Truly Great Expectations

Truly Great Expectations

~Blog Post #5~

Topic J

May 15 2015

By: Brian Arata

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is a very accurate title for this novel. In the book, there are high expectations in different ways for different characters. First, there are great expectations for Pip to become a young gentleman and become a part of society. In his young life, Pip lived a life of poverty in his hometown. He was in the lower social class of England, and he was very ashamed of it. He looks “at (his) coarse hands and (his) common boots” and he is extremely upset at where he stands in society (66). Pip is expected to break out of his place in society when he receives his mysterious fortune. His family, especially his uncle Pumblechook, expects him to get a good education, learn proper manners, and get a job in the city of London. Even though this is tough for Pip at first, Pip exceeds these expectations. He is educated by Jaggers, and eventually becomes Jaggers apprentice. There is another example of great expectations in the novel. Estella has great expectations for Pip to be a proper suitor. Throughout the novel, Pip is consistently trying to court Estella. However, Estella constantly puts Pip down because she deems him not good enough for her. Pip “loves her because (he) finds her irresistible,” but she does not feel the same way (247). Even though conflicts arise, Pip’s love for Estella is endless and continuous. He does not meet her expectations until later in his life, but Dickens gives readers the happy ending that Pip wanted. The title of Great Expectations is a great prelude and preview of what will happen throughout the novel. It reveals themes, relationships between characters, and how characters grow and change throughout the book.