Great Expectations Group

Question:

gurley12
gurley12
Student
High School - 9th Grade

What do we learn about Pip's personality from his conversations with Miss Havisham and Estella in Chapters 1-8 of "Great Expectations"?

Great expectations

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Posted by gurley12 on Tuesday March 24, 2009 at 7:15 AM and tagged with characters, conversations, great expectations, personality, pip.

Answers:

  1. writergal06
    writergal06 Teacher

    eNotes Editor

    Several things about Pip's personality are revealed through these conversations. The audience sees how timid yet honest he is in the way that he hesitantly answers Miss Havisham's questions. We see that he is sensitive and naive when he cries because of Estella's treatment of him. His fearfulness of giving the wrong answer or in offending his sister shows that he wants to please people, even if its just to keep from being beaten. We also see his growing dissatisfaction with his current station, and his inner conflict in why he is dissatisfied. Pip knows that he wants to please Miss Havisham and Estella, but he doesn't know why. He also realizes how ashamed of Joe he is, which is another internal conflict he is battling.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/expectations/character-analysis
    http://www.enotes.com/expectations/part-1-chapter-8-9-sum...

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    Posted by writergal06 on Tuesday March 24, 2009 at 11:50 AM