As you accompany Pip on his journey to become a gentleman,you may experience some challenges. I will post several discussion questions to help you reflect and interact with others on your reading of Great Expectations.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Chapters 15-20
How is Pip affected by his "great expectations"?
What is Dickens revealing about the social class system of Victorian England through Pip's interactions?
Pip's "great expectations" has caused a major change in his behavior. Pip no longer treats Joe with the respect he once recieved from Pip. Pip talks down to Joe as if Pip is of greater authority than Joe even thought Pip knows on the inside it is wrong. At various points in the novel Pip considers appoligizing but, not once does Pip display an appoligetic act. Acting as if he is the king, many people such as the tailor now treat him with the respect and care that he believes he deserves. Revealed through people like the tailor and Pip, we as readers can interpret what the social class system of Victorian England is. From the gentleman's and their ladies on the top it, recieving a kings treatment the rest of the citizens don't exactly get much of any respect. Through this, we see that there is a very slim chance of recieving kings treatment unless given a lucky chance like Pip. - Kerry Schwartz
The "great expectations" Pip has set for himself creates a drastic change in his life and lifestyle, he goes from living in the marshes of Kent to a fabulous and intellectual lifestyle in london. Soon provinding him great fortune. Before Pip began to grow such a desire to obtain this amount of knowledge he was nothing but a common boy, his "great expectations" have made him think much higher of himself, making him more concieted, looking down on those he once admired. The large gap between social differences may indicate what the social class system of victorian England. For example there is Pip and his common family who lives in the marshes and there is Miss Havisham living in a large victorian home.
Throughout chapters 15-20 Pip has been affected by his “great expectations”. For example, in chapter 19 Pip demonstrates that he no longer has much respect for Joe because he is uneducated. Also, in this chapter Biddy becomes annoyed with Pip because of the new way he is acting. Pip later on feels that he should apologize for his actions to Joe and Biddy but he never does. However, some people in town start to treat Pip with much more respect then before. This is because he now has the opportunity to educate himself and become a gentlemen. For example, the tailor and Mr. Pumblechook treated Pip with much more respect. In the novel, Dickens reveals about the social class system of Victorian England. He reveals that people in the upper class were much more superior to the people in the lower class. This is why Pip is gaining so much respect because he is able to become a gentlemen, and learn how to act properly like the people in the upper class. -Dayna Weintraub
Pip immediately becomes a total prat. He starts attributing everything he doesn't understand to his new found position. Biddy says something? Mankind's innate failings of Jealousy. Joe doesn't get anything from my teaching? Biddy, teach him for me. Dickens shows him dislike for the Victorian class system through that awful tailor, Mr. Pumblechook, and Mr. Jaggers. Pumblechook and the tailor both go from condescending jerks to obsequious, and to top it off, the go up in his opinion of them for the fawning. And handful of chapters ago Pumblechook was "That Ass" now he's a saint. And Mr.Jaggers shows the other end of the class system. All the people who come begging for help are immediately brushed off if they have already payed, and he clearly views them as below him. ~Oliver Stein
I still question why, but I'm simply baffled in response to Pips completely new persona. Now since he has 'great expectations', he's become a total snob. Talking down to Biddy and Joe is where this is most obvious. For example, before he leaves, he talks to Biddy and suggests that she is envious and grudging of him! Dickens even points out that he said it in a superior tone. Now, since he's become vastly pretentious, he sees Pumblechook as a good person rather than the annoying man he once did (as Oliver pointed out) and it really shows the clash between social classes and how far apart they were in Victorian England. The upper-class-men are incredible superior and condescending to the lower-class-men solely based on their money. There's no "grey area", just dirt poor and filthy rich.
Also -maybe I'm wrong but it seems very peculiar to me- Pip constantly brings up his suspicion that the anonymus benefactor of his great expectations is Miss Havisham. I'm beginning to suspect that Dickens is pointing this out to show that maybe it wasn't her, but rather someone else?
That's a great idea Spence. It makes sense when when you think about it. There's no point to an anonymous benefactor if it's revealed at the Get-go. ~Oliver Stein
At first, Pip was just a regular teenager living in Kent, but then he got the opportunity to move to England. Once in London, Pip becomes a totally different person. Now, he is acquainted with some intelligent people, Herbert, and Mr. Pocket. Un-like Joe, they're educated people who have a lot of knowledge. After spending sometime with them, he soon becomes a different person and is taught how to become a proper gentlemen, starting with table manners. After time passed by in London, Pip had a visitor. Joe came to London, and Pip was quite embarrassed by this. He had turned into such a different person that suddenly, he was ashamed of Herbert meeting Joe. Once Joe arrived, he was a disgrace to Pip for his manners even though they were family and may I include, the only one's present. After Joe's departure, Pip feels somewhat sorry for his mistreatment toward Joe and think's about apologizing when he visits Kent. Yet, when he get's the opportunity he fails. He never even managed to apologize for his behavior toward Joe. Yet, while visiting his home, other people like the tailor start to treat Pip differently and have more respect for him. Through this Dickens reveals that people show more sympathy for those who have had an education like Pip, yet frown upon those who haven't, Joe.
Pip takes on a whole new character when he find out about these "great expectations". He has a higher view of himself now that he has this fortune. Pip also starts treating those he loves (such as Joe) like they are inferior to him. You can see the difference of the social classes once Pip makes others aware of his new fortunes. For example, Mr.Pumblechook constantly asking permission to shake his hand, and treating him as such a higher being. Also, the tailor treated him with much more respect once Pip has told him of his new fortune.
Pip's entire life and his mind set completely change when he learns about his "Great Expectations." He is ashamed of the life he was living at Joe's and his sister's house. He used to admire Joe and wanted to be a blacksmith just like him, but now he is embarrassed by everything he once was. Everyone starts treating him differently. For instance, the tailor treated hm like the typical common boy and acted like Pip wasn't worth his time. Once he realized that Pip had come into money, he acted like it was an honor to be in his presence. The same thing happened with Mr. Pumblechook. Through this, Dickens reveals that Victorian England society valued superficial things, and social class standings were very important to the way you were treated.
Once Pip found out about his "great expectations" he immediately thought he was better than everyone else, and becomes more ashamed of who he once was. The idea of money and good education goes to his head and he even accuses Biddy of being jealous of him. I was disappointed to find out that Pip's dreams were coming true through his benefactor and not himself. I was hoping that Pip would find a way to become a gentlemen on his own and really push himself to become something that no one thought he could. The fact that it was being handed down to him made me dislike the book a little more. Dickens shows the social classes of Victorian England through Pip's interactions when he meets with the tailor. Initially the tailor doesn't really give him the time of day, but when Pip tells him about his new fortunes he starts treating Pip with more respect. Also, when Pumplechook recognizes his new fortunes he shows admiration towards Pip and continues to ask him if he can shake his hand. Like Victoria Darling said Victorian England society valued riches, and you were treated with more importance and respect if you were in a higher social class.
As the saying goes, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Pip only got the teeniest exposure to the promise of power and yet and immediately starts acting against the norm, in short, he's acting like a snob. So snobbish is he that losing things. Oh well I have this power and guaranteeing now so why don't I take too people who I love most along with me. He aspires to take Joe the only still functioning part of his phone is original family, but is opposed by two cents. Those two things are and Joe's simplenessand Joe's fondness for his lifestyle as a blacksmith. Pip, taking neither in the butt the first into account to the city meeting. He with Chris from Betty at any teach Joe how to be a proper gentleman. Pip inability to comprehend the fact that Joe might not want to move on from his occupation to a position of power shows that power not only corrupts, but blinds most who possess it.
Before Pip's 'Great Expectations', he was a humble, young boy. Now that he these new expectations for himself he has turned into a stuck-up snobbish brat. For example, before he left for London like Spencer said, he was talking down to Biddy, his teacher which he adored and wanted her to teach him everything she knew, but after Havisham that changed. Before his expectations he looked up to Joe and thought that being common was normal and nothing was wrong with that particular lifestyle. Dickens is showing that the upper class thinks they are more superior than the lower class because the upper class get's an education, more job opportunity's than common people. And he is showing that in the Victorian Age which class you were in kinda branded you as a person and how you were treated and how you treated others.
Pip's "great expectations" has caused a major change in his behavior. Pip no longer treats Joe with the respect he once recieved from Pip. Pip talks down to Joe as if Pip is of greater authority than Joe even thought Pip knows on the inside it is wrong. At various points in the novel Pip considers appoligizing but, not once does Pip display an appoligetic act. Acting as if he is the king, many people such as the tailor now treat him with the respect and care that he believes he deserves. Revealed through people like the tailor and Pip, we as readers can interpret what the social class system of Victorian England is. From the gentleman's and their ladies on the top it, recieving a kings treatment the rest of the citizens don't exactly get much of any respect. Through this, we see that there is a very slim chance of recieving kings treatment unless given a lucky chance like Pip.
ReplyDelete- Kerry Schwartz
The "great expectations" Pip has set for himself creates a drastic change in his life and lifestyle, he goes from living in the marshes of Kent to a fabulous and intellectual lifestyle in london. Soon provinding him great fortune. Before Pip began to grow such a desire to obtain this amount of knowledge he was nothing but a common boy, his "great expectations" have made him think much higher of himself, making him more concieted, looking down on those he once admired. The large gap between social differences may indicate what the social class system of victorian England. For example there is Pip and his common family who lives in the marshes and there is Miss Havisham living in a large victorian home.
ReplyDeleteMonica Palucci^^^
ReplyDeleteThroughout chapters 15-20 Pip has been affected by his “great expectations”. For example, in chapter 19 Pip demonstrates that he no longer has much respect for Joe because he is uneducated. Also, in this chapter Biddy becomes annoyed with Pip because of the new way he is acting. Pip later on feels that he should apologize for his actions to Joe and Biddy but he never does. However, some people in town start to treat Pip with much more respect then before. This is because he now has the opportunity to educate himself and become a gentlemen. For example, the tailor and Mr. Pumblechook treated Pip with much more respect. In the novel, Dickens reveals about the social class system of Victorian England. He reveals that people in the upper class were much more superior to the people in the lower class. This is why Pip is gaining so much respect because he is able to become a gentlemen, and learn how to act properly like the people in the upper class.
ReplyDelete-Dayna Weintraub
Pip immediately becomes a total prat. He starts attributing everything he doesn't understand to his new found position. Biddy says something? Mankind's innate failings of Jealousy. Joe doesn't get anything from my teaching? Biddy, teach him for me.
ReplyDeleteDickens shows him dislike for the Victorian class system through that awful tailor, Mr. Pumblechook, and Mr. Jaggers. Pumblechook and the tailor both go from condescending jerks to obsequious, and to top it off, the go up in his opinion of them for the fawning. And handful of chapters ago Pumblechook was "That Ass" now he's a saint. And Mr.Jaggers shows the other end of the class system. All the people who come begging for help are immediately brushed off if they have already payed, and he clearly views them as below him.
~Oliver Stein
I still question why, but I'm simply baffled in response to Pips completely new persona. Now since he has 'great expectations', he's become a total snob. Talking down to Biddy and Joe is where this is most obvious. For example, before he leaves, he talks to Biddy and suggests that she is envious and grudging of him! Dickens even points out that he said it in a superior tone. Now, since he's become vastly pretentious, he sees Pumblechook as a good person rather than the annoying man he once did (as Oliver pointed out) and it really shows the clash between social classes and how far apart they were in Victorian England. The upper-class-men are incredible superior and condescending to the lower-class-men solely based on their money. There's no "grey area", just dirt poor and filthy rich.
ReplyDeleteAlso -maybe I'm wrong but it seems very peculiar to me- Pip constantly brings up his suspicion that the anonymus benefactor of his great expectations is Miss Havisham. I'm beginning to suspect that Dickens is pointing this out to show that maybe it wasn't her, but rather someone else?
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea Spence. It makes sense when when you think about it. There's no point to an anonymous benefactor if it's revealed at the Get-go.
ReplyDelete~Oliver Stein
At first, Pip was just a regular teenager living in Kent, but then he got the opportunity to move to England. Once in London, Pip becomes a totally different person. Now, he is acquainted with some intelligent people, Herbert, and Mr. Pocket. Un-like Joe, they're educated people who have a lot of knowledge. After spending sometime with them, he soon becomes a different person and is taught how to become a proper gentlemen, starting with table manners. After time passed by in London, Pip had a visitor. Joe came to London, and Pip was quite embarrassed by this. He had turned into such a different person that suddenly, he was ashamed of Herbert meeting Joe. Once Joe arrived, he was a disgrace to Pip for his manners even though they were family and may I include, the only one's present. After Joe's departure, Pip feels somewhat sorry for his mistreatment toward Joe and think's about apologizing when he visits Kent. Yet, when he get's the opportunity he fails. He never even managed to apologize for his behavior toward Joe. Yet, while visiting his home, other people like the tailor start to treat Pip differently and have more respect for him. Through this Dickens reveals that people show more sympathy for those who have had an education like Pip, yet frown upon those who haven't, Joe.
ReplyDeletePip takes on a whole new character when he find out about these "great expectations". He has a higher view of himself now that he has this fortune. Pip also starts treating those he loves (such as Joe) like they are inferior to him. You can see the difference of the social classes once Pip makes others aware of his new fortunes. For example, Mr.Pumblechook constantly asking permission to shake his hand, and treating him as such a higher being. Also, the tailor treated him with much more respect once Pip has told him of his new fortune.
ReplyDeletePip's entire life and his mind set completely change when he learns about his "Great Expectations." He is ashamed of the life he was living at Joe's and his sister's house. He used to admire Joe and wanted to be a blacksmith just like him, but now he is embarrassed by everything he once was. Everyone starts treating him differently. For instance, the tailor treated hm like the typical common boy and acted like Pip wasn't worth his time. Once he realized that Pip had come into money, he acted like it was an honor to be in his presence. The same thing happened with Mr. Pumblechook. Through this, Dickens reveals that Victorian England society valued superficial things, and social class standings were very important to the way you were treated.
ReplyDeleteOnce Pip found out about his "great expectations" he immediately thought he was better than everyone else, and becomes more ashamed of who he once was. The idea of money and good education goes to his head and he even accuses Biddy of being jealous of him.
ReplyDeleteI was disappointed to find out that Pip's dreams were coming true through his benefactor and not himself. I was hoping that Pip would find a way to become a gentlemen on his own and really push himself to become something that no one thought he could. The fact that it was being handed down to him made me dislike the book a little more.
Dickens shows the social classes of Victorian England through Pip's interactions when he meets with the tailor. Initially the tailor doesn't really give him the time of day, but when Pip tells him about his new fortunes he starts treating Pip with more respect. Also, when Pumplechook recognizes his new fortunes he shows admiration towards Pip and continues to ask him if he can shake his hand.
Like Victoria Darling said Victorian England society valued riches, and you were treated with more importance and respect if you were in a higher social class.
As the saying goes, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Pip only got the teeniest exposure to the promise of power and yet and immediately starts acting against the norm, in short, he's acting like a snob. So snobbish is he that losing things. Oh well I have this power and guaranteeing now so why don't I take too people who I love most along with me. He aspires to take Joe the only still functioning part of his phone is original family, but is opposed by two cents. Those two things are and Joe's simplenessand Joe's fondness for his lifestyle as a blacksmith. Pip, taking neither in the butt the first into account to the city meeting. He with Chris from Betty at any teach Joe how to be a proper gentleman. Pip inability to comprehend the fact that Joe might not want to move on from his occupation to a position of power shows that power not only corrupts, but blinds most who possess it.
ReplyDeleteBefore Pip's 'Great Expectations', he was a humble, young boy. Now that he these new expectations for himself he has turned into a stuck-up snobbish brat. For example, before he left for London like Spencer said, he was talking down to Biddy, his teacher which he adored and wanted her to teach him everything she knew, but after Havisham that changed. Before his expectations he looked up to Joe and thought that being common was normal and nothing was wrong with that particular lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteDickens is showing that the upper class thinks they are more superior than the lower class because the upper class get's an education, more job opportunity's than common people. And he is showing that in the Victorian Age which class you were in kinda branded you as a person and how you were treated and how you treated others.