Great Expectations

Charles Dickens

Theme
●​ Inner worth > Outer worth (Criticism on Post-Industrial Revolution Model)
○​ Lower Class Protagonists: Joe, Biddy, Magwitch
○​ Upper Class Antagonists: Drummle, Compeyson
○​ True Gentility ≠ Class Status
●​ Ambition & Self Improvements
○​ Endeavour to be a Nobility -> Financially ruined + Hypocritical
○​ True self-improvements = Growth of Mind

Summary

Chapter 1: Pip threatened by a Convict

Chapter 2 & 3: Stealing + delivering food (Mrs. Gargarey) & file (Joe)

Chapter 4: Guilty

Chapter 5: 2 Convicts caught (Convict protecting Pip)

Chapter 6: Guilty (Whole truth ≠ Joe)

Chapter 7: Mrs. Wopsle’s School, Uncle Pumblechook & Miss Havishams’s

Chapter 8: Miss Havisham’s Time-Stopped room, Pretty & Proud Estella -> Admire & “Commoner”

Chapter 9: “Commoner”-> Lying & Guilt

Chapter 10: Educational Desire, Stranger with the File & 2 pound

Chapter 11: Pip vs Strang Young Fellow

Chapter 12: Pip’s contempt for Joe’s commonness & Truth to Biddy, No Miss Havisham’s Fortune

Chapter 13:
 Great Expectations: Struggle Between Inner and Outer Worths

1st Draft

**Analyze the evolution of Pip's perception of worth and value throughout the novel. How does his
interaction with characters from different social classes influence his understanding of human worth,
both externally and internally?

One of the greatest classics acknowledged throughout the century would be “Great Expectations” by
Charles Dickens. The significance of this work of Dickens is within its remarkable depiction of the
Post-Industrial Model, criticizing the society’s tendency to measure one’s value based on their
prominence in the Victorian Periods. Within this epic saga, the protagonist Phillip Pirrip, or Pip,
undergoes dynamic changes from a future blacksmith to a gentleman with “great expectations”. Yet
with the social promotions results in rather disappointing internal changes in which Pip finds himself
increasingly hating the “common” society of that of his loved ones and falling into his fantasies of
belonging to the classes of the “uncommon.” Such transformation of Pip’s understanding of human
worth will mostly be credited to his interactions with the aristocrats and the London society.

In the beginning of the novel, when Pip is under the influence of Joe Gargery, a simple but truthful
blacksmith, he lives a contented life and does not view nor judge others on their outer worths.
Despite as an orphan boy entrusted to his sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery and Joe Gargery, the first part of
Pip’s life is that of the contended; He has an admirable friendship with Joe and the constant threats
and beatings from his sister cannot tolerate it. Pip is thought to be living an enjoyable life with Joe’s
company at his side, and Pip even later recalls that he might have been happy living in Joe’s little
forge if not for those great fortunes.

Not to be mentioned is Pip’s encounter with the convict Provis, or Magwitch, which shows Pip’s
bravery. Even though Pip was scared off to death, he does his best to robb of the Mrs. Joe’s pantry,
risking getting beaten and being marked as a thief. Within this episode, Pip is observed as a sacrificial
and hospitable boy.

However, when Pip is introduced to the service of Miss Havissham, he encounters the haughty and
beautiful Estella and immediately falls in for her. Estella’s contempt for him being a plain peasant boy
first distinctively rouses Pip’s desire to be a gentleman fit for Estella. From then on, Pip begins to
despise his “frivolous” life and living with such common people as Mrs. Gargarey, and Joe, a
nonentity. He also begins to fervently pursue the teachings of Biddy to educate himself into the
manners of an aristocrat. Even though Pip realizes that his loving Estella is having a harmful effect on
him, as he confesses to Biddy, he cannot stop it and his changing self. This demonstrates his first
idyllic changes to being a critical and heartless person to those who love him, undoubtedly due to his
interaction with Estella’s perspectives on the “commons”.

The dire consequences of his acquaintance with Estella is fully revealed when Pip receives his
fortunes from an unknown benefactor, and with the London society on his back, his pride of being a
noble peaks and Pip’s disdain towards Joe and Biddy increases. Pip asks Biddy to teach Joe how to
write, indirectly expressing his embarrassment of Joe behaving like the “commons”. When Joe visits
Pip’s Inn, Pip is more worried of how he would look in front of his friend Herbert rather than begin to
be glad by Joe’s arrival. Joe, obviously sensing Pip’s discomfort expresses his uneasiness in calling Pip
as Pip, but instead addresses him as “sir” which sounds far restricted and distant. Pip becomes
morally corrupt as his debts also increase. What is more astounding is when Provis, revealing that he
was Pip’s benefactor not Miss Havisham as Pip had suspected, resided within his room, Pip secretly
tries to send Provis abroad and to abandon him. Furthermore he is disgusted with the true identity
of his benefactor, viewing Provis “evil.” His ungratefulness and corruption from his older self clearly
suggests Pip’s internal transformation.

Pip’s moral corruption seems evident and makes the readers wonder whether he has any chances of
repentance. However, Estella’s true person comes to the surface as time passes, of her being raised
to break the heart of her lovers like Pip and her insensibility to emotions, and when Pip realizes the
truth of Estella’s birth and of Provis being the father of Estella, his fantasy of Estella’s nobleness has
been greatly shaken. He returns to the Satis House, in front of Miss Havissham and Estella, and
declares his forgiveness for Miss Havissham who raised Estella and encouraged her to practice those
heart-breaking skills on Pip, and Estella for being so proud and hurting to him. When Pip finally lets
go of Estella his benevolent nature seems to be returning to him. Before departing Miss Havisham he
asks nothing for his own, despite his debts, but instead pleads for Herbert’s sake and to find him a
sustainable job. Also, Pip risks himself by accompanying Provis when he was being chased by
Compeyson, Provis’s long co-worker and enemy, keeping beside his death bed even after Provis was
caught by the police and sentenced to die.

Yet the most significant experience that humbled Pip the most was Joe and Biddy’s love and
friendship towards him. When Pip was at his weakest it was none other but Joe who came to his side
on Biddy’s urging, nursed him and paid all of Pip’s debt. Realizing his own filth of being ignorant of his
best friends’ love and their unchanging, and unconditional kindness blinded by his own “great
expectations” of becoming a gentleman, Pip tries to redeem him from his past by proposing a
marriage to Biddy, but when he found her already married to Joe, Pip then asks for Joe and Biddy to
forgive his ungratefulness and cruel manner in the past. This marks the highlight of Pip’s journey of
discovering the standard of human worth.

Overall, although Pip had miscalculated that one is valued only by one’s social status and fortune,
Pip, later broken but humbled, comes to the conclusion that true beauty is not on one’s appearances
and rate of prominences but on genuine affections and kindness demonstrated like that of Joe and
Biddys.
 Great Expectations: Struggle Between Inner and Outer Worths

Chat GPT Version

**Analyze the evolution of Pip's perception of worth and value throughout the novel. How does his
interaction with characters from different social classes influence his understanding of human worth,
both externally and internally?

In Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations," the protagonist Pip undergoes a profound evolution in his
perception of worth and value, intricately woven into the societal critique of the Victorian Period.
Initially content with the humble blacksmith Joe Gargery, Pip's pursuit of "great expectations"
becomes a vehicle for Dickens to scrutinize societal norms.

Pip's idyllic life with Joe highlights the genuine joy derived from authentic relationships, untainted by
societal judgments. Yet, under the influence of Estella and Miss Havisham, Pip's desire for social
ascent takes root. This pivotal moment initiates a stark internal shift, as Pip distances himself from
his roots, echoing Dickens' critique of values that prioritize outer worth over inner qualities.

As Pip ascends socially with unexpected fortunes, Dickens exposes the corrosive impact of societal
elevation on internal worth. Pip's moral corruption, exemplified by his attempt to abandon
Magwitch, reflects Dickens' commentary on the dehumanizing nature of prioritizing external status.

However, Dickens introduces a redemptive arc through revelations about Estella's true nature and
Joe's unwavering friendship. Pip's realization that true worth lies in genuine affection and kindness,
as exemplified by Joe and Biddy, serves as a powerful critique of societal values, contrasting his
earlier disdain with later humility.

In conclusion, Dickens' "Great Expectations" artfully weaves Pip's transformative journey into a
broader societal critique. The narrative emphasizes the transformative power of genuine
connections, offering a poignant commentary on the enduring theme of inner worth versus
superficial prominence in Victorian society.