Throughout Great Expectations, author Charles Dickens portrays the symbolism of mist in a variety of ways. Ranging from the first few pages to the last sentence of the novel, Dickens’ deplores the symbol of mist over thirty times throughout the book. Specifically, Dickens portrays the lingering of the mists to represent Pip’s pessimism, and th absence of mists to represent Pip’s optimism. Throughout the novel, Dickens utilizes the imagery of the mists to symbolize Pip’s pessimistic view when the mists are present, and Pip’s optimistic outlook when the mists rise.
Pessimism is a lack of hope or confidence in the future, which is often characterized by a hyperfocus on the most negative aspects of a situation. On the contrary, Dickens reveals
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The novel begins in a graveyard, where Magwitch threatens Pip and demands that Pip bring him some basic necessities for survival. The next morning, Pip sneaks downstairs to the kitchen and steals bread, cheese, a pork pie, and a file from Joe’s forge to bring to Magwitch. As Pip is running to meet Magwitch, he describes the engulfing mist as being “so thick that the wooden finger on the post directing people to the village … was invisible to [him] until [he] was quite close under it” (p. 12). The mist is described as “thick” to demonstrate overwhelming lack of hope Pip has going forward. As Pip is robbing the pantry, he imagines that “every crack in every board was calling after [him] ‘Stop thief!’ and ‘Get up, Mrs. Joe!’”(p. 11). Pip thinks with certainty that his theft will be discovered, and even hallucinates the banks burst at Pip to exclaim, ‘“A boy with Someone else’s pork pie! Stop him’” (p. 12). Due to Mrs. Joe’s extensive history of abusing Pip, Pip knows that, if he is discovered of stealing from his own house, Mrs. Joe’s physical rage will reach a maximum. Yet, Pip also realizes that due to his “mortal terror of the young man who wanted [his] heart and liver” (p. 11), he must obey the request of Magwitch. Pip’s predicament between his “awful promise” (p. 11) to Magwitch and the potential wrath of his “all powerful sister” (p. 11) leads to his pessimism. …show more content…
As a young man, Pip receives an immense sum of money in the form of an anonymous donation. Due to his new-found wealth, Pip plans to move to London in hopes of becoming a proper gentleman that warrants Estella’s attention. Estella is very important to Pip, and Pip is infatuated with the prospect of being with her. As Pip is preparing to leave the village, he explains that, “the light mists were solemnly rising” (p. 109). The rising of the mists portrays Pip’s hope for his future, as he believes that becoming a gentleman will result in Estella’s approval. While walking away from his house, Pip reveals that “all beyond [is] so unknown and great”(p. 109). Pip’s depiction of the future as “great” further demonstrates his confidence in what lies ahead of him. Once Pip is miles away from home, he says that the “mists had all solemnly risen now” (p. 109) and that “the world lay spread before [him]” (p. 109). The evaporation of the mists depicts the evaporation of Pip’s pessimistic outlook, and Pip believes his future is very promising. Similarly, Pip’s declaration that the world is “spread before him” reveals that he believes that his possibilities are endless in
Throughout the book Pip was not happy with his life and wanted to become something more; his name meant “seed”, like a seed Pip was “planted” and the reader watches him grow. Estella told Pip that he was just a common-labouring boy. (chapter 8) Pip had never thought as himself as common, but now he wanted to become a gentleman so that he would be worthy of Estella. However once Pip becomes a gentleman he realizes that it is not what he thought it would be. Consequently he starts to neglect Joe and Biddy, however in the end, Pip starts to change back to the person he used to be and tries to repair his relationship with Joe and Biddy. In addition he gives his money to Herbert so that he can go to merchant school and Herbert ends up giving Pip a job in the end. This shows that you gain from giving, if Pip would not have gave Herbert the money he would not have gotten the job offer.
Dickens establishes moods in Book II with his use of metaphors, figurative language, and imagery. Darnay's acquittal in Chapter 3 is a symbol for resurrection in the novel. His conviction is almost inevitable before the appearance of Mr. Carton. Nevertheless, Mr. Darnay’s resurrection adversely affects the crowd. Dickens personifies the onlookers to “blueflies”, mentioning their buzz after any piece of evidence in Darnay's distaste is revealed.
Charles Dickens shows symbolism throughout Great Exceptions between Pip, Convict and the mist. There is an extraordinary change in Pip when he leaves for London and that changes his character completely. Now the mist keeps coming through things that give some of the characters a struggle. "Wind fierce as ever, did not care to endanger the light" (40,3,16). This quote shows the "mist" in many ways.
At the end of stage one, Pip saw Joe as coarse and uncouth, he
It also adds to Pip's fear and emotion. Magwitch was a 'fearful man, all in coarse grey with a great iron on his leg'. At this time Pip was 'undersized for his years and not very strong'. Pip is very afraid of Magwitch and he is only a young child who is already going through the emotion of his parents and brothers deaths. You know Pip was very traumatised as he sat 'trembling' while Magwitch ate the bread 'ravenously' and tried to keep himself from 'crying'.
Estella lives in the Manor House with her adoptive mother Miss Havisham who has raised her up as a tool to be used to break men’s hearts. Although she constantly insults and makes fun of Pip, he falls in love with her. This love for her makes Pip vulnerable to any and every little insult that comes out of her mouth and Pip puts to heart everything she says. So, when she says, "He calls the knaves, Jacks, this boy!...And what course hands he has! And what thick boots!" he takes it to heart (Dickens 105). It is at this point that Pip begins to feel ashamed of his uneducated family, and longs to become a gentleman. Due to Estella’s cold-hearted character and her arrogant personality, Pip is made to feel that he stands no chance with her. Even more dangerous is her destructive influence on Pip which makes him strive to become a gentleman no matter the cost. Rather than being surrounded by people such as Estella who do nothing but put Pip’s character down, he should surround himself with supportive and encouraging individuals who are always there for him and appreciate his unique personality. This is what causes growth in a person.
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
He is described as “a fearful man in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg” and “smothered in mud, and lamed by stones.” These descriptions immediately adds to the tension and the manner in which he approaches Pip “glared and growled” and “seized,” shows the violence in his merciless actions and his intimidating behaviour. He threatens Pip by saying “I’ll cut your throat,” to which Pip responds by having “pleaded in terror,” emphasising his helplessness and causing the reader to sympathise with his situation. The tone in which Magwitch speaks with him in, is intimidating and authoritative for example “Tell us your name!” which sounds more like a command than a question. Despite his insolent attitude towards him, Pip replies in a polite and respectful tone of voice - “If you would kindly please...” this creates a sense of urgency and shows that he is powerless and vulnerable. Magwitch continues to use daunting imagery to threaten Pip by saying “Your liver shall be tore out, roasted and ate.” He also forces Pip to swear an oath, which he feels obliged to do as he is powerless to act otherwise. This scene as a whole causes the reader to feel resentment towards Magwitch and pity for Pip’s situation, further adding to the sympathy.
Pip then goes on to address the reader directly and explains that “[t]hat was a memorable day to [him], for it made great changes in [him],” (Dickens 70). After meeting with Estella several times and becoming extremely fond of her, despite her bipolar attitudes towards him, Ms. Havisham suddenly decides to recompense Pip for his time and then tells him that he no longer has to come back to the Satis House. Everyday after this, Pip continuously thinks of Estella and of how he must become a gentleman in order to be at the same level as Estella and eventually marry her. Another character Biddy (whose relationship to Pip is somewhat complicated) begins acting as Pip’s teacher and Pip says “[w]hatever [he] acquired, [he] tried to impart to Joe,” because “[he] wanted to make Joe less ignorant and common.” Pip’s plans to become a well-mannered gentleman to be worthy of high-society and to be worthy of Estella’s affection are two goals or “great expectations” that Pip sets for himself that ultimately carry the plot of the novel along.
4). Even though he aids the convict, the reader's sympathy for Pip soon increases, as his robbery of his own home weighs greatly on his conscience. For example, when Mrs. Joe leaves the Sunday dinner to retrieve the "savoury pork pie," which Magwitch had enjoyed heartily, Pip is tortured by the thought of his actions, while his mind screams, "Must they! Let them not hope to taste it!" (p. 27). He seems to sincerely regret his actions and the fact that he "had been too cowardly to avoid doing what I knew to be wrong" (p. 40). Approximately one year after his encounter with the convict, Pip is still shown to be an innocent, caring boy. One night, when Pip and Joe are alone at the forge, Joe explains his various reasons for enduring Mrs. Joe's constant abuse. After their conversation, Pip realizes that he cares deeply for Joe and appreciates everything that the blacksmith does for him. Also, he develops "a new admiration of Joe from that night" and "a new sensation of feeling conscious that I was looking up to Joe in my heart" (p. 48). Unfortunately, as Pip develops unrealistic hopes and expectations for his life, these positive characteristics are replaced by undesirable ones.
Pip’s mindset regarding classes and success in life is drastically altered after his initial visit to the aristocratic Miss Havisham. “She said I was common” (69) spurs the realization in Pip that he is indeed innocent but unfortunately much oppressed. Pip is very distraught with his birth place into society, to the point that he “was discontented” (130) -- he increasingly desires to be a gentleman. He primarily desires this as a means of impressing Estella and winning her over. At this point in the novel, Pip is willing to give away what he loves (Joe – family setting) to obtain a superficial and insulting girl. One day Pip receives word that he now has the ability to grow up to be his ultimate dream, to be a gentleman. Pip awakens to a new world and those he once loved are no longer good enough for Pip. Moving to London, he becomes far more sophisticated, but at the same time loses his natural goodness. (Chesterton 142). Pip is leaving happiness and his real family to attain a life he thinks will make him more content. Before departing, he dreams of “Fantastic failures of journeys occupied me until the day dawned and the birds were singing” (148). This relates the dream that Pip has just before he sets out to London for the first time, with all of his "great expectations" before him. Pip’s dream is permeated with the sadness and guilt caused by his imminent departure from Joe and Biddy and his aspirations for a new social station.
There are salient junctures in Pip’s upbringing that make him who the person he was; this is a tale that in which Pip was soliciting for awareness of himself, as well he realized that his life had major elements of obscurity; due to the fact, he was presented clearly, two radical different lifestyle choices; one, involving a life as a blacksmith and the other; involving the path as life as am affluent prosperous gentleman. Dickens carefully wrote in the periods of Pip’s life and how those set of circumstances; affected by choice, as well affected Pip’s later choices he had made. The temptation of class and wealth perverted the actions of Pip and other people around him; Pip is therefore contemplating on how he was saved by reminiscence of the stages of his life. In the first stage; Pip encounters Magwitch; by accident, this affects the outcome of later events of his life; Pip is than introduced to Miss Havishism and Estella, he fell in love with Estella, and was dramatically persuaded by the promises he made to himself, from his encounters with Miss Havhishism and Estella. Dramatically; Pip than learned the truth about his wealth and that Magwitch was Estella 's father; this collapsed Pip’s vision of reality and forced him to alter his exceptions concerning the truth; Pip than had to save himself from his own selfishness, as well as his malice actions, to the ones who were faithful to him; finally, at the end Pip is a full grown adult and had gain
This startles the entire family; next, Pip's sister goes to get the pork pie. Gratefully, they are distracted by the soldiers. The soldiers have discovered the filed handcuffs; Magwitch had used Joe's file to saw them open. The soldiers realize the file must have come from Joe's forge. This is awful because then Joe looks guilty, and Pip feels horrible. He has to decide whether or not to confess his crimes. Fortunately, Magwitch covers for him, and he gets off the hook
Although no mention of past events is made, Pip can tell that Estella had been through misery more intense than that which he himself had gone through almost ten years prior. This misery, Pip believes, has enabled Estella to understand the suffering that he had once felt.
Pip is an honest boy who can barely live with himself after what he has done, but never tells Joe his good friend, or Ms. Joe, Joe's wife.