-Blog Post #5-
Topic J
by Anna Hoffman
In Charles Dickens Great Expectations, the title is rather
significant and well suited for the story. Throughout this novel, a young boy
named Pip continues on through his life experiencing many the different aspects
living. As he continues on his journey he undergoes many obstacles and events
that test him as a person, and Pip just being Pip, overlooks or overestimates
things. But most importantly Pip must live up to the “expectations” of others
in his life. As a young boy Pip lives a modest life, and his only struggle seems
to be with Mrs. Joe, his older sister. But when he visits the Satis house his
world changes. He tries to be good enough for Estella, but nothing ever seems
to impress her. This is an example of how early Pip tried to reach the
expectations. After a few years when Pip learns of a generous benefactor
supporting him, the expectations are higher because he is expected to be a
gentleman. And because Pip, “had come into great expectations from a mysterious
patron,” he tries his best to reach them, but never was able to succeed. But
nonetheless Pip’s determination shaped him into a good man who does not give
up. This title is so significant because, the great expectations hang over his
throughout the whole novel, and in the end Pip never is able to reach them, but
he still turns out happy. Pip meets with Estella for a long time, and they end
up being with each other. Pip did not need to meet these expectations in the
end.
Anna, I did the same topic for my blog post but took a different approach to the meaning of the title. I looked at Pip’s expectations for his own life; I like how you looked at the others in his life, rather than just himself. You bring up great points about all of the people Pip had to please throughout the novel. One thing about both of our posts is that Pip ends up happy even though he doesn’t live up to others’ expectations or the expectations he has for himself. I think that this message that it’s okay to not reach expectations could be the moral lesson of the book. Great Expectation’s purpose could be to show that even if life isn’t as great as you hope or you can’t live to others’ expectations, its okay. This book gives a good example of how it’s okay to be less than perfect, because perfection doesn’t equal happiness.
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