Expectations. Having expectations could change one’s life. One can induce change within themselves or it can be influenced by others. This concept is noticeable with Pip, the main character in the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. Pip is an orphan boy who lives in Kent, England with his abusive sister, Mrs. Joe, and his sympathetic uncle, Joe Gargery. He searches for value as a person in becoming a gentleman and in earning the love of Estella, an orphan adopted by Miss Havisham, a wealthy spinster. Throughout his journey, Pip matures from having innocence to losing innocence, marking his change in character and expectations. In Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Pip transforms when he encounters a convict, visits Satis House, and experiences London.
In the beginning of the novel, Pip transforms when he encounters and aids an escaped criminal on the marshes. This act is the beginning of Pip’s gradual change because it exposes him to the harsh reality of the world. At Christmas dinner, Pip starts to feel guilt,”Among this good company I should have felt myself, even if I hadn’t robbed the pantry, in a false position” (Dickens 23). He steals a file and food for the convict out of fear and experiences guilt. Because Pip is vulnerable at such an early age, people can influence him. When Pip hears the guards telling Joe that…
Pip gradually changes from being a naive pure-hearted child to a snobbish and ungrateful character, and eventually evolves back to his gentle and loving character which he was at the beginning. Pip truly became a gentleman when he realized his expectations were the source of his unhappiness and that his expectations may not have been worth all he has sacrificed and fully matures. Although Pip’s transformation had many ups and downs along the way, he eventually found a way back to his true form of…
