Great expectations Essay Example for Free

Great expectations Essay The novel Great Expectations is centred on the child protagonist, Pip. The novel is known as a bildungsroman. A bildungsroman is a novel which traces the Spiritual, moral, psychological, or social development and growth of the main character from (usually) childhood to maturity. The novel is set in the mid-1800s, and written in the first-person from the perspective of Pip. Pip, which comes from a working class family (in those days) develops a burning desire to become a gentleman due to his love for Estella, whom he meets in the mysterious house of Miss Havisham. This then becomes a responsibility when he discovers that he has a benefactor. Pip develops because hes discontented with his own home and wants to become part of the higher class of society. The novel deals with his feelings about himself and the environment around him. He sets out on a journey, ordained by his secret benefactor, to become the gentleman he dreamt of being. However, this change of life leads him to look down on his home and relatives, especially Joe, who becomes heartbroken; and Pip is forced to reassess his priorities and feelings at the end of the novel. In the novel, Dickens brings about the truth in life in those times; that only rich people had the opportunity to be educated and go far in life. This way the reader had can feel the pain and ambition that Pip yearned to fulfil through his life and; and see how neglectful Pip becomes after he starts to accomplish his dream. The sympathy the reader would have felt towards Pip severely diminishes as the novel progresses, and it is only in the second-half of the novel Pip realises his spite towards the people he truly loves. Dickens concludes the story by giving a message of great expectation; the novel finishes by showing the reader how the society around Pip changes his views and his belief of his inner mind. Pip is first introduced in the graveyard, in chapter one. The reader learns many things about the main character from the start of the novel. Pip is an innocent young orphan and was bought up by his sister Mrs Joe. This is established by Dickens in chapter 1 I never saw my father or my mother. The reader learns that Pips parents have passed away. This brings us to feel immediate sympathy towards the miserable young boy who seems to be alone in this big world. Pip is portrayed as a fearful and a very small child as we first meet him in the grave yard as Pip pleads in terror at the spectre who grabs him. Pip yells, O! dont cut my throat, sir, evidently suggesting that he is petrified but has been brought up to treat people with manners and respects; as he calls him sir. However, the fact that Pips life was under the assailants control might have been the reason that Pip was so reverent. Pip is portrayed as a vulnerable character when we first meet him, and this is greatly reinforced by his appearance; dishevelled, skinny, and small. Pips life at home is very unfair because Mrs Joe has raised Pip up by hand bringing him up strictly by punishing him; for instance, she torments poor Pip by hitting him with the tickler (her rather affectionate title for the cane she uses to beat Pip). Pip also says Home had never been a very pleasant place to me, because of my sisters temper. This gives the impression that Pip was scared of staying at home and also that his sister treated him ungratefully. All this implies that Pip is being bullied by his sister and makes the reader have pity towards Pip because hes been rejected by his only family. It also suggests that Mrs Joe had bought Pip up single handedly with no gratitude. Joe and Pip are bonded together because Joe has acted like Pips father, and also due to the fact that Mrs Joe beats him just as she does Pip. Unlike Mrs Joe, Mr Joe has always been friendly and protective. This is suggested when Pip says Joe imparted a confidence to me. This shows that Joe is caring and will stand beside Pip through good times and bad times as a father. During chapter three a terrible feeling runs through Pip when he steals food from Mrs Joe to take to the convict. Pip feels scared because his conscience frightens him by saying A boy with somebody -elses pork pie! Stop him this suggests that Pip is feeling very guilty and he knows the difference between right and wrong, but is compelled to do the wrong thing because of fear. Although he is acting mainly due to fear; hes also very generous and shows compassion because hes saving the convicts life by feeding him. Dickens uses many techniques such as linguistic techniques in his writing to create various effects and as a way of communicating his characters emotions. An example of this can be seen in Chapter Three when Pip wakes up knowing he has to steal from Mrs Joe to provide the convict with food. Dickens describes the weather on the window with a particularly powerful simile creating memorable images in the readers mind As if some goblin had been crying there all night this descriptive image connects to Pips mood at this time. This image of the crying goblin using the window for his handkerchief reflects the fact that Pip is feeling miserable, lonely and scared about what hes being forced to do. This technique encourages the reader to feel sorry for him and anxious for him as well.