In the novel Great Expectations , Charles Dickens brings into close focus the social attitudes of 19th Century Victorian England and warns readers of the destructive nature of unrealistic aspirations. The protagonist Pip, attempts to climb the social hierarchy and become a gentleman. Pip goes through three stages of moral maturity. He begins the story as an innocent and nave boy with no aspirations, but in his desire to better himself, he becomes an arrogant young man where self-gratification is the driving force of all his actions. Many years later, Pip realises what he has done in life has not made him any happier. He finds his line of value and discovers humility, not arrogance is the trait of a real gentleman.
Pips initial dynamic change in character occurs after his first visit to Satis house where he meets Miss Havisham and her beautiful adopted daughter Estella. Estella treats Pip as an inferior and as she torments and scorns him, Pip finds for the first time in his life, he feels ashamed of who and what he is. As a young child Pip is a mild mannered boy and who knows he is intended to one day become a blacksmith like his brother-in-law Joe. He has never doubted this and has just accepted that it is just the way it was in life. However, once leaving Satis House, Pip becomes aware of the fact that a persons social class and standing is determined directly by their wealth. He sees that there is an alarming contrast between his life and Estellas.
I set off on the four-mile walk to our forge; pondering as I went along, on all I had seen, and deeply revolving that I was a common laboring-boy; that my hands were coarse; that my boots were thick; that I had fallen into the despicable habit of calling knaves Jacks; that I was more ignorant than I had considered myself last night, and generally that I was in a low-lived bad way.
That night, he tells Joe of the how he felt miserable and how he wished he was not common, as Estella said he was. Here, readers see clearly how Pip starts to desire more in his life. The writing at this point is slightly ominous, as if preparing the reader with what is to come. As Pip goes up to bed, even he acknowledges the change in himself, he is no longer ignorant and happy about his circumstance in life.
As Pip continues to visit Miss Havisham and Estella; he learns the bases of becoming a gentleman are wealth, education and power. Pip becomes more aware of the fact that his life at the forge with Joe and his sister is not in any way respectable compared to Miss Havisham, Estella and Satis House. Pip regrets Joe is a mere blacksmith and has no education, and he becomes determined to learn what Joe was not able to. He begins on his journey of obtaining an education. However, by learning to read and write he has unconsciously begun to push himself away from Joe.
I had believed in the forge as a glowing road to manhood and independence. Now, it was all coarse and common, and I would not have had Miss Havisham and Estella see it on any account.
Pips whole mindset had changed after meeting Miss Havisham and Estella. He once thought of the forge as a sanctioned place, but within a year all of his beliefs had changed to a point where he could no longer feel proud when coming home or when looking at Joe.
In The Second Stage of Pips Expectations , the Pip falls from innocence into snobbery. Once Pip is presented with an opportunity in the form of a large fortune from a mysterious benefactor to leave behind his life as a commoner to become a gentleman, he seizes it straight away. He believes in becoming a gentleman, he would be able to win Estellas affection. Pip starts to think of himself as better than Biddy and Joe. Before even going to London, he compares the life he lives now and the life that he believes he is going to live.
a mean little room that I should soon be parted from and raised above, for ever. I fell into the same confused division of mind between it and the better rooms to which I was going, as I had been in so often between the forge and Miss Havishams, and Biddy and Estella.
This illustrates to readers just how much Pips character has changed from the start of the novel. He still has good morals, which he keeps throughout his life, but guilt no longer plays a large part in his thoughts; he has become more selfish. Days before Pip leaves for London, Pips attitude towards Joe and Biddy becomes almost cold; he treats them as if he believes that he is now superior to them. At this point in the novel, Pips character has undergone a huge dynamics change. In doing a good thing by trying to better himself, Pip had lost sight of what is important in his life, namely, Joe, Biddy and to a certain extent, Mrs. Joe. Readers see at this point, that Pip has become a dislikeable character. Once moving to London and thus beginning his new life, Pip quickly forgets about his home at the forge, and neglects to keep in contact with Joe because he is ashamed of his past and the people in it. As Pip is enjoying his new life and fortune, he becomes absorbed in what people thought of him. His negative attitude can be when he receives a letter from Biddy saying that Joe was coming to London for a visit him. Pip states concerning Joes visit:
Not with pleasure, though I was bound to him by so many ties; no; with considerable disturbance, so mortification, and a keen sense of incongruity. If I could keep him away by paying money, I would have certainty paid money.
Though Pip claims to love Joe and think of him as his best friend, he is ashamed of him to the point where he is almost rude and unwelcoming towards his brother-in-law. This is the peak of Pips arrogance and snobbery which his new wealth has brought him. What used to be adoration and pride for Joe has become shame and embarrassment. Pip resents Joe because he sees him as a representation of his former life; one of poverty and one to be quite ashamed of. Now, Pips character is hardly recognisable from the young boy he was at the start, he has become cold and bitter towards his childhood life.
Pips final redemption comes when he finds out a lowly convict, Abel Magwitch is benefactor and not, Miss Havisham. This is Pips last major dynamic change in the novel; his unrealistic aspirations are gone and his genuine good nature overcomes the negative traits he had developed. Pip finally realises real the love that Magwitch had for him; one that Magwitch himself had nothing to gain from.
For now my repugnance to him had all melted away, and in the hunted wounded shackled creature who held my hand in his, I only saw a man who had meant to be my benefactor, and who had felt affectionately, gratefully, and generously towards me with great constancy through a series of years. I only saw in him a much better man than I had been to Joe.
All of Pips aspirations were based on the false presumptions and others expectations of him to rise above his past and become something better but now, Pip realises all he has done is alienate himself from those closest to him. In finally comprehending this, Pip obtains humility; the quality of being humble and modest of ones importance and rank. He realises that being a real gentleman means working honestly for his money, being loyal to friends and being generous and kind to those who may not be as fortunate in life as him. He gains achieved status in London as a respectable, gentle Christian man.
It was not striving to become a gentleman that made Pip self-destructive, but the negative influences of Miss Havisham and Estella which drove him to hating himself and his lower-class life that gave him the need to better it. Pips character undergoes many changes throughout the novel and in the end, evolves into a better person than who he used to be. Ultimately, Pip rejects societys ways of thinking and accepted his past as a part of his life. In doing so, Pip has better and more realistic aspirations for his future and can live in the present, developing past and present and future relationships.
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