How Does Charles Dicken Use Symbols In Great Expectations

Symbolic Settings In fictional stories, the author writes whatever he or she desires. They take this to their advantage by using symbols of setting and character recurrences to set the mood of the story. In Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, a young boy Pip, tells his story of moving from a poor town living a rural lifestyle, to London, where he pursues his dream of becoming a gentleman after receiving “great expectations” from an unknown benefactor. In the story, Pip falls in love with Estella, a beautiful girl raised to break men’s hearts by the embittered, rejected bride Miss Havisham, her mother. Also, Pip makes many recurrences to the places he visited as a child in the village where he grew up. Each place Pip visits affects
For example, whenever Pip spends time with Herbert, he finds himself happy and at peace because he loves Herbert. In fact, Pip loves Herbert so much, he relieves Herbert of his debt and stress over money. When Miss Havisham realizes how evil she raised Estella to act, Miss Havisham apologizes to Pip and asks for forgiveness by giving Pip nine hundred pounds. Rather than taking the money and using it for himself, Pip gives it Herbert without him knowing to ensure Herbert his own business. When Pip receives his great expectations, arrogance overcomes his humble attitude and personality. However, his love and generosity towards Herbert recalls Pip’s modesty and good character back. Pip openly expresses his need and love for Herbert, as well as what happiness and joy he brought Pip in London. When Pip lives in the village, he feels happiness and peace at Joe’s house. During these times, Pip appreciates Joe and how much Joe cares for Pip. Pip and Joe fall back into the “old ways” and “the dear ‘Pip old chap’ [was] now music to [his] ears,” because Pip feels pleasure and satisfaction living at home with Joe again (369). Pip loves Joe and when Pip had no interest in being a gentleman, he thought of Joe as the best role model ever. When Joe relieves Pip of his debt, Pip gains back his respect and appreciation for Joe, because when Pip acted superior over Joe, he forgot what a great person Joe proves himself as. Other than Joe’s home, Pip feels welcome and happy at Wemmick’s castle. When Pip lives in London, he only feels close to Herbert and Wemmick, so when Herbert leaves to pursue his dream of owning a business partnership, Pip relies on Wemmick to talk with him. Because Wemmick agrees to talk about personal issues and advice in his home, Pip visits the house many times in the novel. In fact, the atmosphere of Wemmick’s house welcomes Pip so much, he visits it disregarding