Charles Dickens promotes the idea that association with societal issues reveals one’s true nature. Dickens does so by characterizing figures of Great Expectations according to their response to these societal beliefs, specifically through characters Pip and Estella. Pip shows significant maturation throughout the novel, credited to his constant conflict with criminality. The first scene of Great Expectations introduces this conflict as Pip meets Magwitch. Pip, being six or seven years old, complies with Magwitch’s orders out of fear (which is to be expected from a young boy); however, his curiosity allows him to understand Magwitch as an individual, as he relates Magwitch to a dog who has lost his strength. After introduction to societal issues,
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Again, he relates Magwitch to a dog, however in this instance the dog is ugly and sinister as it turns “his food in his mouth and turned his head sideways to bring the strongest fangs to bear upon it” (Dickens 331). Pip’s perception of Magwitch gradually softens as he understands his individuality, creating a conflict between his new “uncommon” self and his old self, little Pip. Unlike Pip, Estella is immediately introduced to social issues. Since her adopting Estella, Miss Havisham has made clear the role she felt forced into as a woman, and her intentions to defy. As a result of Miss Havisham’s heavy influence, Estella remains in a constant battle with the common expectations society has for a woman like herself. A hint of her humanity is exposed upon her settling for Drummle and become the “Angel in the House… a yielding domestic paragon” (Felicity Rose, “Angels in the House?: Victorian Women in Great Expectations”). This unexpected choice is commonly misinterpreted as Estella complying with society in order to maintain her social position— in reality, her doing so shows how broken she is, how weak she feels after constantly fighting society’s expectations.
Again, he relates Magwitch to a dog, however in this instance the dog is ugly and sinister as it turns “his food in his mouth and turned his head sideways to bring the strongest fangs to bear upon it” (Dickens 331). Pip’s perception of Magwitch gradually softens as he understands his individuality, creating a conflict between his new “uncommon” self and his old self, little Pip. Unlike Pip, Estella is immediately introduced to social issues. Since her adopting Estella, Miss Havisham has made clear the role she felt forced into as a woman, and her intentions to defy. As a result of Miss Havisham’s heavy influence, Estella remains in a constant battle with the common expectations society has for a woman like herself. A hint of her humanity is exposed upon her settling for Drummle and become the “Angel in the House… a yielding domestic paragon” (Felicity Rose, “Angels in the House?: Victorian Women in Great Expectations”). This unexpected choice is commonly misinterpreted as Estella complying with society in order to maintain her social position— in reality, her doing so shows how broken she is, how weak she feels after constantly fighting society’s expectations.