Jake Greenstein

Mr. Eikner

English 9, Period 5

March 30, 2009

The Attempt to Leave the Forge

Book II of Great Expectations is mainly defined by Pip leaving his old life in the marshes

and finding love and new parents. One of these things that Pip wants to leave behind is his

coarseness and commonness that comes with being a “blacksmith’s boy”, but Book II proves that

Pip’s coarseness and commonness is not left behind but is in fact brought up in every single

chapter of Book II. An example of his inability to get rid of being a blacksmith’s boy is

portrayed in chapter 22 when Herbert gives Pip the name “Handel” because of a piece of music

written by Handel called, “the Harmonious Blacksmith.” Also in this chapter Pip heads to the

home of Mr. and Mrs. Pocket which he soon finds out is in part of town called “Hammersmith”

which alludes to Pip using a hammer in the forge. Another time his old ways are brought up

when the boys where rowing and the rowing instructor tells Pip that he has “the arm of a

blacksmith.” No matter how hard Pip tries he is still not able to get away from being, a

“blacksmith’s boy.” Once again in chapter 29 Pip’s commonness and coarseness comes up when

he is with Estella, for Pip says, “I fancied, as I looked at her, that I slipped hopelessly back into a

coarse and common boy again.” These examples prove that as hard as Pip tries, he will always

be a blacksmith’s boy that at one time was coarse and common.