Revised and Redone

Revised and Redone

~Blog Post #3~

Topic C

May 1, 2015

By Debra Dunham

When Pip is first introduced, he is portrayed as being extremely close to Joe and being very fond of him. However, Miss Havisham corrupts him as he learns how the upper class lives. With the distinct attitudes and behaviors that separate common and wealthy, Pip becomes embarrassed of Joe and attempts to make him more proper. After Pip leaves and has been in London for some time, Joe lets him know that he will be visiting, a thought that Pip looks forward to "with considerable disturbance," (229). It is evident that Pip's views of Joe have completely changed. No longer does Pip hold Joe to the greatest respects, now he is embarrassed of Joe. 

There appears to be a new Joe in Pip's new life in London. Herbert becomes a father figure in Pip's life by taking him in and caring for him. Herbert cares about Pip in a similar way as Joe, but has a lifestyle more appealing to Pip. Instead of holding the uneducated blacksmith to great esteem, Pip has a “respect” for Herbert (230). Though it is not certain how far the similarities in the relationship will develop, it looks as if Joe has been replaced or erased for Pip’s life. There is still an impression and shadow of Joe in his life, but the boldest and strongest of it has been removed in hopes of correcting it.

The Marshes

The Marsh

-Blog Post #3-

Topic E

May 1, 2015

In the beginning of Great Expectations, Charles Dickens places many trivial scenes in the “marsh.” Although Pip is a young boy at the time many things happen at the marsh that continues to haunt him throughout the novel.

To me a marsh is a place where things are uncertain and mysterious. I see the entire setting as a foreshadowing of something bad to come. In the very first seen while Pip is in the marsh he runs into the convict who threatens him. Once Pip finally gives into the convicts wishes, his world turns upside down. In every few chapters, Pip hears some news about the convict, or he randomly thinks about him. Because Pip entered the marshes his life from then on was haunted by the events that took place. Pip describes the marshes as, “heavy,” and “thick” (17). I believe that this is representing that these next few events are crucial and burdensome. I also believe that this will not be the only time Pip enters the marsh. He says, “Everything seemed to run at me” (17). This is showing that Pip has lost control of his life. The next time Pip is in the marshes is when he goes to London to receive his fortune. Because Dickens specifically states that Pip went through the marshes, I believe he is trying to say that this fortune is not going to be easy, and that it will bring Pip more problems. I also predict that there will be another crucial event that happens to Pip in the marshes. It will most likely be the climax or very near to it, because it would be the third time Pip enters the marshes, and many authors like the number three because it is a theological number, and it cleans up any rough edges.

Whether or not there is a third and final scene in the marshes, I believe that this is still a crucial setting to observe. Many major events took place in the marshes, and they can’t be insignificant.

A Character Collapses

Blog Post #3
Topic B
May 1, 2015

As a character, Pip has changed a lot since he was first introduced. While we agree in our LC that these changes aren’t good, they are still happening and they are significant. Pip was a kid that who grew up humbly, but he has taken a complete turn for the worst. Pip now believes he is better than everyone and that he is entitled to a new certain kind of lifestyle. The change in Pip’s mentality is very obvious when he gets a letter from Joe saying that he would like to visit. Pip is reluctant to have Joe come to London because he is embarrassed. Joe does come to London but Pip is not happy about it. Pip only agrees to have Joe come to London because he is “bound to him by so many ties”, essentially saying that he can’t get rid of him. Pip is so embarrassed of Joe and engulfed in his new wealthy lifestyles that if he could keep “him away by paying money, [he] certainly would” (209). Pip’s words show his feelings not only toward Joe but his former lifestyle as well. In Pip’s eyes, his former life has become a distant memory that he wants to hide from the people in his life at the moment. Pip has spent a lot of time trying to conceal the life he once had lived, as he is extremely embarrassed. The mental change Pip has gone through has made him believe that he is better than everything and everyone he used to know. He is caught up in the life he believes is best. While this life may look good to him, it has changed Pip into a terrible person.

Pip and his Brother-in-Law

In the beginning of the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Pip and Joe share a father-son relationship. Pip looks up to Joe and never wants to disappoint him. He has a sense of “admiration” for Joe, and Pip knew that he looks up “to Joe in [his] heart” (48). The two bond over their love-hate relationship with Mrs. Joe, Pip’s older sister.

However, this all changes when Pip meets Miss Havisham and is offered the opportunity to be a lawyer’s apprentice. When Joe and Pip are invited to go to the Satis house, Pip becomes self-conscious of his actions and is embarrassed that Joe will not address Miss Havisham himself.

Their relationship is slowly tearing apart and once Pip goes to London, it completely separates. Biddy sends Pip a letter while he is in London explaining that Mr. Wopsle and Joe are traveling to London and is wondering if perhaps Pip would like to meet up Joe. After receiving the letter, Pip feels “some mortification” to the idea of Joe’s dropping in (209). During his visit, Joe constantly calls Pip “Sir” and explains to Pip that there is now a “diwision” between them (215).

Pip’s new lifestyle is too luxurious for Joe to keep up with. The modifications in the pair also demonstrate Pip’s new personality. The relationship of the two characters changes drastically in just a few short characters from a close relationship to a relationship that wants nothing to do with the other person. In the upcoming chapters, it can be assumed that Mrs. Joe’s death will shape and define the relationship further.

Blog Prompts

Blog Post Topics (Respond to 1 of the prompts below each week):

A.            Select a significant quotation from your reading; explore the significance of that quotation to the development of characters, conflict, theme, etc.

B.            Explore a significant change in an important character.

C.           Explore a significant relationship’s conflicts or growth.

D.           Write about a motif you see developing--where have you noticed it? What does it seem to be revealing about characters or themes?

E.            Explore the significance of a particular setting (not of the whole novel--pick a specific scene).

F.            Explore the significance of a passage with a lot of imagery or description.

G.           Write about a symbol--how does it exist both literally and figuratively? What does it represent?

H.           Explore connections between your book and something you’ve read previously in English class.

I.              Explore connections between the text and your own life.

J.            What is the significance of the book’s title? What