Changing Expectations

Changing Expectations
~Blog Post #4~
Topic J
By Debra Dunham

In Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Pip expects and imagines things in a similar way as to how I imagine the near future. For one thing, he believes London to be this magnificent, magical city when in reality, it is dirty. His imagination carries him into a false idea just as I seemingly trick myself into thinking certain things that I know are not real. For instance, I one imagined that I found out that I was the decedent of a lost princess and had the chance to live as one. It was completely imagined and fake, but real in my head. Also, before he meets the convict of his benefactor, he believes it to be Miss Havisham even though it seems entirely improbable, almost impossible.

Estella, the center of Pip's desire to become uncommon, narrows Pip's expectations of himself to being a fine gentleman who can win the heart of the fine lady. He expects to be rich and finds that Joe and Biddy are "quite unfit company" now that he is more well-mannered (250). In a similar way, my expectations of myself are greater than they probably should because my dad had always expected near perfection of me. My mind twisted that into seeing it as 'if I'm not perfect, then I'm not worthy' even though that is not the case. Even now, I strive for perfection, which stresses me out so much that I end up making stupid and thoughtless mistakes. It seems as if Pip's life will take a similar turn, hinted by the way he realizes that he "had deserted Joe," (344). Pip's story will unfold as we come to learn more about his expectations of what life has to offer.

Magwitch and Max

Blog Post #4
Topic H
May 8th, 2015

            In this past section of reading, we learn who has been paying for Pip’s education for the majority of the novel. The mysterious benefactor turns out to be the convict Pip met in the marshes when he was a young boy. The example of an unforeseen character greatly impacting someone’s life in Great Expectation resembles a similar situation in The Book Thief. Both Markus Zusak and Charles Dickens use their unexpected character of Liesel and Magwitch to have a great impact on other characters. In The Book Thief, a little girl, Liesel, takes care of and develops a friendship with Max despite them being people from seemingly two different worlds. Liesel, a young German girl, is one of the most unlikely people to have made a friend with a Jewish man in Nazi Germany, but the two create an unbreakable bond. The relationship shapes both of their lives and contributes greatly to the novel. In connection with Great Expectations, Dickens writes of the convict who is paying for Pip to become a gentleman. Though he didn’t have much when the two first met, he has been helping Pip for years, a curveball that many readers don’t expect. Though at this point, Pip and Magwitch aren’t friends like Max and Liesel, but Magwitch’s contributes have completely altered Pip’s life. In both novels, the characters have significant relationships that affect them thought the rest of the book. In The Book Thief, Liesel and Max have a friendship that lasts a lifetime. Though Pip doesn’t agree, Magwitch sees himself as Pip’s “second father”, as he has greatly contributed and indirectly influenced to who Pip is today (309). The two sets of character relationships have an extremely effects on their lives; keeping Max alive and turning Pip into a gentleman.

To Love or Not to Love

To Love or Not to Love
-Blog Post #4-
Topic A
May 8, 2015


‘”I am what you have made me. Take all the praise, take all the blame, take all the success, take all the failure; in short, take me’” (295).

This quote from Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations is said by Estella to her adoptive mother, Miss Havisham, in the middle of an argument. It describes how Miss Havisham’s “success,” raising Estella as cold-hearted and cruel, and her “failure,” not allowing Estella to express her emotions or love, makes her who she is (295). However, the person she is does not make her happy. She is who her mother desires her to be, not who she wishes to be. Estella wants to be able to love people, whether it is a man or Miss Havisham herself.

This sudden argument between the mother and daughter shows the large strain in the relationship. Miss Havisham’s complaining of how Estella is cruel and unloving shocks Estella because she taught her to be that way. Estella mentions in the next few paragraphs how Miss Havisham used to frighten her as a child, and it is because of her teachings that she cannot reciprocate the feeling of love for Miss Havisham.

            The fact that Estella is brave enough to say this to her adoptive mother shows how much she has grown up and that she realizes that who she has become is wrong. This discovery will lead Estella to move on after her past and perhaps allow her to love someone in return for the first time.

I Am What You Made Me

I am what you made me
-Blog Post #4-
Topic A
By Anna Hoffman

I chose the quote, "I am what you have made me. Take all the praise, take all the blame; take all failure, take all the success; in short, take me" (295). This quote is said by Estella in response to Miss Havisham wanting Estella to love her. Estella cannot believe what she just heard which is why she responds with, "I am what you made me." Ever since Miss Havisham adopted Estella, she has raised her to show no emotion and to be cold to everyone. Because Miss Havisham's heart was broken she wanted revenge on men, so she raised Estella to break men's heart. Little did Miss Havisham know was that it goes both ways, and because she loves Estella, Estella will end up breaking her heart. But Miss Havisham still is oblivious to this fact and so she expects too much from Estella, which is why Estella has to lay it out for her. Estella uses sunlight as a metaphor for love when describing this to Miss Havisham. This is ironic because Miss Havisham also tries to stay out of the sun. Estella says that if you raise someone and never let them see the light of day and then decide one day to show them  it, how can you expect them to understand it. Estella says this is just like love. Miss Havisham made Estella grow up without ever experiencing love and then suddenly expected her to return it to her. This quote and conversation is very important because it is the first time Estella puts Miss Havisham in place.

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.