greatexpectations

Great Expectations is a self-report novel of Dickens, one of the greatest critical realist writers of the Victorian Era. This novel is one representative work that criticizes some features of social and personal character. It narrates a story of a parentless child, Philip (Pip), who goes through ups and downs during 28 years and then grows in many perspectives. Thus, the novel reveals its initiation theme. At the beginning, Pip is a naïve child, who is adopted by his irritable sister, a housewife, and her tender husband Joe, a blacksmith. He grows in poverty and loneliness. By chance, he saves a starving convict, serving him some food out of the fear of being threatened by this dreadful man, as well as his kindness to an injured, pitiful man. Things go normally until he is invited to the gorgeous house of Miss Havisham’s, where he meets the beauteous Miss Estella. This is a proud and pretty girl, who always behaves like a “Tempt”. It is her arrogance and contempt towards the poor boy Pip that stimulates arouse Pip’s desire for being a gentleman. Then, a lawyer from London brings great news to Pip that a man, on condition of anonymity, will subsidize his education in London. He then starts his new life as a wealthy man there. He visits famous places, makes rich friends and has his first taste of “vanity”. And he also becomes a victim of class society, who loses his ability to be thankful and judicious. At last, the identity of the sponsor comes to the surface. Pip finally recognizes that all these treasures are given by that convict—Provis. He doesn’t appreciate what Provis does for denying this clumsy man, which will disgrace him. How can it not be his dream sponsor Miss Havisham! Luckily, in the final part, Pip realizes what a virtuous man Provis is and tries to help his benefactor escape. Although Provis is caught and all the his possessions are forfeited to the Crown (Pip loses money), he regains the beauty of humanity. This novel conveys the initiation theme especially in three events. The first one is the meeting with Estella. Estella is adopted by the spinster Havisham, who suffers from a disappointed love and wants to revenge, filling the story with heavy tragic color. She is imbued with the idea that she has to conquer all men with her beauty and afterward dump them. Hence, when she meets Pip, she also implements her old way on him—mercilessly teases. Pip falls in love with this proud woman, although these contemptuous words of “stupid, clumsy laboring-boy” deeply hurt him. The contempt seems to be infectious. At that moment, Pip regards himself as living in a low-lived bad way and initiates an idea of being wealthy and well-educated. He becomes a man of desire. Actually, Pip meets the divorced Estella in the end. It may be an extrication to this oppressed woman. Or it is a reward for her several admonishments to Pip. The second one is the life in London. When he is about to leave that small town, there being is a section of narrative reads, “I was lost in the mazes of my future fortunes” which is the portrayal of his London life. During this period, Pip experiences the charm of this prosperous city and the principal of “money as the first priority”. He himself lives a luxury and dissipatious life—decorating his home in some quite unnecessary ways, joining in merry-making club, making respectable and wealthy friends, etc.. Based on lavish expenditure, he lives. He even feels troubled by his best companion and friend Joe’s visit because of mortification brought by poverty. If he could know that Joe is the one being their there all the time and willing to clear up his indebting mess, whether he would be nicer to him? Maybe not. At this time, Pip is the spokesman of how a simple man being is diminished by capitalism. The third one is the injure injury of Magwitch. Having experienced astonishment, repugnance, and comprehensive understanding to this convict sponsor, Pip begins to protect Magwitch. Pip forms a great escape plan for him. However, this plan fails and Magwitch is caught into prison with serious injure. Pip is in debt for his fortunes is gone as he is caught. He gets to the worst point when he is ill. It is Joe who aids him again. At this time, Pip undergoes ups and downs of his life and grows up to be life-accepting. Letting go transience and vanity, he now is a man being true to life and people around him. Pip’s growth is remarkable and his understanding of himself is constantly deepening. A person's growth process is also full of disorder and complexity. To those who lose their ways but able to get back on track, they will appreciate everyone helps them, especially themselves. In real life, we may have no chance to experience such great ups and downs, but we can learn something from everything in order to grow up in right direction. Life is but a dream, and “the quality of our dreams is about the same as in the best or worst bedroom”. A clerk is no inferior to a gentleman. Only when we figure out who we are, can we find real happiness.