Pip has a deep desire to improve himself and attain any possible advancement, whether educational, moral, or social. When Pip reaches London, he faces choices that he himself has to make. Pip decides to join a club in London, where he chooses to spend extravagantly, and soon finds himself in great debt, “they are mounting up, Handel”. Although Pip disguised himself as a man of class and money, he began to consider differently, “[My Great Expectations] influence on my own character, I disguised from my recognition as much as possible, but I knew very much that it was not all good.” Similar as Pip, Mr. Wopsle also moved to London with great expectations. Pip and Mr. Wopsle are parallel due to them both failing in what they seek to do. Pip came to London to make his fortune, but made worse dept than before.
The discovery that Magwitch, not the wealthy Miss Havisham, is his secret benefactor shatters Pip’s oversimplified sense of his world’s hierarchy, “Miss Havisham’s intentions towards me, all a mere dream.” The fact that he comes to admire Magwitch while losing Estella to the rough nobleman Drummle finally forces him to realize that one’s social position is not the most important quality one possesses, and that his behavior as a gentleman has caused him to hurt the people who care about him most. Pip truthfully regrets resenting Joe, “But, sharpest and deepest pain of all -… that I had deserted Joe” and he pleads for forgiveness, which shows that he no longer feels superior to Joe, “I want forgiveness and direction for too much, to be bitter with you.” Pip proves individual character and courage when asking money from Miss Havisham for Herbert. Pip’s returning kindness allows the reader to create compassion and belief in Pip’s character again.
Great Expectations presents the growth and development of a single character, Philip Pirrip, better known to himself and to the world as Pip. As the focus of Pip is by far the most important character in Great Expectations he is both the protagonist, whose actions make up the main plot of the novel, and the narrator, whose thoughts and attitudes create the reader’s observation of the story.
On his journey throughout the novel Pip encounters with a variety of people, some of which possess true “gentility” and some of which only appear to possess “gentility”. One who possesses true gentility is Herbert Pocket. Pip first meets Herbert in the garden of Satis House, when, as a pale young gentleman, Herbert challenges him to a fight. As young as he was, Herbert already held true gentleman qualities. Herbert and Pip’s fight did not last long, as Pip was clearly the winner. This, although did not bother Herbert and as genteel as he was, he said “That means you have won” and “Thankee”. Years later, they meet again in London, and Herbert becomes Pip’s best friend and key companion after Pip’s elevation to the status of gentleman.
The very first time Pip and Herbert meet after their encounter as children, they take an immediate liking to one another; Herbert is cheerful and open, and Pip feels that his easy good nature is a contrast to his own awkward diffidence. Whereas Pip’s fortune has been made for him, Herbert is an impoverished gentleman who hopes to become a shipping merchant. As when a child, Herbert’s gentility is recognized, “I daresay we shall be often together, and I should like to banish any needless restraint between us. Will you do me a favor to begin at once to cal me by my Christian name, Herbert?” Pip asks Herbert to help him learn to be a gentleman, showing no signs of jealousy and, after a feast; the two agree to live together. Herbert subtly corrects Pip’s poor table manners, gives him the nickname “Handel”. Herbert explained to Pip, “There can be no competition or perplexity between you and me”. Herbert’s genteel manner clears Pip’s generalization of how Gentlemen should behave. Also Pip acquaints with a true gentleman, although he might not realize it at this time.
A plain, simple, kindhearted country girl, Biddy first befriends Pip when they attend school together. Biddy was Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s granddaughter and was an orphan like Pip himself; like Pip too, she had been brought up by hand. After Mrs. Joe is attacked and becomes invalid, Biddy moves into Pip’s home to care for her. Biddy retains true genteel qualities, which Pip has learnt from over time. As from young, Pip admired Biddy’s kindness, “You are one of those, Biddy, who make the most out of every chance. You never had the chance before you came here and see how improved you are!” Biddy, being treated good or bad by Pip, always remained clam and polite towards him, this demonstrates that she was respectful and civil, “If only I could get myself to fall in love with you – you don’t mind my speaking so openly to such an old acquaintance?” – Pip “Oh, dear, not at all! Don’t mind me” – Biddy. Although Biddy lacks some aspects of a “gentleman” such as proper education and financial issues, she recites the inner aspects needed to be a “gentleman”. Biddy teaches Pip to accept who he is and to appreciate himself and his surroundings. At the end of the novel he realizes that no external standard of value can replace the judgments of one’s own conscience. Even thought Biddy’s status isn’t above on the hierarchy, she accepts whom she is, which is one of the most important features of being a true “gentleman”.
A fearsome criminal, escapes from prison at the beginning of Great Expectations and terrorizes Pip in the cemetery. Pip’s kindness, however, makes a deep impression on him, and he subsequently devotes himself to making a fortune and using it to elevate Pip into a higher . Behind the scenes, he becomes Pip’s secret benefactor, funding Pip’s education and opulent lifestyle in London through the lawyer . Although Magwitch’s appearance and background of a gentleman is absent, his inner self contains all the necessary elements of a true gentleman. “Look’ee here, Pip. I’m your second father. You’re my son—more to me nor any son. I’ve put away money, only for you to spend. When I was a hired-out shepherd in a solitary hut, not seeing no faces but faces of sheep till I half-forgot wot men’s and women’s faces wos like.” The quote is important for what it reveals about Magwitch’s character: previously, the convict has seemed menacing, mysterious, and frightening; with this quote, we receive our first glimpse of his extraordinary inner nobility, manifested through the powerful sense of loyalty he feels toward Pip. After Pip knows that Magwitch is his benefactor, Pip learns that he had been acting very rude and inconsiderate towards the people who loved him.
Pip’s brother-in-law, the village blacksmith, stays with his overbearing, abusive wife—known as —solely out of love for Pip. Joe’s quiet goodness makes him one of the few completely sympathetic characters in Great Expectations, “Home was never a pleasant place for me, because of my sister’s temper. But Joe had sanctified it.” Though the respect he pays Joe is clearly admirable, Pip the narrator passes to Joe all the credit for his behavior. He says in Chapter 14, “It was not because I was faithful, but because Joe was faithful.” Although Joe is uneducated and unrefined, he consistently acts for the benefit of those he loves. Similar to Magwitch, Joe’s appearance and background of a gentleman is absent, but his inner self guarantees that he has the qualities. Joe easily forgives which displays that he has Christian values, “we don’t know what you have done but we wouldn’t have you starved to death for it, poor miserable fellow-creatur.- would us, Pip?” Joe said to Pip when the convict explained that he took some food from their home. Not only did Joe forgive easily, he had great respect for women, “I’m dead afeerd of going wrong in the way of not doing what’s right by a woman, and I’d fur rather of the two go wrong the t’other way, and be a little illconwenienced myself.” Joe had a very deprived childhood, his father mistreated his mother. This affected him terribly and leading to his kind attitude towards women. When Pip treated Joe coldly, he suffered in silence, but still forgave Pip for what he had done. Joe taught Pip to be who he is and taught him to appreciate values that he had.
Along with Herbert, Biddy, Magwitch and Joe, there are other similar characters where Pip has learnt true “gentility” from. Mathew Pocket was one of the few Pockets who was morally correct and did not take advantage of Ms. Havisham. Mathew Pocket stated to his son Herbert that “no man who was not a true gentleman at heart ever was, since the world began, a true gentleman in manner.” Mathew was very hospitable towards Pip when he first arrived in London, “Belinda, I hope you have welcomed Mr. Pip?” Mathew had the chance to make a good career, having studied at Harrow and at Cambridge, but he gave his fortune up for him wife, Mrs. Pocket.
Wemmick and Jaggers are two more character in Great Expectations who demonstrate true gentility. Wemmick’s split personality—he acts hard and cynical in Jaggers’s office but wry and merry at home in Walworth—confuses Pip, but it also emphasizes the inner goodness beneath Wemmick’s cold exterior. His insistence on obtaining “portable property” and his good-natured teasing of his “Aged Parent” give him two of his most memorable catchphrases, which he uses throughout the novel. Wemmick gives Pip advice relating survival and strength, “if you have an idea, carry it out and keep it up”. The powerful, foreboding lawyer, Jaggers As one of the most important criminal lawyers in London, Jaggers is privy to some dirty business; he consorts with vicious criminals, and even they are terrified of him. But there is more to Jaggers than his impenetrable exterior. He often seems to care for Pip, and before the novel begins he helps Miss Havisham to adopt the orphaned Estella. After the magical appearance of his wealth, adolescent Pip seems to treat as a kind of distant father figure, referring to him repeatedly as “my guardian” and allowing him to set the parameters for his life in London. Although Jagger’s bullying exterior, he clearly wins ease by many of the citizens of London, “The stronger gentleman, with an air of authority not to be disputed, and with a manner expressive of knowing something secret about every one of us that would effectually do for each individual f he chose to disclose it…”
A friend of Pip’s and Herbert’s., , is a delicate young man who, with Pip and Drummle, takes tutelage with Matthew Pocket. “Startop had been spoilt by a weak mother, and kept at home when he ought to have been at school, but he was devotedly attached to her, and admired her beyond measure” This foreshadows that Startop is a very kind and generous person, who forgives and respects others. Later on in great Expectations, Startop helps Pip and Herbert with Magwitch’s escape. Startop is a true friend towards Pip, which Pip realizes and acknowledged.
In sharp contrast to the characters with true “gentility”, Great Expectations comprises several superficial gentlemen. Compeyson, a criminal and former partner of Magwitch is one of these “gentleman”. is an educated, gentlemanly outlaw who contrasts sharply with the coarse and uneducated Magwitch. With his fake generosity, sneaky mind, and his incredible looks, Compeyson escaped many convictions and jail. Compeyson wasn’t a very reliable partner in crime. As Magwitch says in Chapter 42, “He set up fur a gentleman, this Compeyson . . . He was a smooth one to talk, and was a dab at the ways of gentle-folks”. As a result, Compeyson was able to negotiate a light sentence at his trial, while the rough-edged Magwitch received a heavier one. He had already driven his accomplice, Arthur, into alcoholism and madness. Arthur was driven to despair by the memory of a wealthy woman he and Compeyson had once victimized. This woman was then the young loving Ms. Havisham. Compeyson agreed to happily marry her, but on the day of their marriage he jilted Ms. Havisham. Towards the end of Great Expectations, Compeyson attacks Magwitch in the ocean, both go under, but only Magwitch returns to the surface of the water. Compeyson’s horrible nature and character allows Pip to realize that appearance is not the main quality a gentleman should posses.
The man, Arthur Havisham who have driven to despair by Compeyson was not much better than him. Arthur, brother to Ms. Havisham plotted together with Compeyson in order to trick her out of a large some of money due to his father’s decision not to leave Arthur with any property. Arthur and Compeyson’s plan succeeded and broke Ms. Havisham’s heart. Driven mad by guilt, Arthur later dies at Compeyson’s house.
As well as Compeyson, Bentley Drummle is a man wearing the mask of a gentleman. Drummle is an oafish, unpleasant young man who attends tutoring sessions with Pip at the Pockets’ house. He is a minor member of the nobility, and the sense of superiority this gives him makes him feel justified in acting cruelly and harshly toward everyone around him. “Drummle, without any threat or warning pulled his hands out of his pockets, dropped his round shoulders, swore, took up a large glass, and would have flung it at his adversary’s head…”, this quote supports the idea that Drummle is a man of violence and aggression. “Drummle laughed outright, and sat laughing in our faces”, this supports that he allowed himself to mock others in their presence. Later on in the novel, Estella becomes engaged to Drummle, breaking Pips heart. The man that Drummle is, he provoked Pip about this, “then Drummle glanced at me, with an insolent triumph on his great-jowled face that cut me to the heart”. Eleven years after Drummle married Estella, he dies, and Estella congregates with Pip again. Drummle’s character possessed some of the qualities of a gentleman such as the background and wealth, but he neglected certain qualities such as generosity, respect and his moral behavior.
The Pockets are a great example of showing false gentility. Camilla, Raymond and Sarah Pocket (Mathew Pocket’s wife) are relatives of Ms. Havisham. Ones a year, on Ms. Havisham’s birthday they come and visit her at her home. Their genteel character shown towards Ms. Havisham is a plan to inherit her money. Their reason to visit Ms. Havisham is only to convince her of their care and love towards her so Ms. Havisham would give them some money. “Dear Ms. Havisham, how well do you look!” said Ms. Sarah Pocket, “I do not” Ms. Havisham replied coldly. This shows that Ms. Havisham knows the reason the Pockets pay visits to her. The Pockets reason for visiting their family member is a sharp contrast to the genteel qualities a person should possess. After all their sweet talk and adulating, the Pockets didn’t receive any money or possessions of Ms. Havisham.
It is necessary to examine all the qualities a true gentleman should possess. Although in the Victorian era there were different views on what makes a gentleman, throughout his journey, Pip learned more about gentility and what it takes to be a true gentleman. At the end of this novel, Great Expectations, Pip summed up all the qualities desired to be a true gentleman. These qualities included upbringing and education, financial status, social standing, moral views such as Christianity, occupation, respect, politeness, aristocratic attitude and civilized. Every character who appeared in Great Expectations taught Pip a few things about true gentility, whether it was negative or positive.
“No man who was not a true gentleman at heart, ever was, since the world began, a true gentleman in manner. He says, no varnish can hide the grain of the wood; and that the more varnish you put on, the more the grain will express itself” This advice was given by Mathew Pocket. I feel that Dickens tried to explains that a true gentle man has to posses the qualities on the inside before having them on the outside.
