The Great Expectations By Charles Dickens

Dickens emphasizes this with Magwitch's brutal behavior, his threats of death if Pip does not do his bidding, but, as is a recurring theme in the novel, we need only the proof of his appearance to pass judgment upon him. Pip in contrast is defenseless, for in the inverted position Magwitch holds him, Pip can be likened to a new-born; Pip is innocent, naked, and ignorant of the world. It is from this point Pip begins the long journey toward the "identity of things" (24; ch.1).

It is said that right before someone dies, they see their life flash before their eyes. They are said to see the things most dear to them. However, no one on their deathbed regrets the amount of money that they have. In the moment of clarity, most realize that a number on a paycheck is not as important as emotional and mental possessions. People always tell each other that money can not buy happiness, yet most end up spending every waking moment thinking about money. Why do people waste their time and energy pursuing something that is not what they truly need? Often, they use social class to fill a void in their lives that can not be filled by materialistic possessions. Many people realize this, but it is often too late. Charles Dickens demonstrates the effects of social climbing in his novel, Great Expectations. This novel explores the connections and effects of human nature and society, which are the two most powerful forces that guide people’s decisions. Some may say that social climbing is good, but as will be proven, pursuing social class for the wrong reason can result in disastrous consequences. The motivation to obtain higher social status leaves those who pursue it dissatisfied with reality and with a wider void in their lives as shown by Pip, Estella, and Magwitch.

One day Pip is taken to play at a large house, the house belongs to the character Miss Havisham who is portrayed as an extremely eccentric person. It is during these visits that the young Pip meets Miss Havisham’s daughter Estella, who never displays any form of affection for Pip and treats him contemptuously. Nevertheless, Pip falls in love and it his dream to become a gentleman and marry Estella.

Love her!" (pg. 636). Miss Havisham knows that Pip has fallen for Estella, and wants the two young adults to form a relationship. Even though Estella has been condescending and rude towards Pip, Miss Havisham tempts him into this situation which most likely will not end well for Pip. After going through such a traumatic affair in her life, she appears to attempt to lead Pip into a similar dilemma.

Charles Dickens novel "Great Expectations" first saw the light in 1860. In it the English novelist raised and criticized important issue for the time of social and psychological dissociation between the higher crust and simple working class. The genre of the novel features are located in the plane of the classic era of realism, generously spiced with the original English humor and a bit of European sentiment. "Great Expectations" - a novel of education, because it tells several stories of becoming a dignified young person:“So, I must be taken as I have been made. The success is not mine, the failure is not mine, but the two together make me.” It proves all above statements about ambiguity and depth of moral, which was described in it.

Scaring Pip almost to death, he devours his food, taking "strong sudden bites" (R) in a way more doglike than human and imputes violence into Pip's life threatening to "cut [Pip's] throat" (R). First encountered in the graveyard , Magwitch is described as “fearful” dressed “in coarse gray, with a great iron on his leg” (r). Combined, Dickens presents a fairy tale-esque description like that of a classic monster. As a boogeyman figure in the novel, Magwitch manifests one of Pip's greatest fears: that Pip may one day turn out to be like Magwitch, someone he sees as so vile and disgusting he should never have been born. Pip already suspects he posses criminal qualities, and contact with Magwitch only exacerbates these fears, adding guilt into the

Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations narrates the coming of age of Philip Pirrip, better known as Pip. Throughout the novel, Pip, along with many other characters, grows both morally and socially. Miss Havisham, a seemingly generous elderly woman is a reoccurring character who is ultimately responsible for much of the plot. Throughout his novel, Charles Dickens utilizes the theme of moral improvement. This theme is most evident through the debilitated Miss Havisham.

If not for Miss Havisham, Pip and Estella would never have the connection that they develop. Next, through all the insolent words brought on Pip by Miss Havisham, Pip learns to be more patient with others. Due to her past of hurt feelings Pip understands that Miss Havisham acts the way she does out of pain, not anger. Finally, by giving Pip and his family money, Miss Havisham shows Pip avarice along with Estella. The role Miss Havisham plays in Pip’s life shows itself in many ways.

One day, Pip meets an unknown convict whom he helps by giving him food and equipment. The convict soon gets caught by the police and Pip gets taken to the house of the eccentric wealthy woman called Miss Havisham. She carries a sad backstory and because of that backstory, hates all men. Pip falls in love with Miss Havisham’s adopted daughter Estella and vows to become a gentlemen to woo her! Unfortunately Miss Havisham has conditioned Estella to be a manipulative heartbreaker and she constantly rejects Pip.

Ever since her rejection by fiancée Compeyson, Miss Havisham-in her own world-has effectively stopped time and all that goes with it. Then, with a manic obsessive cruelty Miss Havisham adopts a young girl whom she names Estella and raises her as a weapon to wreak revenge on the all members of opposite sex. She inflicts her own sourness and pain on to Estella and successfully turns her into the cold hearted yet alluring creature which Miss Havisham had so fervently sought her to become,dressing her in diamonds and jewels to draw men into the trap. Resulting in Pip yearning after the love he so longingly wants yet cannot have from Estella.

Since her abandonment before her wedding, Miss Havisham has been obsessing about exacting her revenge on the hearts of all men. She executes her plan by way of Estella, and in the process recruits Pip as a victim of her wrath. Miss Havisham’s obsessive revenge causes her moral development to come to a halt. She is no longer capable of empathy, and this is reiterated when Pip must verbally inform her of the pain she has caused him, as she is incapable of realizing it herself. Pip’s verbal edification is the only time in the novel in which Miss Havisham shows any sign of moral righteousness.

Pip does some detective work and discovers hidden truths about Magwitch and Compeyson and both of their unique relationships with Miss Havisham and Estella. Magwitch is Estella’s biological father and Compeyson was the guy who let Miss Havisham at the altar.

Magwitch uses Pip to get back at the upper class. Dickens uses this theme of revenge to show that revenge will only hurt the one seeking it and the more someone wants revenge to more harm it will cause them. Miss Havisham becomes consumed in revenge and this causes her to live her life in pain. Magwitch lets go of the need for revenge and dies feeling content with life. When people spend time seeking revenge your energy if focused on negativity and this prevent you from enjoying

When Pip discovers that Magwitch, his convict from the marshes, is his benefactor, he feels embarrassed that he has been funded by a criminal and that he was led on to believe that Ms. Havisham was his benefactor. After discovering why Magwitch wanted to fund Pip in achieving ‘great expectations,’ Pip feels obligated to help the man escape England. During Magwitch’s escape from England, he is arrested and sentenced to death. Pip takes care of Magwitch in prison until the convict

Throughout Great Expectations, money is a huge force that determines the layout of people’s lives. Although necessary to survive, Charles Dickens shows how too much wealth can be detrimental for a relationship. This is clearly seen in the relationship between Pip and Magwitch and also evident in Estella and Miss. Havisham’s relationship.