Great Expectations Essay Example for Free

Great Expectations Essay Discuss the variety of influences to which Pip is exposed during the course of Great Expectations as he approaches adult-hood, and the ways in which the readers opinion of Pips character might alter as the story develops. Charles dickens is one of the worlds best-loved writers, and Great Expectations may be one of his most autobiographical works. The Narrator of Great Expectations, Pip, is in contrast, a man of many faults, who hides none of them from the reader. If Pip is a self-portrait, Dickens must have been a reservoir of inferiority complexes, guilt and share. Many other aspects of Great Expectations are autobiographical too. Although Dickens wasnt an orphan as Pip is but he may have well felt like one. Dickens mother apparently was a careless housekeeper. Pips sister who a few times mentions that she brought him up by hand, keeps a spotless house but she doesnt know how to make it a home. In her mind, the sole ingredients of child rearing are a firm beating and a dose of tar-water. It could be that maybe she is deliberately cruel, or maybe she has just mistaken notions of how to run a family. Pips childhood wasnt so great and as a reader will find out that he doesnt have a good perspective on Mrs. Joe. This can be any more than children do on the adults closest to them: And where the deuce ha you been? was Mrs. Joes Christmas salutation, when I and my conscience showed ourselves. (Pg. 22) When Dickens was working in the blacking warehouse at the age of twelve he was lighten up as Pip was being lighten up when he was an apprentice to Joe as a blacksmith. While Pip the narrator recognises Joes goodness, Pip as a character continues to go on treating him badly. There is a point in the story when the reader will observe that Joe forgives Pip for his behaviour. Later on Pip keeps on being a snob and for Joe its something he has to live for. Joe shows a lot of love and affection for Pip: But I did mind you Pip, he returned with tender simplicity Dont cry, old chap! (Pg. 48) Joe has a very neutral relationship with Pip although he seems to find it really hard and struggles to guide Pip and try to follow Joes example of goodness. He appears to be often weak; he lets himself be defeated by Mrs. Joe, Pumblechook and even Miss Havisham. This could be why Pip seems to dislike Joe, as he gets older. Also seeing as Pip isnt consciously virtuous, it becomes difficult for Joe to attempt to teach him. Pip is seriously disgusted with Pumblechook throughout the whole book. When as a boy, he instinctively dislikes the way Pumblechook moralises and lords it over the family. I believe it is at this point where Pips snobbish behaviour may have sharpened due to the original circle of changes and I think Pumblechook patronising and insulting Pip at the same time has given him the snobbish character: But I dont mean in that form, or, returned Mr. Pumblechook, who had an objection to being interrupted Not bringing up by hand then. Not a bit of it! (Pg. 27) At the beginning of the story in a vivid scene, Magwitch appears to be a threatening, violent character to Pip. The reader can recognise at the same time that Pip does not know that Magwitch is a big, cold, hungry and desolate. When Pip lives at the forge in the marshes the setting has influenced him. It is a gloomy spooky area with convicts. It seems that it all leads to death and punishment i. e. Mrs.Joes beating and tar-water. When it comes to Magwitch appearing from a graveyard he is like a zombie. He becomes dead when the reader carries on to read the story because Pip forgets about him and Magwitch disappears for a long while. During that time of his absence Pip then catches to encounter Miss Havisham. When Magwitch does come into sight once again when Pip is in London, Pip is looking at a much more altered version of Magwitch. At this time Magwtichs importance to Pip grows even larger as the reader will discover about Magwitch and the affect of his money to Pip. Now because of this Magwitch turns out to be a similar yet a much useful character in Pips life. Also the relationship between Pip and Magwitch strengthens and Pip commences into showing devoted attention to him. Even later on Pip is interested in almost everything that Magwitch offers to attempt to say to him. He is willing to listen to him and he becomes sympathetic towards him. When Magwitch is on the deathbed Pip is telling the story of Estella and explaining how much he loves her to him. He tries to make him happy. Dickens piles on the details about Miss Havisham, it is like as it if she irresistibly fascinates him. The more he describes her, the more intensely she stands out, looming as a weird, powerful image colouring the mood of the entire book: Look at me, said Miss Havisham. You are not afraid of a woman who and very sorry I cant play just now. (Pg. 58-59) Pip is influenced by Miss Havisham in a way to love Estella and thus he is convinced by her to love Estella even through the toughest situations. He gains to be confident with her but its strange because he can list Estellas main faults- proud, selfish, cold, cruel and unloving: Love her, love her, love her! If she favours you, love her giving up your whole heart and soul to be smiter- as I did (Pg. 240) Miss Havisham is very unpredictable and it could be why that I reckon Pip most frequently misunderstands her influences to him. She can be pretty random and she can say random, embarrassing, issuing imperious commands: Sometimes I have sick fancies, she went on, and I have a sick fancy that I want to see some playplay, play, play! (Pg. 59) Now because of her out-of-the-ordinary behaviour the reader can never tell or predict what she will be like. This can confuse Pips liking for her and then it makes the reader feel sceptical about them. The different element of Pips personality seems to be constantly in conflict. For example, when he first learns that he has expectations of a great fortune, his mind goes off in a dozen different directions- selfishness, joy, guilt, suspicion, embarrassment and fear of his own fortune. When he moves to London, he leaves all the people who still affect his life: