Great Expectations – Discuss Pip’s views of expectations and how they
affect him.
The novel Great Expectations is focused around the theme of a young
male’s expectations and how they rule his life. It tells us the
effects they have on people and the negative impact they have on Pip’s
life. The Title to the novel “Great Expectations” totally contradicts
the main theme in the book, as the expectations turn out to be not so
great after all. The book is split up into 3 sections of Pip’s “Great
Expectations”, all of these sections show us how Pip’s life has been
affected by these expectations.
Throughout the novel we see how expectations have left their mark on
Pip’s life. Chapter one is were we are introduced to the main
character Pip. Our first impression of Pip is that he is naïve,
innocent and lonely young boy, the fact that Pip refers to his mother
as “Georgina, wife of the above” tells us that he has received no
guidance or teaching in his life and is unaware of his surroundings.
Pip is then dramatically changed by his expectations when Pip first
meets Mrs Havisham. He is introduced to a whole new view of life, and
realises he is not as happy as he thinks he is. Pip in a way blames
his upbringing as he says, “My sisters bringing up made me sensitive.”
When introduced to Estella Pip is infatuated by her and when she says
how “coarse” and “common” he is, he feels embarrassed and humiliated.
This is the turning point of Pip’s life, his blinding obsession with
Estella makes him determined to become the gentleman that she wants,
guided by his expectations.
Pip’s expectations are acted upon many different characters throughout
the novel, and nearly most of the time they have a negative effect on
othe...
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...y aren’t all
they what seem to be.
Overall throughout this book expectations play a big role, we see how
they rule Pip’s life and how they can affect others in many different
ways. We see how Pip’s life ends up in a good way and that how
expectations can blind others from reality. Money can change anybody
and Pip was no exception. When Pip is poor he truly wants to be a
gentlemen, he has great expectations for himself. Pip feels
embarrassed that his family has no money. Pips pride corrupts him and
blinds him from how he is treating Joe. Expectations are extremely
significant throughout this novel and they show us what they can do if
you are obsessed with them. In Victorian society it was an extremely
sought after dream to be wealthy and well respected, Pip was a victim
of this view and eventually realised that a gentleman is something
more than riches.
Pip, on the other hand, shows an internal struggle whenever he has to make a decision. Pip also has an image of a father imposed on other male characters throughout the progress of his life: first his brother-in-law Joe, later the lawyer Mr. Jaggers, and finally his secret benefactor Magwitch. But the relative importance that each of them hold on Pip's opinions is rather little compared to the effect of Pangloss' word upon Candide. Pip is always open to suggestions coming from any of the individuals around him, and he really cares about the judgement of any of these, but he is always left with freedom when concerning an ultimate decision.
somehow absorbed by Pip as Pip portrays a typical childlike quality in which he is easily influenced by those around him. Joe’s influence on Pip can come across as a positive outlook on Pip as well. Pip learns to respect others and their wishes as well as himself, but also not to retaliate and lower himself to someone else’s level if they provoked him to do so. “She says many hard things of you, yet you say nothing of hers to do. What do you think of her?
Throughout the novel Great Expectations, Pip's character and personality goes through some transformations. He is somewhat similar at the beginning and end, but very different while growing up. He is influenced by many characters, but two in particular:Estella and Magwitch, the convict from the marshes. Some things that cause strength or growth in a person are responsibility, discipline, and surrounding oneself around people who are challenging and inspiring. He goes through many changes some good and some bad
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.
Another way that Pip shows his discontent with his present life is by not wanting to be a blacksmith when it would be very practical for him. Pip's brother-in-law is a blacksmith which would make it easy for him to learn the trade. Also, Miss Havisham agreed to pay for his apprenticeship, yet Pip insists that he is better than that and is upset by that fact that he is just a commoner. He states his dissatisfaction" with my home, my trade and with everything" (773). Pip also turns away Biddy when she is something that is obtainable to him. Biddy is somebody in the story that really loves Pip, yet he turns her away and uses her to get what he wants. Pip also gives the impression that he is better than Biddy when he is no less a commoner than she is.
... more conscious, regretful and likable Pip. The chapter ends with Pip imagining that there had been signs, warning. him that Magwitch was coming, but had gone unnoticed by him.
Pip learns the way of life and the road to being a gentleman. Pip gets
In the opening chapter, we feel sorry for Pip as we find out that his
influenced by various people. Pip experiences tough times as a boy and a young man, but at the end he has
When Pip was a child, he was a contented young boy. He wanted to grow
In the novel, Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens the principal character, Pip, undergoes a tremendous change in character. I would like to explore with you the major incidents in Pip’s childhood that contribute to his change from an innocent child to someone consumed by false values and snobbery.
The main character, Pip, is a gentle character. His traits include humbleness, kindness, and lovingness. These traits are most likely the cause of his childhood poverty. In the beginning of the story, Pip is a mild mannered little boy who goes on with his own humble life. That, though, will change as he meets Magwich, a thief and future benefactor. Pip’s kindness goes out to help the convict, Magwich when he gives food and clothing to him. Magwich tells Pip that he’ll never forget his kindness and will remember Pip always and forever. This is the beginning of Pip’s dynamic change. Throughout the novel, Great Expectations, the character, Pip gradually changes from a kind and humble character to a character that is bitter, then snobbish and finally evolves into the kind and loving character which he was at the beginning of the story.
...eration. It’s ironic that if only Pip had followed through with the original expectations that he had set for himself instead of the supposed greater expectations that he hoped for, he would have been better off.
...rity, and the ending of his story he has sealed with pain and hardships of life. From losing his parents and sister, his best friend, being treated cold hearted by the love of his life Pip still manages to make it out in an okay way with the little hope with Estella and his close one's child who looks just like him in a scary way. It is not the best ending but it could've been worst for the young man. Pip's idea of life is truly suffering from the worst and getting only a little bit of resemblance from it.
As Pip grows throughout the novel, he develops and matures from a naive, young boy to a moral gentleman by the three main stages that take place throughout his life.