Belonging in Great Expectations Essay

Belonging is an intense emotional connection, creating a sense of happiness for ones self. Belonging is created for an individual when one accepts their heritage and environment. Throughout life, ones expectations are constantly challenged. In the novel great expectations by Charles dickens, the main protagonist pip challenges his life expectations when he is introduced to the Satis house and the wonder of wealth. The novel follows pip on his journey to transmute into a gentleman in order to become truly accepted by society. The fictional text, Tess of the dUrbervilles explores the downfall of a young woman's spirit and the consequence of her sorrow. This sense of social isolation is also presented in the visual image, pip and Magwitch by Charles green. All three texts explore the individuals desire to accept their heritage and environments in order to ultimately achieve a sense of belonging.

Belonging to family relationships creates a sense of contentment for an individual. Pip has no family relationships, indicated by my first fancies regarding what they were like unreasonably derived from their tombstones. This shows that the character pip possesses a lack of belonging to his family relationships. The protagonist Tess in the novel tess of the d'Urbervilles holds a sense of acceptance of her heritage and environment and therefore acquires a true sense of belonging. This acceptance although is challenged when she is introduced to the aristocratic world of Alec D'Urberville. Darkness is represented through the main antagonist, Alec as he uses sexual power to dominate Tess, creating vulnerability for her and alienating her from society. The negative relationship between Alec and Tess is juxtaposed to the relationship between Biddy and Joe. Biddy does not belong to the farmer class that Joe belongs to however belonging is created for the two in that biddy had taught Joe to write. Their relationship is able to be accepted within society as it is built off mutual respect and love for one another.

Belonging to an image stereotyped by society prevents an individual from belonging to ones self. The character Magwitch in the novel great expectations is a convict and will therefore always be ostracised by society due to his heritage and past environments. He is originally referred to by pip as a fearful man, all in coarse grey. Throughout the novel Magwitch becomes pips unknown benefactor not only out of gratitude but for revenge on society as he cannot himself. Pips discovery that his benefactor is a convict leads him to believe he can never be a true gentleman as his benefactor would never be accepted by society. Pips rejection of their relationship is symbolised in again he took both my hands and held them to his lips as my blood ran cold within me. This sense of not belonging to where one wishes is also expressed in the visual image pip and Magwitch by Charles green. The one small light in the image highlights secrecy and the estranged nature of the relationship between the individuals. The dull tones of black and grey also emphasises the lack of emotion between the individuals at this stage of their relationship. Whereas the juxtaposition of the clothing symbolises the social class difference as seen by outsiders. Pip is presented in gentleman like attire that was only supplied by Magwitch who is displayed wearing rugged and worn clothes.

A community acceptance of environment and heritage is a powerful component, greatly affecting an individuals ability to belong. The character of pip belongs to the identity of his sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery. Mrs. Joe, reluctantly despises her role of being a mother and wife. This discontentment is expressed through the motif of her apron, she made it a powerful merit in herself. Mrs. Joe is accepted and praised by the community as she brought up pip by hand ironic in that of pip saying she had a habit of placing it upon her husband as well upon me. This sense of community acceptance is juxtaposed to the character Tess in Tess of the d'Urbervilles. Tess is immediately isolated from her community through the colour motif red. The line she wore a red ribbon, the only one of the white party instantaneously highlights Tesss segregation from society. The colour is referred to more regularly when Tess is introduced to Alec D'Urberville. The colour pursues her throughout the novel as it dismantles and ultimately obliterates her.

A community acceptance of environment and heritage is a powerful component in ones ability to holistically belong. In the novel great expectations, pip belongs to the identity of his sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery. Mrs. Joe Gargery, reluctantly, despises her role of being a mother and wife. This discontentment is present through the motif of her apron, she made it a powerful merit in herself. The community accepts and praises Mrs. Joe as she brought up pip by hand ironic in that of pip saying she had a habit of placing it upon her husband as well upon me. This sense of community acceptance is juxtaposed to Tess in her community in the novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles. Tesss lack of belonging is metaphorically used with the colour motif red. The line she wore a red ribbon, the only one of the white company instantaneously highlights Tesss segregation from her community. The colour appears more regularly when Tess is introduced to the world of Alec D'Urberville. The colour pursues her throughout the novel as it dismantles and ultimately obliterates her.