Charles
Dickens uses the title, Great
Expectations, in response to the dreams of the main character, Pip. When he
visits the home of Miss Havisham for the first time, he is opened to the life
of the upper class in 19th century London and meets Estella. Pip can
never go back to the way life was before his first experience in the high life.
This inspired his dreams and expectations.
Pip
realizes that he could do much more in his life than to be a blacksmith when he
returns from the Havisham household. He desires to
become a gentleman, and his wish magically comes true after receiving the
message that his ‘“Great Expectations’” caught the eye of a lawyer who wants to
make Pip his apprentice (133). Joe and Pip are overjoyed and for once “[his]
wild fancy was surpassed by sober reality’” (133). This marks the first of his
expectations occurring in real life.
At the same time as he realizes what he desires for his future
occupation, Pip also discovers who he wants to marry, Estella. Although he is a
young boy when he first meets her, he knows that she is special even if she
doesn’t give him the time of day. This plot is not resolved by chapter
twenty-three, but after reading the book summary, it can be assumed that his fancy
for Estella will give him the chance that most never receive. Dickens
names his novel after Pip’s great expectations to reveal that the impossible is
sometimes possible and to reveal the themes of being hopeful and never giving
up on your dreams.
Elyse, I completely agree that the title reflects Pip's expectations of life as a gentleman. He imagines London as this big magical place that will give him many opportunities to turn Joe’s and his own lives around. On the other hand, when people use the word expectations, I often imagine that the expectations don’t live up to the real thing. Going back to the previous example, London is not as grand as he thought, but rather had “dust and grit” that thickly lay “on everything” (172). I think the title also suggests that most of Pip’s expectations will be put down and he will be disappointed. His expectations of London have already been proven to be incorrect, but it is also way too difficult to believe Pip’s guess that Miss Havisham is his benefactor, especially since she wants to “wreak revenge on all the male sex” (185). If she isn’t his benefactor, then it would simply be another disappointment of Pip’s expectations.
ReplyDeleteElyse, I agree with you that the title refers to Pip becoming a gentlemen, but I also believe that in some sense that these, "great expectations" are a dream he will never be able to reach. Since the beginning of the book, Pip has been looking for a better life. After growing up around Mrs. Joe who is never content with being a blacksmith's wife, I believe Pip is feeding off her desires as well. It only makes it worse when he meets Miss Havisham and Estella. These ladies are very snobby and believe that they are above everyone else. With every visit Pip tries to fit in with their high class life, but he essentially fails. It is his dream to high class, but it is near impossible. It is not until Pip receives his great fortune that I believe that his “great expectations” are merely a dream. Pip realizes that he is, “dissatisfied with myself” (Dickens 139). In this moment Pip begins to doubt that he can play the role of a gentleman that he dreams he should be.
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