c





´Great Expectationsµ is a coming of age story that revolves around

the life of one man Pip. From the time he was seven years old until he was in his
mid-thirties, Pip shows us the important events in his life that shaped who he
became. Along the way, he acquires a menagerie of different acquaintances and
friends that influence him in his decisions and goals for his life.

Pip's story has one main point: no matter what happens to a person in their
life, a person cannot change who they are inside. Pip does not realize this at first
however. From the time he met Estella and Miss Havisham, Pip tried to change
himself to fit a mold that he thought they desired. He began simply, learning to
read and write. As time went on, and his circumstances changed, Pip pulled farther
and farther away from where he came from and in doing that, which he was.
Through his story, people see that this type of change brings him no joy, and in
Pip's case, exactly the opposite.

Pip's story is not about living happily ever after with Estella. Dickens never
tells us what happens, if anything, between them in the end. He leaves it only that
they remain friends. There is a purpose for this. Dickens novel is about Pip's
quest for Estella's love and what he is willing to do to gain it. The story is never
about the love itself. We can see this because in the majority of the story, Estella
is only present in Pip's heart and thoughts. The actual interaction between the
characters Dickens keeps at a minimum.

´Great Expectationsµ is a story that the public can relate to because at some
point, everyone goes through the struggles that Pip must battle. It shows that
possessions and wealth do not change who people are inside, and that finding one's
self can be a long tedious process until finally the mists rise and everything
becomes clear.

This novel presents many themes like Alienation and Loneliness, Identity
(Search for Self), Victim and Victimization, Guilt and complicity, Innocence, class
distinction,morality, fairy-tale aspects, gothic elements,theme of ambition,
reconciliation, theme of crime,theme of greed and the last most important theme
is Love. Of the major themes from Charles Dickens novel "Great Expectations" to
be discussed as to their importance concerning its structure, and here I have
selected "Love" in the context of human relationships.
c

 


In Dickens's ´Great Expectationsµ, love is closely tied to

destruction, and it is the protagonist·s guiding light and reason for living. Love is
defined and portrayed in many different ways: as romance, narcissistic love, filial
love, infatuation, obsession, and unconditional love. Love both blinds the protagonist
and sets him free. Love is closely tied to appearances, and, therefore, to deception.

Miss Havisham betrayal in love, she hardened her heart towards her fellow
man. By hardening her heart and suppressing her naturally affectionate nature, she
committed a crime against herself. Miss Havisham love for Compeyson is of a
compassionate kind, this blinded her to his true nature as Herbert remarked, 
     
 
  
 

  
 At Compeysons
desertion her anger and sorrow became extreme and she threw herself and Satis
House into perpetual mourning and a monument to her broken heart, shutting the
world out and herself from the world. Her only concession is in her adoption of
Estella.

Miss Havisham has ulterior motives in adopting Estella; this is not a loving
action on her part, but a calculated manoeuvre to turn the child into a haughty,
heartless instrument of revenge against men. Estella is encouraged to practice her
disdain on Pip and to break his heart. Paradoxically, Miss Havisham greatest sin is
against her. By hardening her heart she loses her generous, affectionate nature
and becomes withered inside emotionally. Her punishment is that the heartless
young woman she has made uses her lack of feelings against Miss Havisham.

As reconciliations abound, there are several romantic relationships that

blossom as the novel concludes. First among them is Joe and Biddy's romance: so
are Biddy and Joe 
 
   
 
   
   Complementing
and improving each other as lovers do, Biddy teaches Joe to write a simple yet
empowering skill; able to sign his name indeed his identity comes to have a renewed
sense of self worth and has a sense of 
 

 as he wields his
pen.

Love in the context of human relationships is best shown through PipOThe

relationship between Pip and Joe changed as Pip grew up. As a child, Pip regarded
Joe as an equal, though he loved him, ! 

 
 


 
 
 ! 
"#


."

Though there is love, the snobbish Pip is critical of Joe, not verbally, but in
his thoughts. When Pip attains his "Great Expectations," he is embarrassed by
what he regards as Joe's commonness and avoids his company. Pip's conscience
makes him realise, Joe has more gentlemanly qualities than he himself possesses,
and his remorse however is short lived. When Pip's fortunes take a fall he is too
ashamed to approach Joe and Biddy, their love is too strong however and is there
for Pip in his hour of need. Infact Joe and Pip has their own symbolic adventure in
nature. Tenderly carrying the weak Pip to his carriage, Joe and Pip drive 




$%), as if moving onwards from their from their old
selves and experiences. At this point in the novel, both are new men: Pip, more
humble and now accustomed to working for a living, Joe, literate and in love. On
this Sunday afternoon, Pip is overcome by the 
  
 &




 ' 

 
 
 



$% . Gazing at the
landscape, Pip thinks of how it has    
'   
 



  

 
'


 

  

 



$ 

In Pip's relationship with Biddy, he is very condescending, and shows

disregard for her feelings, ! !

  


 '
is a prime example. Pip compares Biddy to Estella and overlooks her obviously good
qualities. After his loss of fortune, Pip decides to honour Biddy by marrying her. !
(
 Pip still snobbishly thought Biddy would be glad to marry him.
However, Biddy has married Joe. Though she was once half in love with Pip, Biddy
recognised his obsession for Estella and wisely sought a partner elsewhere. Biddy
and Joe share the same values and are ideal partners.

Herbert and Clara, Mr Wemmick and Miss Skiffin and Mr and Mrs Pocket
have loving steady relationships.

Pip's sexual attraction towards Estella is more romantic ideology than

genuine love. He envisions Estella as a captive princess and himself as the heroic
knight, only he can awaken love in her heart. Even though Estella tells him, ! 


, he does not believe her.

Therefore we conclude that the theme of Love is the structure of the other
themes hanged from. Love is the food that staves it off. Love is the backbone of
the novel, the thing that binds the others together. ´Great Expectationsµ ends
with the fulfillment of unrequited love and key changes in the lives of the
protagonists. Indeed it is at the very end of the novel ³ the last sentence in fact
³ in which Dickens assures the reader that Pip and Estella will ride off into the
proverbial sunset togetherO