Pip's Traits

Throughout the story, Pip demonstrates his positive and negative traits. Positive traits that Pip possesses are his love/admiration for Joe, integrity, and compassion. He shows compassion towards Estella and Mrs. Havisham, even though both of them wanted to wound him. He shows integrity towards Magwitch by keeping his word and bringing him whittles. The negative traits that Pip portrays are his ego, and cruelty towards those below him. His ego is a negative trait because it causes him not to be thankful of Joe and of Magwitch’s help. He is rude to everyone because of his self-pride. Pip went through a stage of having really good traits and really bad traits, but in the end he was a good person.
Pip’s core quest in Great Expectations is to become a gentleman. This quest is important to Pip, for two reasons. His first reason is, that he will finally get acceptance from his beloved Estella. When Pip first met Estella, he fell head over heels in love with her but she didn’t feel the same way. She though he was a thick-booted, common boy. Pip believed that …show more content…
Pip’s action may seem as if he is being kind and caring for Magwitch, but wasn’t his intentions. Pip is hiding Magwitch for his own selfish reasons. The first reason is that he doesn’t want to get caught seen with Magwitch because he will get in trouble with the police. Magwitch is on the run and wanted for death row, so if Pip were seen socializing with him, he would be in big trouble. The second reason is Pip is ashamed of who his benefactors is. We can see an example of this, whenever Pip was in disbelief when Magwitch told him. He hides him so no body will see him and helps him escape so he will be out of his way. Pips actions are very unwise because he will most likely get caught (which he does) and he will not get any more money from him. His motivation is his need to get rid of someone who could bring down his social