This is the opening statement of Dickens’s novel and it shows us how simple the young Pip was before his expectations ever began. You suspect he calls himself Pip because of his wild imagination and the thinking that goes through his mind, when he combines his Christian and family name together. By the boy calling himself by Pip, it shows the childish youthfulness of his character, as Pip is a youthful name compared to the likes of Phillip which sounds more grown and older. By Pip calling himself by that name especially, shows his humbleness as it doesn’t sound high class and is very formal, but he seems to like the name Pip
“…I supposed that both Joe Gargery and I were brought up by hand.”
Again said by Pip, this quote explains Pip’s meaning of being brought up by hand, which is by being beaten by his sister, Mrs Joe. Again as Pip is young, with a wide imagination, he uses the phrase ‘brought by hand’ as a more simpler, friendly and less violent explanation for how he was brought up, as oppose to being hit or beaten which is more graphical for a young child to say normally.
“…for he gave me a look that I did not understand, and it all passed in a moment. But if he had looked at me for an hour, or a day, I could not have remembered his face ever afterwards, as having been more attentive.”
Pip is talking about Magwitch, the convict, after the soldiers catch him. This passage is important to the story because it foreshadows all that is to come. Pip could not interpret what the convict felt for him and this is why he had no idea that Magwitch was his benefactor throughout his early life as a gentleman. Had Pip been more mature and aware of Magwitch’s goodly deeds, he would have been quick to thank you Magwitch throughout his life, and also be quick to acknowledge that Miss Havisham, was never generous enough, to give him (Pip), a middle classed young man, money, to become a gentleman in London. The reason for Pip’s dynamic change in becoming arrogant and snobbish was due to Miss Havisham partly and this takes the analysis to the next quote and comment on Pip’s character change.
The expectations that cause Pip's character to become less likable are those that he develops after being introduced to Miss Havisham and Estella. During his first visit to Miss Havisham’s house, Estella, who considers herself too high class and elegant to associate with a common boy, mocks and tells Pip off badly. Strangely, Pip seems to fall in love with Estella during that first meeting. He even admits to Miss Havisham that he thinks her adopted daughter is not only "very proud" and "very insulting," but also "very pretty" and that he should "like to see her again" After just one afternoon at their house, Pip develops a desire to become more acceptable to Estella, in hopes that her cold, uncaring attitude towards him would change. As a result, while walking back to the house, Pip begins to feel ashamed of his life. His mind is filled with regretful thoughts such as
"That I was a common labouring-boy; that my hands were coarse; that my boots were thick; and generally that I was in a low-lived bad way"
Pip realises that his personality and outlook on his life is changing as he states
"That was a memorable day to me, for it made great changes in me"
And this is a significant part of Great Expectations as Pip’s personality begins to decline in humbleness and gratefulness of what he has been given
Months later after his encounter with the convict, Pip is still shown to be an innocent, caring boy. One night, when Pip and Joe are alone at the forge, Joe explains his various reasons for enduring Mrs. Joe's constant abuse. After their conversation, Pip realises that he cares deeply for Joe and appreciates everything that the blacksmith does for him. Also, he develops
"A new admiration of Joe from that night" and "a new sensation of feeling conscious that I was looking up to Joe in my heart"
Unfortunately, as Pip develops unrealistic hopes and expectations for his life, these positive characteristics are replaced by undesirable ones and he soon becomes a gentleman.
During his life as a gentleman, his personality dramatically changes and he soon becomes cold and snobbish compared to his years living with Joe when he was very humble, friendly and loving. It is only when Magwitch comes back (having escape from exile) does Pip’s old personality soon come back
“Yes, Pip, dear boy, I’ve made a gentleman on you!”
Magwitch tells Pip this the first night he comes to his house and when Pip finally learns that Magwitch, not Miss Havisham, is his benefactor, his unrealistic expectations go and his genuinely good nature begins to overcome the negative traits that he had developed
Pip's positive characteristics are also there again when he treats Magwitch and helps him in the jail cell even though after the surprise shock, Pip's reaction had been one of shock and disbelief. However, he realises and somewhat appreciates that Magwitch had tried to greatly repay him for the minor favour that Pip had provided for the convict as a child. Over time, Pip's hard feelings toward Magwitch fade, and at one point he confesses that Magwitch
"was softened indefinably, for I could not have said how, and could never afterwards recall how when I tried, but certainly"
As he had done while saving Miss Havisham, Pip puts himself through great personal risks and inconveniences to save Magwitch. He is unsuccessful in fleeing the country with Magwitch, but his caring and devotion for the kind convict is very humble, even though he will not receive any money after Magwitch's death. Every day, Pip visits him in the jail in efforts to comfort Magwitch and to make the prisoner's last days as peaceful as possible.
Unfortunately Magwitch passes away but by now, Pip’s character had already slowly changed, and reverted to the kind, gentle and loving character he had when he was younger which only saw the good in people, which takes the analysis of Pip to the last part of the story where he meets his old love Estella
Pip falls in love with her again even though she explains that she cannot feel any feelings for him
“I took her hand in mine and we went out of the ruined place; and, as the morning mists had risen long ago when I first left the forge, so the evening mists were rising now, and in all the broad expanse of tranquil light they showed to me, I saw the shadow of no parting from her.”
This shows that Pip has finally cleared up his thoughts in life and it shows that after everything he has been through, Pip finally reaches his goal.
In conclusion when commenting on Pip’s dynamic character change, earlier in his life, he had changed from an innocent, caring boy into an arrogant young man as a result of his non-realistic hopes and expectations. However, when those expectations come to an end, so do his undesirable traits, as he is shown to be a good person
I believe Charles Dickens novel writing is amazing and despite not liking the book at first, when constantly analysing each page etc, I believe the story was cleverly written and Pip’s turn around in character is very interesting, as analysed above in this essay. Charles Dickens is a genius!
