In addition, children are constantly being tested and watched by adults to see if they slip up any way. This leads Pip to be very careful of his actions and very self-conscious of himself. For example, when he stole from the pantry for the convict he is always worried and conscience of what he has done, “I got up and went down stairs; every board along the way, and every crack in every board, calling after me, Stop thief! And get up Mrs Joe!” He is also often present when adults made rude remarks about children and how horrible and bad they are. Mr Wopsle compares children to pigs saying, “The gluttony of swine is put before us, as an example to the young. In addition, Mr Hubble refers to them as “Naturally wicious” this just goes to show that Pip is aware of the hatred towards children and does all he can to not upset them. But not all adults shape Pip in the same way, Joe Gargery respects his views and ideas. And he is much more loving towards Pip and treats him more as a friend than a child, and in doing this shapes him in a different way to all the other adults. This is an exception; he instead of looking down on Pip sees him as an equal and love shown by Joe is greatly appreciated by Pip, and Pip is very fond of Joe, “But I love Joe- perhaps for no better reason in those early days than because the dear fellow let me love him.” Miss Havisham sees them differently as she is from a different class and has different expectations of children. He also gets to learn that Mrs Joe is quite greedy, for when they learn of Pip going to Miss Havisham’s; she assumes that she might get something out of it like money or gifts, as Miss Havisham is better off. She uses Pip to get what she wants and she is therefore greedy and is only interested in money.
The punishment of Pip also plays a big part in the character he is and is to become. Pip is scared of punishment as in those times cooperate punishment was the way, and there were no laws stopping you from beating a child almost to death. Mrs Joe is the one who punishes Pip, “Tickler, a wax ended piece of cane worn smooth by the collision with my tickled frame.” It is an ironic use of the name and it seems to make Pip even more scared of it. Also Tar water was used, “A pint of this mixture, which was poured down my throat, for my greater comfort, while Mrs Joe held my head under her arm.” It shows how Mrs Joe has to get Pip into headlock just to get him to drink the stuff. As a result of his fear of being punished, he becomes very aware and conscience of his behaviour, for example when he stole food and tools for the convict he was very afraid he was going to be found out. “I got up and went down stairs, every board, and every crack in every board, calling after me, Stop thief, and get up Mrs Joe.”
But it is not only physical punishment that is used by Mrs Joe to get Pip to behave, but also physiological as well. She gets Pip to believe that if he doesn’t behave then he will end up in the hulks. After I while Pip actually starts to believe, it to be true and he becomes even more fearful, I felt fearfully sensible of the great convenience that the hulks were handy for me. I was clearly on my way there. I had begun by asking questions, and I was going to rob Mrs Joe.” It shows how she manipulates him and gets him to be scared of how he might turn out.
Pips education is very poor and plays a huge part in the person he is to become and his character. His poor education restricts Pip in many was and he is ashamed of it. Although he attends school, the teaching is very poor and he doesn’t learn much at all, “The pupils ate apples and put straw up one another’s backs until Mr Wopsles great aunt collected her energies, and made an indiscriminate totter at them with a birch rod.” It shows that even though he goes to school he is not taught properly. An example of how badly he is taught and how little he learns is the letter he wrote to Joe, the English was terrible but luckily for Pip Joe was none the wiser as he was unable to read. He is so ashamed, after meeting Estella and her looking down on him, that he even uses all his birthday money to pay for extra tutoring by Biddy. He is very eager to become more knowledgeable, and better educated.
Pip becomes suddenly aware of the difference in classes. He is shocked when he is exposed to the higher classes and he becomes even more ashamed of his situation when he goes to Miss Havisham’s and meets Estella. She realises his weakness and exploits it. For example, he is not aware of the fact that upper class people speak differently, Estella picks up on this when they are playing cards, “He calls knaves Jacks, this boy.” He is also not conscience and not worried about his appearance before going to Miss Havisham’s and is amazed when Estella victimises him by taking the mick out of his ragged figure. “And what course hands he has, and what thick boots.” This makes him become very aware and ashamed of the way in which he looks, and it leads him to desperately wanting to change.
Pip’s job as an apprentice has a great influence on him. It makes him feel more mature and grown up, and he starts to act that way to. It also brings him closer to Joe as they spend the days working together. It a very good job, and apprentice, for his class and age. He is lucky to get it and he is extremely grateful towards Joe for offering it to him. It also teaches him how you have to work to make a living and it is not just done for you.
Pip’s character is also considerably influenced by the lack of parents. Pip needs a mother and a father, and is the victim of several surrogate parents. The novel could be seen as pips search for an identity through a lost father figure, and eventual acceptance of his lowly, unhappy origins. It shows how pips character could be more sad and unhappy as he feels that he has lost both his parents and he does not have a proper father figure to give him something to aim for. Although Pip looks up to Joe, as a father figure, it is not quite the same as looking up to his real father. He may feel he can never be complete and content, with his situation.
His love for Estella is obsessive and self-destructive. He may feel depressed at the fact that he could never realistically have Estella, until his fortunate circumstances in later life. In addition, that sets the context for the story. However, the irony of this is that his expectations once realised don’t win him Estella who is never intended for him anyway, and he us unaware of this and he carries on thinking that if he changes that Estella would be his.
Pip is extremely lucky to gain a benefactor. And it was only by chance that he met the convict on the moors and if he hadn’t his life would have been incredibly different. It is the main factor that influences Pip’s character. Although it is not the only factor, it is the main one and makes the greatest difference, and has the greatest effect on the person he is and is to become.