The Significance of the Title “Great Expectation” by Charles Dickens
The novel “Great Expectation” by Charles Dickens, is written from a perspective of an innocent boy, whose life is faced with different challenges and expectations. Growing up in a village full of marshes, with a ruthless and violent sister causes him to be sensitive. In essence, he yearns to be loved and accepted by his new found lover who is of the upper class. Besides, the narrator develops a high desire of becoming a gentleman in order to obtain genuine happiness. According to the narrator, being a gentleman is his key to being acknowledged by his new found love, is the way to leave his village life in the marshes and to become rich by living in the City. Even though his …show more content…
Even though Pip’s dreams and hopes of becoming a rich gentleman living in the city are finally met, his quest for true happiness is not. Pip learns of his inheritance from an unknown benefactor and moves to London as directed, “[…] it is the desire of the present possessor of the property that he (Pip) be immediately removed from his present sphere of life and from this place, and be brought up a gentleman.” It is without a doubt that Pip manages to meet his expectation of being a gentleman at this point. Although Pip manages to acquire the status of a gentleman, his moral and emotional expectations are not. On contrary to Pip’s expectations, London is “ugly, crooked, narrow, and dirty” (Dickens 149). His first experience with London, “the exhausted air”, and “the dust” (Dickens 151) makes Pip Exhausted. In addition, upon Pip’s arrival to London, now a gentleman, Pip snobbishly judges others by their status and wealth, spends money lavishly and negatively influences his only friend, Herbert. In essence, Pip and Herbert associate with a gentleman’s club who have no purpose other than meet and “dine expensively once a fortnight”, “to quarrel among themselves”, and to “cause six waiters to get drunk on the stairs”(Dickens 249). Without a doubt, Pip is ashamed when he learns of brother in-law, Joe’s visit. He shamelessly states that his feelings were “not with pleasure” (Dickens 199), in meeting with Joe and wishes to keep “him away by paying money” (Dickens 199). Finally, Pip’s last expectation of his mysterious benefactor to be Miss Havisham, happens to be non-other, than Abel Magwitch, who is a convict. In as much as Pip wants to be a gentleman, his motivation all along is Miss Havisham, who according to Pip, is preparing him and making him desirable for Estella. Pip is horrified at Magwitch’s disclosure and immediately rejects his
The novel “Great Expectation” by Charles Dickens, is written from a perspective of an innocent boy, whose life is faced with different challenges and expectations. Growing up in a village full of marshes, with a ruthless and violent sister causes him to be sensitive. In essence, he yearns to be loved and accepted by his new found lover who is of the upper class. Besides, the narrator develops a high desire of becoming a gentleman in order to obtain genuine happiness. According to the narrator, being a gentleman is his key to being acknowledged by his new found love, is the way to leave his village life in the marshes and to become rich by living in the City. Even though his …show more content…
Even though Pip’s dreams and hopes of becoming a rich gentleman living in the city are finally met, his quest for true happiness is not. Pip learns of his inheritance from an unknown benefactor and moves to London as directed, “[…] it is the desire of the present possessor of the property that he (Pip) be immediately removed from his present sphere of life and from this place, and be brought up a gentleman.” It is without a doubt that Pip manages to meet his expectation of being a gentleman at this point. Although Pip manages to acquire the status of a gentleman, his moral and emotional expectations are not. On contrary to Pip’s expectations, London is “ugly, crooked, narrow, and dirty” (Dickens 149). His first experience with London, “the exhausted air”, and “the dust” (Dickens 151) makes Pip Exhausted. In addition, upon Pip’s arrival to London, now a gentleman, Pip snobbishly judges others by their status and wealth, spends money lavishly and negatively influences his only friend, Herbert. In essence, Pip and Herbert associate with a gentleman’s club who have no purpose other than meet and “dine expensively once a fortnight”, “to quarrel among themselves”, and to “cause six waiters to get drunk on the stairs”(Dickens 249). Without a doubt, Pip is ashamed when he learns of brother in-law, Joe’s visit. He shamelessly states that his feelings were “not with pleasure” (Dickens 199), in meeting with Joe and wishes to keep “him away by paying money” (Dickens 199). Finally, Pip’s last expectation of his mysterious benefactor to be Miss Havisham, happens to be non-other, than Abel Magwitch, who is a convict. In as much as Pip wants to be a gentleman, his motivation all along is Miss Havisham, who according to Pip, is preparing him and making him desirable for Estella. Pip is horrified at Magwitch’s disclosure and immediately rejects his