Essay, Research Paper: Great Expectations

Great Expectations



It is obviously noticeable with Pip (the main character and narrator

of the book Great Expectations by Charles Dickens) what the changes are

in his life. The most obvious changes in Pip are marked by three phases:

guilt/fear, self-interest, and concerns.

At the beginning of this book, Pip is a young child. and it is difficult at

such a young age to not get intimidated by older more mature men and wo-

men. Pip's first encounter with the convict is a good example of him acting

out in fear. The convict to wants a file and some wittles, the convict says

"You bring them both to me, or I'll have your heart and liver out!"

The fear of right and pain takes over Pip's thoughts and effects his

actions. Pip reacting out of fear, robs Mrs. Joe.

"But I ran no further than the house door, for there I ran head foremost

into a party of soldiers with their muskets, one of whom held out a pair

of handcuffs to me, saying, 'Here you are, look sharp, come on!"'

The soldiers were not there to arrest him but guilt and fear changed

Pip's thoughts into believing so.

Later into the story Pip's fear of responsibility is further shown in his

response to Mrs. Joe. The fear of being misunderstood and also of physical

abuse leads Pip to lie about his meeting with Miss Havisham at Satis House.

Pip feels guilty and confesses to Joe.

Pip acts out of fear throughout this first stage of Great Expectations . He

needs to learn how to tell the truth about his own actions. It is hard for him

at such an early age to understand certain manners and ways of life. Also

the fact that his sister and Joe are not anymore capable towards the manners

of life, but do have more then a child. He fears talking to his sister, because he

does not want to be abused by her. He tends to turn towards Joe for answers

and to express his feelings to. My meaning for the manners of life is basically

the way Pip is described in this essay. He acts out of his thoughts, which is

good in some situations. When his thoughts are expressed in fear and self-

interest it can effect his actions. Exactly how he acts in the example in this

essay.