Advice from an orphan living in Victorian England could change the way today’s youth approach relationships. Pip, the protagonist in the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, is an orphan who pursues the life of a gentleman in London with the sponsorship of a mysterious benefactor. Pip learns an abundance of knowledge throughout his life. If he were to advise twenty-first century youth, he would have valuable guidance for maintaining authentic relationships. A common, contemporary relationship problem, especially in abusive relationships, is for one participant to feel used. This is a problem Pip experiences in his life and through which he learns to defend and advocate for himself. For example, in Pip’s relationship with Estella
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Later, however, when Pip first meets Wemmick, he sees him as impersonable, “I found him to be a dry man, [...] whose expression seemed to have been imperfectly chipped out with a dulled-edged chisel” (156). When Pip learns about Wemmick’s Walworth side, he learns that his automatic inferences about Wemmick are incorrect in some ways. This exhibits that first impressions can sculpt the foundation of relationship, but through further interaction the structure can be remolded. Pip would advise from this experience that a person’s personality and attitude fluctuate and are often impacted by outside forces so one must not make assumptions until one has the full story. Overall, Pip learns from Magwitch and Wemmick to not make inferences based on little information, for it can cloud one’s …show more content…
Pip would advise today’s youth to not let stereotypes, social class such as popular kids or nerds, and other unimportant characteristics define or affect a relationship. Pip developed this knowledge most prominently through his relationship with Joe. For example, when Pip lives with Joe, they are “the best of friends.” However, after Pip leaves to become a gentleman in London, he and Joe slowly drift apart. Pip does not want to associate with Joe in his newfound status. Pip is embarrassed when preparing for Joe’s arrival in London, “Not with pleasure, though I was bound to him by so many ties; no; with considerable disturbance, some mortification, and a keen sense of incongruity. If I could have kept him away by paying money, I certainly would have paid money” (201). This displays how extreme Pip’s arrogance has become. Pip lets go of a beloved friend, an event he deeply regrets later in the novel. This occurrence relates to a common twenty-first century conundrum: a friend’s abandonment when said friend gains
Later, however, when Pip first meets Wemmick, he sees him as impersonable, “I found him to be a dry man, [...] whose expression seemed to have been imperfectly chipped out with a dulled-edged chisel” (156). When Pip learns about Wemmick’s Walworth side, he learns that his automatic inferences about Wemmick are incorrect in some ways. This exhibits that first impressions can sculpt the foundation of relationship, but through further interaction the structure can be remolded. Pip would advise from this experience that a person’s personality and attitude fluctuate and are often impacted by outside forces so one must not make assumptions until one has the full story. Overall, Pip learns from Magwitch and Wemmick to not make inferences based on little information, for it can cloud one’s …show more content…
Pip would advise today’s youth to not let stereotypes, social class such as popular kids or nerds, and other unimportant characteristics define or affect a relationship. Pip developed this knowledge most prominently through his relationship with Joe. For example, when Pip lives with Joe, they are “the best of friends.” However, after Pip leaves to become a gentleman in London, he and Joe slowly drift apart. Pip does not want to associate with Joe in his newfound status. Pip is embarrassed when preparing for Joe’s arrival in London, “Not with pleasure, though I was bound to him by so many ties; no; with considerable disturbance, some mortification, and a keen sense of incongruity. If I could have kept him away by paying money, I certainly would have paid money” (201). This displays how extreme Pip’s arrogance has become. Pip lets go of a beloved friend, an event he deeply regrets later in the novel. This occurrence relates to a common twenty-first century conundrum: a friend’s abandonment when said friend gains