On this particular evening the urgency of my case demanded a pint of this mixture, which was poured down my throat,

for my greater comfort, while Mrs. Joe held my head under her arm (Dickens 11). If I slept at all that night, it was only to image myself drifting down the river on a strong spring-tide, to the Hulks; a ghostly pirate calling out to me through a speakingtrumpet( Dickens 14). No; I should not have minded that, if they would only have left me alone (Dickens 25).

This is one of the first times we see the relationship between Pip and his sister. Obviously there is not much tender love going on but rather a strict firm hand when dealing with problems. Because of this, it also shows how Mrs. Joe is not the average timid wife. Rather she runs the household; she is the head. She not only does she dictate everyones activities but also administers the punishments. Pip is shown to have a strong moral character. He feels extremely guilty at the having to steal from Mrs. Joe. Although she is not the gentlest person, Pip feels a certain tie to her for raising him. If anything, this seems like a reoccurring event where Pip feels guilty for many things and it might start to consume him.

When reading this I could not help but feel that Pip is similar to Harry Potter. He has to put up with a lot of snide comments and mistreatment because he is adopted. Having to live with the fact that he is considered a burden is difficult and is not made any better when people keep reminding him of his situation. As a young boy, this would make his self esteem lower and it supports why Pip wants to be better than a blacksmith and do more with his life. This is one of the factors that cause him to try to prove his worth. And then they stood about, as Pip is very observant as a young child. The way the scene is soldiers do; now, with their played out reminds me of when a child has sweaty fingers and hands loosely clasped before eyes that quickly look back and forth, ready to be ratted out. them; now, resting a knee or The anaphora of now gives the added drama of Pips ahoulder; now, easing a belt or paranoia and also growing guilt. Every little thing sets him on a pouch; now, opening the door edge and it feels like he will explode at any moment. to spit stiffly over their high stocks (Dickens 31). In his lay capacity, he Throughout the story, educated and sophisticated diction has persisted in sitting down in the been used. Yet from the contents of the story with open fields damp to such an insane and small towns, the language feels like it should be simpler. extentthe circumstantial The language and events pose as juxtaposition between the Pip evidence on his trousers would as a child and as an adult. The transformation is quite amazing have hanged him if it had been and also excites readers to know just how this development a capital offence (Dickens occurred. 43). he hammered away at my This quote explains the gentle and caring nature of Joe. He mother, most onmerciful. It came from an abusive household. Maybe that is why he can were amost the only still be with Mrs. Joe. Although she may be firm, she is not hammering he did, indeed, abusive so Joe does not have any problem with staying and xcepting at myself. And he also maybe he feels used to it that he is not so much bothered hammered at me with a by it. There is also juxtaposition of how Joe became a wigour (Dickens 47). blacksmith. Those days of beatings from his father almost

inspired or instilled this idea of strength that he could use as a lively hood instead of being useless. So new to him, she After asking Pip to play. Miss Havisham mummers these muttered, so old to me; so words. There is a double meaning for play. Although for when strange to him, so familiar to she speaks to Pip she means play to be of going around and me; so melancholy to both of enjoying himself in an activity there is also the double meaning us! Call Estella. (Dickens of acting. She has had many experiences of pretending or 61). learning to manipulate and feign interest of sorts while Pip is still young and does not know this type of world. He is in a way still innocent and nave. So melancholy to both of us is a way of saying how these masks she put on have giver her sadness and maybe foreshadows that Pip will as well if he learns how to play. She won the game, and I There seems to be a battle between blue collars and white dealt. I misdealt, as was only collared workers. Although they are both children their natural, when I knew she was backgrounds can be interpreted as such. We can see that lying in wait for me to do Estella finds pleasure in pointing out any wrong thing she can wrong; and she denounced me see in Pip. While Pip just tries to get by. There seems to be a for a stupid, clumsy laboringconnection to The Great Gatsby. Like in this book, those with boy (63). old money are very proud. And it feels as if Estella might be Pips Daisy. Estella is described as beautiful but she also does not want anything with Pip because she is also very proud. She maybe another reason for why Pip chooses to do more for himself than be a blacksmith. Just like Gatsbys inspiration to be wealthy for his love. I took the opportunity of The readers can see that Pip is troubled by the harsh insults being alone in the court-yard, Estella threw at him. He seems to be looking at himself from to look at my coarse hands and the point of view of the wealthier class. It had never bothered my common boots. My opinion him before and yet that is probably because he had never been of those accessories was not introduced into an environment of the high class. He is now no favorable (Dickens 65). longer innocent and feels himself to be inferior. He feels out of place but obviously wants to belong because instead of accepting his lifestyle he wants to learn more. However, her temper was Strength and independence were the foundations for Mrs. Joe. greatly improved, and she was After this attack, she feels like having to start all over again. It patientshe would often put is no longer a household that she runs but rather she must her hands to her head, and watch and make suggestions here and there. The transition is would then remain for about a probably very frustrating and unfortunately sad. There is some week at a time in some gloomy irony to the fact that she always complained at having to work aberration of mind (Dickens so hard. Now she does not but this came with a price. She was 129). never the typical housewife with her rough personality and with the state of her body and now with her injuries she does not know her place. I put my light out, and crept It is the transitional period in Pips life where he will leave his into bed; and it was an uneasy small village and go onto London. The fact that Pip feels bed now, and I never slept the uneasy in his bed makes the readers see that his mind is

same sound sleep in it any more (155).

already onto bigger and better things. He does not want the small livelihood and his town. He wants more. He wants a bed that is fit for a king. He has had that bed all his life and in his years he has slept in it with great comfort. But now that he has the opportunity for something better to happen in his life, he feels to good for this bed. Pip almost sounds like Estella when she is too proud. Unfortunately for Pip, he does not have the background to support his pretentiousness. Her relations were poor and We finally see why Miss Havisham is the way she is. This is scheming, with the exception one of the moments where she had been played. This is why of my father; he was poor she has taught Estella to break other mens hearts. She herself enough, but not time-serving or is a scorned old woman. She knows the lavishness of her jealoushe warned her that wealth and now uses it to her advantage to seek revenge from she was doing too much for this one heartbreak. It might even be the reason she still wears this man, and was placing her wedding dress and how nothing in her room on the first herself too unreservedly in his day Pip met her had seemed to change. She is living in a past power (Dickens 191). of vengeance because she was taken advantage of because she allowed herself to be enamored by a man. I fancied, as I looked at her, This also reminds me of The Great Gatsby in the manner of that I slipped hopelessly back old money and new money. Although Pip has raised himself up into the coarse and common from his humble beginnings, he still knows he was not born boy again. O the sense of into wealth. No matter how much wealth he attains, there is distance and disparity that still a pedestal put upon Estella because she was raised with came upon me and the money. It is like that with old and new money. Old money inaccessibility that came about always still seems to be one step ahead still on top of the ladder her (249). while new money tries to keep a faade of being one of them. It is still evident of the social class division. You cannot take the village out of the boy. And still I stood looking at the The reader questions what it is that Pip sees in Estella. Why house, thinking how happy I does he want to stay and be with her when all she does is cause should be if I lived there with him pain, when he can see that she toys with him. It maybe her, and knowing that I never because of her beauty and the things that she represents. Pip is was happy with her, but always searching for greater class and feels that he can achieve all this miserable (288). if he has the beautiful wealthy young lady as his. It is like she is a stepping stone and although she maybe cruel she has her moments of sympathy and her inner battle to not be as cruel as Miss Havisham has taught her to be. This might be the true reason for him wanting her. That ideal romantic that he was as a child wants to save her and be the reason she can have a heart. Your own act, Estella, to In these words, the reader can infer that Pip is still an idealistic fling yourself away upon a child. He wishes more for Estella and does not quite realize brute? ( 385). that she will never do as he pleases. Estella chooses Drummle because they seem to fit together quite nicely. They have pride in their wealth and find that they can treat the less fortunate with less dignity. But this might show the sympathetic nature

I know I am quite myself. And the man we have in hiding down the river, is Estellas Father (433).

Yet Joe, dear Joe, you never tell of it. Long suffering and loving Joe, you never complain. Nor you, sweet tempered Biddy (447).

You see, dear boy, when I was over yonder, tother side the world, I was always a looking to this side; and it come flat to be there, for all I

of Estella for she becomes miserable in this marriage. She is not naturally cruel but rather made cruel by Miss Havisham. Estella obviously does not marry for love but of convenience and the notions made by her adoptive mother. She finds herself to be able to handle anyone because of her wealth and also because she knows how to manipulate men to do what she pleases. In this, she is the ideal strong woman that other women look up to. She has a confidence that takes her places and a cruel nature that serves her goals perfectly. Unfortunately this has come with a price for she does not know how to be with other people like Pip. She always has a cruel demeanor and cannot seem to relate well to others. All of this made because Miss Havisham brought her up to crush men and fulfill her vengeance and heartbreak through Estellas life. This moment feels like a soap opera where the readers perception of Estella changes. She is not born of wealth but rather to a convict. We seem to see her now like Pip born from very little. Is it quite ironic really because Pip sees Estella as unattainable and yet her backgrounds are of lower status than him. This makes the reader wonder what Estella would be like if she was not raised by Miss Havisham. Magwitch unlike Miss Havisham allows himself to feel emotions towards people. He had felt a strong bond towards Pip for helping him in the beginning of the story. There is a loyalty in Magwitch that cannot be found in Havisham. Although he is a convict, would he have been a better person to raise Estella compared to the mad and destructive force of Havisham that has caused Estella to not know of affections? In a sense of morality I believe so. Economically probably not. But money can always be made; strong morality is harder to come by. In this return to where he was raised, Pip finally realizes the indignation he has made towards Joe. Joe is the only person that has supported Pip since the beginning. Joe was always there to help him and offer help. He never wanted anything back from Pip but rather gave his love unconditionally. Something is rare in this story. Most of the characters only do things for self gain. Their actions come with a price but not Joe. He is the most loyal person and almost too good for this story. Because even when Pip forgot of his friends at home and those who raised him, Joe did not say any bad thing or make himself look better. For a lack of a better word, Magwitch is a rather street smart type of man. He unlike other characters has been able to reflect upon himself and his life in-depth because of the time he has served. Although he is a convict that does not make him the worst person in this novel. Rather he provides Pip with the

was a-growing rich (465).

guidance Pip needs at the end. Magwitch is able to see that his wealth and the other side of the world is not as much as he hoped it would be. I only saw a man who had At this point, Pip realizes that Magwitch has acted out of love meant to be my benefactor, and towards him and as a way to show his gratefulness for who had felt affectionately, Magwitch, Pip does not leave his side while he is injured and gratefully, and generously under arrest. Pip seems to put all his feelings for Joe into his towards me with great treatment of Magwitch. Both men have helped Pip greatly to constancy through a series of reach his goals. It is now Pip in return that would like to show years ( 475). his gratitude. Pip has truly progressed as a character. He can now see understand and recognize those that have put their efforts for his benefit. He does not see social status but rather actions. I walked no further than the Joe has stayed by Pips side even as of now. But the time that gate of the gardens, and then has been lost between them makes Joe uneasy. Joe knows that pretended to be weaker than I he does not belong in London. The world Pip lives in is not the was, and asked Joe for his arm. same as his. There is a nostalgia that kicks in and an old Joe gave it me, but was attachment that keeps them together but things cannot be the thoughtful (501). way they once were. As of now, we can see that Pip is Joes pride but Joe himself is not stupid and does not want to be a burden. Both characters try to deny this fact and try to live in ignorance for a little while longer. To live in the past that served them well. But with the secrets of shame that Pip keeps their friendship cannot be mended until they can easily talk to one another again.

Summary: Great Expectations can be seen to have many influences on other stories. We can see the themes of old money versus new money occurring often and also this idea of compassion over materialism. This story also serves as a reminder of how self improvement comes with a cost. When put into this world of society, there is a sense of innocence that is loss because of the games that are played all for ambitious goals. But honestly the connections I made with other stories such as the Great Gatsby really made me think of how social class and drive to rise higher in this pyramid forces them to perceive things differently. They become less grateful. They start to want more and more. From this story, money does not seem to grant happiness but rather drive people mad. It was in the humble beginning of the village that had the greatest sense of morality.