Written by Charles Dickens, Great Expectations is a bildungsroman novel about materialism, the class structure, wealth, and poverty. Set in the 1800s in England, the plotline follows a young orphan, Pip, and his struggle to find his place in the world. The pivotal point in Pip’s life is when he first visits Satis House and is introduced to Miss Havisham and her adopted daughter, Estella, two of the most important characters who shape and mold his life. Upon meeting Miss Havisham, an eccentric rich lady and the beautiful Estella, Pip is infatuated with the wealthy lifestyle of the upper English class. Despite Pip 's upbringing in the marshes of Kent, he longs to become a cultured gentleman of society and marry Estella. He embarks on a psychological
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After all, he is initially made to visit Satis House to fulfill the lost dreams of Mrs. Joe and Pumblechook. Before walking inside, Pip would have cared less about the wealthy and how they lived; it is that initial visit that originated his longing to become a wealthy man of society. He has never experienced or seen anything like Satis House and its inhabitants; it is a day he will never forget as Pip states here: "That was a memorable day to me for it made great changes in me. But, it is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been" (Dickens 69). Pip falls in love with Estella the first time he lays eyes on her and that sparks his desire to become a gentleman so that he can later marry her. Miss Havisham and Estella are some of the most influential people in his struggle to achieve a high social status. Without that first meeting, he never would have hungered to climb up in the class …show more content…
He becomes ashamed of his home, transforming into a snob. Things about his home that he once loved and thought was the best now seem common and course. Within a single year, all Pip’s feelings for home completely change. Pip is even embarassed of Joe and how uneducated he is compared to Estella and Miss Havisham. On page 103, Dickens portrays Pip’s feelings: “How much of my and gracious condition of mind may have been my own fault, how much Ms. Havisham’s, how much my sister’s, is now of no moment to me or to anyone. The change was made in me; the thing was done. Well or ill done, excusably or inexcusably it was done.” Pip knows it doesn’t matter what caused him to feel this way: himself, Miss Havisham, or the way his sister raised him. The change was made in him and Pip at this point doesn’t know if he’ll ever be satisfied living the simple lifestyle that he was raised in. Even as Pip leaves for the metropolis of London, he cries at his ingratitude for Joe and wishes he could change his feelings. “Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts. I was better after I had cried, than before- more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle” (Dickens 153). Pip feels very remorseful about parting with Joe as though he were a mere acquaintance instead of his best friend. Pip is so
After all, he is initially made to visit Satis House to fulfill the lost dreams of Mrs. Joe and Pumblechook. Before walking inside, Pip would have cared less about the wealthy and how they lived; it is that initial visit that originated his longing to become a wealthy man of society. He has never experienced or seen anything like Satis House and its inhabitants; it is a day he will never forget as Pip states here: "That was a memorable day to me for it made great changes in me. But, it is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been" (Dickens 69). Pip falls in love with Estella the first time he lays eyes on her and that sparks his desire to become a gentleman so that he can later marry her. Miss Havisham and Estella are some of the most influential people in his struggle to achieve a high social status. Without that first meeting, he never would have hungered to climb up in the class …show more content…
He becomes ashamed of his home, transforming into a snob. Things about his home that he once loved and thought was the best now seem common and course. Within a single year, all Pip’s feelings for home completely change. Pip is even embarassed of Joe and how uneducated he is compared to Estella and Miss Havisham. On page 103, Dickens portrays Pip’s feelings: “How much of my and gracious condition of mind may have been my own fault, how much Ms. Havisham’s, how much my sister’s, is now of no moment to me or to anyone. The change was made in me; the thing was done. Well or ill done, excusably or inexcusably it was done.” Pip knows it doesn’t matter what caused him to feel this way: himself, Miss Havisham, or the way his sister raised him. The change was made in him and Pip at this point doesn’t know if he’ll ever be satisfied living the simple lifestyle that he was raised in. Even as Pip leaves for the metropolis of London, he cries at his ingratitude for Joe and wishes he could change his feelings. “Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts. I was better after I had cried, than before- more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle” (Dickens 153). Pip feels very remorseful about parting with Joe as though he were a mere acquaintance instead of his best friend. Pip is so