How Does Pip Change Throughout The Novel

In Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, the protagonist Pip goes through many changes throughout the three stages of his life. Pip is aspiring to become a gentleman and must face the challenges that come with growing up and dealing with social class and money. In the first stage, Pip is childish and wants more in life, in the second stage pip is selfish and consumed by money, and by the third stage Pip is empathetic and realizes what the true values in life are.
In stage one Pip begins to become aware of social classes and through his experiences at Mrs. Havisham's he grows to become embarrassed of his own. When the story begins Pip is still living on the marsh with Joe and Mrs. Joe. he is satisfied with his life and family and is still
In particular, Pip's attitude towards Joe is greatly changed. When Joe sends a message that he is coming to Paris to see Pip, Pip states “If I could have kept him away by paying money, I certainly would have paid money” (198). The fact that Pip would rather pay money than see the man that practically raised him shows how blinded he has become by his social ranking. Later when Joe arrives at Pip's apartment he is extremely uncomfortable and keeps calling Pip “sir” and pip responds by saying “‘Joe’ … ‘How can you call me sir’” (203) Pip has gone from Joe's partner in crime against Mrs. Joe to someone who Joe is uncomfortable around and can't even look in the eye. Another change that undergoes in Pip is when he discovers the identity of his benefactor is Magwitch and realizes “Mrs. Havisham's intentions towards me, all a mere dream; Estella is not designed for me… “ (296) Pip has wakened up from his fantasy and has realized that his great expectations are crushed. He was never meant for Estella and Mrs. Havisham is not his benefactor. Pip also realizes that he left Joe and Biddy for a convict's money. Pip thinks to himself “It was all for a convict … I had deserted Joe” (296). Pip goes from being optimistic about marrying Estella and being a gentlemen to realizing he has left everyone who has ever loved him for a convict's
Even though initially Pip is mad that Magwitch is his benefactor he comes to love Magwitch saying “I only saw in him a much better man than I had been to Joe”(408). Pip loves Magwitch because of all he has done for him and he realizes he should have treated Joe the same way. Later in stage three Pip decides to take responsibility for herbert's debt. He asks Mrs. Havisham “‘... if you could spare the money to do my friend Herbert … ‘“ (329). Pip is asking Mrs. Havisham to lend him money to pay off Herbert's debt. Pip has grown to appreciate and love the people in his life instead of overlooking them. This proves that Pip is no longer selfish and takes responsibility for his actions. When Joe later comes to nurse Pip after he had fallen ill, Pip admits “‘We have a had a time together, Joe, that I can never forget. There were days once, I know, that I did for a while forget; but I shall never forget these’”(430) Pip is acknowledging that in the past he has forgotten Joe and all Joe has done for him, but he will never forget him again. This shows that Pip is growing up and starting to appreciate the people in his life. Pip has matured and by losing everything realized he has taken the people in his life for