Great Expectations Group

Question:

mel135
mel135
Student
High School - 10th Grade

How do the characters' names (symbolism) illustrate the themes in the novel?

- please help me, i don't understand

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Posted by mel135 on Tuesday May 26, 2009 at 11:48 AM and tagged with characters, names, symbolism, themes.

Answers:


  1. scarletpimpernel Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    Dickens often uses symbolic names, but Great Expectations is probably the best example of his doing so.

    Pip's name is, of course, the most symbolic.  His nickname means "seed," and the novel is about Pip's growth and maturity.  It is a Bildungsroman which is a work about the maturation of an individual.  Like a seed, Pip is "planted," and the reader witnesses his growth.

    Miss Havisham's name is rather ambiguous.  One could interpret it to be "have a shame."  She was so shamed by being jilted that the weight of that shame alters her entire existence. More in keeping, however, with her vengeful nature is a second interpretation of "have a sham."  Miss Havisham puts on a sham by luring men toward Estella, raising their hopes, and then encouraging Estella to break their hearts.  She also allows Pip to believe the sham that she is his mysterious benefactress.

    Estella's name in one of the most fitting.  "Stella" means "star."  Estella, like a star, is bright and beautiful.  Men love to gaze upon her, but she is untouchable.  As a star, she is cold and distant, and no one can get close enough to know her fully.

    I hope this helps you with a few.  To figure out the symbolism of other names (not all of them are symbolic), don't hesitate to break the names into parts, consider allusions, or match up the meanings of stems and roots with the names.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/expectations/character-analysis

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    Posted by scarletpimpernel on Friday May 29, 2009 at 7:39 AM