Sympathy for Pip

Great Expectations

Dickens' gripping novel of 1861, Great Expectations, portrays his distinguishing

tendency to exaggerate both plot and characters. Chapter eight enhances his main

aim of initiating sympathy for Pip, and this, consequently, lasts for the

novel's entirety. We are shown similarities between Dickens' early childhood

memories and the protagonist's inability to defend himself against the

injustices he discovers throughout the early years of life. Dickens successfully

creates a sympathetic mood through a range of techniques, including an exquisite

use of emotive dialogue, sophisticated imagery and symbolism. He explores and

brings originality to timeless themes such as fear, loneliness, luck, classism,

social justice, humiliation, and humor, which is cleverly incorporated into his

writing for the first time to bring an uplifting mood to an otherwise dark and

disturbing tone. His use of Miss Havisham and Estella as tools to evoke sympathy

and casting the central character as the narrative voice increases compassion

and creates a dramatic attitude. In this essay, I will also examine the opening

and ending of the chapter, which contribute to its overall effect.

Opening and Ending of the chapter

After the initial detailed account of Pumblechook and his home, we are

immediately endeared to Pip and express sympathy when he begins to depict the

low ceiling of his attic space. Our sympathy is again increased and contained

throughout the entire chapter - from the humorous torment of Pumblechook's sums

to meeting the somewhat frightening Miss Havisham and stepping inside her

lonely, dilapidated abode. Pip's already dire situation is once again worsened

by Estella and Miss Havisham's cruel and menacing comments about the situation

in which he finds himself. They arouse our consideration through the way in

which they interact, both with each other and with Pip, making him feel 'much

more ignorant' than he had considered himself the previous night. His growing

obsession with Estella and her view upon him drags down his self-esteem to an

all time low and consequently builds our sympathy towards him. It is here that

his feeling of despair and worthlessness present him with the new target of

becoming a gentleman, so far from his status at that present time.

Social Class

Great Expectations frequently refers us to the present class system of a

post-Industrial Revolution Victorian England. The theme of social underlines the

book's overall plot and moral theme that loyalty and conscience are worth more

than social advancement, wealth and class. During the 19th century, there were

vast differences in social class. Although it was incredibly easy to slip down

the social ladder, the poor often resorted to begging or stealing in order to

survive. Most children, like Pip, received little or no education, and therefore

the working classes were held in low regard to those like Estella, who reacted

in a similar way to readers of the book's day. Pip later understands that,

despite the esteem to which he holds Estella, one's status in a pretentious and

money driven world are in no way connected to one's real character. Estella also

realizes this, when instead of marrying kindhearted commoner Pip, she chooses to

marry the course and cruel nobleman Drummle, who, despite his high class, is in

no way able to fulfill her happiness. Each aspect of Chapter eight reinforces

the socio economic significance, which Dickens explores. For example, when Pip

and Estella play the simple card game, 'Beggar my Neighbour', its name and

nature seemingly enhance the chief disparity of social class between the two,

therefore building sympathy for Pip. His first bitter taste of a 'higher

society' leaves him embarrassed and ashamed when Estella declares him a 'common

labouring boy'. She later insults him further, with harsh comments about his

'course hands' and 'thick boots'. It is this chapter in which Pip realizes that

his attire and mannerisms will only ever be sub-standard if he continues his

life as a blacksmith's apprentice. He envies Estella for her social position and

when he becomes a gentleman, he begins to act in her same snobbish and cold

fashion to both Joe and Biddy. Estella is described as 'very proud' by Pip, but

despite his great envy of her, she is infact even lower born than him as she is

discovered to be Magwitch's daughter later in the novel.

Genre

GE is part of the 'bildungsroman' category of literature, for novels which show

the growth and