Themes: The Consequences of Ambition
The very title Great Expectations evokes Pip's desire to become a great man in the world. Inspired by his interactions with the upper classes at Satis house, the impressionable young Pip comes to yearn for more than just a simple existence as a blacksmith like his father figure, Joe. Instead, Pip wants to be a gentleman worthy of the beautiful, sophisticated Estella, who denigrates him as a “common labouring-boy” and mocks his “coarse hands” and “thick boots.” Ambition is presented throughout the story as double-edged: On one hand, Pip's ambition pushes him to become more experienced and intelligent, prompting him to move to London, where his relationships with the Pockets, Mr. Jaggers, Wemmick, and others broaden his understanding of the world. Unfortunately, his ambition also makes him a spendthrift, as he seeks to purchase goods that will give him the appearance of a traditional gentleman; by the time Magwitch reveals himself as his benefactor, Pip is deep in debt.
Ambition also leaves Pip discontented with the simple things and good people in his life. He notices this long before he finally learns his lesson about class, as demonstrated when he walks on the marshes with the plain but kind and intelligent Biddy. During this interaction, Pip is fully aware that Biddy is a worthier person than the cruel yet beautiful and sophisticated Estella, and yet he wants Estella anyway. When Estella has rejected him and he decides to ask Biddy to marry him instead, Pip learns that Biddy is already married to Joe. This realization, along with the revelation of his benefactor’s true identity, is profoundly humbling. Casting aside all his prior ambitions and expectations, Pip accepts a job working for Herbert’s company abroad, where he dedicates himself to paying off his debts and living a simple life.
Expert Q&A
How does the theme of suffering instruct Pip, Miss Havisham, and Estella in Great Expectations?
In Great Expectations, suffering profoundly instructs Pip, Miss Havisham, and Estella. Pip learns humility and the value of true friendship after mistreating Joe and Biddy and initially rejecting Magwitch. Miss Havisham realizes her vengeance backfires, leading to her own suffering and repentance. Estella, through her unhappy marriage, gains compassion and sheds her coldness, symbolizing growth beyond her upbringing. Each character's suffering leads to deeper self-awareness and transformation.
Discuss the journey of experiences and their consequences in Great Expectations.
The journey of experiences and their consequences in Great Expectations is primarily focused on Pip's emotional and moral development. As a bildungsroman, the novel explores Pip's search for identity, grappling with social class, and eventual self-awareness. Other characters, like Magwitch, Miss Havisham, and Estella, also undergo significant personal growth. The narrative highlights the impact of experiences on these characters' lives, emphasizing themes of guilt, social injustice, and personal transformation.
How is ambition explored in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens?
In Great Expectations, ambition drives characters like Pip and Magwitch. Pip aspires to rise above his humble beginnings and become a gentleman, a goal temporarily realized through Magwitch's financial support. Magwitch, once a convict, becomes a successful businessman in Australia. However, both characters' ambitions are ultimately thwarted: Magwitch dies in a prison hospital, and Pip loses his wealth. Dickens highlights ambition as a pathway for social mobility, yet portrays its fragility within a rigid class system.
In Great Expectations, who has the "great" expectations and are they indeed "great"?
The many "great expectations" in Great Expectations include Estella’s expectations about her parentage and her future and Pip’s expectations about his benefactor and his own future. These are parallel expectations in many ways. Despite his initial “great expectations,” Pip must learn to see the world through a more realistic lens and create his own future based on his actions without relying on his expectations of what another person can give him.
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