“I was dreadfully frightened, and so giddy that I clung to him”
It could be suggested that it is just fear of the situation he was in, like many of us would probably experience, but maybe it reaches further than that. It may be that Pips character is gradually realizing that he is substantially alone in his world and that harmful things do occur, moreover he has to stick up for himself.
In my opinion, the most important occurrence in Pip so far is the point in which pip is forced by Mrs Joe Gargery to confront Ms Havisham and in turn Estella. The meeting with Ms Havisham makes Pip immediately feel uncomfortable and he also feels the need to change himself.
‘Though I was not at all at my ease regarding the manner in which I should acquit myself under that lady’s roof.’
Pips relationship with Estella does not get off to a great start as Pips character is instantaneously ill - treated:
‘She seemed much older than I, of course, being a girl, and beautiful and possessed; and she was as scornful of me’
From that moment onwards Pip carried a torch for Estella, this taught him that the path of true love never runs smooth. It also caused him immense pain at times. Estella realizing this constantly played with his feelings and emotions.
Estella along with many other characters in Great Expectations made Pip feel ashamed about his self:
‘I had never thought of being ashamed of my hands before; but I began to consider them a very indifferent pair.’
But even this just made his character stronger, more developed as he soon becomes infatuated with her; this in a way makes him more educated and mature.
Miss Havisham also has a large impact on Pip. Miss Havisham encourages Estella to break Pips heart, but Pip remains unscarred and still tries impressing her. She even at the end of Part 1 makes Pip reject his own world by filling him with dislike. Pip begins to hate the world that he had once loved and he goes to biddy for lessons on how to be ‘uncommon’. He even refuses to do the blacksmith trade when he receives the 2-pound notes, as he is too ashamed of his only family.
‘I had liked it once, but once was not now’
Later on in the play Pip gets in to a fight with a pale gentleman in the Satis house. This, for Pip is a life altering adventure. Firstly, he suprises himself when he learns his own strength after giving the boy a black eye. One can later see the conscience-striken young boy that Pip has progressed to. He also shows the extent of his fear towards Ms Havisham:
‘Miss Havisham, preferring to take personal vengeance for an outrage done to her house, might rise in those grave-clothes of hers, draw a pistol, and shoot me dead’
In short, Pip’s character has greatly developed from a frail, abused young boy to a powerful, respectful boy learning the meaning of true love and the dangers of life. Abandoning his own family to make something of his life. His character has come so far in Part 1 and I predict will develop much more later in the story.
