...Great Expectations was written by Charles Dickens in the post-Industrial Revolution, a time where your social status plays a huge role in the ways where people perceived you to be. Those of high status are praised and looked up to, while the low class people are seen as dimwits and undeserving of any recognition. Similarly with Pip, he has the idea that the greatest expectation he can have in life is by having that status in order to be with the girl of his dream, Estella. After some time at Miss Havisham’s place, he began hating his “coarse and common” life and began wishing for more. He began looking down on those around him, including Joe who was his closest friend and confidant. During the years of his life written by Dickens, Pip changes from an innocent young boy, to a...
Words: 918 - Pages: 4
...Great Expectations By Charles Dickens Download free eBooks of classic literature, books and novels at Planet eBook. Subscribe to our free eBooks blog and email newsletter. Chapter 1 M y father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip. So, I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip. I give Pirrip as my father’s family name, on the authority of his tombstone and my sister - Mrs. Joe Gargery, who married the blacksmith. As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like, were unreasonably derived from their tombstones. The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair. From the character and turn of the inscription, ‘Also Georgiana Wife of the Above,’ I drew a childish conclusion that my mother was freckled and sickly. To five little stone lozenges, each about a foot and a half long, which were arranged in a neat row beside their grave, and were sacred to the memory of five little brothers of mine - who gave up trying to get a living, exceedingly early in that universal struggle - I am indebted for a belief I religiously entertained that they had all been born on their backs with their hands in their trousers-pockets, and had never taken them out in this state...
Words: 189675 - Pages: 759
...Nick Vargas Great Expectations On Christmas Eve, young Pip, an orphan being raised by his sister and her husband, encounters a frightening man in the village churchyard. The man, a convict who has escaped from a prison ship, scares Pip into stealing him some food and a file to grind away his leg shackle. This was perhaps the first of Pips many dishonest acts. It gives Pip, who must steal the goods from his sister's house, his first taste of true guilt, and, secondly, Pip's kindness warms the convict's heart. The convict, however, waits many years to truly show his gratitude. | At his sister's house, Pip is a boy without expectations. Mrs. Joe beats him around and has nothing good to say about her little brother. Her husband Joe is a kind man, although he is a blacksmith without much ambition, and it's assumed that Pip will follow in his footsteps. Only when Pip gets invited unexpectedly to the house of a rich old woman in the village named Miss Havisham, does Mrs. Joe, or any of her dull acquaintances, hold out any hope for Pip's success. Indeed, Pip's visits to Miss Havisham change him. Miss Havisham is an old woman who was abandoned on her wedding day and has, as a result, given up on life. She wears a yellowed wedding gown and haunts around her decrepit house, her only companion being Estella, her adopted daughter. Estella is beautiful, and Pip develops a strong crush on her, a crush that turns into love as he grows older. But it is unrequited love,...
Words: 1263 - Pages: 6
...Certain passages in a novel can do many things to develop the work as a whole as well as develop a character. In the novel, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, this is proven true. Within a certain passage in the novel Dickens uses diction to reveal characteristics of the main character, Pip’s, personality. Dickens also uses this specific passage where Abel Magwitch is telling Pip that he is his benefactor to contribute to the overall meaning of the book. In Great Expectations, Dickens uses a specific passage in the book to contribute to the meaning of the book and to also reveal, through Pip’s reaction to who his benefactor, Pip’s character. Diction is defined by the Merriam-Webster as a choice of words especially with regard to correctness, clearness, or effectiveness. Dickens uses word choice specifically to reveal aspects of Pip’s character. An example of this is in the quote “The abhorrence in which I held the man, the dread I had of him, the repugnance with which I shrank from him, could not have been exceeded if he had been some terrible beast” (Dickens 320-321). Dickens uses words such as abhorrence, dread and repugnance to describe Pip’s feelings towards Magwitch being his benefactor. Along with these words Pip says that his “blood ran cold” within him. He also uses the word suffocating and says that Pip shuddered at realizing and remembering that he man before his is his convict. Finding out that Magwitch has been sending money to Jaggers for Pip to become a gentleman...
Words: 896 - Pages: 4
...Throughout our lives we meet people who go through many changes as they advance further in society; some changes are for the better of the individual, others not so much. These changes can be caused by monetary gain, advancements in their field of work, or a group of new friends. For example, in the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Pip goes through many changes in hopes of appeasing the heart and standards of the gorgeous yet cold-hearted Estella, changes such as being eager to self-improve, becoming snobby, and being shameful of his origins. From very early in the novel you discover that Pip is ambitious to better himself. For example, after confronting Estella he wishes to become refined, “I took the opportunity of being alone/ to look at my coarse hands and my common clothes. My opinion of those accessories was not favorable. They had never troubled me before, but they troubled me now, as vulgar appendages. I determined to ask Joe why he had ever taught me to call/ jacks/ to be called knaves” (71). Here Pip is realizing that he himself, for example his clothing and knowledge, is not up to the standards of ‘high society’ and Estella, especially Estella. He is also realizing that if he wishes to have any chance of anchoring Estella’s heart he must get acquainted with finer clothing and become more knowledgeable. Then, Pip wants Biddy to teach to him every ounce of knowledge she has: “The felicitous idea occurred to me/ when I woke that the best step I could take...
Words: 1596 - Pages: 7
...Prose Study ‘Great Expectations’ How does Dickens use setting and characterization to interest and intrigue the reader? Throughout the novel, Dickens uses a range of techniques to interest and intrigue the reader. One way in which he does this is through the setting, which is the place and time in which the story takes place, also establishing the mood or atmosphere. Another method is characterization, the way the characters are portrayed, such as through their gestures and dialogue. All these devices help to arouse and sustain the reader’s curiosity and make us feel sympathy towards the character, which is especially shown in Pip’s initial encounter with Magwitch in the marshes and Pip’s first experience of visiting Miss Havisham and Estella in ‘Satis House.’ These represent different social situations, with Pip and Magwitch in the lower class, and Estella and Miss Havisham in the upper middle class. No matter which situation he is in, he still feels uncomfortable, and consequently we too feel a sense of uneasiness for him. In the Nineteenth Century, Dickens was a supporter of social reform, and therefore used his writing as a means of communicating his views to the readers. He wanted to make his Victorian readers, particularly the middle and upper classes, aware of some of the inequality in society, such as the lack of support, education and opportunity for the lower class. He was a sympathiser for the poor and the oppressed, especially...
Words: 3652 - Pages: 15
...Great Expectations by Charles Dickens In this essay I will be discussing Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. In this noel I will be looking at how dickens uses the weather and the setting to create suspense and tension. Dickens also used the main characters Pip and the convict to create suspense and tension by showing Pip as an orphan and the convict as a monster. This noel is about a little boy called Pip which thinks that money buys everything but by the help of the convict later on in his life he is going to find out that money doesn’t buy happiness. The most important thing in life is happiness and Pip finds that out as he falls in love with Estella and regrets his decision of choosing money over his friends and family. In this noel I look at how dickens uses his language to create a picture in the reader’s mind. Charles Dickens was born in 1812. His father worked for the Navy Pay office. Dickens had many chances to see Themes as he went with his father on boats and ashore. He attended a small school as his father couldn't earn much and back then people had to pay for schools to get educated and poor people couldn't afford to get educated. At the age of eleven Dickens and his family moved to London. Life was really hard in the central as his father didn't earn much Charles had to leave school. At his 12th birthday his parents had found him a job at the Warden’s Blacking Factory. The factory was described as a dirty and decayed warehouse which was over-run with rats...
Words: 4115 - Pages: 17
...In Great Expectations, Pip gets his life ruined by chasing after Estella, and in the original ending never got with her, and somewhat moved on with his life. However, in the alternate, romanticized ending, there is a possibility of Pip and Estella ending up together. Critic Martin Prince agrees with this second ending, because Pip matured and sees Estella as she really is, so they can get back together. However, this book is meant to be a coming-of-age tale, and therefore teach real life lessons. The alternate, “happy” ending of this book severely conflicts with the lesson this book is trying to teach. This ending is the equivalent of the witch in Hansel and Gretel giving them pots of gold and letting them go, or the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood throwing a surprise party for Little Red Riding Hood…..meaning that the ending doesn’t fit in the context of the story. And here are three reasons why the Disney ending of this story is completely wrong. The entire purpose of this story is to teach lessons to future generations about how it’s on the inside that counts, and that some things are just not meant to be. In Great Expectations, Pip loves Estella starting in childhood, and becomes a “gentleman” to try to please her. During this time he is so blinded by his stubborn love that he annihilates everybody who cares for him. Towards the end of story he realizes this, repairs his connections with his friends, and goes with Herbert to Egypt. Later, he then goes back to England, and...
Words: 938 - Pages: 4
...Dickens’s Demonstration of Social Class According to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, a religious text in Sikhism, “What good is social class and status? Truthfulness is measured within. Pride in one’s status is like poison- holding it in your hand and eating it, you shall die.” Charles Dickens, a famous author from Victorian England, shares a message very similar to this with his book Great Expectations. Although some people are born better off than others, Charles Dickens demonstrates through his portrayal of Miss Havisham, Magwitch, and Pip that social class should never measure one’s character, esteem, or happiness. Dickens criticizes the idea that a person’s social class displays an accurate representation of his or her character. Many of the upper class citizens in Great Expectations seem cruel and lack compassion, while the lower class act loving and kind. Wealthy Miss Havisham portrays this. The first time Pip enters Satis House, he notices her obvious lack of morals and empathy. When he meets Miss Havisham in her dressing room, Pip immediately observes, “I saw that everything within my view which ought to be white, had been white long ago, and had lost its lustre, and was faded and yellow. I saw that the bride within the bridal dress had withered like the dress, and like the flowers, and had no brightness left but the brightness of her sunken eyes,” (Dickens 59). The original “white” color of the dress represents innocence and happiness, both characteristics of which Pip...
Words: 1024 - Pages: 5
...Great Expectations The book Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is a very fascinating novel. Dickens does excellent by using the elements of fiction in order to write the novel. The main focus is to cover the plot, major characters, setting, point of view, theme, and symbols used in Great Expectations. After, viewing each element the reader will have a better understanding and appreciation for the novel. The plot that Dickens selects is shaped to reveal action and give the story a particular focus that draws the reader in. Pip is a young orphan that lives with his sister and her husband in Kent. Pip at the time was around seven years old sits in a cemetery one evening looking at his parents’ tombstones. “As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them, my first fancies regarding what they were like, were unreasonably derived from their tombstones” (p.3). Suddenly, an escaped convict comes up from behind a tombstone and grabs Pip. “O! Don’t cut my throat sir,” I pleaded in terror. “Pray don’t do it, sir” (p.4). He orders Pip to bring him food and a file for his leg irons. Pip obeys, but the fearsome convict is soon captured anyway. The convict protects Pip by claiming to have stolen the items himself. Pip is then taken by his Uncle Pumblechook to play at Satis House, the home of the wealthy Miss Havisham, who is eccentric and she wears an old wedding dress everywhere she goes and keeps all the clocks in her home stopped at the matching...
Words: 2184 - Pages: 9
...Jamie Hupfer 818 Shady Street Oak Tree Town, Florida 33808 10 February 2007 Date Irini Plantenberg Mr. Jake Greer Director of Customer Service for Liftoff Airways Title of recipient 44 Take Flight Way Soaring, Nebraska 27021 Dear u; I just got done reading this wonderful book and i just thought you should read it, If you liked Catcher In The Rye you will love great expectations by charles dickinson. Some of the similarities are that Great expectations is written in standard English with many colloquial and archaic words. As with catcher in the rye, written in American English and also has many colloquial words and is also written as if the main character is speaking (first person narrative) directly to you. Another similarity is that both are fictional autobiographies, narrated personally by the protagonists. Also Both novels are viewed as the protagonists revisiting their past experiences and passing them on to the reader. Some of the differences are the age difference between the two boys, Pip is 7-8 years of age while Holden is 15-16. Another big diffrenece is Great Expectations is a full life story, and you can tell by the very beginning, Pip starts by giving us a full background description of his self and his family, . Holden, on the other hand starts with the very quote " If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all...
Words: 408 - Pages: 2
...“My convict looked ound him for the first time, and saw me . . . I looked at him eagerly when he looked at me, and slightly moved my hands and shook my head”( ).The book Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Pip, a young orphan living with his sister and her husband in the marshes of Kent, sits in a cemetery one evening looking at his parents’ tombstones. Suddenly, an escaped convict springs up from behind a tombstone, grabs Pip, and orders him to bring him food and a file for his leg irons. Pip obeys, but the fearsome convict is soon captured anyway. The convict protects Pip by claiming to have stolen the items himself. Pip soughts(adj) to become a gentleman. Pip was ascertain a benefactor which he thought was an old lady name Ms.Havisham, Pip’s real benefactor was a convict name Magwitch who he never would have thought would be his benefactor. After Pip found who his real benefactor was he reacted different towards a lot situations regarding Magwitch. Great Expectations had many examples of irony. Irony is when something goes differently then expected. In the novel Charles Dickens used irony when Ms.Havisham regrets what she had done to Estella, when he revealed Estella’s parents, and Magwitch being Pip’s benefactor. Afterward ,Molly and Magwitch being Estella parents were very ironic. “Dear Magwitch I must tell you, no what last you understand what I say? A gentle pressure of my hand” You had child once, whom you loved and lost “A stranger pressure on my hand.” She...
Words: 883 - Pages: 4
...tions How does Dickens use of setting suit the characters of Magwitch and Mrs Havisham to the places they inhabit? Born on 7th February 1812, dickens lived through a time when social status was seen to be incredibly important. His book, “Great Expectations”, reflects on social status by showing what it does to people and that it is not as important as it seems. It takes us on a journey through a young, common labouring boys life into becoming an upper class Gentlemen. In Pips journey, there a two people that play a big role enabling him to become high in society. These two people are “Mrs Havisham” and “Magwitch”. Mrs Havisham has high social status living in a big house with money and all you could ever ask for. The name of her house is “satis house” which sounds like an abbreviated version of satisfaction. It gives the reader a sense of whoever living here has everything and no longer needs anything else, they are completely satisfied with life. Ironically, this is not the case with Mrs Havisham. She is completely unsatisfied with life. As a result of this she has become a very strange woman who has never left the house in more than 10 years. Besides the name, the house is very suited to Mrs Havisham. The house is made of and described as “of old brick and dismal”. In a sense, this is also a statement about Mrs Havisham. She is not made of old brick but she is refusing to move on and must stay as the “old brick“ and that she has also turned cold like bricks . Her life...
Words: 906 - Pages: 4
...Great Expectations by Charles Dickens In this essay I will be exploring the ways in which Charles Dickens builds tension in the novel great expectations. In this novel I will be discussing the main themes used by dickens to place the viewer in suspense and tension. Dickens focuses on the main characters like Pip and the convict in order to create tension and suspense as Pip was the main point of sympathy since he was presented as an orphan whilst the convict was illustrated as a monster. Great expectations is on the subject of a little boy called Pip who thinks that money will buy everything however through the help of the convict, soon after in his life he will discover that money will not obtain him joy. The most significant obsession in life is the theme of happiness which Pip finds at the subsequent stages of the novel where he catastrophically falls in love with Estella, therefore regrets his action of choosing money in excess of his friends and family. Whilst dickens uses descriptive language to assemble an image in the readers mind he also uses powerful language in order to involve the reader within the novel in addition to allow the reader experience the themes and emotions. This Essay will explore how Dickens builds tension throughout his novel using imagery and his powerful language in both the setting and weather in chapter 1 and 39 whilst exploring the emotions of two main characters Pip and the convict in chapter 1 and 39 of the novel. ...
Words: 4239 - Pages: 17
...Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Chapter 1 My father's family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip. So, I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip. I give Pirrip as my father's family name, on the authority of his tombstone and my sister -- Mrs. Joe Gargery, who married the blacksmith. As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like, were unreasonably derived from their tombstones. The shape of the letters on my father's, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair. From the character and turn of the inscription, "Also Georgiana Wife of the Above," I drew a childish conclusion that my mother was freckled and sickly. To five little stone lozenges, each about a foot and a half long which were arranged in a neat row beside their grave, and were sacred to the memory of five little brothers of mine – who gave up trying to get a living, exceedingly early in that universal struggle – I am indebted for a belief I religiously entertained that they had all been born on their backs with their hands in their trousers- pockets, and had never taken them out in this state of existence. Ours was the marsh country, down by the river, within, as the river wound, twenty miles of the sea. My first most vivid and...
Words: 1839 - Pages: 8
