Essay on Great Expectations - The Growth of Pip in Society

The effect that the death of Mrs. Joe had on Pip was very interesting compared to the other characters. Although Mrs. Joe is Pip’s sister, the harsh upbringing “by hand” that she put him through wouldn’t necessarily endear her to him, but at the same time the death of anyone would create some form of sadness in our lives. The ambiguous response to the news of his sister’s death is clear in Pip’s feelings about this event. “Whatever my fortunes might have been, I could scarcely have recalled my sister with much tenderness. But I supposed there is a shock of regret which may exist without much tenderness. Under its influence (and perhaps to make up for the want of the

up by hand, which is by being beaten by his sister, Mrs Joe. Again as

As Pip is growing into a young man, home is more of a place than an emotion. Pip never really feels completely welcome in the place where he is brought up. Mrs. Joe’s constant and repeating reminder of how Pip is more of a burden to her is made known as she says "I didn’t bring you up by hand to bagger peoples lives out. It would be a blame on to me, and not praise, if I had.", than a reward to her is evidence to Pip that to her he is somewhat worthless. (12) Pip doesn’t know of any other home besides the one with Mrs. Joe. Every person image of home has its differences, and the one Pip has at the moment isn’t a real pleasant one. Which in the long run could be a factor contributing to why Pip did not really know what home felt like to begin with. In the beginning of the novel, Pips definition of home is very unwelcoming and dark considering who he is surrounded by. Pip explains how Mrs. Joe is abusive to him "My sister made a dive at me and fished me up by the hair saying nothing more than awful words" and how her appearance isn’t

Great Expectations was a novel written by Charles Dickens. It was first published in serial form from 1st December 1860 and then further on was released in book form in August 1861, although was previously issued by David Copperfield in 1849. This novel reworks his own childhood as a first-person narrative; Dickens was fortunate and had an advantage of writing Great Expectations due to him living in the Victorian times, and he related his life experiences with the main character of the play, ‘Pip’. Charles opened the play with the character Pip; his name was short for his Christian name Philip. In the Victorian times there were 3 different classes, these were known as the upper class, middle class and lower class. Pip belonged to the

Pip does not tell Joe because he fears he will lose his companionship. In the future, Pip will struggle with telling the truth because of the fear that society will think less of him. Later that same day, the police are engaged in a search party to find the criminal. Joe and Pip accompany them; although, they do not believe that he must be apprehended. Once Magwitch is taken into custody, Joe and Pip both shed a tear. Pip's life at the forge is difficult due to Mrs. Joe's harsh nature, but he is also surrounded by the goodness and love of Joe. He has been taught that humans of all societal levels are important.

In Great Expectations, Pip, a lower class boy visits the rich and mighty Miss Havisham, who vows to wreak havoc on Pip by making him chase after her

They say many terrible things like comparing Pip to a pig at the dinner table on Christmas day and they also imply that they would not care if Pip was killed when Mrs. Joe says “‘If you bring the boy back with his head blown to bits by a musket, don’t look at me to put it together again’” (P. 33). It is very likely Pip would not have turned out the good person he was at the end of the book without Joe. Joe is almost the exact opposite of Pip’s sister; he is kind, quiet, and caring. When Pip is being bullied Joe does all that he can do to make Pip feel better without openly going against his wife.

Pip does what people wanted him to do, displaying submissiveness, in the first two parts of Great Expectations and chapters 30-39 are no different. In chapters 30-39, Pip is still controlled by others despite gaining a sense of independence. Pip’s freshly found feeling of independence clouds his decision-making as he mistakes his submissive actions as independent. Evidence to endorse this claim can be found directly and indirectly in his multifarious interactions in chapters 30-39.

Mrs. Joe and Joe show the tug-of-war home life Pip has, going between being treated like a pain from his sister and treated kindly by Joe. Joe is the first real friend Pip is shown to have, and we see Pip change through his treatment of Joe. When Pip is a child, he looks up to Joe, but later looks down upon him, although he generally keeps his thoughts to himself. This reveals just how much Pip would like a new life, and a higher social standing. He does not want to be Joe’s apprentice, as he sees it as embarrassing and low. Mrs. Joe is also a huge influence on Pip’s character. She is cruel and abusive, and Pip grows up not thinking he is anything important. Once he meets Miss Havisham, however, he realizes that she has the potential to turn him into something great or powerful. Miss Havisham represents a sort of savior-figure to Pip, as she is the one who makes him realize his potential and starts off his expectations. Although Miss Havisham is extremely dramatic and a little frightening to Pip, he ultimately wants part of the life she lives. Estella also drastically affects Pip. He immediately falls in love with her but learns that he can’t be with her due to her wealth and status. When he is working in the forge, he is “haunted by the fear that she would...find [him] out...and despise [him]” (Dickens 87) His desire to impress her and be with her is what drives him to what he

When Pip was a young boy, he instantly connected to Joe Gargery who was a father-figure to him and taught him many important lessons such as friendship. When a benefactor presents Pip with an auspicious offer to become a man in London, Joe states “if you think as money can make compensation to me for the loss of the little child-what come to the forge-and ever the best friends!” Joe proves that money wasn’t going to end their friendship, although he wants what was best for Pip. During his journey to London, Pip

The character that I identify with the most is Pip. I think the reason is that he is the character closest to my age so far. We also have some personality traits in common, such as curiosity and a sense of adventure. I haven’t shared any reactions with Pip, because we have had very different experiences. I do think that if I was in his situation, I would react similarly.

In Great Expectations, the people nearest to Pip control him in a multitude of ways. Mrs. Joe’s demeaning nature and heavy hand rule over Pip’s psychological and emotional stability as well as his physical well-being. Pip proclaims: “It is the most miserable thing to feel ashamed of home…Home had never been a very pleasant place to me, because of my sister’s temper” (103). “I was always treated as if I had been born in opposition to the dictates of reason, religion, and morality…” (23). To him, his mere existence encumbers his family and community, revealing to the audience the tremendous instability in his emotion. Referencing physical harm, Pip states: “Mrs. Joe…applied Tickler to its further

She plays a great part in the rearing of Pip as she was a very close

be seen when Joe covers for Pip when he is late home or when he says

would be apprenticed to Joe as soon as I was old enough". What Pip did