Great Expectations - 1110 Words

Great Expectations offers a diversity of interpretations so various responders will be engaged by the text. The main character, Pip, is used to establish the journey of a young boy’s life as he learns the true meaning of life and what values are most important. Dickens uses a range of characters to show Pip learning this lesson and to provide insights into various aspects of the Victorian era culture. Characters such as Joe and Magwitch provide an insight into the education and the crime and justice systems of Victorian England, along the importance of social class and wealth. Whilst, Estella and Miss Havisham provide an insight into the position of women and the inequality of power between the genders. Throughout the novel†¦show more content†¦Through the crime and justice system Dickens explores the unfair treatment and conditions endured by those in the lower classes because of their position in society. This portrays a Marxists reading as it shows how little power lower-class citizens were given because of their wealth and class. Another cultural aspect explored within Great Expectations is the position of women. Living in a patriarchal society women had few rights or opportunities. Women had little power, and the power they did possess was limited. Dickens compares the balance of power between men and women, thus creating a feminist reading. Dickens uses the female characters in the novel to convey the inequality amongst men and women. Characters such as Miss Havisham and Estella are used to show how some women did have power and explore how they were able to use their power within a male-dominated society. Miss Havisham is a strange and unique character which Dickens uses to portray the power and position of women in society. Miss Havisham is a wealthy dowager who lives in a rotting mansion and wears an old wedding dress every day of her life. Her life is defined by a single tragic event: her jilting by Compeyson on what was to have been their wedding day. From that moment forth, Miss Havisham is determined never to move beyond her heartbreak. This presents the lack of power Miss Havisham possesses as she hasShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Great Expectations 1026 Words   |  5 Pagesnovel, Great Expectations, Pip’s brother-in-law, Joe, is considered to be one of the most dependable and loyal characters to Pip, despite having adverse personalities. For example, where Pip is known to be zealous and eager to move forward with things at almost any cost, Joe is more of a steady, content man who would much rather stay in the comfortable quarters living of his own home. As a result, J oe is one of the most bona fide and pleasant characters to the reader in â€Å"Great Expectations†. As PipRead MoreGreat Expectations Essay822 Words   |  4 PagesGreat expectations coursework My essay is going to be about the 1876 edition novel ‘Great Expectations.’ The author of this novel is Charles Dickens. When the novel opens we meet Pip as a rather young child. Pip is the narrator as well as the main character. This is known as the first person. Pip as an adult talks about Pip as a child. He talks about his life as a child and how it was a struggle without his parents being around to help him. This makes it interesting to read. DickensRead MoreBenefactors In Great Expectations1164 Words   |  5 PagesBenefactors In the British classic Great Expectations, Charles Dickens uses a pair of benefactors who greatly contrast each other to represent the dual social mindsets of society. Elusive convict Abel Magwitch appears hostile to readers in the beginning of the story, but he later reveals himself as a selfless laborer, working vigorously to finance young Pip’s journey into becoming a gentleman. In contrast, Miss Havisham is a venerable old woman who was jilted on her wedding day and raises her adoptedRead MoreEssay On Great Expectations820 Words   |  4 Pages1. Discuss the process of growth that Pip undergoes in the book. What are his values and goals early in the story, and how do they differ at the end of the novel? What events and experiences cause this transformation? Throughout Great Expectations, Pip undergoes many changes in his values and goals. Early in the story, Pip visits Miss Havisham and Estella. After this, he starts to think about how he is just â€Å"‘a common laboring-boy’† (65), and he becomes ashamed of his social status. This day sparksRead MoreSummary Of Great Expectations 1612 Words   |  7 PagesKaylee-Anna Jayaweera Mr. DiGiulio Honors Freshmen English 7 November 2014 Life by Chance, Gentleman by Choice In this novel, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Pip is a common boy whose expectations arise once he encounters an immensely â€Å"rich and grim lady† (Dickens 56) who appears as a â€Å"wax-work and skeleton seem(ing) to have dark eyes that only moved (to) look at (Pip)† (57). This first simple encounter sparks a collection of decisions and manipulations that kickoff the plot to the storyRead MoreDickens Great Expectations1378 Words   |  6 PagesDickens Great Expectations In this essay, I will compare the presentation of Pip as a young boy with that of Pip as an adult in Great Expectations. This novel is about a young orphan boy Pip who is given great expectations, when an unknown benefactor gives him money to become a gentleman. In the process he travels to London, deserting the people who care for him. This is a typical Victorian novel in that it has sentimental deathbed scenes such as Magwhichs whichRead MoreEssay on Great Expectations1619 Words   |  7 PagesIn Charles Dickens’ novel, Great Expectations, the main character named Pip suffers through a conflict of confusing good and bad people. He repeatedly disregards the people that love and care for him and instead chooses to care for people who do not care for him. When making these choices, Pip senses that he is making the wrong decisions and therefore confuses good and bad and also confuses himself. After Pip first meets Estella, he begins to dislike everything he has ever known. He is uncomfortableRead MoreRevenge in the Great Expectations1745 Words   |  7 PagesREVENEGE IN THE GREAT EXPECTATIONS NAME: TARYN LUU| DATE: NOVEMBER 13, 2012| COURSE: ENG4U9-A| TEACHER: K, VILCIUS Revenge is a primary theme in the novel Great Expectation by Charles Dickens. In this novel, many characters go out of their way to extract revenge, leading them to misfortunes such as death and imprisonment. Dickens makes it very clear that nothing positive can come from revenge through his characters and the results that come from their revenge. These acts range from petty resentmentRead More Analysis of Great Expectations1266 Words   |  6 Pagessettings of Great Expectations are Pip’s homes, one home that he lives in during his childhood in Kent, England, and the other that he lives in when he is grown in London, England. Social status was a big deal in the mid-nineteenth century. The rich were highly respected and liked by all, and the poor were treated unkindly and were sometimes made fun of. The rich could have any job that they liked, but the poor would almost always take over the job that their father had. The narrator of Great ExpectationsRead MoreGreat Expectation s Essay5691 Words   |  23 PagesDerick Sackos Great Expectations: Chapter 1 Questions 1. The novel is written in what point of view? – The novel is in 1st person. 2. Where does the opening scene take place? – It takes place in a churchyard. 3. What is Pips full name? – Pip’s full name is Philip Pirrip. 4. Where are Pips parents? – They are dead and buried in the churchyard. 5. With whom does Pip live? – Pip lives with his sister and her husband. 6. What does Joe Gargery do for a living? - Joe is a blacksmith