Explore the Manipulation of Expectations in 'Great Expectations', with Particular Reference to the First Eight Chapters
Explore the manipulation of expectations in ‘Great expectations’, with particular reference to the first eight chapters.
By Narmina Clark
Charles Dickens manipulates the reader’s expectations greatly throughout the novel; he does this by focusing mainly on his idea of the ‘social class’ in society and how his characters transform through lessons learnt of their own life experiences. He subtly gives the information across, while controlling the readers mind’s with style as he slowly unravels the mysteries while presenting values and morals. He portrays the characters feelings with great distinction- achieving this with the development of his characters. The discrepancy of the expectations between the Victorian era and our modern beliefs and assumptions would have changed in time
Great Expectations is written in the style of Bildungsroman, the main theme being expectations. Dickens illustrates this theme through the main character Pip; he explores the idea of ambition and self-improvement. Pip’s development in the novel is encouraged through ambition due to his “Great Expectations” about his future. My expectations were confounded as it was expected that Pip would want a greater life for himself as the novel was written almost like an autobiography, and so Dickens’ expectations of living a better life due to his families financial struggles was portrayed in the character Pip. The way Pips character was pressurized by the outside world, showing how wealth transformed him after visiting Satis House and meeting Estella, the love of his life, “ …had a strong conviction on me that I should never like Joe’s trade. I liked it once, but once was not now.” This illustrates Dickens financially uncomfortable character; this gave an advantage to readers of the Victorian era to foresee the development of an ambitious character throughout the novel.
The novel is written in first person; told through the perceptions of the protagonist-Pip. Reading the novel, before I
By Narmina Clark
Charles Dickens manipulates the reader’s expectations greatly throughout the novel; he does this by focusing mainly on his idea of the ‘social class’ in society and how his characters transform through lessons learnt of their own life experiences. He subtly gives the information across, while controlling the readers mind’s with style as he slowly unravels the mysteries while presenting values and morals. He portrays the characters feelings with great distinction- achieving this with the development of his characters. The discrepancy of the expectations between the Victorian era and our modern beliefs and assumptions would have changed in time
Great Expectations is written in the style of Bildungsroman, the main theme being expectations. Dickens illustrates this theme through the main character Pip; he explores the idea of ambition and self-improvement. Pip’s development in the novel is encouraged through ambition due to his “Great Expectations” about his future. My expectations were confounded as it was expected that Pip would want a greater life for himself as the novel was written almost like an autobiography, and so Dickens’ expectations of living a better life due to his families financial struggles was portrayed in the character Pip. The way Pips character was pressurized by the outside world, showing how wealth transformed him after visiting Satis House and meeting Estella, the love of his life, “ …had a strong conviction on me that I should never like Joe’s trade. I liked it once, but once was not now.” This illustrates Dickens financially uncomfortable character; this gave an advantage to readers of the Victorian era to foresee the development of an ambitious character throughout the novel.
The novel is written in first person; told through the perceptions of the protagonist-Pip. Reading the novel, before I