Two novels, written each in a different century by two very different authors, tell stories of perseverance. The oldest one, Great Expectations written by Charles Dickens in 1860, illustrates the life of Pip during the Victorian Era. The novel is narrated by aged Pip, as he reflects on his past. As The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, tells the tale of Junior’s childhood on the Spokane Indian Reservation in a diary format. They learned lessons on the journey to a better life, encountered reliable relationships, and experienced responsibility of their actions. A common theme among the both of the books is the desire for a better life. The main characters in the two stories, Pip and Junior, follow the course in
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Pip and Junior considered their past families in a different manner. When Pip was visited in London by Joe, Pip was ashamed. Instead of showing his gratitude and his new life, he rushed the encounter. On the contrary, Junior did everything he could for his family. He understood the state they were living in and accepted it. Also, the person who helped each main character take action on their dreams, was treated differently. In Great Expectations, Pip helped Magwitch in a time of his need, where Junior never visited Mr. P in The Absolute Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Pip may have valued the person who changed his life, but Junior treasured his family throughout the …show more content…
Both characters lived in a state of poverty. When Pip found out Magwitch was his benefactor, he immediately stopped using his money. As Pip would say, “..It would be heartless fraud to take more money from my patron in the existing state of my uncertain thoughts and plans.” Likewise, Junior felt guilty for the money spent on him to make it look like he wasn’t poor. He understood his parents “were constantly scraping together enough money to pay for gas, to get me lunch, to buy me a new pair of jeans and a few new shirts.” Whenever his parents didn’t pick him up, he did not complain about walking home. In each novel, Pip or Junior got into a fight, and felt guilty as well. In Great Expectations, after Pip and Herbert went through an awkward encounter he thought about it for days afterwards. As Pip would describe it, “I felt that the pale young gentleman’s blood was on my head, and that the Law would avenge it.” The confrontation left him thinking of possible consequences he may go through. Junior did go through consequences of his actions. After hitting Mr. P, Junior was ashamed, he had “never really been in trouble before.” Both main characters felt culpable for their actions, whether it was using up resources or physically harming
Pip and Junior considered their past families in a different manner. When Pip was visited in London by Joe, Pip was ashamed. Instead of showing his gratitude and his new life, he rushed the encounter. On the contrary, Junior did everything he could for his family. He understood the state they were living in and accepted it. Also, the person who helped each main character take action on their dreams, was treated differently. In Great Expectations, Pip helped Magwitch in a time of his need, where Junior never visited Mr. P in The Absolute Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Pip may have valued the person who changed his life, but Junior treasured his family throughout the …show more content…
Both characters lived in a state of poverty. When Pip found out Magwitch was his benefactor, he immediately stopped using his money. As Pip would say, “..It would be heartless fraud to take more money from my patron in the existing state of my uncertain thoughts and plans.” Likewise, Junior felt guilty for the money spent on him to make it look like he wasn’t poor. He understood his parents “were constantly scraping together enough money to pay for gas, to get me lunch, to buy me a new pair of jeans and a few new shirts.” Whenever his parents didn’t pick him up, he did not complain about walking home. In each novel, Pip or Junior got into a fight, and felt guilty as well. In Great Expectations, after Pip and Herbert went through an awkward encounter he thought about it for days afterwards. As Pip would describe it, “I felt that the pale young gentleman’s blood was on my head, and that the Law would avenge it.” The confrontation left him thinking of possible consequences he may go through. Junior did go through consequences of his actions. After hitting Mr. P, Junior was ashamed, he had “never really been in trouble before.” Both main characters felt culpable for their actions, whether it was using up resources or physically harming