Modern Day Women In Great Expectations

Charles Dickens’ aptly titled novel Great Expectations focuses on the journey of the stories chief protagonist, Pip, to fulfill the expectations of his life that have been set for him by external forces. The fusing of the seemingly unattainable aspects of high society and upper class, coupled with Pip’s insatiable desire to reach such status, drives him to realize these expectations that have been prescribed for him. The encompassing desire that he feels stems from his experiences with Mrs. Havisham and the unbridled passion that he feels for Estella. Pip realizes that due to the society-imposed caste system that he is trapped in, he will never be able to acquire

At first in the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s, the society had a plethora of discrimination as well as inequality. Women were treated unreasonably, and had far less rights than men. Many of those rights that women fought for excluded them from many opportunities given to men, “...married women could not own property, make contracts, bring suits, or sit on juries,” (Digital History, 2016). Women actions were based on the men’s needs. Women were restricted to work and

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.

During the Victorian Era, women struggled to attain gender equality by challenging the traditional roles that defined them. These women no longer wanted to remain passive and obey the demands of their husbands nor be domestic and the caretakers of their children. They strived to attain the role of a 'New Woman', an intelligent, liberated individual who was able to openly express her ideas (Eltis 452). Whereas some women were successful in attaining this new role, others were still dominated by their male counterparts. The men felt threatened by the rising power of women and repressed them by not allowing them to work, giving them unnecessary medications, and diagnosing them with hysteria (Gilman

The class system becomes a focal point in young Pip's life. Pip first began to think about his place in society when he was sent to visit the wealthy, old lady, Miss Havisham at her mansion. Through these visits Pip becomes socially conscious and begins to dislike his commonality. Almost instantly he wants to become uncommon. The adopted daughter of Miss Havisham, Estella, becomes a focal point and goal for Pip to obtain. Any morality Pip used to have slips away with each visit. Pip walks in circles in a barely lit room with Miss Havisam holding onto his shoulder and in doing so, Pip is somehow leaving behind all the values he was raised with. Miss Havisham and Estella end up corrupting Pip with the rich life. Greed, beauty and hubris are Pips downward spiral into an immoral life. Pip finds Estella very attractive, but Estella calls him common and this does not sit well with Pip. All of Pip's expectations of becoming a rich gentleman are due to this love of Estella.

In Great Expectation, written by Charles Dickens, the author identifies the struggles of social status and prestige as the theme of the book. Additionally, how social status and wealth create great expectations. Through this theme the author uses a superior and blunt character like Estella Havisham to convey this idea. Estella is the stimulation or catalyst that causes, Pip formally known as Phillip Pirrip, the main character to care about social status and causes his attitude to change. In Great Expectations, Estella is described as "proud and refine"(285) and is seen as a cold creature through the indoctrinate of her mother, to avenge all men.

Once Pip wins, Estella gives him the ability to kiss her on the cheek. He does so, leaving him affected for the rest of his life. Now in the process of becoming a gentleman, Pip claims that Estella was the inspiration for everything he has done in the past and talks about his love for her. “The unqualified truth is that, when I loved Estella with the love of a man, I loved her simply because I found her irresistible.” (Dickens 214). When Pip heard Estella was back at the Satis House from a trip to Paris, he went to see her and Miss. Havisham. In Miss. Havisham’s room, he saw a woman that he realized was Estella. He said that she was a very beautiful lady and developed very well. On a walk through the garden, Pip tried to recall the moments they had together to Estella but unfortunately she didn’t remember. She then confessed to Pip, “That I have no heart—if that has anything to do with my memory…I have no softness there, no sympathy—sentiment—nonsense.” (Dickens 219). That should have been an alarm for Pip to show that Estella was unable to be loved, unable to love. Estella is telling Pip that she will never love him or anyone. Nonetheless, because he found her desirable, he was blinded by his love for her. “I got through some jargon to the effect that I took the liberty of doubting that. That I knew better. That there could be no such beauty without it.” (Dickens

In Great Expectations, throughout Pip’s childhood and adulthood, he develops expectations and conceptions of others around him. In addition to Mrs. Joe Gargery, there is another character who influences Pip’s decision to pursue a lavish lifestyle in London. Mrs. Havisham is a wealthy, unmarried woman who requests to see Pip several times throughout the novel. Estella, Miss Havisham’s adopted daughter who Pip falls in love with early on, degrades Pip for being part of a common family. She represents this degradation through several rude commands and statements. “ ‘With this boy! Why, he is a common labouring-boy’ ” (Dickens 61). After being devastated by Estella’s comments, Pip begins to question the way Joe, his brother-in-law and father

Victorian women had several hardships to overcome. Education, marriage, leisure, and travel amongst other things were limited and controlled. A woman was never to travel if not in the company of her parents or husband. Leisure, for example, was limited and a woman always had to look busy and find something to do. They did not have the right to vote, sue or own any property. Their bodies

88671 Mr. Pagtakhan 3’ Honors Sophomore English 28 September 2015 Parent Expectations Jane Hull, former governor of Arizona, once noted, “at the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents”. Parents and family are the most significant influences in a child’s life, and their involvement can easily affect the child for better or for worse. In Charles Dickens’ novel, Great Expectations, both Joe and Miss Havisham try to guide Pip and Estella respectively to what they think is the path to happiness in life. Because Miss Havisham tries to condition Estella into wanting to destroy men’s hearts, while Joe wants Pip to be happy with his life in the middle class, they show how a parent’s love

Despite being under the rule of a female monarch, women faced many inequalities and suffering during the Victorian age. Examples of these inequalities include not having the right to vote, unequal educational and employment opportunities. Women were even denied the legal right to divorce in most cases. As the Norton Anthology states, these debates over women’s rights and their roles came to be known as the “woman question” by the Victorians. This lead to many conflicting struggles, such as the desire by all for women to be educated, yet they are denied the same opportunities afforded to men. While these women faced these difficulties, there was also the notion that women should be domestic and feminine. There was an ideal that women should be submissive and pure because they are naturally different. The industrial revolution introduced women into the labor workforce, but there was still a conflict between the two identities; one of an employed woman, and one of a domestic housewife.

The correct portrayal of women in literature is highly significant as women have been marginalized throughout history. Although Charles Dickens wrote powerful and dominant female characters in his novel Great Expectations, Dickens’ portrayal of female strength is unsympathetic considering the period when he wrote this novel. During the Victorian Era, women never had dominance in situations and had less rights than men. In this case, Dickens alienated the female characters by writing them with characteristics that imply a negative connotation to the readers. Negative characteristics are still important for the development of a character, of course, but the Dicken’s depiction submits that women victimize Pip. The patriarchy and power in relationships are contrasted by the powerful female characters. Furthermore, the differences between men and women in Great Expectations are connected to social constructs rather than biological development. In addition, each female character have a significant impact on the male protagonist, Pip. Each female character is also shown negatively on how each of them is “redeemed” as the plot advances.

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.

Throughout much of history, women have been viewed as inferior to men. In the 1800s and early 1900s, women were not allowed to hold the same jobs or

Charles Dickens’s Novel Great Expectations demonstrates Pip’s growth as a result of the outside forces surrounding his life and decisions. Throughout the novel, the reader sees the necessary hardships Pip faces in order to experience pain and guilt and grow into a man who appreciates love and support.