Austin Richardson
Mitchell – 1
3/19/00
English
What Themes?
Themes are often displayed in novels to show that there is some thing people can learn. In the novel The Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, themes are often displayed as a role in the book. Themes play an important part of the novel; some of which are learning through suffering and corruption by wealth and power.
Herbert and Pip are good examples of displaying the theme, learning through suffering. Herbert learns by balling into debt and learning how to get a job and earn money himself. Although Pip helps in finding this job for Herbert, he still learned how to gain an increase in his pay. Herbert suffered greatly when he fell into debt. He did not know what to do, so Pip helps him by finding him a job and getting started. Pip learns that Estella is not meant for him and suffered a great deal because of this knowledge. At the time he thought that Miss Havisham is his benefactor, he thought the she wants Pip and Estella to be married. He waits patiently for the day when Miss Havisham will tell Pip that Pip and Estella are to be married, but that day never came. When Pip finds out who his benefactor is, he is very disappointed to learn that he is not meant for Estella and felt hurt because of this tragic event. Learning through suffering is an important theme portrayed in this novel and many others.
