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Analysis of great expectations by Charles Dickens
Analysis of great expectations by Charles Dickens
Influences of Victorian literature
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Stinner 1
In Charles Dickens’ magnum opus Great Expectations, there are many dynamic characters and plot devices, which flow the story. One of them is the main character, Pip, who ultimately goes through the most character development with the help of outside forces and developed, minor characters. Most of Pip’s character development, however, is from his motivation to become part of the aristocratic upper class of England. Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations shows the character motivation of Pip, whose desire of wealth and belonging to aristocratic society in Victorian England causes drastic self-improvement throughout the novel.
One of the reasons self-improvement is so prominent in Great Expectations is that the theme is extremely relatable to most people. Alexandra Lozano, author of the article A Great Expectation for La Verne Magazine clearly agrees, stating “There isn’t one person in the world who isn’t focused on self-improvement, trying to prove they are common and unique” (Lozano 1). Pip, the main character of the novel, has specific goals for self-improvement that mirror people’s goals in life at the time, like becoming wealthy and rising in society. Eldred J. Wilden, one of the many authors who wrote essays about Great Expectations in Lawrence Kappel’s Readings on Great Expectations, states,
“The theme of Great Expectations draws attention to what constitutes true happiness and true gentlemanliness in the story of a poor boy, Pip, and his expectations of wealth and happiness. This theme is of universal interest because nearly everyone seeks happiness and wealth” (Wilden 30).
Stinner 2
What Wilden is saying is that Great Expectations and its main theme of self-improvement have become...
... middle of paper ...
... two parts of his “expectations”, Pip is at first following his own personal orders and living life with Mrs. Joe and Joe Gargery while training to become a blacksmith under Joe’s apprenticeship. Pip soon realizes that life with a poor family is not in his best interests and future, so he makes a goal to become wealthy and move to London, which occurs in the second stage of Pip’s expectations.
Works Cited
1.Bloom, Harold. Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations. Bloom’s Notes series. New York, NY: Chelsea House Publishers, 1996. Print.
2.Hornback, Bert G. Great Expectations: a Novel of Friendship. Twayne’s masterwork studies (no.6) series. Boston MA: Twayne, 1987. Print
3.Kappel, Lawrence. Readings on Great Expectations. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Print.
4. Lozano, Alexandra. “A Great Expectation”. La Verne Magazine (2007). Web. 17 Feb. 2014.
In his early existence, extraordinary young Pip lives in impoverished house in Kent, England with his sister, Mrs. Gargery and her husband, Joe Gargery, a blacksmith. Here he is constantly beaten into submission by his caring sister. When these beating fail to correct Pip he is then subjected to the atrocious tar water. Then one evening while masquerading as a pleasant hostess, Mrs. Gargery learns of a splendid opportunity for Pip, the privilege to travel to a wealthy mistress’s house, Mrs. Havisham’s house.
Many people strive for things that are out of their reach. In the novel Great Expectations, Charles Dickens shows the themes of personal ambition and discontent with present conditions. The main character, Pip, shows early on in the story that he is unhappy with his current situation. Throughout the story he strives for the things that are beyond his reach, and is apathetic to the things that he can obtain. Pip demonstrates this by striving for Estella when he could have Biddy, and yearning to be a gentleman when he could be a blacksmith.
“About the book Great Expectations by Charles Dickens: The Similarities Between Dickens and Pip.” A Date with Dickens. Oprah’s Book Club. 6 December 2010. Web. 21 March 2014.
The settings of Great Expectations are Pip’s homes, one home that he lives in during his childhood in Kent, England, and the other that he lives in when he is grown in London, England. Social status was a big deal in the mid-nineteenth century. The rich were highly respected and liked by all, and the poor were treated unkindly and were sometimes made fun of. The rich could have any job that they liked, but the poor would almost always take over the job that their father had. The narrator of Great Expectations is Pip. If the novel were narrated from any other point of view, it would not have the same effect as it does now.
Campbell, Jessica A. "Beauty and the Beast in Great Expectations." Dickens Quarterly (2014): 32-40. Web.
lawyer, reveals to Pip, that there are “Great Expectations” for Pip. He is given the money to become a
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.
“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.
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.
Moore, Andrew. "Studying Relationships in Great Expectations." . N.p., 2000. Web. 15 Mar 2012. .
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 ...
These elements are crucial to the structure and development of Great Expectations: Pip's maturation and development from child to man are important characteristics of the genre to which Great Expectations belongs. In structure, Pip's story, Great Expectations, is a Bildungsroman, a novel of development. The Bildungsroman traces the development of a protagonist from his early beginnings--from his education to his first venture into the big city--following his experiences there, and his ultimate self-knowledge and maturation. Upon the further examination of the characteristics of the Bildungsroman as presented here it is clear that Great Expectations, in part, conforms to the general characteristics of the English Bildungsroman. However, there are aspects of this genre from which Dickens departs in Great Expectations. It is these departures that speak to what is most important in Pip's development, what ultimately ma...
In the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Pip's struggle and ultimate failure to become a gentleman was due to social pressure. Dickens comments the stratums of the Victorian social class system. The novel shows that money cannot buy love or guarantee happiness. Pip's perspective is used to expose the confusing personality of someone transcending social barriers. Dickens also shows a contrast between both class and characters.
Andrewa, Kenneth. "Suffering in Great Expectations." . N.p., 15 June 2010. Web. 17 May 2014. .
Expectations for Pip are fortune and the desire to become a gentleman as he discusses with Biddy, his private tutor: “I want to be a gentleman on her account” (Dickens, 117). Estella, albeit her bitter attitude towards Pip, changes his view that results in him longing to become a gentleman. His approach in becoming a gentleman is becoming apprenticed to his brother-in-law, the blacksmith. His initial stage of expectations is from Mr. Jaggers, Miss Havisham’s lawyer. The lawyer’s deliberately informs Pip “that he will come into a handsome property…be brought up as a young gentleman” (Dickens, 125). On hearing Mr. Jaggers, Pip was both astonished and excited because he yearned for such status. When Mr. Jaggers explained of Pip’s great amount fortune and significance, he automatically assumed his benefactor to be Miss Havisham. In his first expectation, Pip is to be professionally educated by Mr. Pocket,...