Great Expectations- Character Analysis Essay - 10289 Words

Estella Havisham: Most readers are appalled at the cold-hearted and cruel ways of Estella, but any criticism directed at her is largely undeserved. She was simply raised in a controlled environment where she was, in essence, brainwashed by Miss Havisham. Nonetheless, her demeanor might lead one to suspect that she was a girl with a heart of ice. Estella is scornful from the moment she is introduced, when she remarks on Pips coarse hands and thick boots. However, her beauty soon captivates Pip and she is instilled as the focal point of his thoughts for much of the remainder of the novel. The fact that Pip becomes infatuated with her is also not Estellas fault. By no means is there any evidence that she loved him. She does not flirt with†¦show more content†¦The entire story is told through the eyes of an adult Pip, even though Pip is a small child during parts of it. In his early years, Pip was strongly influenced by his guardians, Joe Gargery and his wife, Mrs. Joe. Joe instills a sense of ho nesty, industry, and friendliness in Pip, while Mrs. Joe does a great deal to contribute to his desires and ambitions through her constant emphasis on pomp and property. Pip is generally good-natured and thoughtful, and very imaginative. His false values, which are bolstered by his love of Estella, decrease the amount of respect that he has for Joe. His alienation from Joe and Joes values builds through the second part of the novel, as Pip becomes selfish, greedy, and foolish. During the period when his expectations are intact, his only morally positive act was to secretly help Herbert Pocket into a good position. Upon discovering that Magwitch is his benefactor, a new phase begins in Pips moral evolution. At first, Pip no longer feels the same human compassion for Magwitch that he did the first time he saw him out on the marshes. Gradually, Pip changes his perception of Magwitch, unlearning what he has learned. Pip becomes concerned with the man, and not the expectations that he co uld provide. When Jaggers presents the thought that there may be a way for Pip to get his hands on Magwitchs property, the idea sounds hollow and utterly empty to Pip. Pip learns about Estellas parentage throughShow MoreRelatedCharacter Analysis Of Great Expectations1308 Words   |  6 PagesIn the book Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, a young man named Pip sets out on a journey to become a gentleman, even though he comes from a poor family. As he moves to the big city and starts living more and more like a gentleman he starts leaving his past behind him. To even become a gentleman he had to leave his best friend behind, his home behind and his former job. Throughout his journey to become part of high society he meets several wealthy people who both Pip and the reader aren’t veryRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Great Expectations1475 Words   |  6 Pages Great Expectations written by Charles Dickens was about the path of life for one fellow, his name was Pip. Pip grew up in a small rural village but soon his life would pull him into the busy streets of London. Dickens would use this young child with a rocky family background to share hardships, love, sadness, and realization in order to add familiarity to his readers, making him a relatable character. Dickens wrote this book to be able to give insight into the social reforms that were slowly startingRead MoreGreat Expectations Character Analysis - Pip767 Words   |  4 PagesQuestion 4.) Although literary critics have tended to praise the unique and litereray characterization many authors have employed the sterotype characters successfully. Select a novel or play and analyze how a conventional or stereotype character function to achieve the authors purposes. In current times, it is evident that a writer will use characters that stick out from the norm in some way. They may have a stereotypical background, but the characters story has some type of content that willRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Abel Magwitch In Great Expectations878 Words   |  4 PagesAbel Magwitch is a critical character from Great Expectations. He starts off as a frightening escaped convict, but as the novel goes on, it is revealed that he is Pip’s benefactor- causing Pip’s whole world to change. The ideal actor for the role of Magwitch is Ian Mckellen. Mckellen would be great in this film because he has experience playing characters that show great emotions. He can play someone violent and dangerous as well as someone caring and emotional. One film series, starring MckellenRead MoreCharacter Analysis in Pip in Charles Dickens ´ Great Expectations1542 Words   |  7 Pagesnext Harvard Graduate, or the next new celebrity. But, these expectations can begin to define a person if he believes he has to conform to societys expectations. In Charles Dickens novel Great Expectations, young Pip feels the pressure from society and his love, Estella, to become a gentleman. By attempting to rise in his social class Pip then abandons his previous good morals and his family members when he moves to London. Each character has aspirations for Pip which he believes he must fulfillRead MoreCharles Dickens Great Expectations964 Words   |  4 PagesTITLE Throughout Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, minor characters help in the development of Pip and his psychological state. The novel journeys with Pip as he grows from a poor, young boy to an adult in the upper class. Difficult situations, suspense, and dynamic characters fill the novel. Julian Moynahan, a professor emeritus of literature at Rutgers University, analyzed Dickens’ novel and produced excellent parallels between a select few of the characters in her work â€Å"Parallels Between PipRead MorePip’s Character Change in Charles Dickens Great Expectations1173 Words   |  5 PagesPip’s Character Change in Charles Dickens Great Expectations Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens is a compelling story rich in friendship, love and fortune. The main character, Pip, is a dynamic character that undergoes many changes through the course of the book and throughout this analysis, the character Pip, will be identified and his gradual change through the story will be quoted and explained. The main character, Pip, is a gentle character. His traits include Read MoreEssay about Settings in Great Expectations928 Words   |  4 PagesDickens uses settings in Great Expectations to enhance our understanding of character and the symbolic elements of the plot - Great expectations Show how Dickens uses settings in Great Expectations to enhance our understanding of character and the symbolic elements of the plot. As we notice in the novel Great Expectations, Charles Dickens uses many different narrative techniques other than the usual description. One of these techniques is that of describing character through a specificRead MoreCritical Analysis Of Great Expectations1449 Words   |  6 Pagesperforms a number of functions, and among these are helping us to understand the world, and helping us to understand the human condition. What is taken from a work of fiction is, however, dependant on who is reading it at the time. In the case of Great Expectations there are a number of themes running through the text including betterment through education, what it is to be a gentleman, respectability and crime, parental /family ties, and industry and idleness. Many of the original readers of the workRead MoreEssay Summary and Analysis of Dickens Great Expectations548 Words   |  3 PagesGreat Expectations is a comprehensive novel written by Charles Dickens and shows a moral development of a child. Pip, the main character in the story, is a young orphaned child that lives with his sister and her husband, Joe. He is raised and spends hi s childhood in the area with Joe, his acquaintance. On a special day, Uncle Pumblechook takes Pip to go play at Miss Havisham’s house. Miss Havisham is very eccentric as she keeps all the clocks in her house kept at the same time and still wears her