How Does Pip Change Throughout The Novel
Ana Perez
Mr. Scofield
Advanced Placement Literature
23 September, 2015
In the novel, In Great Expectations, Philip Pirrip, who is also known as Pip, experiences various stages of moral maturity. He transforms from a young boy filled with shame and guilt to a selfish, young man, and finally into a man who has a true concern for others. Pip goes through three stages in the novel; shame and guilt, self-gratification, and his stage of redemption. This exposure functions as a window opening to the meaning of the work as a whole by Pip realizing his harsh character and how it is affecting the people he is close to. Throughout the beginning of the novel, Pip’s maturity is shame and guilt. He first starts off with guilt, …show more content…
Pip is given an opportunity of leaving behind his life of being an common young boy to become a gentleman. He feels satisfied with this opinion because he feels he will be accepted to the upper class and, therefor, be with his lover Estella. Although, these circumstances brought him a negative change when he started to see himself above others. One example would be when Joe gives Pip a visit and he dreads his arrival only because he is embarrassed by him. He then starts acting better than others, including Biddy and Joe. Pip stated “I should have been good enough for you, shouldn’t I, Biddy?” (volume.3). His stage of self-gratification comes to a downfall when he falls into debt, and when he finally realizes Magwitch is his secret benefactor. he also realizes how he should not judge others based on their appearance, but rather on who they truly are inside. The way he feels towards Magwitch at first is that he wishes he wasn’t his benefactor and feels disgusted by it. Pip later goes through a stage of redemption and has concerns for his loved ones. He is then fully aware of how Magwitch actually loved him and Pip stays with him until the end. He says “I will never stir from your side… when I am suffered to be near you. Please God, i will be as true to you as you have been to me.”
Mr. Scofield
Advanced Placement Literature
23 September, 2015
In the novel, In Great Expectations, Philip Pirrip, who is also known as Pip, experiences various stages of moral maturity. He transforms from a young boy filled with shame and guilt to a selfish, young man, and finally into a man who has a true concern for others. Pip goes through three stages in the novel; shame and guilt, self-gratification, and his stage of redemption. This exposure functions as a window opening to the meaning of the work as a whole by Pip realizing his harsh character and how it is affecting the people he is close to. Throughout the beginning of the novel, Pip’s maturity is shame and guilt. He first starts off with guilt, …show more content…
Pip is given an opportunity of leaving behind his life of being an common young boy to become a gentleman. He feels satisfied with this opinion because he feels he will be accepted to the upper class and, therefor, be with his lover Estella. Although, these circumstances brought him a negative change when he started to see himself above others. One example would be when Joe gives Pip a visit and he dreads his arrival only because he is embarrassed by him. He then starts acting better than others, including Biddy and Joe. Pip stated “I should have been good enough for you, shouldn’t I, Biddy?” (volume.3). His stage of self-gratification comes to a downfall when he falls into debt, and when he finally realizes Magwitch is his secret benefactor. he also realizes how he should not judge others based on their appearance, but rather on who they truly are inside. The way he feels towards Magwitch at first is that he wishes he wasn’t his benefactor and feels disgusted by it. Pip later goes through a stage of redemption and has concerns for his loved ones. He is then fully aware of how Magwitch actually loved him and Pip stays with him until the end. He says “I will never stir from your side… when I am suffered to be near you. Please God, i will be as true to you as you have been to me.”