Pip is presented to us as a lonely child who has suffered a huge loss early on in his life. We discover that he has lost his parents and a number of siblings. “…Were sacred to the memory of five little brothers of mine” This is important for a bildungsroman novel as the main character usually suffers a loss early on in life. This also helps us see how the main character deals and gets over this loss. “Old Pip” is reporting what “Young Pip” is saying and feeling “beginning to cry was Pip.” We also meet Pip in the graveyard indicating to us that he is upset and depressed. Pip is presented as a lonely young boy who is very emotional. “Small bundles of shivers growing afraid of it all and beginning to cry was Pip.” We can also tell that he is weak as he was very afraid to stand up to the convict. We discover that he is honest because when the convict asked him where he lives he tells the truth where he could have easily have lied. The meeting with the convict helps Pip set in motion his ‘great expectations’ as this encounter changes his life significantly in the future even though pip may not acknowledge it at this moment. This section of the novel again reinforces Pip’s vulnerability as he doesn’t stand up to the convict. “O! Don’t cut my throat sir; I pleaded in terror. Pray don’t do it sir” this also indicates that he has a belief in god.
Pip has had a hard upbringing and this is reflected in his home life. We are told that Pip was brought up by his sister who is a harsh woman. “She brought me up by hand.” This can be interpreted as being beaten or pushed. This creates sympathy and helps us to understand why he wants to change. Mrs Joe is a key character in this novel as she plays a major role in Pip’s life. She helps us understand the social structure of the novel and also helps us understand why Pip changes and develops. In addition we discover that Pip lives in a religious household and that his sister thinks of the hose as a church. “My sister way vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.” This indicates that Pip’s sister has a lot of self pride and likes to impress people. Not all of Pip’s life is bad as he can talk to Joe as he thinks of him as an equal. He feels secure with Joe even though he is older. It is important for us to see Pip in his home life. We can see where he starts of and ends up and to contrast his change. The robbery of the pie gives an even greater insight into what kind of person Pip is. “I fully expected to find a constable in the kitchen, waiting to take me up.” This shows us that he has a vivid imagination and has a very big conscience. He thinks that he will be severely punished by god as well. This also implies he was taught that if he stole or lied he would go to prison.
We learn that Pip has received a poor education even though he goes to school in the evening. His teacher is not very bright and committed. “She was a ridiculous old woman of limited means and unlimited infirmity.” This portrays the historical context of the novel. We learn that people of lower class in Victorian times didn’t receive an education. The ones who did, obtained a poor one. Pip thinks his education is a joke and doesn’t have much use as he is going to become Joe’s apprentice when he grows older. Although Pip wants to become something of himself he thinks he won’t get anywhere in life. Even though Pip is much younger than Joe he is more educated than Joe. This is quite a surprise and it also shocks Pip. This makes Pip think that he can better himself. This also makes Pip think of himself as Joe’s equal and he also feels sorry for Joe. “I always treated him as a larger species of child and no more than my equal.”
Pip is invited to play with Estella at Satis house. We expect to see the social status aspect of the bildungsroman genre in this section of the novel. As Ms Havisham is of much higher class and much richer than Pip, we see how Pip is made aware of his social status. The language used by Ms Havisham and Estella is more formal and sophisticated than that used by Pip. “Don’t be loiter boy.” We can see a clear distinction in class. Estella is disappointed by Pip. She is very arrogant and thinks she’s more superior to Pip. She is domineering which makes Pip feel uncomfortable. Pip addresses her as “Miss” even though they are of similar age. Also Estella addresses him as “Boy” showing that she is the one in control. This makes Pip more self-conscious and makes him feel inferior. The way Estella criticises his appearance makes him hate his physical appearance even though it had never bothered him before. “I was a common labouring-boy; that my hands were coarse, that my boots were thick;” This reinforces the notion of Pip’s ‘Great Expectations.’ Joe confronts Pip and tells him that they are different and that they will always look down at him. We expect to see Pip trying to change himself in later chapters of the novels de to the events that occurred at his visit to Satis house.
Satis house represents Pip’s stepping stone into the higher class society. It is a place of money and wealth it is also a place of sophistication. The style of narration that “Old Pip” uses makes it clear that Pip is choosing a wealthy and upper class lifestyle. Dickens shows how Pip mixes with upper class people like Ms Havisham. He starts calling people of higher class rude name “that ass Pumblechook.” This indicates that Pip believes he can better and have a higher status. Pip begins to consider people like Mr Pumlechock as his equal. Pip’s guilt over punching the Pale Young Gentleman shows that he is starting to conform to upper class morals as he thinks he will go to jail because he attacked someone of higher class than him. “I felt that the Pale Young Gentleman’s blood was on my hand and that the law would avenge it.” This once again reinforces Pip’s huge conscience and vivid imagination.
When Joe and Pip go to Satis House we can see the clear difference between Joe and Pip and how they are growing further and further apart. Joe thinks that he is not worthy of talking to Ms Havisham and Pip is. “Joe persistent in addressing me instead of Ms Havisham.” When Pip admits his misery over being apprenticed to Joe’s trade we are made to dislike him as he is becoming egotistical and assuming that he will become better than everyone else. This also makes us feel sympathetic towards Joe. Dickens has slowly prepared us for Pip’s admittance by justifying why Pip is like this and Pip feeling bad about it. The reader’s sympathy for Pip changes as we start to think he is to bigheaded. This shows the change of Pip and fits into the bildungsroman genre as it charts Pip’s development as a character.
In chapter 15 we can see the ungratefulness of Pip and what he thinks of Joe. “I wanted to make Joe less ignorant and common, that he might be worthier of my society and less open to Estella’s reproach.” This shows that Pip thinks Joe is “ignorant” and “common” and wants Joe to be more like him. He thinks he’s an embarrassment. This shows Pip’s loyalties towards Joe is now less and his feelings for Estella are stronger. Pip’s impatience over Joe when he suggests a visit to Ms Havisham illustrates that he is very forceful and thinks that he is better than Joe. It also shows that he fond of Ms Havisham and the idea of being an upper class person. When pip is feeling guilt about his sister being attacked he just mentions it for a bit and doesn’t think much about it. This differs from previous incidents like when he was feeling guilty about the Pale Young Gentleman. Previously he made a big deal about it but over the attack on his sister he doesn’t. This shows that he is changing and we are made to dislike him. “See how I am going on. Dissatisfied and uncomfortable and what would it signify to me, being coarse and common, if nobody has told me so!” This comment suggests the desire and social aspect of the bildungsroman genre. He wants more out of life when he didn’t know that he could get it he didn’t care but now he knows what he wants.
When Pip is told of his “Great Expectations” he thinks all his dreams have come true and that he is going to be better in life. Even though Pip puts Joe down, he still gives him support and encourages him. Pip feels alone and isolated at the end of chapter 18 because he thinks he can’t associate with people he loves like Joe because he is of higher class than them. When Pip meets Mr Pumblechook he is friendly with him because he is now at the same class as him. Pip shows his real change because he starts talking down to people like Joe showing he is snobbish. Pip also wants Joe to be like him but he is also stating Joe is quite lower than him. Pip still doesn’t have everything he still needs to achieve love from Estella. In the novel, Pip has developed from an innocent child to an established member of society. “Great Expectations” fits the bildungsroman genre as he adopts a social order to the extent that he becomes a part of it. It is very clear in charting Pip’s change because of the clear language changes and his attitude. “Great Expectations” is not a traditional bildungsroman because the protagonist goes beyond growing up and tells his own story as an older omnipotent narrator. The novel fits and developed the genre in many ways. It is a love story as he is in love with Estella and a mystery ad he doesn’t know what is going to happen.