Great Expectations By Charles Dickens

‘Great Expectations’ is a highly acclaimed novel written by Charles Dickens first published in 1861, which follows the journey of a young boy commonly known as Pip (his Christian name being Phillip Pirrip) who is born into a middle-class family but goes on to receive riches from a mysterious benefactor in order to pursue his childhood dream in becoming a gentleman. The story is written in first person with Charles Dickens writing back about the experiences of Pip. Although it isn’t his autobiography the events in the book do, in many ways, mirror the events of his childhood. This allows him to reflect on Pip’s actions, which helps in the readers understanding of the Novel.

Great Expectations tells the ultimate rags to riches story of the Orphan Pip. Dickens takes his readers through life changing events that ultimately mold the identity of the main character. Dividing these events into sections will provide the basis for interpreting which events had the most profound effect on Pip’s identity towards the end of the novel. These life-changing events provide the catalyst for the development of Pip’s character from childhood, his adolescence, maturing into a social gentleman, and finally becoming a self-aware man of society.

It is said that right before someone dies, they see their life flash before their eyes. They are said to see the things most dear to them. However, no one on their deathbed regrets the amount of money that they have. In the moment of clarity, most realize that a number on a paycheck is not as important as emotional and mental possessions. People always tell each other that money can not buy happiness, yet most end up spending every waking moment thinking about money. Why do people waste their time and energy pursuing something that is not what they truly need? Often, they use social class to fill a void in their lives that can not be filled by materialistic possessions. Many people realize this, but it is often too late. Charles Dickens demonstrates the effects of social climbing in his novel, Great Expectations. This novel explores the connections and effects of human nature and society, which are the two most powerful forces that guide people’s decisions. Some may say that social climbing is good, but as will be proven, pursuing social class for the wrong reason can result in disastrous consequences. The motivation to obtain higher social status leaves those who pursue it dissatisfied with reality and with a wider void in their lives as shown by Pip, Estella, and Magwitch.

Throughout Great Expectations, the main character Pip seems to undergo a transformation. He starts off as a common boy who will soon be a blacksmith apprentice and will learn from his sister 's husband, Joe, who also acts as a father figure for Pip. Pip has a lot of respect for money and strongly desires to become a gentleman to impress the girl that he is in love with, Estella. Because of this he travels to London where he learns the way of a gentleman. With the people that Pip knows back home and the new ones that he meets in London, his behavior and attitude is clearly influenced by the people that he surrounds himself with. Sometimes it’s a good influence and other times it’s not. Pip also seems to have a set idea of what a gentleman is and because of that he misinterprets what an actual gentleman is suppose to be like.

Monett, after reading your post this week, I agree with you that it we should all help one another Jesus said it like this according to Matthew 25:40 “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me”. Having a heart for the less fortunate is a Kingdome principle and one we should all have. I do believe that Dickens was adamant in pointing that out, especially with the effective use of ghost of Christmas future, that particular apparition was able to put the fear of God in the man, so much so, that he truly embrace the Christmas spirit, however the Union workhouses Scrooge referred to, based on my limited research were not all that helpful they seemly took advantage of the people situation rather

Charles Dickens uses his own opinions to develop the larger-than-life characters in Great Expectations. The novel is written from the point of view of the protagonist, Pip. Pip guides the reader through his life, describing the different stages from childhood to manhood. Many judgments are made regarding the other characters, and Pip's views of them are constantly changing according to his place in the social hierarchy. For instance, Pip feels total admiration that, later, turns to total shame for the man who raised him, Joe Gargery. The primary theme in this novel questions whether being in a higher social and economic class helps a person to achieve true happiness. This idea is shown through Pip's innocence at the forge, visits

The Victorian era class system was founded upon three distinct social classes – upper, middle, lower – with marginal upward mobility granted to those of the lower and middle classes. Society in 19th century England determined an individual's value largely by the social class that individual belonged to, and by extension how much power and wealth that individual held. Naturally, primitive lower classmen such as Pip would struggle to find a respectable identity in a society founded upon social titles. Through a refusal to accept that social worth is determined at birth, Pip defies the predated victorian-era class system and proves to himself that hard work and self improvement is the true measure of self worth.

Charles Dickens novel "Great Expectations" first saw the light in 1860. In it the English novelist raised and criticized important issue for the time of social and psychological dissociation between the higher crust and simple working class. The genre of the novel features are located in the plane of the classic era of realism, generously spiced with the original English humor and a bit of European sentiment. "Great Expectations" - a novel of education, because it tells several stories of becoming a dignified young person:“So, I must be taken as I have been made. The success is not mine, the failure is not mine, but the two together make me.” It proves all above statements about ambiguity and depth of moral, which was described in it.

Great Expectations starts off by introducing a character known as Pip. Pip is the protagonist and narrator of the story. The story is told in his words;so the audience is exposed to his perspective of the events that occur in his life. Dickens uses Pip’s narration to exquisitely showcase his emotions. In chapter 2, Pip’s tone of his sister and her husbands introductions into the story effectively communicate to the audience their characteristics and Pip's relationship with them. Dickens uses a sentimental and comical tone as he introduces these characters. Pip’s description of his sister was an embodiment of dickens use of satirical and a comical tone. Pip finishes describing his sister with a very witty metaphor as he narrates “ I sometimes

Great Expectations, occurs in the early 1800s over three major settings: his sister’s house in the Kent marshes, Satis House, and London. Pip describes his first home with his sister and brother-in-law as, “...the marsh country, down by the river...this bleak place” (1). Pip regards his hometown to be dull and boring. This symbolizes how plain Pip’s life was before his benefactor’s generosity enabled Pip to go to more thriving places and have more lively experiences. Here, Pip spends his days gloomily, as his sister always scolds him, and he cannot escape it. However, one day, Mr. Pumblechook gives Pip an opportunity to be whisked to Satis House, the residence of Miss Havisham and Estella. Miss Havisham lives an isolated, restricted life which can be seen in the architecture of her house. It was “...of old brick, and dismal, and had a great many iron bars to it” (54). Miss Havisham’s residence represents her well because the worn bricks show how old and tired she is of life, and the iron bars symbolize how she lives as if she were in a prison. She mainly keeps to herself and does not step outside her house. In Miss Havisham’s manor, Pip’s life changes as he meets Estella, his beloved, and he encounters people different than him. Pip then travels to the metropolis of London with Mr. Jaggers and money from his benefactor. Pip, at first glance at the enormous city, “...was scared by the immensity of London...rather ugly, crooked, narrow, and dirty” (161). During the early

Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations is a tale of ambition and self improvement. With the help of a then unknown benefactor who promises to provide Pip with the training and wealth, Pip’s wish to become a gentleman comes true. The two passages demonstrate advancement in money and standing does not correspond with betterment in morals. Pip’s dissatisfaction of his current state is apparent from the first passage.

In Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, a conflict between a young boy named Pip and his sister 's husband named Joe formed complex father-son relationship. This relationship has many ups and downs that result in Pip 's journey to becoming an experienced adult. The conflicting feelings between Pip and Joe contribute to the long lasting nature of this book because of their similarities to life in the real world. Whether it is Pip 's embarrassment of Joe 's common blacksmith social class, or a son who is embarrassed by his father 's intellect, their relationship is key to the novel 's development as a whole. It is through Pip 's relationship with Joe that we are presented with the insecurities and flaws of a young man 's relationship

Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations is a bildungsroman that shows the youth, corruption and redemption of a young man named Pip. The boy begins as an innocent child until he comes into contact with a young lady, Estella, and some sudden wealth. As a young man, he strives to be a gentleman and live up to his great expectations, as well as to woo Estella. Finally, Pip becomes a gentleman after accepting his mistakes and coming to terms with his surrounding company. Overall, Pip undergoes great changes from a kind and timid child, to an ungrateful and materialistic young man, to a thankful and kind gentleman due to his great expectations.

Great Expectations’ main character, Phillip Pirrip- generally known as Pip- had a rough upbringing as a child. His sister, Mrs. Joe had “brought him up by hand”, after their parents and five brothers had all been laid to rest many years ago. Another character, Herbert Pocket experienced a bizarre childhood, though in a different manner. Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations develops through the novel following Pip, a young “common boy” who grew up in the countryside. As he matured so did his love for a girl of higher class, Estella. However, being a common boy, Pip was not good enough for his Estella, thus once he was given an opportunity to become a gentleman in London he seized it without much hesitation. Charles Dickens’ had his own

One of the most important and common tools that authors use to illustrate the themes of their works is a character that undergoes several major changes throughout the story. In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens introduces the reader to many intriguing and memorable characters, including the eccentric recluse, Miss Havisham, the shrewd and careful lawyer, Mr. Jaggers, and the benevolent convict, Abel Magwitch. However, Great Expectations is the story of Pip and his initial dreams and resulting disappointments that eventually lead to him becoming a genuinely good person. The significant changes in Pip's character are very important to one of the novel's many themes. Dickens uses Pip's