Miss Havisham's Life

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Recommended: Characterisation in Great Expectations

“It is a most miserable thing to be ashamed of home.” (103) In the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Philip Pirrup, also known as “Pip”, aspires for a better life. Determined to gain more knowledge, status, and morals, Pip lies, steals, and turns his back on his family in the pursuit of the perfect triple. However, he soon learns his dream life isn’t as fulfilling as he thought. Pip believes that improving himself enough to become a gentleman will make him happy, even though the key to his happiness comes from living a humble life like Joe.
After Pip gets a glimpse of the upper class life with Miss Havisham, he realizes the way to become a gentleman is through education and money. However, with no way to make money, Pip turns his …show more content…

Pip believes that Miss Havisham’s life is better than his because of her elevated social class. One day Pip confesses to Biddy. “I am not at all happy as I am. I am disgusted with my calling and with my life.” (124) Pip thinks that raising his social class will make him happy because being a lowly blacksmith doesn’t. Dickens uses this quote to show how quickly Pip disregards his low class life for the dream of being happy as an upperclass gentleman as he is ungrateful with the life he …show more content…

After Pip lies about Miss Havisham’s house, Joe tells Pip never to lie because “if you can’t get to be oncommon through going straight, you’ll never get to it through going crooked. So don’t tell no more on ‘em, Pip, and live well and die happy.” (69) Pip wants to be a gentleman because he thinks it’s the only way to be happy, yet he doesn’t fully understand what behaviors are acceptable, even though Joe is an excellent role model. Dickens uses this quote to show contrast, between Joe’s black and white morals, and Pip’s struggle to tell the

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