Great Expectations Response 2 Choice 1

I think that Pip's expectations after his first couple of visits to Ms. Havisham's house became larger. He began to gain some courage and self confidence in what he thought he could do. He started to see himself the same way that Estella did but he felt like he could change that. I think Estella is the most influential person now in Pip's life because she shuts him down and makes him feel worthless, and yet that's what keeps him going because he wants to prove her wrong and become better for her and for himself. He's tired of the insults he's been taking from her and from most of his family. In chapter eight when Estella makes Pip cry she says, "You have been crying till you are half blind, and you are nearly crying again now" and then went off laughing. This shows that Estella is clearly picking on Pip for reasons that might have to do with Ms. Havisham getting left by her husband to be. Then in the next chapter Pip complains to Joe about Pip's lack of education asking Joe why he called the Knave cards Jacks and complained how his boots were too thick and hands to rough. This shows that Pips doesn't like how he's been raised and he wishes he could've learned things the same way as Estella did. He now expects to improve his education by going to Ms. Havisham's and the experiences with her and Estella give him high expectations for his life in the future.

Great Expectations Response 1

I chose the passage about Mrs. Joe and in this passage Pip is describing how Mrs. Joe was beating Joe. Mrs. Joe is the head of the family and treats both Joe and Pip as children even though Joe is her husband. Her abuse makes Joe and Pip feel small and they fear doing anything wrong so they don't get beaten. “By this time my sister was quite desperate, so she pounced on Joe, and, taking him by the two whiskers, knocked his head for a little while against the wall behind him: while I sat in the corner, looking guiltily on.” This quote proves that Mrs. Joe has control over Joe and Pip. Joe is too physically and mentaly weak to use any initiative to defend himself while Pip sits in the corner, scared to react. This shows how Mrs. Joe has her immediate family wrapped around her finger, getting them to do whatever she wants. The part that says that she was desperate shows that she runs the family and she will do anything to keep her power and won't take no for an answer.