Irony in Great Expectations
Irony in Great Expectations
In the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, irony was the main element for
developing the many complex plots that occurred. Pip, the main character of the novel, was
fairly young in the beginning of the story. Being the main character, Pip was the one who was
involved in most of the situations. Irony is used excessively throughout the novel to make the plot and characters more vivid and intense. This can be seen in Pip's actions, his relationship
with Estella, and Joe.
From the very beginning of the novel, Pip was characterized as a harmless, caring boy, who draws much sympathy from the readers even though he is at that point where he is content
with his common life. The story started off in the graveyard, which complemented the first actual
conflict of the novel. "...and the dark flat wilderness beyond the churchyard intersected with
dikes and mounds, and gates with scattered cattle feeding on it was the marshes..."(pg.10)
Dickens uses the setting not only to inform his audience about Pip's environment, but to prepare
the readers for a sudden confrontation. In the marshes there was a convict who had threatened to
kill Pip if he didn't do what he was told. "Keep still you little devil, or I will cut your throat."(pg.10) Dickens' use of situational irony was used to shock his readers. Here a young
"orphan" goes to visit the grave of his parents, and he gets attacked by a convict. Pip steals food
and a file from his home to bring it for his attacker in hope for keeping his life. Irony is evident
here as Pip felt guilty for stealing, his sense of guilt was a result of the fear of being killed by a
convict. Even though he aids the convict, the reader's sympathy for Pip soon increases, as his
robbery of his own home weighs greatly on his conscience. "I felt ...
This is a preview of the whole essay
"orphan" goes to visit the grave of his parents, and he gets attacked by a convict. Pip steals food
and a file from his home to bring it for his attacker in hope for keeping his life. Irony is evident
here as Pip felt guilty for stealing, his sense of guilt was a result of the fear of being killed by a
convict. Even though he aids the convict, the reader's sympathy for Pip soon increases, as his
robbery of his own home weighs greatly on his conscience. "I felt that I could bear no more, and
that I must run away."(pg.37) This was an obvious use of internal conflict because Pip was now
thinking that what he did was improper.
Pip's relationship with Estella was one of the oddest throughout the entire novel. Estella
was raised by an old vengeful woman, by the name of Miss Havisham. Pip first meets Estella at
Satis House, where Miss Havisham raised her from a young girl. Miss Havisham made her lessons for Estella very clear during this meeting." Well you can break his heart."(pg.69) This was a surprise for the readers because a young innocent boy came to play as requested, yet Miss Havisham wants him to be hurt. During the play session, Estella began to show her pride. "And what coarse hands he has! And what thick boots!" (pg.70) Dickens infers that Estella considers herself much too confined and well-bred to associate with Pip, the "common labouring- boy". The irony in this relationship came about when Pip began to think that his being common was a bad thing. "I have particular reasons for wanting to be a gentleman."(pg. 143) The presence of dramatic irony was present here because even though Pip didn't specify his reasons for wanting to become a gentleman, it was implied that he was doing it for Estella. The author uses internal conflict to describe the way Pip may have been feeling about his dilemma. However, he never found anything wrong with his life before he went to Satis House. After Estella made fun of him, the author inferred that Pip felt degraded to her presence. Miss Havisham was the one who turned Estella into the cruel and stonehearted person that she was. "In the same moment I saw her running at me, shrieking, with a whirl of fire blazing all about he, and soaring at least as many feet above as her head was high." (pg 431) When the fire burned Miss Havisham, the author used symbolism to show that fire was a way to show that Estella's soul was being cleansed, so to speak. The author inferred that Miss Havisham was a burden on both Estella's and Pip's lives. Because of her teachings, Miss Havisham almost ruined the lives of two young people. "And continue friends apart."(pg 521) In the end of the novel, Estella made a complete turn around in her life, as she accepted Pip into her life and they walked off hand in hand.
Just as Pip and Estella's relationship changed from the beginning of the novel to the end, the same happened with the relationship between Pip and Joe. In the beginning of the novel, since Pip lived with his sister as a result of his parents being deceased, Joe was his "father figure". Joe and Pip had a trusting and warm relationship with each other. Joe married Mrs. Joe, Pip's sister, who was very stern and abusive. Dickens inferred that Joe stayed with his wife because he loved Pip and was willing to put up with the abuse in order for him to view the real way to love a person. When Pip was notified about his "great expectations", Joe shows that he loves Pip enough to let him leave home to seek a better life. The life that he wanted, so that Estella would love him. "Lord forbid I should want anything for standing in Pip's way, said Joe"(pg. 153) Joe was heartbroken by the news, but he kept that emotion concealed. The author suggested that once again Joe was looking out for Pip's future. This can be described as internal conflict because he was caught between what he believed was best for Pip, and his personal feelings towards him. When Pip proceeded towards his life as a gentleman in his new environment, he forgets about the people who raised him. "...and having incidentally shown his tendency to call me 'sir'..." (pg.241) A visit from Joe was quite unexpected by Pip. As Joe referred to Pip as sir, Dickens used verbal irony to bring out the awkwardness in that visit. Pip treats Joe rather cold throughout this section of the book that allowed the author to portray the clashing of Pip's two worlds.
To sum it all up, the readers most likely found Pip's destiny to be acceptable and enjoyable. Earlier in his life, he had changed from an innocent, caring boy into an arrogant young man as a result of his illusions & foolish desires. However, when his expectations came to an end, so do his undesirable traits, as he was shown to be a truly good-natured person. Therefore, it is good to say, that irony helped keep the story together. Pip was the prime example of many instances of which the use of twists and sarcasm portrayed that in the end, he was happy and content with his life once again.