Theme Of Identity In Great Expectations

One of human beings’ most fundamental needs is for a sense of identity. Identity describes the totality of one’s self-construal, such as qualities, beliefs, personality, physical appearance and/or expressions. These are characteristics that determine who a person is. Identity is how humans make sense of ourselves in comparison to others and society. Humans construct their identity through experiences, emotions, rejections. and connections. Some take longer than others to find their identity but finding it means discovering your purpose, values, and goals. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is classified as being part of the bildungsroman or coming-of-age genre, as it follows the main protagonist, Pip, and chronicles his development and journey

After meeting her and Estella, Pip develops a strong desire to become a gentleman instead of a blacksmith. Miss Havisham leads a life of luxury that Pip wants to join. She is also against the entire male species after she was left at the altar thus she is very cold and heartless towards Pip because he is her latest victim. Estella, who grew up in her adoptive mother’s shadow, has developed a similar personality. She has a strong disdain for Pip and is always scorning and insulting him by saying things such as “‘common laboring-boy’” (54). Despite this, Pip develops a strong admiration for Estella and is eager to alter his personality to become worthy of her attention and expectations. For Pip to get Estella to fall in love with him, he creates a false self-based on the criteria that she gives him. Because of Estella’s and Miss Havisham’s maltreatment towards Pip, he becomes self-aware of him “commonness” and starts to feel shameful of his upbringing. Additionally, the fact that Pip thinks that Miss Havisham is his benefactor, prompts him to fit the mold that he believes she would desire. This is all to impress her and hopefully be allowed to marry Estella in the future. Thus, he becomes a snob and is influenced to act as they do, such as being conscious of class and wealth and judging others because of it. But personally, in response to his shame, becoming a gentleman will also allow him to become something that he is not ashamed of, a man of great expectations. Ultimately, instead of trying to discover his identity, he decides to upgrade in