What Does It Mean To Be A Gentleman

For a long period of time, it’s been up to debate as to what the human mind is like. Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations is an excellent representation of what it truly means to be a “gentleman”. Pip’s advancement in social class leads him to finding the true value of men: their inner self. As society has always been, everyone is given labels to quickly identify themselves with given by friend, family, or stranger alike. This can also be determined by one’s morals, based on what would be considered as “normal” in society. This goes for the same with one’s habits and personality. And, it’s not particularly just those alone, but the quality of When one doesn’t know enough of a person, it’s common to develop or seek out a label or name that relates
One of the major traits that give off the feeling of friendliness is generosity. Before Pip had play at the Satis house, he was a kind, innocent young boy. The situation in which Pip introduces the audience to is when he is confronted and threatened by a lamed convict in the churchyard. Perhaps it was because the intimidation of the threat alone that causes Pip to willingly give in to the demand, even feeling care and concern for the convict even when he’s at home. This also shows the readers that he possesses empathy: another major trait that exhibits friendliness. When observing Pip’s attitude during the overall plot, he is very noticeably sassier, rebellious, and egotistical to those he is disappointed of: “Somehow, I was not best pleased with Joe’s being mightily secure of me. I should have liked him to have betrayed emotion, or to have said “it does you credit, Pip.” or something of that sort.” (164) Pip’s new-found snobbish attitude comes from his gentleman training. As the story progresses, Pip eventually learns the consequences of his snobbiness and his cruel judgement: he ends up slowly breaking bonds with those he was close to back in his older life - Joe Gargery, and Biddy. After Pip’s long journey in becoming a gentleman, he loses and regains his sense of forgiveness, which might have stemmed from Joe Gargery: “Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever so many partings welded together, as I may say, and one man’s a blacksmith, and one’s a whitesmith, and one’s a goldsmith, and one’s a coppersmith. Diwisions among such must come, and be met as they come.” ( 244). Joe is like Pip’s father, representing and possessing a simple goodness and kindness in comparison to everyone else around him. Despite Pip’s harsh judgement, Joe never complains, or directly scold Pip for his rudeness, or condemn him for it. Instead, he just