16. Great Expectations

"There was a gay fiction among us...a rather common one" (275).

As pages of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens continue to turn, a theme is slowly being developed of high hopes and dreams and how the grass is not always as good and green on the other side of the hill. Charles Dickens has Pip admitting that the people he has surrounded himself with pretend to be happy and wear a big smile on their faces, but they are not sincerely pleased with their lives. It is apparent through his words, Charles Dickens has realized that money and material items are not the most important thing in life. Family and friends are the number one priority, for when they are gone, what is really left? Pip comes into money, and then ends up isolating himself. When he walks into trouble, he does not rely on anyone but his good friend, and then he retreats home. The value of money and the value of family are depicted accurately in this book. Charles Dickens explains through his writing that money cannot buy love and that it is impossible to put a price on family.

Photo Credit:

Beagle Review. 3 January 2010. March 2008.
http://www.beaglereview.com/newsletters/2008-03/partners.php

15. Great Expectations

"'You're out in your reading of Hamlet...and at night his reading was lovely'" (258).

Throughout the novel, Great Expectations, Charles Dickens refers to many incidents in Hamlet, such as the "Ghost of Hamlet" and now the actual play, Hamlet (24). The play written by Shakespeare tells of a king who was murdered by his brother who wanted to have the throne. When the king's son, Hamlet, discovers the truth about how his father died, he plots his revenge. In the end, those at fault died, and those who fought for revenge also died. No one won in the game of revenge and the desire to gain power. Charles Dickens included the references to Hamlet in his novel to reveal to the reader that the path which Pip has taken is going to lead to Pip's downfall. If Pip had known where the money had come from at the beginning of this adventures, he may have thought twice before accepting it. However, he was too absorbed in his own wants and desire to love a lady whom he had no chance with in his natural standing, and along his journey he found himself alone. Pip appears to act on impulse, much like Hamlet, which is his tragic downfall. Charles Dickens embeds the moral of thinking before acting. If Pip had done so, it would have saved him a lot of heartache in the end.

"Hamlet." Sparknotes. 3 January 2010. 2009.
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/hamlet/summary.html

Photo Credit:

"Hamlet." Eight Anime Adaptions I'd Love to See. 3 January 2010.

http://gargarstegosaurus.wordpress.com/2009/07/26/nine-anime-adaptions-id-love-to-see/

14. Great Expectations

"'I am serious,' said Estella...'I have never had any such thing'" (238).

Charles Dickens created Estella as a character who has Pip in a trance because of her elegance and beauty. Even though she appears to be beautiful and looks as though she would have a heart of gold because her outside appearance looks perfect, inside she is cold and phlegmatic. She admits to Pip that she does not have any emotional feelings and does not really care about others. Pip is blind because of his infatuation and realizes that she is telling the truth later on in the novel. By Charles Dickens creating a character such as Estella he is trying to enforce the message to the reader that a first impression based on appearance can be very far from the truth. Even if something looks beautiful and perfect, that does not mean that it really is.

Photo Credit:

"When Your Heart Turns Cold." On This and That-Lyrically Bound. 3 January 2010.

http://onthisandthat.wordpress.com/2009/06/21/when-your-heart-turns-cold-tupac-shakur/

13. Great Expectations

"In my fancy...saw the wicked Noah's Ark lying out on the black water" (229-230).

Charles Dickens may have included Noah's Ark into his novel, Great Expectations, to get the point across that the boat was rather large in size, much like Noah's Ark. It could have also been used as a reference to demonstrate Pip's feeling that he has committed a sin, and he is not the one on the boat, but the one ready to be washed away by the flood. Charles Dickens has included this reference to portray the amount of guilt Pip has lying on his shoulders throughout his story. At this point in the novel it appears that Pip's actions are now coming to a full circle and he is realizing the truths about his life. He understands that in order to save himself, he is going to need to jump on some sort of life boat so that he can ensure that he will be here another day to right the wrongs in his life.

"Noah's Ark and the Flood." About.com. 3 January 2010. 2010.
http://christianity.about.com/od/biblestorysummaries/p/noahsarkflood.htm

12.Great Expectations

"That was a memorable day for me...of the first link on one memorable day" (70).

Charles Dickens embeds throughout his novel, Great Expectations, the realization that for a series of events to occur, there had to be a starting point. He describes a domino effect and the reader is able to really understand how this action works because of Pip's situation. He helps a criminal and from committing this one action, later in life the criminal pays him back for his thoughtfulness. Pip had no idea that he would become a gentlemen because he stole from his sister and Joe. All of his previous feelings of his sneakiness rush through him when he realizes how he got to where he is. It was his past actions that lead him to his future opportunities. Dickens leaves readers thinking of their own choices within their lives.

11. Great Expectations

"'Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever so many partings... Divisions among such must come, and must be met as they come" (223).

Through these words that Charles Dickens embeds within his novel, Great Expectations, it leads the reader thinking of his or her own life and how the wise words that Joe says to Pip is actually quite true and holds a lot of meaning. The message is clear to Pip that even if the lifestyle changes of an individual, it does not mean that the person has to change with it. Joe felt as though he had to change in order to be in the company of Pip, when in fact he realized that he should not have to change, and if he did, then it should be a goodbye for now. Joe did not feel comfortable being something he is not, and that is a powerful theme that plays throughout Charles Dickens' novel.

10. Great Expectations

"I thought the windows... To Let To Let To Let glared at me from empty rooms...under the gravel" (171).

Charles Dickens is still describing the building in London as Pip enters his new world. As Pip looks around, everything he sees seems unemotional and empty. It appears that the word empty is not used as just a literal sense, but also as a sense of feeling. Charles Dickens introduces the new building to the reader as a foreign object to Pip. It is the complete opposite of what he is used to seeing and living in. Instead of having a loving family inside the building supporting him and listening to him, he is led into an "empty room" and everything is so dreary and cold.

Photo Credit:

Tree Hugger. 2 January 2010.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/02/sound-of-silence.php

9. Great Expectations

"We entered this haven through a wicket-gate...flat burying-ground" (170).

The way this scene is described gives the reader a feeling of uneasiness, like it is a cold place to live. The feeling of love and compassion does not seem to radiate through the property. Charles Dickens chose to describe the wicket-gate and the house with words such as "melancholy" to clearly depict to the reader how uncomfortable or even depressing the building was that Pip entered into. From describing the house in such a way, it leads the reader to assume that the people who live in that house are not very lively, but keep to themselves and live in darkness instead of the light. Charles Dickens clearly portrayed the atmosphere inside those walls as well as outside of them and the reader is able to grasp the full image.

Photo Credit:

"Wooden Garden & Security Gates." Andrew Jennings & Son LTD. 2 January 2010.

http://www.andrewjennings.co.uk/woodgarden.htm

8. Great Expectations

"The coroner...became Timon of Athens; the beadle, Coriolanus" (134).

Charles Dickens includes Timon of Athens into his novel, Great Expectations to foreshadow Pip's experience with money. Timon walks through life knowing that no matter what one gives to another, he or she will never be there when needed the most. In a nutshell, Timon views people as being selfish and never changing. Pip appears to be a person who fits Timon's expectations. He comes into money, not knowing who it came from and continues along through his life and actually abandons his family. He views them as a lower ranking of humans who do not fit into his society and he is embarrassed to have them around his family. Coriolanus depicts some more foreshadowing of Pip's life within the novel for Coriolanus also looks down on the those who are not rich, much like Pip ends up doing when he is handed money and the opportunity to become a gentleman.

"Coriolanus." Spark Notes. 2 January 2010. 2009.
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/coriolanus/summary.html

"Timon of Athens." Spark Notes. 2 January 2010. 2009.
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/timonofathens/summary.html

7. Great Expectations

"We walked to town...like the Great Seal of England in plaited straw...though it was a fine bright day" (98).

Charles Dickens includes "the Great Seal of England" into his novel, Great Expectations to depict how Pip views his sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery. She goes to town and holds herself high, such as Queen Elizabeth II does on the Great Seal. To describe Pip's sister in such a way really lets the reader grasp how she views herself and how she carries herself. Mrs. Joe Gargery's stubborn mind causes her to say exactly what she is thinking despite her low ranking in public. Charles Dickens portrays Pip's sister perfectly in explaining that she resembles the Queen on the Great Seal of England.

"The Great Seal of England." 2 January 2010. 2007.

http://explore-parliament.net/nssMovies/08/0889/0889_.htm

Photo Credit:

same as above information.

6. Great Expectations

"'Well, Pip,'said Joe, 'be it so, or be it son't, you must be a common scholar afore you can be a oncommon one, I should hope.'" (69).

This quote explains that in order to be unique, one must be normal first. Charles Dickens throws this into this novel to teach young Pip and readers that the first step in anything is to learn the basics. From there, one is able to move on and add new techniques and knowledge to what one has already learned. This quote speaks to the reader and places them inside Pip's head as he sits and listens to Joe speak. Joe is not very well educated, but he knows a lot about people and how to learn. He is one of the wisest characters Charles Dickens creates and he also the simplest. This line can also be used to foreshadow how Pip does start off as a nobody and then transforms into the person he wants to become because he has gained so much knowledge. However, that knowledge helped him to realize that what he desired was not what he truly wanted.

5. Great Expectations

"It began the moment we sat down for dinner...the ghost of Hamlet with Richard the Third...might be truly grateful" (24).

Charles Dickens includes the ghost of Hamlet into his novel to describe Pip. As the book flows along Pip is an innocent boy who suddenly becomes wealthy and does not know who is in charge of allowing him to become a gentleman. The ghost of Hamlet was also an innocent man, and he was killed by his own brother because of selfishness and greed. Richard the Third is included within Charles Dickens' novel to once again explain the results of a conscience. Richard is haunted by ghosts of people he has killed so that he can advance himself in life. However, karma always does come back around and in the end, he also dies. These two characters show how life happens in a circle, and with Pip starting off by stealing, he too is haunted eventually by his actions. Dickens embeds Pip with the emotions of shame and guilt because he has hurt those who have stuck by his side. No one is aware of the real truths he is hiding and it starts to eat him up inside. He has also chosen money over his family and in turn, it has hurt Joe the most. Joe is the one person Pip honestly admires and respects in his life, and to choose a life that cannot include him, is now starting to eat Pip up inside. His past choices are coming back to haunt him. Charles Dickens included these two characters to foreshadow the events that occur within his novel to Pip.

"The Tragedy of King Richard the Third." Absolute Shakespeare. 2 January 2010. 2000-2005.
http://absoluteshakespeare.com/plays/richard_III/richard_III.htm

Photo Credit:

"Richard III: Hero or Villian?." HubPages. 4 January 2010. 2010.
http://hubpages.com/hub/richardiii

4. Great Expectations

"The mist was heavier yet...and a flourish of his tail" (15).

These lines from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens clearly explain how the human mind has the ability to play tricks and can literally make a person crazy when he or she knows that what they have done is wrong. The conscience is a very strong part of a person and Charles Dickens reveals his knowledge of how it works from writing about Pip's experience of how he believes everything to be staring at him. However, Dickens has Pip trying to justify his actions to relieve his conscience, which helps him to commit the deceitful acts without a second thought. This entire scenario clearly portrays how the human mind can talk itself out of thinking something is wrong, so that man is able to go through with the act and not feel guilty about it later.

3. Great Expectations

"I felt fearfully sensible of the great convenience...I was going to rob Mrs. Joe" (12).

Pip is like everyother human being walking on this Earth. He knows that what he is about to do is wrong, but decides to commit the action anyway. He understands that he is about to steal from his family, but does so anyway. "The Hulk" is referred to as a prison ship, and Pip is frightened but he knows that to secure his safety, he must commit this act so that he does not start any serious trouble. Charles Dickens includes this scenario in his book to illustrate how humanity will do anything to save themselves. The people who one loves the most are usually the ones who get hurt the worst.

2. Great Expectations

"'Drat that boy...Ask no questions, and you'll be told no lies.'...unless there was company" (11-12).

In Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, Pip is brought up by the firm hand of his sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery. She sheds light onto Pip's perception of humanity when she tells him that if you do not ask questions, no one will ever lie to you. He expects his sister to always tell him the truth, and when he hears this little explanation, he wonders when she does not tell him the truth. Charles Dickens included this into his novel to clearly depict how the human mind works. It is a well known fact that if one asks an honest question, one may not receive an honest answer in return and that person must be fully aware of this fact so that he or she is able to decipher the truth hidden within the words spoken.

1. Great Expectations

"He was a mild... a sort of Hercules in strength and also in weakness" (6).

Within Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, there is a reference to Hercules which can be deciphered in numerous ways. One of those ways is that Joe's wife is an individual who does not have a soft hand, but lives on a tight string and has to have everything just so, otherwise she gets very mean and has a bad temper. She loves Joe, and Joe loves her, but the reference to Hercules appears to compare Mrs. Joe Gargery to Hercules trickster, Hera, who works to make Hercules' life difficult. However, unlike Hercules, Joe does not murder his family because of the tricks and mistreatment, but tries to stay out of trouble with his wife because despite her firm hand, he loves her.

"Greek Mythology Hercules: The Mortal Who Became a God." Ezine Articles. 2 January 2010. 2010.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Greek-Mythology-Hercules---The-Mortal-Who-Became-a-God

Photo Credit:

"Hercules Color Pages for Kids." Coloring Pages for Kids. 4 January 2010.
http://coloringpagesforkids.info/hercules-coloring-pages-for-kids/