by Natasha Thasan
Phillip Pirrip (Pip)
Phillip Pirrip, better known as Pip is by far
the most important character in Great Expectations. Pip is
narrating his story several years after the events of the novel take place.
Pips presents himself in two conducts in this novel; being both the
protagonist, whose actions construct the plot of the novel, and the narrator,
whose thoughts and actions shape the reader’s perception of his story.
Moreover, Pip, the narrator, judges his own past actions rather harshly. He
rarely gives himself credit for his good deeds, but rather criticizes himself
for the bad ones. This can be quoted in the book when Pip says, “I ought to
tell him the whole truth. Yet I did not, and for the reason that I mistrusted
that if I did, he would think me worse than I was” (410). This quote highlights
Pip’s character which shows guilt and low self-esteem. To add on, Pip sees himself
as a dishonorable person which is seen when he says “he would think me worse
that I was” (410). On the other hand, Pip has a desire to improve himself in
aspects of education, moral, or socially. For instance, when Miss Havisham pleads in tears for forgiveness from Pip
for having caused Estella to break his heart, Pip kindly forgives her which he
would not normally do. To quote, “I want forgiveness and direction far too
much, to be bitter with you” (Dickens 459). This quotation exemplifies Pip’s
respectable, moral behavior by his ability to looking past Miss Havisham faults
and forgive her, rather than obtain a grudge upon her. Furthermore,
when Pip comforts the dying Magwitch, he realizes that one’s social position is
not the most important quality one possesses. This quote highlights this
notion, ““You had a child once, whom you loved and lost.”A stronger pressure on
my hand. “She lived and found cherishable friends. She is living now. She is a
lady and very beautiful.” (489). Pip reassures the dying Magwitch about his
daughter, Estella, as well as expresses his new perspective of defining others.
Additionally, Pip beings to understand that being a part of a hierarchy of
social class is an insufficient guide to character, but qualities of love, loyalty,
love, and kindness are far more important.
Miss Havisham
The wealthy Miss Havisham, who lives in an old
mansion, seems to be vengeful due to a dreadful past she experienced. Miss
Havisham’s life is defined by a single tragic event, her fiancé, Compeyson
walking out on her on what would have been their wedding day. From that moment, Miss Havisham is determines to
never move forward from her tragic heartbreak.
Moreover, she expresses her grief by wearing her wedding dress every day
of her life, as well as stops all the clocks in her home at twenty minutes to
nine, the moment when she first learned that Compeyson was gone. Also, she
wears only one shoe because when learning of his betrayal, she had not yet
had the chance of putting on the other shoe. She is holding the past with
extreme grip which is clearly shown in the novel when Pip observes her.
“everything within my view which ought to be white, had been white long ago,
and had lost its luster and faded and yellow. I saw that the bride within the
bridal dress had withered like the dress” (397). This quote shows how Miss
Havisham incessantly is holding the past, though it has been long period after
the tragic event. Later, she adopts Estella and raises her as a weapon to achieve
her own revenge on men, specifically, Compeyson. Both Miss Havisham and the
people in her life suffer greatly because of her eager quest for revenge,
especially Estella and Pip. However, she
comes to a point where she realizes that she has only caused more pain, rather
than achieving any sort of personal revenge. Due to this she feels guilty for
the trouble she caused and begs Pip for forgiveness. “‘O!’ she cried, despairingly. “ What have I
done! What have I done!” (475) exemplifies this notion. Miss Havisham feels
guilty of the trouble she has placed on Pip realizes that she has caused Pip’s
heart to be broken in the same manner as her own. Thus, this behavior from her
is the total opposite from the usual, manic and powerful-like figure found
within the beginning and middle of the novel.
Estella Havisham
Like Pip, Estella is an orphan as
well as appears to be cold, especially towards Pip. Estella
does not seem able to stop herself from hurting Pip, but she also seems not to
want to hurt him. This is seen within the novel when she repeatedly warns him,
“no heart” (411). This quote highlights her character as well as how she does
not want to hurt Pip. Also, this quote shows her real feelings, rather than the
common motives of the upper class. Moreover,
she is raised by Miss Havisham, who ruins her ability to express emotion and
interact normally with others.
“if you had taught
her, from the dawn of her intelligence, with your utmost energy and might, that
there was such a thing as daylight, but that it was made to be her enemy and
destroyer, and she must always turn against it, for it had blighted you and
would else blight her—if you had done this, and then, for a purpose, had wanted
her to take naturally to the daylight and she could not do it, you would have
been disappointed and angry? “I must be
taken as I have been made. The success is not mine, the failure is not mine,
but the two together make me” (433).
This quote
highlights Estella feelings towards Miss Havisham when she complains that she
treats her coldly and without love. Moreover, Estella is surprised she would
make such an accusation since she, her adopted mother (Miss Havisham) was the
one who raised her without love and showed constant cruelty. Using sunlight as
a metaphor for love, Estella speaks of how she was raised without being exposed
to sunlight. Also, Estella includes that Miss Havisham “success”, Estella’s
coldness along with her “failure”, Estella’s inability to express her emotions,
makes her who she is. Overall, she blames Miss Havisham for shaping her
character. Furthermore, Estella endures a long, painful
marriage to Drummle causes her to listen and trust her inner feelings, rather
than to the common motives of the upper class. Moreover, near the end of the
novel, Estella’s character portrays that one’s happiness is not based on one’s
social status. This can be noted in the novel when she says to Pip, “Suffering
has been stronger than all other teaching. I have been bent and broken, but I
hope I get into a better shape” (504). This quote portrays how Estella takes notice of her suffering and is trying to make the better of it. Overall, during the
final few chapters of the novel, she has become a changed woman.
Work Cited
Dickens, Charles. The Great Expectations. London: Sovereign
1860. Print
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