Great Expectations

Throughout Dickens’ novel Great Expectations, the character, personality, and social beliefs of Pip undergo complete transformations as he interacts with an ever-changing pool of characters presented in the book. Pip’s moral values remain more or less constant at the beginning and the end; however, it is evident that in the time between, the years of his maturation and coming of adulthood, he is fledgling to find his place in society. Although Pip is influenced by many characters throughout the novel, his two most influential role models are: Estella, the object of Miss Havisham’s revenge against men, and Magwitch, the benevolent convict. Exposing himself to such diverse characters Pip has to learn to discern right from wrong and chose

The main storyline has to do with Pip’s expectations of becoming a gentleman. To do this he received help from a secret benefactor. For the first half of the novel Pip is convinced that Miss Havisham is the one doing this so one day he and Estella can be together. Dickens creates a story around Pip’s assumption to make this a very logical explanation. Coincidentally right after Pip realizes and confirms he was wrong about his benefactor, an unexpected character reappears. “You acted nobly, my boy,” said he. “Noble Pip! And I have never forgot it!” (Dickens 248) These words ring out of his benefactor’s name. Who appears to be the escaped convict from the beginning who threatened him, known by the name of Magwitch. Magwitch reveals that ever since that day in the graveyard when Pip returned to give him what he requested he has found a job to help Pip out for what he did for him. By doing this secretly for all this

In Charles Dicken’s Great Expectations Pip does not appreciate the surprise fulfillment of his dreams and only becomes selfish and condescending toward those not as fortunate as he. Pip’s character deration as a result of his inheritance is evidenced by his desire to serve “a gallon of condescension, upon everybody in the village” (Dickens 151). Dickens uses Pips ungrateful attitude toward his home town to illustrate the corruption of aspirations when one did not have to work for his success. Pips continued under appreciation of his success and subsequent failure allow Dickens to rebuild Pip through hard work to and achieve “happiness “and fulfill his dreams meaningfully (Dickens 487). Dickens informs the reader that meaningless wealth and success is worthless, and that true success comes from hard work and passion.

In this essay, I will argue the ways in which point of view is significant in the interpretation of any two texts studied on the course. The two texts that I will be examining are Great Expectations and Little Red Riding Cap. Firstly, I will present to you the meaning and definition of Formalization. From there I will introduce the tale of Great Expectations, giving a detailed summary of the book and its themes. Then I will show the different examples of formalization within the tale and how this literary technique aids the reader in understanding the narrative. For the second half of this essay, I will then delve into the Brothers Grimm’s telling of Little Red Riding Cap, where I will once again give a summary of the story along with

To begin with, Pip shows the danger of only pursuing class, as he realizes that money does not make him happy. To illustrate, Charles Dickens begins Pip’s awareness of social class in his novel, Great

Dickens put his own education on hold to support his family, twice, and this may show what sort of personal ties the connects to his characters. Dickens, much like Pip’s, life is uneasy and they are both in the lower class whilst growing up. Dickens can relate to Pip as a person, pouring his feelings into his character. He makes Pip experience the same things he did as a young boy, and into early adulthood. Pip receives his fortune in his early twenties, just as Dickens success in his career took off around the same age. Many people refer to Great Expectations as Charles’ Dickens unofficial biography, as many things between characters in the book correlate to Dickens’

“‘Take nothing on looks; take everything on evidence. There’s no better rule.’” (339) Do not make judgements based on appearances, because appearance is not all there is. Here Pip, the main protagonist of Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations, misses the important message that his guardian is trying to convey to him, and will only come to learn his lesson at the end of the story. Pip is the recipient of a great fortune from an anonymous benefactor and is left to wonder who this mysterious person is throughout the novel. He has an idea as to who his benefactor may be, but as he is sworn to secrecy, he cannot discuss the idea with his fellow acquaintances and is left to his own thoughts and assumptions. This later on leads him to create many ideas as to what his life will turn out to be, and only leads him to his own suffering. Pip’s suffering throughout the novel is a result of his self deception and falling victim to his love for a particular, cold-hearted lady, but ultimately learns through his suffering the value of one’s actions and character.

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

Due to his financial instability, he is unable to marry Clara, whom he loves greatly. Pip had just received his fortune, so he decided to take on the job of being Herbert’s secret benefactor and buy Herbert’s way into the merchant business at Clarriker. This gave Herbert the expectations of succeeding in the business and to later marry Clara when he is no longer poor and is stable enough to support their future family together. Herbert exceeds these expectations and works his way up from being a merchant. Later in his life, he is offered a job in Egypt which he soon takes. Herbert’s expectations are an asset in his life because he is able to work as at Clarriker, a job he is happy with, while making a significant amount of money, and Herbert is now capable of being a good husband to Clara.

Charles Dickens, author of Great Expectations, provides a perfect example of the hope of class mobility. The novel portrays very diverse and varied social classes which spread from a diligent, hardworking peasant (Joe) to a good-natured middle class man (Mr. Wemmick) to a rich, beautiful young girl (Estella). Pip, in particular, elevates in the social pyramid from a common boy to a gentleman with great expectations. With his rise in society, he also alters his attitude, from being a caring child to an apathetic gentleman. During this process, Pip learns how he should act and how to become a real gentleman. Social mobility and wealth, furthermore, carves a disposition and how a character is looked upon.

The first time they meet, Pip states, “Herbert Pocket had a frank and easy way with him that was very taking. I had never seen anyone then, and I have never seen anyone since, who more strongly expressed to me, in every look and tone, a natural incapacity to do anything secret and mean” (138). Dickens uses this sentence to separate Herbert out from all the other characters Pip has met. Herbert shows kindness naturally and easily toward Pip and it comforts him and influences him to reciprocate the gesture back to him and others. Pip admires the separation in Herbert when he says, “What a hopeful disposition you have!”

Upon reading “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens, there are several characters that change in behavior, characteristics, and moral values. One character that perfectly exemplifies a dynamic character is the protagonist, who often uses self-examination to better himself. Phillip Pirrip, more commonly known as Pip, is central to the novel written by Dickens as it is, in its simplest form, a coming-of-age story about a boy that was brought up in a modest household. Pip demonstrates courage throughout the story and in doing so, is able to better himself over the course of the story. Examining oneself takes not only courage but humility and self-realization. The character of Pip and his transition from a boy to a man will be analyzed, while

Herbert is the very first person that helps Pip change into a better person. Herbert has a natural benevolence to him just like Joe is naturally kind and caring. Herbert’s benevolence almost immediately tones down Pip’s arrogance and selfishness, which can be seen how Pip acts after meeting Herbet. Before meeting Herbert, Pip saw many people to be below him and not worthy of his presence, but after he meets and spends time with Herbert, he mellows out and accepts others. Another person who makes a big impact on Pip’s change is Wemmick. Wemmick shows Pip many realities about the world like how some things are not what they appear to be. For example, Pip describes Wemmick as getting “dryer and harder as we wene along, and his mouth tightened into a post office again” (Dickens 220). Pip is describing this change and comparing it to the proud man with a property at Walworth, and a parent that he loved dearly and the difference shows Pip the true meaning about how appearances can be deceiving. The experiences and lessons that were shown to Pip help him change even more along with helping him understand who he

In the novel, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Pip desires to be a gentlemen of society. In his journey, he discovers that wealth and fortune can take a person far from their closest companions, and that realizing their value and accepting them for who they are can lead to true satisfaction that money and status cannot provide. Dickens reveals this as one of the themes in the story through the use of characterization to describe Pip and plot to put Pip through experiences. The use of Pip’s dynamic characterization reveals the theme as Pip’s view of Magwitch progresses.

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