Essay on Pips Development Through Character Interactions

Throughout Dickens’ novel Great Expectations, the character, personality, and social beliefs of Pip undergo complete transformations as he interacts with an ever-changing pool of characters presented in the book. Pip’s moral values remain more or less constant at the beginning and the end; however, it is evident that in the time between, the years of his maturation and coming of adulthood, he is fledgling to find his place in society. Although Pip is influenced by many characters throughout the novel, his two most influential role models are: Estella, the object of Miss Havisham’s revenge against men, and Magwitch, the benevolent convict. Exposing himself to such diverse characters Pip has to learn to discern right from wrong and chose†¦show more content†¦Estella lives in the Manor House with her adoptive mother Miss Havisham who has raised her up as a tool to be used to break men’s hearts. Although she constantly insults and makes fun of Pip, he falls in love with her. This love for her makes Pip vulnerable to any and every little insult that comes out of her mouth and Pip puts to heart everything she says. So, when she says, He calls the knaves, Jacks, this boy!...And what course hands he has! And what thick boots! he takes it to heart (Dickens 105). It is at this point that Pip begins to feel ashamed of his uneducated family, and longs to become a gentleman. Due to Estella’s cold-hearted character and her arrogant personality, Pip is made to feel that he stands no chance with her. Even more dangerous is her destructive influence on Pip which makes him strive to become a gentleman no matter the cost. Rather than being surrounded by people such as Estella who do nothing but put Pip’s character down, he should surround himself with supportive and encouraging individuals who are always there for him and appreciate his unique personality. This is what causes growth in a person. With a beautiful angelic face and a cold-heart Estella serves an important role as Pip’s love interest in the story. Although she is everything that Pip should never want in a friend, that doesn’t stop him from loving her. In the novel, Estella is an important character in both the literal and figurativeShow MoreRelatedGreat Expectations By Charles Dickens924 Words   |  4 PagesCommonly, a novel is either a plot driven novel, a character driven novel, or a mix of the two. In order for a novel to be character driven, it must revolve more around the characters’ individual thoughts, feelings, and inner struggles, rather than around the quest of the story. Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, is a character driven novel. While the story does have a plot, it is not contingent upon that plot, but rather is reliant upon its characters and their natures. This is evident from the beginningRead MoreEssay on Great Expectations: A Character-Driven Novel1334 Words   |   6 PagesGreat Expectations: A Character-Driven Novel The novel, Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens is heavily a character-driven novel due to the fact that the sequence of events in the novel are causes and effects of the actions of the characters as well as the interactions between them. The novel mainly depicts the growth and development of an orphan named Pip, who is greatly influenced by the other characters and became a gentleman and a bachelor in the end of the novel through his encounters withRead MoreGreat Expectations By Charles Dicken1764 Words   |  8 PagesGreat Expectations there is a wide diverse cast of characters who play different significant roles that affect the character development of Pip. One of the unsung heroes throughout the book, that’s role can be often overlooked is Herbert Pocket. At first glance, it can seem as if Herbert does not have as much of an influence on Pip as he tends to blend into the background, along with the fact that at different points can compare to other minor characters that only show up when they are needed to helpRead MoreAnalysing the Female Characters in Henry James Fiction Essay3987 Words   |  16 PagesAnalysing the Female Characters in Henry James Fiction ‘A woman it seems to me has no natural place anywhere; wherever she finds herself, she has to remain on the surface and more or less to control’ Discuss James’ representations of ‘places’ for women in his novels. There is an impressive range of female characters in Henry James’ fiction. Drawn to the world of wealth and leisure as a subject