Friday, February 13, 2009
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.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Tommy, I definitely agree with you. Pip goes to Miss Havisham's house without any prior expectations for himself. He was destined to be an apprentice blacksmith like his uncle before him, and there seemed little hope of changing that. However, the demeaning comments of both Estella and Miss Havisham, drive Pip to want to improve his current station in life, if for no other reason than to prove them wrong. The role of blacksmith was no longer palatable for Pip. In chapter fourteen, he states, ""What I dreaded was, that in some unlucky hour I, being at my grimiest and commonest, should lift up my eyes and see Estella looking in at one of the wooden windows of the forge."(108) In chapter fifteen, Pip's desire for education becomes apparent. Biddy's primitive lessons no longer meet his expectations. "In his hunger for information" Pip seeks any "intellectuals crumbs" that Mr. Wopsle is willing to bestow upon him. By the end of chapter eighteen, the poor dirty orphan is heading to London to become a gentleman. This would not have been possible had he not be exposed to the Satis House and its inhabitants, which kindled these great expectations.
ReplyDelete