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Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Dialectical Journal Vivi LeQuotes Analysis

As I never saw my father or my mother, andnever saw any likeness of either of them...myfancies regarding what they were like, wereunreasonably derived from their tombstones. Theshape of the letters on my father's, gave me an oddidea that he was a square, stout, dark man, withcurly black hair (Dickens 1)

The beginning of the novel definitely grabbed myattention. Pip makes a fantastic first impressionwhile, ironically, doing absolutely nothing. Theway Pip describes himself and his thoughts revealthat he is still a foolish and innocent child.However, the way he also realizes that hisassumptions are unreasonable provide insight thatPip is mature as well.

Conscience is a dreadful thing when it accusesman or boy.. (Dickens 11)

This quote is interesting because later in the story,Pip goes off to learn how to be a true gentleman.However, even at the beginning of the novel, Pip'smanners and gentlemanliness i s shown. Agentleman is an chivalrous or honorable man, anda conscience is the first sign of one.

..I got up and went downstairs; every board,calling after me, 'Stop thief!' and, 'Get up, Mrs.Joe!' (Dickens 14)

Dickens's use of personification throughout Great Expectations is frequent and adds splashes of color to an already well-painted mural. Theselected quote is an example of the pumps of adrenaline Dickens's adds through hispersonification.

I was always treated as if I had insisted on beingborn, in opposition to the dictates of reason,religion, and morality, and against the dissuadingarguments of my best friends (Dickens 23)

The way Pip describes himself is a feeling that Ibelieve everybody, especially our class of teenagers, can relate to, at least once: the feelingof not fitting in, the feeling of the world beingagainst you, the feeling that no one understands.

Although Pip follows up this dishearteningthought with the explanation of tailoring clothes inorder to lighten the mood, this passage givesinsight to his infatuation with the upper-class.

'But I did mind you, Pip,' he returned, withtender simplicity. 'When I offered to your sister tokeep company, and to be asked in church at suchtimes as she was willing and ready to come to theforge, I said to her, 'And bring the poor little child.God bless the poor little child,' I said to yoursister, 'there's room for him at the forge!'

(Dickens 49-50)

Earlier in the story, Mrs. Joe is portrayed as asuperhero as she adopts Pip and claims to haveraised him by hand. However, Joe reveals thathe is the one that offered to take in Pip, and thatnothing would have happened without him. Pipand Joe's relationship is strong, despite Pip's lovefor Estella to later overcome it as Pip leaves the

marsh.Young as I was, I believe that I dated a newadmiration of Joe from that night. We were equalsafterwards, as we had been before; but, afterwardsat quiet times when I sat looking at Joe andthinking about him, I had a new sensation of feeling conscious that I was looking up to Joe inmy heart (Dickens 51)

Another quote of Pip's adoration and admirationof Joe, just because it is so heart-warming. At thismoment, Pip sees Joe as his mentor, role-model,brother, and father-figure all at one time. Isn't thatso precious?!?!

I had never parted from him before, and what The ending of Chapter 7 marks the first time that

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with my feelings and what with soap-suds, I couldat first see no stars from the chaise-cart. But theytwinkled out one by one, without throwing anylight on the questions why on earth I was going toplay at Miss Havisham's, and what on earth I wasexpected to play at (Dickens 55)

Pip leaves his Garden of Eden and enters into aruined garden that wishes time had stopped. Joe isno longer there to guide Pip along his newjourney leaving Pip lonely and somewhatfearful. It marks the beginning of Pip's loss of innocence, and and this quote made me feel sadand weary for little ol' Pip.

It was then that I began to understand thateverything in the room had stopped, like the watchand the clock, a long time ago (Dickens 62)

Sitting in a room with white colors turned yellow,clocks that have stopped, and an old woman whois sitting in a bridal dress is frightening toanybody, I'm sure.

I wish Joe had been rather more genteelly brought up, and then I should have been so too(Dickens 64)

Joe serves as Pip's superhero, that Pip aspires to belike. If Pip does not know something, then hetakes his cue from Joe as to what to do next.However, this quote reveals that Pip only focuseson what he wants and that he does not yetappreciate what he has because of his greatexpectations. His introduction to society makeshim unaware of these things.

I set off on the four -mile walk to our forge;pondering...that my hands were coarse; that myboots were thick; that I had fallen into adespicable habit of calling knaves Jacks; that Iwas much more ignorant than I had consideredmyself last night, and generally that I was in alow-live d bad way (Dickens 68)

After Pip leaves Miss Havisham's house, his mindis frazzled and his thoughts reveal thedevelopment of his growth. Although the SatisHouse is decaying and home to odd women, Pipstill believes that it is worth reaching for and it ismuch better than his own life. It's saddening howPip yearns to leave his own happy way of life forone he has great expectations for.

I am afraid I was ashamed of the dear goodfellow I know I was ashamed of him when Isaw that Estella stood at the back of MissHavisham's chair, and that her eyes laughedmischievously (Dickens 106)

This passage broke my heart. Pip allows hisreverence and high-esteem for the wealthier classof society to overshadow the love he has for his(now former) superhero, Joe. When Joeencounters Miss Havisham, the reader can see theclash between their two worlds, and Pip choosesto leave his former one behind.

Finally, I remember that when I got into my littlebedroom I was truly wretched, and had a strongconviction on me that I should never like Joe'strade. I had liked it once, but once was not now(Dickens 112)

I thought to myself, Stop it, Pip! as I read thesesentences. The short declarative following after along sentence is something that always catches myeye, not only because I learned it as a rhetoricaldevice last year, but because it always works. Pip'sloss of innocence seems sealed as he admits thathe would never again admire Joe's lifestyle.

Whatever I acquired, I tried to impart to Joe..Iwanted to make Joe less ignorant and common,that he might be worthier of my society and lessopen to Estella's reproach (Dickens 115)

This quote is kind of sickening, as Pip believesthat he can teach Joe how to be a gentleman, eventhough Joe is already kind and caring. Pip valuesMiss Havisham's and Estella's knowledge and

judgement over anything that Joe has, despite thatPip never had an in-depth conversation withEstella.

'Abroad,' said Miss Havisham; 'educating for a The idea of the upper-class of society is often

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popular and titled lady all while acquiring herland. Pip doesn't understand that money can buycomfort, but it cannot buy acceptance, which iswhat he is trying to fight for with Estella.

It don't signify to you with your brilliant look -out, but as to myself, my guiding- star always is,'Get hold of portable property'(Dickens 213)

Wemmick's concept of money is closely tied tomobility. He sees plenty of lives come and go andhe knows that money, as well as stocks and land,is distributed by the government when death takesits toll. Wemmick does not care about social classbecause he only cares for his own comfort and theability to keep his wealth.

As soon as I could recover myself sufficiently, Ihurried out after him and looked for him in theneighboring streets; b ut he was gone (Dickens238)

Pip and Joe's friendship seems to break as Joeleaves London so suddenly. Although Pip's fortunehas brought him clothes, trinkets, andopportunities, it has left him deprived of Joe.

The unqualified truth is, that when I lo ved Estellawith the love of a man, I loved her simply because

I found her irresistible. Once for all; I knew to mysorrow, often and often, if not always, that I lovedher against reason, against promise, against peace,against hope, against happiness, against alldiscouragement that could be. Once for all; I lovedher nonetheless because I knew it, and it had nomore influence in restraining me, than if I haddevoutly believed her to be human perfection(Dickens 246)

Pip reveals that he is not necessarily in love withEstella as a person, but that he actually loves what

she is. She's a beautiful and unattainable girl. Heis drawn to her, despite sadness, destruction, andpain, being the only outcomes of Pip being withher.

Before I could answer..she rep eated, 'Love her,love her, love her! If she favours you, love her. If she wounds you, love her. If she tears your heat topieces and as it gets older and stronger, it willtear deeper love her, love her, love her!(Dickens 254)

Miss Havisham is illustrated as a witch-likewoman when the readers first meet her, and at thismoment, she definitely seems like a real one. Thechanting of, love her, love her, love her! Almostseems as if she is attempting to cast a spell onPip a very creepy one.

Told me! You have never told me when you havegot your hair cut, but I have had senses to perceiveit. You have always adored her, ever since I haveknown you. You brought your adoration and yourportmanteau here, together. Told me! Why, youhave always told me all day long. When you toldme your own story, you told me plainly that youbegan adoring her the first time you saw her, whenyou were very young indeed (Dickens 262 -263)

Although he tries, Pip cannot hide his love forEstella. The fact that Herbert notices Pip's love, aswell as the fact that he is able to directly describeit and name it, is remarkable! (One must keep inmind that in a Victorian society, anything thatdealt with love was suppressed)

There was a gay fiction among us that we wereconstantly enjoying ourselves, and a skeleton truththat we never did. To the best of my belief, ourcase was in the last aspect a rather common one(Dickens 291)

Pip and Herbert spend money like crazy whiletrying to keep up with their high-society peers inorder to seem engaged and tuned into Londonsociety. However, their debts are high and the twoof them must cut down on food but they continueto do so in order to make names for themselves inLondon social circles and in the name of

becoming real, true gentlemen

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Miss Havisham dwelt upon this roll, with theintensity of a mind mortally hurt and diseased...(Dickens 322)

This quote essentially articulates Miss Havishams'complex character as it describes her as a victimwho became an aggressor. The resulting outcomeof her maltreatment from her father during herchildhood and Compeyson during her adulthood isso simply stated in this fraction of a sentence thatit is somewhat fascinating and frightening.

'Do you want me then,' said Estella, turningsuddenly with a fixed and serious, if not angrylook, 'to deceive and entrap you?' (Dickens 332)

Here, the readers realize that all Estella has everbeen to Pip was honest. She did not intentionallytry to lead him on as she expresses that she's beencold and haughty her whole life. Although readersonce perceived her as cruel and harsh, this quotecomplicates that premonition.

Herbert received me with open arms, and I hadnever felt before, so blessedly, what it is to have afriend (Dickens 361)

Herbert is like Pip's oasis in the middle of thedesert. While there is so much chaos happeningaround him, Herbert accepts Pip and will alwayscomfort him, never questioning his character.

'You are part of my existence, part of myself. Youhave been in every line I have ever read, since Ifirst came here, the rough common boy whosepoor heart you wounded even then. You have beenin every prospect I have ever seen since - on theriver, on the sails of the ships, on the marshes, inthe clouds, in the light, in the darkness, in thewind, in the woods, in the sea, in the streets. Youhave been the embodiment of every graceful fancythat my mind has ever become acquainted with'(Dickens 386)

Pip delivers one of the most emotional lovespeeches ever, to Estella. It's beautiful how hedescribes his love to her as he uses images of nature and the landscape around him. Estella isfound in the very particles around him. Pip graspshis irrational love and reasserts his philosophy thathumans are innately good, and that no matter howEstella was raised or is now, she is also innatelygood.

'There have been sore mistakes; and my life hasbeen a blind and thankless ones; and I wantforgiveness and direction far too much, to be bitterwith you' (Dickens 423)

Pip teaches the readers something that we couldall learn: how to forgive, and not hold grudges.Although Miss Havisham raised Estella to onlybreak the hearts of men and nothing else, Pip findsit within him to forgive Miss Havisham.

Summary: Although Charles Dickens's way of writing Great Expectations may appear simple at first,his way of communicating thoughts from Pip to the audience reveals plenty of emotion and a hint of irony. Dickens's use of personification greatly enhances the readers ability to connect with Pip, as one

begins to hear and feel as he is. The reader gets to empathize with Pip, as he has a grass is alwaysgreener on the other side mindset, as lots of us do. Also, the relationship between Joe and Pip isestablished and outlined in order to better emphasize the clash of emotions Pip feels later in the novel.

Every moment that Pip spends at Miss Havisham's house or thinking about it is either odd, or heart-breaking. The attempt of stopping time and the way Estella tossed food at Pip as if he was a lowly, lostpippy (like, puppy...because it's a pun) causes a mixture of an awkward sadness and anger at the sametime. As Pip begins to familiarize himself with this new world, he begins to look back on hisadmonishingly. The way that Pip begins to characterize and judge Joe reveals Pip's loss of innocence.