Essay on Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

    Miriam A felt completely choleric. She just could not forgive her husband's apologies anymore. Almon B was a drunkard. When he came home intoxicated, he was always extremely apologetic and told her that he'd never get drunk again. Miriam now knew that Almon was not really repentant. She could forgive him until she was blue, but unless Almon truly repented, their marriage would not work. Forgiveness is an important aspect in the family as well as in society, which is built on the family. In Charles Dickens' peerless novel called Great Expectations, many characters find it easy to pardon others, but some have to learn to forgive. Dickens uses the characters in his novel to

For example, when Pip is a young boy and first meets Magwitch, the convict threatens to cut his throat, but later on in the story the readers learn, “Provis had a little child of whom Provis was exceedingly fond” (Dickens 404). The softer side of Magwitch conveys a common misconception many people make. In today’s society a common mistake students make is when they first meet a teacher. The teacher may come off as terrifying and turn out to be the most humorous teacher. Even the people who are cold for years can have a change of heart. For instance, Miss Havisham who revels in revenge shows a kind heart when she asks Pip, “is there nothing I can do for you, yourself” (Dickens 399)? The change in Miss Havisham can be connected to the world wide theme that anyone can change if they put their mind to it. To add, people in different environments can have different personalities also. Wemmick, for example, is a completely different person at his home, but becomes, “dryer and harder as [they] went along”(Dickens 210). This is most relevant to today’s society because of the distinct separation of the home and work environment. The change shows that people can separate themselves from the stress of work by setting a certain personality.

     The next point in Pip's life that changes his attitude towards Joe and Biddy is his new found wealth granted to him from an unknown benefactor. Pip learns that he is endowed to a fortune, which will lead him to London to become a gentleman. His happiness for this endowment is unfathomable. The money changes his life as apprentice, as well as blacksmith, which he does not desire as he points out to Biddy, " I am not at all happy as I am. I am disgusted with my calling and with my life

Pip feels emotionally and geographically isolated upon his arrival in London. Jaggers’ isolation is his deliberate rejection of human involvement; he substitutes these with the mechanical process of law. Jaggers uses the legal system to avoid personal responsibility for the fate of his fellow man. This profession has imprisoned his better instincts, leaving him isolated within the system. Magwitch, however, is isolated by the system; he uses Pip as his agent of revenge. Magwitchs' motives are not only revenge, but also gratitude for the food Pip gave him in his hour of need. He develops a fatherly affection towards Pip, who in the end returns his affection. It is Magwitch who has the best reasons for disbelieving in human companionship, which supported it the most. Love in the context of human relationships is best shown through Pip. The relationship between Pip and Joe changed as Pip grew up. As a child, Pip regarded Joe as an equal, though he

I 'm your second father. You 're my son—more to me nor any son. I 've put away money, only for you to spend” (Dickens 251). Even in all of the good deeds Magwitch did for Pip, it took him awhile to warm up and appreciate what Magwitch had done. Pip still could not let the fact that he was a convict go. To him there was nothing special about Magwitch. It was almost as if Pip was embarrassed by him. It was not until Pip’s last moments with Magwitch did he truly see that his past did not define Magwitch. As Magwitch laid upon his deathbed Pip took his hand. “I pressed his hand in silence, for I could not forget that I had once meant to desert him” (Dickens 360). Pip now fully understood the extent Magwitch went through for him. “Are you in much pain today?” “I don’t complain of none, dear boy” (Dickens 360). Magwitch died shortly after, his last remaining words never leaving Pip’s ears. Pip now realizing Magwitch never complained about his circumstances and that even though he was a convict it allowed Pip to be thankful. The best words Pip could say in that time was “O Lord, be merciful to him a sinner” (Dickens 361)! Pip asked for mercy for Magwitch. Dickens shows that Pip saw good in Magwitch even though he was a convict.

This summary of Pip in chapter one causes the reader to sympathise with Pip causing a compassionate beginning towards the character of Pip. However, evaluating Magwitch, the convicts, character is a completely different story. Magwitch's bullying and threatening behaviour towards Pip makes us despise his character seeing him as a thug and a nasty individual. From chapter thirty nine the tables have turned in the reader's feelings towards Pip. Now Pip acts as a snob, his behaviour is inappropriate, his reactions to Magwitch and the news he brings surprises reader as his behaviour in chapter one was very respectful towards his elders. Slowly he has forgotten what is really important in life and he almost has forgotten his roots. Unlike chapter one the reader does not sympathise with Pip, whereas in chapter one he frequently visited the graves of his parents. Also the feelings of the reader towards Magwitch have changed. We feel sorry for him; he is greatly delighted to see Pip again. However, Pip does not take his greeting kindly. We are also pleased for Magwitch as his criminal past is over and he has turned his life around making a good life for himself and Pip. Overall, in this essay looking at both chapters we can understand and identify the changes that have gone through the two

The gaining of wealth for Magwitch is not good for Pip later on. Magwitch gains a fortune working in Australia and sends it back to Pip in the hopes of “making [him] a gentleman” (Dickens 321). He feels ownership over him from that point onwards. In that way, he is rebelling against society with Pip as his pawn. He also expects an unconditional loyalty from Pip due to the fact that Magwitch is the reason for him progressing in society. For Pip, the sudden accumulation of wealth is harmful to his character. He loses sight of who he is and disregards people who have loved him all because of his new status increase. Pip is no happier with the money and mentions numerous times within Great Expectations how he feels if he had been left “at the forge” he would have been “far from contented, yet, by comparison, happy (Dickens 321). Money was something that he had always wished for but was not the key to happiness, as he had once thought. Magwitch’s wealth causes him to disdain Joe, his original father figure. Pip even looks toward Magwitch in the same light of disgust because of his past actions. The only reason Pip does not turn Magwitch in

One of the first indications of redemption between Pip and Magwitch stems from Magwitch himself. Since it’s far too late for Magwitch to reverse or erase his criminal record and become a gentleman himself, he works hard so that he can pay for Pip to become a gentleman himself. In a way, Magwitch is fulfilling his life dreams through Pip, and is getting revenge on society for forcing him to become a criminal to survive by producing

He has “a great iron on his leg” which shows us this character is a convict and that he may be dangerous. The fact that Magwitch is “soaked in water, smothered in mud, lamed by stones, cut by flints and stung by nettles” makes us have pity for Magwitch and makes us ask questions such as why is Magwitch here? This creates conflicting emotions within the reader. Dickens also uses characters speech to make them striking and memorable for the reader.

Not realizing it at first, Pip eventually recognizes the rough man as a convict he gave food to when he lived with his sister and Joe. Magwitch, the convict, reveals to Pip that he has been the benefactor giving him all the money he was so reliant on as gratitude to Pip for helping him all those years ago on the marshes. Although Magwitch is in high spirits for have finally met “his gentleman”, this revelation comes as a shock to Pip as he realizes that he snubbed and left Joe, thinking he was being prepared by Miss Havisham as his benefactren to marry Estella, for the money of a convict. Pip’s marriage fantasy is crushed and for a moment he wishes that he had never left Joe and the forge he had once called home. He feels a wave of extreme guilt come over him and is thrust into a dilemma as to whether or not to continue receiving the convict’s money. In the end, he decides in the negative and signs of Pip’s arrogance emerge once again. By not taking the money anymore, Pip is finally learning to become independent, but, by the same token, refusing the money just because of the reputation of its provider is pure snobbery. Besides being the most trying time of his life, after this point, Pip learns to be more self-sufficient, starts taking responsibility for his past sins, and his life steadily improves.

existing life he had, “Biddy, I am not at all happy as I am. I am

Ever since the first confrontation in the graveyard, the prisoner, Abel Magwitch, has had both influenced positive and negative connections with Pip. These influences also progress Pip to be the gentleman he is when he becomes older in age. After a brief reunion with Pip, he reminded Pip of their confrontation in the graveyard, and how Pip

A character that has made major sacrifices in Great Expectations is Magwitch. Magwitch not only gave up all his money, but all his time as well. After Pip gives Magwitch some stolen food, Magwitch dedicates the rest of his life to serving Pip (14). Magwitch never forgets what Pip did for him and feels like he is indebted to him and must remain loyal for the rest of his life (139). The sacrifice of Magwitch’s money and time proves his value of loyalty. Magwitch never shows a hint of doubt to Pip and follows him faithfully wherever he goes. Even though Pip is disgusted by Magwitch at first, Magwitch does not give up on fulfilling Pip’s great expectations. Magwitch wants to see Pip as a gentleman, but Pip never realizes what this fully means until Magwitch is taken away from him. When Magwitch is captured, he tells Pip, “I’m quite content to take my chance. I’ve seen my boy, and he can be a gentleman without me.” In saying this, Magwitch acknowledges that Pip has finally chosen his values and can make the right choices on his own(193). Magwitch also proves

To demonstrate, Magwitch shows off his nobler side by attempting to “[prevent] [Compeyson] getting off the marshes” and bringing “the Hulks… its gentleman again” (Dickens 32-33). In other words, Magwitch gives up his own escape to bring justice to the atrocious Compeyson. He does what is right while Compeyson is shouting out lies and pretending to be innocent. His action, which sends him back to prison, is able to be appreciated by Pip. All though it was not true appreciation, Pip is grateful that both convicts are, for the meantime, out of his life. By the same token, Magwitch reveals Compeyson’s corrupt nature by telling Pip Compeyson’s business is the “swindling, handwriting forging, stolen bank note passing” (Dickens 323). That is to say, Compeyson, as told by Magwitch, makes poor choices and selfishly takes advantage of all he can. Compeyson’s crooked actions and exploitive nature allows Magwitch’s generosity to be all the more incredulous. Compared to Compeyson, who is despicable, Magwitch becomes all the more appreciated by Pip. Additionally, while Magwitch lies in the infirmary awaiting his death sentence many describe him as being “humble and contrite” and “never [known to] complain” (Dickens 425) demonstrating his remorseful and modest nature. To put it another way, Magwitch feels and admits guilt for his crimes, and demonstrates humbleness and nobility facing death. Contrary to Compeyson, who desperately avoids death and imprisonment with no guilt or shame, Magwitch’s admirable personality is further recognized by all and appreciated more specifically by Pip. It is evident that Pip is able to appreciate Magwitch and his actions due to Compeyson and Magwitch’s contradicting personalities enhancing Magwitch’s virtue and considerate

In this novel, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Pip is a common boy whose expectations arise once he encounters an immensely “rich and grim lady” (Dickens 56) who appears as a “wax-work and skeleton seem(ing) to have dark eyes that only moved (to) look at (Pip)” (57). This first simple encounter sparks a collection of decisions and manipulations that kickoff the plot to the story. This all pulls to the theme that life is a pure game of chance –just as cards are to the game of poker - it is how you take advantage of those opportunities that define your character. This benefit of chance can be seen through the view of Pip and Miss Havisham due to their differences in social rising, ambitions, respect for the world around them, and their actions towards each other.