Great Expectations
In Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, the protagonist, Pip,becomes almost obsessed with the idea that he is meant for 'greatexpectations' in life. The story, written in 1860, is set in latesixteenth century England where being a 'gentleman' means acquiring wealthand learning the social skills of the upper class. During the course ofthe novel it becomes clear that the expectations he feels he has beenendowed with are metaphors for a life that is more than the young man had The story of Pip is one of transformation and of learning the truevalue and worth of people. Pip, as a child, believes that the onlyworthwhile people are those who have money and standing. He yearns to be a'gentleman'. This feeling is exacerbated after his visit to the home ofMiss Haversham where he meets the young Estella and Herbert Pocket.Although he does not know the name of the boy he beats up and who will oneday be his friend. He thinks that having money and breeding gives one'character' and he wants more than anything to be a member of this selectgroup. The changes that he undergoes as he comes into possession of his'expectations', the misuse of his money and, finally, the lesson of val
Pip then undertakes employment as a clerk, eventually becoming apartner in Herbert's firm. Character isobtained through the process of "complete assimilation, . He is now able to meetand find the love he had thought was lost as he becomes reacquainted withEstella and they marry. He realizes the true expectations bygiving up his belief in the false expectations of power and wealth. In Character and Characteristic Men (1866), Edwin P. This is certainly true of Pip as the readerobserves the changes that occur in his character with the addition andsubsequent loss of wealth. Pip is the protagonistas well as the narrator. This fulfills the last requirement of the truemeaning of his expectations - that he be happy in his life, surrounded bythose he loves and who love him. Whenfirst meeting him, Pip is offended by the fact that he represents the upper-class and proceeds to beat him. He is seen as being different, as having become agentleman. The 'thing', in this instance, being wealth. The young boy isthe only one who sees beyond the metaphor and knows that the gentleman onthe street is not Pip.
Common topics in this essay:
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Edwin Whipple,
Charles Dickens,
Stewart Justman,
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Miss Haversham,
Character Characteristic,
gentleman 'should',
scene pip returns,
life story,
herbert pocket,
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people speak,
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