Charles Dickenn's Great Expectations is a story about a boy, Philip Pirrip, who comes to a point in his life where his life changes drastically from the way it was when he was growing up. Whenever this change occurs, he does his best not to let people know about his past life where he was just a common boy. Throughout the novel, Dickens points out how people sometimes lead two lives that they want to keep separate.
The change in Pip's life is characterized in several ways. First of all, there is a physical change, when he moves to London. That just accentuates the difference between the two lives. Before, he lived in a small town that was near some marshes, both of which reflect the common side of his life. London is seen by Pip as a great and wonderful city which symbolizes his expectations of what is to come in his future. Another change in his life is that he is treated better by others. Mr. Trabb, the tailor, takes exception to Pip after he hears that he has come into a fortune. He measures Pip very quickly, and gets angry at his son for not showing the same respect of Pip's wealth. Then, when he next sees Pumblechook, he repeatedly asks Pip if he may shake his hand, as if it is some great honor. Before the news, he hardly treated Pip any differently than any other common boy. Pip also looks to the way his new acquaintances are treated, most notably Mr. Jaggers. He is treated with a great deal of respect by everyone, and even invokes fear in some. Pip had never seen this level of respect for someone that was his direct acquaintance before, except for Miss Havisham, who he knew had great wealth.
This dual lifestyle is paralleled in Mr. Wemmick, the clerk for Mr. Jaggers. Mr. Wemmick, when at work, only thinks about his work, and doesn't let hi s personal life affect how he goes about his business. The flip side of the coin is also true, as when he goes home, he forgets about anything that happened at work, and concentrates on making his deaf father happy. The scene when he takes Pip to work shows the change that he goes through on his way to work: By degrees, Wemmick got dryer and harder as we went along, and his mouth tightened into a post-office again. Just like Pip, he changes how he acts according to which role he is playing.
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Author:: Michael Cooper
Keywords:: Dickens, great expectations, charles Dickens, english literature
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