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 28-39
Why do you think Pip is increasingly unhappy? What might be some of Dickens's lessons?
Because of Pips background of living in the marshes surrounded by "common" people and his desire to become "uncommon" Pip has spent many of years with "great expectations" in hope he would have great fortune and much knowledge. Although he has reached the goal himself he realizes it is not what he expected it has only slowy brought him unhappiness, discomfort and disapointments. Some things leading to this unhappiness may include how his departure from home has surprisingly made drastic changes making his family members and friends unhappy, causing Pip to be unhappy himself. The biggest disapointment Pip faces is discovering his true benefactor which had been the convict, meaning Estella is not ment to be his wife. A lesson Dickens may be trying to compose could be similar to the qoute "mone can not buy you happiness" - Monica Palucci
Also, without regarding the question (Sorry Lagan, but hey, discussion!) The fight between Estella and Havisham was awesome. Estella is the most amazing person in the book. All sharp edges and pride, her rhetoric and calm against Havisham was SO great. Chapter 38 is the best so far. ~Oliver Stein
In the chapters, Pip is growing unhappy because he isn't getting anywhere by being a gentleman. No good's come of it, save for Herbert and Magwitch's happiness, and up till then, he wasn't getting anything done. Biddy was starting to find her dislike of him fermenting, he can't relate to Joe after all the years, and Estella's courtship hasn't succeeded as he hoped. When you think about what made Pip feel good, it wasn't getting money, or using it on himself (You never hear tell of his beautiful pocket-watch before chapter 39 when Magwitch refers to it.) but using it for others. Dickens message is thus: The best things in life are friendship and intangibles, and in that arrangement, money's only good for staving of work for free time and helping friends and others. Pip's story isn't finished, so we can't see his end result through more than his help for Herbert, but Magwitch shows it clear as day. He's probably one of the happiest characters in the book along with Wemmick -who again helps others and enjoys life with friends- and why? He knows he brought Pip into his position of decadence, and it's made him feel as great as god.
Unrelated to the question, but chapters 37, 38, and 39 are the best in the book and worth all the royal pain of the hideous early chapters to get to. The supporting cast in this book are as good as any other I've read, though Pip is only interesting as a window into his love of Estella and they are what makes it great. Estella will forever be one of the greatest love interests I've read in years (And the other was inspired by her, really) And Magwitch's delight in seeing Pip succeed for him are so paternal and kind that it makes him shine through all the awful, petty other characters of Mrs. Joe, Pumblechook, Havisham, Compeyson (Havisham's hubby to be), and really everyone like Drummle, who build such as despondent world to read. ~Oliver Stein
There are a few reasons that cumulatively make Pip unhappy. In addition to his and Hebert's debt, his sister dying, his strong love for Estelle that he can't seem to shake, despite his best efforts, and the fact that his family's well-being has been disrupted by his leaving for London, his Great Expectations are not what he thought they were. For a while, his aspirations were to be a gentleman in order to woo over Estelle. Through years of education, he has finally become one, but, as Monica said, it's come with several disappointments along the way. The way I saw it, he seemed most unhappy when he found out that his benefactor was not Miss Havisham, but it was Wagwitch. It brought his realization that him and Estelle were never meant to be, completely shattering his previous hopes of marrying her. Perhaps Dickens wants to pass on the lesson that anticipation and preconceptions often leads to dissappointment when one realizes that when they finally achieve it, it's not as 'hyped up' as they expected. (Sorry if it may sound a bit parallel to Monicas, but she said it all!)
Shadowing what Monica and Spencer expressed, Pip is increasingly unhappy over the coarse of the novel. Through his sister dying, life seeming like it has no aparent reason due to Estella's love being unrecognizably mutual and due to the lack of realization that his life with his friends(including Biddy and Joe) is now troubled and nearly over Pip is becoming collectively unhappy. Although Pip is living in Londom attempting to become a gentleman he left life on the Marshes unsound. Leaving a fight with Biddy and Joe remaining he now has noone he can truly relay on back home. Also, Pip's hopes and dreams were crushed when realizing that Estella and him were never truly meant to be and there is no hope anymore for them. Accomplishing being a gentleman may be harder than what Pip expected. Thus, Dicken's may be wanting to show the readers that what truly matters in life isn't what you can buy in life but what is given to you in life like friendships and family. As we can see, Pip believes that being a gentleman is what will make him happy in life while infact, it is his friendship with Biddy and Joe that truly will make him happy. Therefor, Pip is unhappy with his life due to the lack of frienships and the increase of wealth. -Kerry Schwartz
In Chapters 28-39 of Great Expectations Pip has become increasingly unhappy. Many depressing events have taken place throughout these chapters such as, Mrs. Joe’s death and much more. Also, in this frame of chapters Pip and Estella’s relationship has not grown. At first, Pip thought that Mrs. Havisham was his secret benefactor due to her wanting him to marry Estella. However, Pip is later disappointed when he finds out that his true benefactor is the convict that he met in the graveyard when he was a young boy. Pip now feels that he and Estella might never be able to be together. Now since Pip has become proper and has adapted to his great expectations, his family and past friends have begun to grow separate from him. For example, when Joe comes to London to see Pip, Joe almost feels awkward when speaking to him and is uncomfortable with his surroundings. Also, when Pip is at his sister’s funeral he speaks to Biddy. In their conversation he says that he is going to visit Joe more often. However, Biddy then questions Pip in sort of ridiculing way as if he is actually going to hold true on his promise. These are some examples of how Pip’s new elitist personality, causes him to lose his past friends and family. One of Dickens lessons is that you shouldn’t forget where you come from. Based on the way Pip has changed with his personality and being far away from home, he has now lost the close friends that he has back home. -Dayna Weintraub
Once Pip was given a large fortune from an un-known benefactor, he thought his life would be so much better. In reality, within chapter 28-39 we as the readers, get a glimpse of how these “great expectations” have not resulted with happiness as they intended, but yet sorrow. As soon as Pip becomes aware of his sister’s death, he begins to see her as if she is present in London. He misses her presence, despite the way she treated him as a child. For him, the simple idea of her not sitting in the chair by the fire, was un-real, and heartbreaking for Pip. During his visit to Kent for the funeral, it gets Pip to think about their social contrast and how their lives are no longer the same. Also, Pip becomes more aware and depressed by Estella’s treatment toward him. As stated in chapter 38, “i suffered every kind and degree of torture Estella could cause me.” No longer was Pip, admiring her beauty, but yet he was seeing how she learned to use guys every chance she got, but not actually love them for who they were. This definitely contributed to Pip’s unhappiness as he felt like he was “being used”, which technically he was. Later on, Pip is soon introduced to his benefactor, who was to his surprise, the convict. This puts Pip into shock and overall depression as he thought Miss Havisham was the benefactor, and intended for Estella and Pip to get married. Through Pip’s un-happiness Dickens is trying to say that money isn’t what can bring happiness, it’s the people around you that cheer you up. Without Joe and people like Herbert encouraging him to do good in the world, he would be conceited like Estella and Miss Havisham.
Since Pip has moved to London, he expected himself to be much, much happier. But since he's been there, he has been constantly let down. For example, he receives a letter informing him of his sisters death. Pip realizes the difference between his old life and his new life, and the difference between his old social status, and his new one. Later on, he finds out who his benefactor is. He finds out its not Miss Havisham, but Magwitch, the convict. He is extremely disappointed because he realizes Estella was not meant for him, and that miss havisham wasn't saving her for Pip. He knows he can never have her. These instances show that money can't buy happiness, as pia said.
Throughout these chapters, Pip is becoming increasingly uphappy. The only time I remember him being happy through these times was when he gave money to Herbert so he could start working towards his dreams. So far the only one who has benefitted from his great expectations was Herbert. Pip was let down many times during this period of time. For example, his sister passed away after a long fight due to previous injuries. Further, Magwitch turned out to be his benefactor instead of Miss Havisham. This would be dissapointing to anyone, he had dreamed that Miss Havisham had been the one who had great expectations for him, and Estella would be part of the deal. Instead, he had been recieving money from a convict who took advantage of him and scrared him into doing things for him when he was a boy. Throughout this time when Pip was in posession of a great deal of money, he was still unhappy. Dicken's is saying though Pip's unhappiness that superfcial things do not bring happiness. Money can't but happiness or love.
Pip continues to become less and less happier with each interval of time. This is caused by many reasons. First off, Pip is starting to realize that becoming a gentleman isn't as great as he thought it would be. When he says "...to think my expectations had done some good to somebody" he is saying how they haven't done much good for him. He has been disappointed time and time again. This theme of disappointment is especially brought out when he learns that his benefactor is not Miss Havisham, but his old convict. This brings him disappointment because he realizes that he was never intended to marry Estella after all. Also, I feel that Pip knows deep down that he has changed for the worse. For example he is ashamed of his once beloved Joe just because of where he comes from. If Pip had never had his "great expectations" than he would not look at Joe any differently than he had before. A lesson that Dickens may be conveying is that things are never as good as they are made out to be. Also, like Monica said he might also be saying that money can't buy you happiness. (Considering that fact that since Pip inherited his fortune he has become unhappier with each day.)
I realize this now after reading through 90% of the book. I read this book when I was younger. Just for fun. What kind of a screwy kid was I? Pip's increasing unhappiness is derived from his many instances of humiliation and Pip's own turbulent emotions. First (going back to chapter 27), Joe's visit to London re-reveals the theme of social contrast, showing Pip awkwardly attempting to find his position in society. Second, he is scared by the convicts in the coach, who remind him of his encounter on the marches in his childhood (foreshadowing... Dahn Dahn Dahn!!!). Third, He learns of Pumblechook's false boasts and is mocked by the tailor's apprentice. Fourth, perhaps the most humiliating, Is that when Pip returns to Miss Havisham's house, Miss Estella treats him the same as ever, coldly, as if her heart did not beat (reminds Pip that she has "no heart"). Fifth, Pip is reminded by Estella that he is the only suitor she doesn’t try to deceive and entrap. But this only makes Pip feel less important to her. Sixth and finally, Pip's concrete belief in Miss Havisham as his benefactor proves to be unfounded and incorrect with the introduction of Magwitch. Pip's humiliations are surely blows to his ego, each carrying a particular weight of its own. Pip's emotions are another issue. Guilt, irritation, sadness; All of these emotions play a large part in Pip's decent from happiness. When visiting Miss Havisham's house, Pip is irritated and unhappy at the thought of visiting Joe, for his attitude for his brother-in-law when Joe visited London was less than friendly. Pip's intense sadness at his sister's death caused him to be unhappy because... well... his sister died. Can't get much more unhappy than that. At his sister's funeral, Pip's guilt for the treatment of Biddy and Joe skyrockets, causing him to promise to visit more often. None of them truly believe this will be the case, and so this promise is met with skepticism. I agree with Oliver's view that the things that money can't buy (true friendship, experience, love) are best cultivated and kept in their prime, while money is a "weed-cutter" of sorts, the "weeds" being work and other essential time-consuming activities.
Pip is unhappy because as he becomes what he thinks a gentleman is, he realizes that it isn't as amazing and glamorous as he thought it would be. When Joe visits Pip in London, he is nervous that Joe won't approve of his lifestyle and that Drummel will think less of him. During the visit, Pip treats Joe coldly and snobbish but then feels bad about it later. When he returns to Kent, he goes to Havisham's house thinking that it will be a glorious return because of how much he's grown as a gentleman and hopes to impress Estella, but she treats him just cruelly as she did before. Pip keeps trailing after Estella and believing that they are going to get married and be together forever, but Estella has been taught all her life to be cruel and not love others. He learns that he isn't the only one who's been treated this way by Estella. He follows her and watches her be cruel to other suitors even though he isn't even seen as a serious suitor himself by the lady that Estella is staying with in London. Seeing Estella trap and break other men's hearts makes Pip feel less important while he's just left to follow her and be ignored. He loses all of the people who were closest to him because of the snobbish way he acted towards them. At Mrs. Joe's funeral when he promises that he will visit more often, but Biddy doesn't believe him. Pip learns that not everything is what it seems. He thought that he had to have money to be happy, but ended up miserable. During his dinner parties with people like the Pockets, Jaggers, and Wemmick, he feels bad inside and a little disgusted after a fancy dinner. He feels ashamed even when he does have the fanciness that he's wanted, but he feels that Joe would be ashamed of his lifestyle now and feels much better when he has simple dinners with the Pockets. dickens lessons are that money doesn't buy happiness and neither does social status. He teaches that not everything is what it seems. Pip expects the life of a gentleman to be the answer to his happiness, but Havisham and Estella are the opposite of that. Even though they are wealthy, neither Havisham and Estella are happy. Havisham doesn't have anything to live for except for Estella, who can't love her because of how Havisham raised her: to break hearts.
Because of Pips background of living in the marshes surrounded by "common" people and his desire to become "uncommon" Pip has spent many of years with "great expectations" in hope he would have great fortune and much knowledge. Although he has reached the goal himself he realizes it is not what he expected it has only slowy brought him unhappiness, discomfort and disapointments. Some things leading to this unhappiness may include how his departure from home has surprisingly made drastic changes making his family members and friends unhappy, causing Pip to be unhappy himself. The biggest disapointment Pip faces is discovering his true benefactor which had been the convict, meaning Estella is not ment to be his wife. A lesson Dickens may be trying to compose could be similar to the qoute "mone can not buy you happiness" - Monica Palucci
ReplyDeleteI can't help but notice there aren't as many questions in the packet now, with some chapters having none at all.
ReplyDelete~Oliver Stein
Also, without regarding the question (Sorry Lagan, but hey, discussion!) The fight between Estella and Havisham was awesome. Estella is the most amazing person in the book. All sharp edges and pride, her rhetoric and calm against Havisham was SO great. Chapter 38 is the best so far.
ReplyDelete~Oliver Stein
In the chapters, Pip is growing unhappy because he isn't getting anywhere by being a gentleman. No good's come of it, save for Herbert and Magwitch's happiness, and up till then, he wasn't getting anything done. Biddy was starting to find her dislike of him fermenting, he can't relate to Joe after all the years, and Estella's courtship hasn't succeeded as he hoped. When you think about what made Pip feel good, it wasn't getting money, or using it on himself (You never hear tell of his beautiful pocket-watch before chapter 39 when Magwitch refers to it.) but using it for others. Dickens message is thus: The best things in life are friendship and intangibles, and in that arrangement, money's only good for staving of work for free time and helping friends and others. Pip's story isn't finished, so we can't see his end result through more than his help for Herbert, but Magwitch shows it clear as day. He's probably one of the happiest characters in the book along with Wemmick -who again helps others and enjoys life with friends- and why? He knows he brought Pip into his position of decadence, and it's made him feel as great as god.
ReplyDeleteUnrelated to the question, but chapters 37, 38, and 39 are the best in the book and worth all the royal pain of the hideous early chapters to get to. The supporting cast in this book are as good as any other I've read, though Pip is only interesting as a window into his love of Estella and they are what makes it great. Estella will forever be one of the greatest love interests I've read in years (And the other was inspired by her, really) And Magwitch's delight in seeing Pip succeed for him are so paternal and kind that it makes him shine through all the awful, petty other characters of Mrs. Joe, Pumblechook, Havisham, Compeyson (Havisham's hubby to be), and really everyone like Drummle, who build such as despondent world to read.
~Oliver Stein
Discuss, discuss! I'm glad you are enjoying Miss Havisham as much as I do!!
ReplyDeleteThere are a few reasons that cumulatively make Pip unhappy. In addition to his and Hebert's debt, his sister dying, his strong love for Estelle that he can't seem to shake, despite his best efforts, and the fact that his family's well-being has been disrupted by his leaving for London, his Great Expectations are not what he thought they were. For a while, his aspirations were to be a gentleman in order to woo over Estelle. Through years of education, he has finally become one, but, as Monica said, it's come with several disappointments along the way. The way I saw it, he seemed most unhappy when he found out that his benefactor was not Miss Havisham, but it was Wagwitch. It brought his realization that him and Estelle were never meant to be, completely shattering his previous hopes of marrying her. Perhaps Dickens wants to pass on the lesson that anticipation and preconceptions often leads to dissappointment when one realizes that when they finally achieve it, it's not as 'hyped up' as they expected. (Sorry if it may sound a bit parallel to Monicas, but she said it all!)
ReplyDeleteShadowing what Monica and Spencer expressed, Pip is increasingly unhappy over the coarse of the novel. Through his sister dying, life seeming like it has no aparent reason due to Estella's love being unrecognizably mutual and due to the lack of realization that his life with his friends(including Biddy and Joe) is now troubled and nearly over Pip is becoming collectively unhappy. Although Pip is living in Londom attempting to become a gentleman he left life on the Marshes unsound. Leaving a fight with Biddy and Joe remaining he now has noone he can truly relay on back home. Also, Pip's hopes and dreams were crushed when realizing that Estella and him were never truly meant to be and there is no hope anymore for them. Accomplishing being a gentleman may be harder than what Pip expected. Thus, Dicken's may be wanting to show the readers that what truly matters in life isn't what you can buy in life but what is given to you in life like friendships and family. As we can see, Pip believes that being a gentleman is what will make him happy in life while infact, it is his friendship with Biddy and Joe that truly will make him happy. Therefor, Pip is unhappy with his life due to the lack of frienships and the increase of wealth.
ReplyDelete-Kerry Schwartz
In Chapters 28-39 of Great Expectations Pip has become increasingly unhappy. Many depressing events have taken place throughout these chapters such as, Mrs. Joe’s death and much more. Also, in this frame of chapters Pip and Estella’s relationship has not grown. At first, Pip thought that Mrs. Havisham was his secret benefactor due to her wanting him to marry Estella. However, Pip is later disappointed when he finds out that his true benefactor is the convict that he met in the graveyard when he was a young boy. Pip now feels that he and Estella might never be able to be together. Now since Pip has become proper and has adapted to his great expectations, his family and past friends have begun to grow separate from him. For example, when Joe comes to London to see Pip, Joe almost feels awkward when speaking to him and is uncomfortable with his surroundings. Also, when Pip is at his sister’s funeral he speaks to Biddy. In their conversation he says that he is going to visit Joe more often. However, Biddy then questions Pip in sort of ridiculing way as if he is actually going to hold true on his promise. These are some examples of how Pip’s new elitist personality, causes him to lose his past friends and family. One of Dickens lessons is that you shouldn’t forget where you come from. Based on the way Pip has changed with his personality and being far away from home, he has now lost the close friends that he has back home.
ReplyDelete-Dayna Weintraub
Once Pip was given a large fortune from an un-known benefactor, he thought his life would be so much better. In reality, within chapter 28-39 we as the readers, get a glimpse of how these “great expectations” have not resulted with happiness as they intended, but yet sorrow. As soon as Pip becomes aware of his sister’s death, he begins to see her as if she is present in London. He misses her presence, despite the way she treated him as a child. For him, the simple idea of her not sitting in the chair by the fire, was un-real, and heartbreaking for Pip. During his visit to Kent for the funeral, it gets Pip to think about their social contrast and how their lives are no longer the same. Also, Pip becomes more aware and depressed by Estella’s treatment toward him. As stated in chapter 38, “i suffered every kind and degree of torture Estella could cause me.” No longer was Pip, admiring her beauty, but yet he was seeing how she learned to use guys every chance she got, but not actually love them for who they were. This definitely contributed to Pip’s unhappiness as he felt like he was “being used”, which technically he was. Later on, Pip is soon introduced to his benefactor, who was to his surprise, the convict. This puts Pip into shock and overall depression as he thought Miss Havisham was the benefactor, and intended for Estella and Pip to get married. Through Pip’s un-happiness Dickens is trying to say that money isn’t what can bring happiness, it’s the people around you that cheer you up. Without Joe and people like Herbert encouraging him to do good in the world, he would be conceited like Estella and Miss Havisham.
ReplyDeleteSince Pip has moved to London, he expected himself to be much, much happier. But since he's been there, he has been constantly let down. For example, he receives a letter informing him of his sisters death. Pip realizes the difference between his old life and his new life, and the difference between his old social status, and his new one. Later on, he finds out who his benefactor is. He finds out its not Miss Havisham, but Magwitch, the convict. He is extremely disappointed because he realizes Estella was not meant for him, and that miss havisham wasn't saving her for Pip. He knows he can never have her. These instances show that money can't buy happiness, as pia said.
ReplyDeleteThroughout these chapters, Pip is becoming increasingly uphappy. The only time I remember him being happy through these times was when he gave money to Herbert so he could start working towards his dreams. So far the only one who has benefitted from his great expectations was Herbert. Pip was let down many times during this period of time. For example, his sister passed away after a long fight due to previous injuries. Further, Magwitch turned out to be his benefactor instead of Miss Havisham. This would be dissapointing to anyone, he had dreamed that Miss Havisham had been the one who had great expectations for him, and Estella would be part of the deal. Instead, he had been recieving money from a convict who took advantage of him and scrared him into doing things for him when he was a boy. Throughout this time when Pip was in posession of a great deal of money, he was still unhappy. Dicken's is saying though Pip's unhappiness that superfcial things do not bring happiness. Money can't but happiness or love.
ReplyDeletePip continues to become less and less happier with each interval of time. This is caused by many reasons. First off, Pip is starting to realize that becoming a gentleman isn't as great as he thought it would be. When he says "...to think my expectations had done some good to somebody" he is saying how they haven't done much good for him. He has been disappointed time and time again. This theme of disappointment is especially brought out when he learns that his benefactor is not Miss Havisham, but his old convict. This brings him disappointment because he realizes that he was never intended to marry Estella after all. Also, I feel that Pip knows deep down that he has changed for the worse. For example he is ashamed of his once beloved Joe just because of where he comes from. If Pip had never had his "great expectations" than he would not look at Joe any differently than he had before.
ReplyDeleteA lesson that Dickens may be conveying is that things are never as good as they are made out to be. Also, like Monica said he might also be saying that money can't buy you happiness. (Considering that fact that since Pip inherited his fortune he has become unhappier with each day.)
I realize this now after reading through 90% of the book. I read this book when I was younger. Just for fun. What kind of a screwy kid was I?
ReplyDeletePip's increasing unhappiness is derived from his many instances of humiliation and Pip's own turbulent emotions. First (going back to chapter 27), Joe's visit to London re-reveals the theme of social contrast, showing Pip awkwardly attempting to find his position in society. Second, he is scared by the convicts in the coach, who remind him of his encounter on the marches in his childhood (foreshadowing... Dahn Dahn Dahn!!!). Third, He learns of Pumblechook's false boasts and is mocked by the tailor's apprentice. Fourth, perhaps the most humiliating, Is that when Pip returns to Miss Havisham's house, Miss Estella treats him the same as ever, coldly, as if her heart did not beat (reminds Pip that she has "no heart"). Fifth, Pip is reminded by Estella that he is the only suitor she doesn’t try to deceive and entrap. But this only makes Pip feel less important to her. Sixth and finally, Pip's concrete belief in Miss Havisham as his benefactor proves to be unfounded and incorrect with the introduction of Magwitch. Pip's humiliations are surely blows to his ego, each carrying a particular weight of its own.
Pip's emotions are another issue. Guilt, irritation, sadness; All of these emotions play a large part in Pip's decent from happiness. When visiting Miss Havisham's house, Pip is irritated and unhappy at the thought of visiting Joe, for his attitude for his brother-in-law when Joe visited London was less than friendly. Pip's intense sadness at his sister's death caused him to be unhappy because... well... his sister died. Can't get much more unhappy than that. At his sister's funeral, Pip's guilt for the treatment of Biddy and Joe skyrockets, causing him to promise to visit more often. None of them truly believe this will be the case, and so this promise is met with skepticism.
I agree with Oliver's view that the things that money can't buy (true friendship, experience, love) are best cultivated and kept in their prime, while money is a "weed-cutter" of sorts, the "weeds" being work and other essential time-consuming activities.
Pip is unhappy because as he becomes what he thinks a gentleman is, he realizes that it isn't as amazing and glamorous as he thought it would be. When Joe visits Pip in London, he is nervous that Joe won't approve of his lifestyle and that Drummel will think less of him. During the visit, Pip treats Joe coldly and snobbish but then feels bad about it later. When he returns to Kent, he goes to Havisham's house thinking that it will be a glorious return because of how much he's grown as a gentleman and hopes to impress Estella, but she treats him just cruelly as she did before. Pip keeps trailing after Estella and believing that they are going to get married and be together forever, but Estella has been taught all her life to be cruel and not love others. He learns that he isn't the only one who's been treated this way by Estella. He follows her and watches her be cruel to other suitors even though he isn't even seen as a serious suitor himself by the lady that Estella is staying with in London. Seeing Estella trap and break other men's hearts makes Pip feel less important while he's just left to follow her and be ignored. He loses all of the people who were closest to him because of the snobbish way he acted towards them. At Mrs. Joe's funeral when he promises that he will visit more often, but Biddy doesn't believe him. Pip learns that not everything is what it seems. He thought that he had to have money to be happy, but ended up miserable. During his dinner parties with people like the Pockets, Jaggers, and Wemmick, he feels bad inside and a little disgusted after a fancy dinner. He feels ashamed even when he does have the fanciness that he's wanted, but he feels that Joe would be ashamed of his lifestyle now and feels much better when he has simple dinners with the Pockets. dickens lessons are that money doesn't buy happiness and neither does social status. He teaches that not everything is what it seems. Pip expects the life of a gentleman to be the answer to his happiness, but Havisham and Estella are the opposite of that. Even though they are wealthy, neither Havisham and Estella are happy. Havisham doesn't have anything to live for except for Estella, who can't love her because of how Havisham raised her: to break hearts.
ReplyDelete