. Jaggers' offer, there were certain agreements Pip had to come to in order to go to London. One was that he was not allowed to ask who was behind the financial arrangements. On page 194-195, Magwitch sways, "Look'ee here. Pip. I'm your second father. You're my son - more to me nor any son. I've put away money, only for you to spend." Pip feels an excruciating pain that his convict was the one behind the money because he had expected it to be Miss Havisham. When he felt he was living the very lowest time of his life, he was reminded of the time he had put money toward Herbert's business. Ironically, he had to choose between going back to his common days and working for Herbert, which was his decision. Through all of this, he was grateful that he was given the opportunity to make something of

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