Emily Harris

Charles Dickens

Why I read this book:

I began to embody an avid interest in Victorian literature stemming from when I first read “Frankenstein” at the age of 16. This gothic novel enthralled me and aroused my interest in all things dark and unfavourable surrounding this dreary era.

It is well known that Charles Dickens is an extremely popular, if not the most well-received author of the Victorian age. I was familiar with Dickens’ work but had only read and analysed brief transcripts. As I was looking through my library of novels I hadn’t yet read, I came across “Great Expectations”. I felt inclined to read some “Classical” literature and thus digested this novel.

Synopsis

The book surrounds a lower class boy, Pip, who is extremely disheartened with his impoverished background. Pip is an orphan, “brought up by hand” by his older sister and her partner, Joe. His sister (Mrs Joe) treats them both cruelly, making Pip’s life miserable. The story begins on a bleak and dreary day at the churchyard, where Pip is approached by an escaped convict. This prisoner demands he bring him food before he is eventually re-captured.

Pip’s misfortunes are further exacerbated when our protagonist is required to visit Miss Havisham, an upper class lady, who was abandoned on the day of her wedding by her fiancé. Here, Pip meets her adopted daughter, Estella, a cold-hearted, pretentious girl, who has been raised to reek revenge on all men who take her eye. She sneers at Pip’s lack of knowledge and underprivileged ways of life. Absolutely anguished by his treatment from the bewitching Estella, Pip becomes increasingly unsatisfied and embarrassed with his lower class background. He then looks down on those who raised and surround him, especially Joe, a common and unintelligent blacksmith. This displeases and troubles Biddy (Pip’s low class childhood friend and potential love interest). Tensions rise between Pip, Joe and Orlick (a temperamental apprentice blacksmith). Later, Mrs Joe is involved in an “accident,” leaving her brain damaged.

Unexpectedly, Pip is informed by Mr Jaggers, a well-known lawyer, that Pip has assumed great wealth by a mystery benefactor. He is prohibited on asking any questions regarding who this patron is. Pip, however, assumes Miss Havisham is the person responsible for his new-found riches. Furthermore, Pip relocates to London to be guided by Mr Jaggers and takes residence with Herbert Pocket, the trustworthy son of Miss Havisham’s cousin, Matthew. The two become great friends, forming a strong brotherly bond. This leads to Pip secretly paying money to Herbert in order for him to fulfil his dreams and desires.

Pip later reunites with Estella at Miss Havisham’s residence and discovers she is equally as unwelcoming and scornful as she always was. He is grief-stricken to hear about her engagement to his rival, Bentley Drummle, a fellow student of Matthew Pocket.

Moreover, Pip’s misery is worsened when he discovers the identity of his benefactor (the escaped convict from the opening of the story). This is revealed to Pip by the escapee himself, Magwitch, who travelled to London to rekindle. Magwitch was extremely appreciative of Pip’s previous generosity and thus committed his life to hard labour in order to save a grand sum of money for Pip. Upon this discovery, Pip feels a great sense of distaste and dissatisfaction, knowing his wealth derived from a convicted criminal. However, he decides he must help Magwitch escape London, as he is pursued by multiple adversaries. These include the police as well as a previous antagonist and criminal, Compeyson. Magwitch and Compeyson were involved in illegal activities for which the latter was responsible, however, the former received majority of the blame.

Later on, Pip learns of Estella’s marriage to Drummle. To add to his disdain and affliction, he is subsequently subject to stalking by Compeyson. The confounding revelations continue as Pip determines Magwitch to be Estella’s father with Mr Jaggers’ maid as her real mother. Pip then proceeds to visit Mrs Havisham, finding her in a state of unrest and mental decline. She expresses guilt regarding moulding Estella into a vessel of vengeance on all men and apologises to Pip. She then attempts to burn herself, however, Pip rescues her.

After returning to London, Pip receives a menacing letter regarding Magwitch’s wellbeing, compelling him to return to his old home. He is kidnapped by Orlick, who reveals he attacked Mrs Joe and now plans to kill Pip due to previous grievances. Fortunately, Pip is rescued by Hebert and they return to London. The police, accompanied by Compeyson prevent Magwitch from fleeing on a boat. Magwicth attacks Compeyson into water with only the former surviving. He is thereafter sentenced to death.

In the final chapters, Pip becomes extremely ill, escaping jail time due to this. Joe visits him and informs him of Orlick’s arrest and Mrs Havisham’s death. Joe also pays off Pip’s debts and Pip decides to return home and marry Biddy. He is, however, too late as Joe has already proposed to her. Thus, Pip decides to leave the country and work with Herbert. Years later, he returns and reunites with Estella, learning of the death of her cruel husband. They depart, hand in hand

Thoughts/Analysis

There is some debate as towards whether Pip and Estella become betrothed. Originally, Dickens desired to have Estella already remarried to another before coincidentally crossing paths with Pip. Dickens was convinced to change this ending and thus, the reader is left in the dark as to whether Estella and Pip form a relationship.

It could be viewed that Dickens’ first ideas for the ending were too melancholy and dissatisfying for readers, as Pip would have remained a bachelor, unable to finally secure his one true love. However, it could be argued that Dickens’ tales are expected to exhibit sombre and miserable tones. For instance, it is well known how this particular author devises his stories to be realistic of the gloomy environment of the Victorian era. For example, Dickens draws attention to the discernment of the lower classes by the wealthy. This is demonstrated through Estella’s character, an upper class lady, who belittles Pip, a poor blacksmith, at every opportunity. This leads to Pip feeling ashamed of his upbringing and in turn, expressing judgement over his lower class peers. Strong ideals of the Victorian Gentleman were upheld during this period. This portrayed a wealthy, respectable man with an untainted reputation. Even though Pip gains his riches, appearing outwardly as a gentleman, he indulges in heavy-drinking activities and acquires much debt due to this. Pip is therefore not a true Victorian gentleman. This may symbolise how Pip cannot escape his more uncivilised roots and will never completely integrate into the high society.

Love is also one of the main themes of the story, particularly the unrequited nature of the characters’ relationships. For instance, Pip desires Estella from the moment he first laid eyes upon her. In return, Estella mocks and sneers at Pip, picking apart his lower class upbringing. She teases him throughout their adolescence, entertaining suitors in front of Pip. Contrastingly, Pip worships Estella, yearning to be the wealthy, well-spoken man she desires. Due to his deep infatuation, Pip disregards those who love him the most. Biddy, a girl of Pip’s own class, expresses her affection for him, however, he discounts her in favour of Estella. Furthermore, Dickens demonstrates Estella as representing these certain strong ideals for Pip (wealth, social class, reputation). It could therefore be implied that Pip does not love Estella herself, only the idea of her and what she represents to him. Additionally, as she repeatedly degrades him, this decreases Pip’s self-esteem and places Estella on pedestal above him. Therefore, Pip’s powerful passion for Estella may partially or largely stem from his insecurities and his belief that she is superior to him. By the end of the novel, Pip feels guilty about his harsh judgement regarding his friends at home. He then acquires the realisation of wanting to marry Biddy. This only occurs when the “Victorian gentleman” lifestyle falls through for Pip due to the disclosure of his real benefactor, his involvement in criminal activities, ongoing debts and Estella’s marriage to Drummle. Thus, Dickens may be indicating that the idealistic lifestyle was not suited to Pip, leading him to return to Biddy, who represents his humble beginnings.

It could also be argued that Dickens portrays a theme of karma within the story as Pip dismisses Biddy in preference of Estella. The latter refuses him and by the time Pip realises he should have chosen the former, it is too late. Pip is then left with no one to hold his heart after undergoing multiple mishaps, such as, his debt and the inconveniences Magwitch caused. On account of Estella’s cruelty, she does not betroth Pip, who would have doted on her every need and instead marries the callous Drummle. This man is extremely unpleasant to her, which could be suggested is her karma. On the contrary, the ending hints that Estella and Pip may come together after all. Dickens may have written this to highlight how Estella and Pip are matched for each other. Both characters have treated those they feel as lesser with harsh judgement. Additionally, they have both experienced their downfall as a consequences of these actions.

Conclusion

This was an extremely gripping story, which has left me feeling encouraged me to read more of Dickens’ work. I particularly savoured the bleak and dismal elements of the Victorian era. As an individual who is normally disinterested in romances, I was pleased that the story was not purely amorous and explored the pain of unrequited love. Thus, I am now eager to watch a film/TV adaptation of this classic novel.