GE #15

“What alone was wanting to the realisation of a vast fortune, he considered to be More Capital” (147). Capitalism is an economic system dependant upon the “private ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods” (Bing). Owning a small business, Mr. Pumblechook would want the best economic conditions for himself. A capital for a business is equivalent to its net worth. In an era of social status, Pumblechook is greedy for more fortune: more capital. Dickens ties many Victorian Era themes and ideas to his novel--having been written in this era. Social class and Capital are two areas in which the novel can be traced to having been created in this era, and help to fully develop this time period throughout the book.

“Define capitalism -." Bing. Web. 04 Jan. 2010. http://www.bing.com/Dictionary/search?q=define+capitalism&FORM=DTPDIA.

GE #14

“I strolled round by Satis House” (449). Dickens portrays the Satis House as the upper class, and also as death. Pip always returns to this house, enchanted by what is held within. He is intrigued and consumed by the inhabitants of this house, and its demise is parallel to Pip’s own degrading of social stature. The apparent stop of time within this house, unmistakably aging, symbolizes how time waits for nothing--it always moves on. Dickens may be emphasizing the importance to keep memories close to the heart, but always remember to keep moving forward, for life is always moving on.

GE #13

“It was evening when I arrived, much fatigued by the journey I had so often made so easily” (449). After finally realizing his mistake of leaving Joe and Biddy, Pip resolves to go back to them, to apologize and beg for their forgiveness. Although having made this journey dozens of times before, Pip finds this particular one especially tough. Through this passage Dickens hints at a common theme in life: the difficulties of admitting to be wrong. Without the necessary courage to do so it can potentially lead to lies and committing crimes. Dickens gives Pip the valor needed to overcome these situations, encouraging his readers to do so as well.

GE #12

“I found the Blue Boar in possession of the intelligence, and I found that it made a great change in the Boar’s demeanour” (449). A commonly explored theme in the novel is social status. In the beginning high stature is everything to Pip; he believes that to win Estella’s compassion, he must be rich, educated, and a “gentleman.” Growing older and wiser, and also having lost all of his “expectations”, Pip discovers that social status has nothing to do with integrity. It does however affect the views others have on him, as mentioned in this passage. Dickens wants the reader to identify with Pip that friendship and dependability are favorable to social status.

GE #11

“There’s subjects enough as betwixt two sech, without onnecessary ones” (444). Pip’s main parental figure in this novel is Joe. The two of them are friends in the beginning--lasting through to the end. Though Pip changes frequently (social class, views on topics, location, etc.), Joe is the one character linked to Pip that is constant throughout. He never deviates from his loving manner towards Pip. To emphasize Joe’s decency Dickens includes one key factor: dialect. The reader may not realize the importance of this in the beginning, but once Pip has become a “gentleman” Joe’s specific dialect emerges. The reader realizes how far Pip has come, eventually contrasting the new and the old Pip. Joe’s evident dialect towards the end ties the novel back to the beginning, just one instrument that Dickens uses to complete his story.

GE #10

“The steam traffic on the Thames was far below its present extent” (413). Dickens references the river Thames quite frequently. The river Thames is not one of the largest rivers in the world, but is definitely one of the most historic. It has provided so much for England--from transportation and trade between cities to supplying the early settlers with agricultural needs. Dickens centers the second half of his novel around the river, planning and preparing for Magwitch’s escape. The death of Magwitch is ultimately caused by the events on the Thames, suggesting at the theme that the marsh and other wet areas foreshadow unfavorable events.

"History and pictures of the River Thames." Travel website: Tour London England, Washington DC, San Francisco & Wine Tours, New York City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Diego, Yosemite NP, CA Central Coast. Web. 04 Jan. 2010. http://www.inetours.com/England/London/pages/River_Thames.html.

GE #9

“My rapid mind pursued him to the town, made a picture of the street with him in it, and contrasted its lights and life with the lonely marsh and the white vapour creeping over it, into which I should have dissolved” (405). The “lonely marsh” that is visited many times acts as a motif of insecurity and exposure. It is here that Pip encounters the convicts on two different occasions early in his childhood. Pip later returns to the marshes, only to be captured by Orlick. The marshes present an image of uncertainty to the reader, Dickens therefore foreshadowing upcoming events that may hinder Pip’s journey.

GE #8

“Why did you who read this, commit that not dissimilar inconsistency of your own, last year, last month, last week?” (361). Great Expectations is entirely narrated by the main character Pip--who often gives insight to (and becomes personal with) the reader. This creative style of writing has also been explored by Shelley in much of her novel Frankenstein, and by Bronte in Jane Eyre. These authors, including Dickens, are able to add new ideas to their novels, and give their readers more opportunities to connect the book to their own lives.

GE #7

“As the hours of the tide changed, I took towards London Bridge” (360). London Bridge is the most famous bridge in the world. It has had many various “London Bridges” in its spot over its 2000 years of existence. The many references Dickens makes to this bridge support the importance of it. It is a common London landmark. The author uses this to create a more “lifelike” impression of his novel--to make readers feel that his story could have actually happened.

The London Bridge Museum & Educational Trust. Web. 03 Jan. 2010. http://www.oldlondonbridge.com/history.shtml.

GE #6

“If she wounds you, love her. If she tears your heart to pieces--and as it gets older and stronger it will tear deeper--love her, love her!” (226). Dickens explores the theme of ambition. The major character who provides ambition for Pip is Miss Havisham--who is continuously telling Pip to love Estella, and asking him how beautiful Estella has grown. In this way Miss Havisham, whose only original motive was to get her revenge on men, provides a stepping stone for Pip--giving him desire for self-improvement. Dickens uses this ambition as a central theme throughout the novel, one that his audience can most likely relate to.

GE #5

“The two convicts were handcuffed together, and had irons on their legs--iron of a pattern that I knew well” (214). A literary device commonly used throughout Dickens’ novel is foreshadowing. Dickens uses definite levels of foreshadowing to give the reader further knowledge, and the ability to guess upcoming events. The reappearance of convicts to the novel once more adds the dimension of crime. The fact that Pip recognizes the pattern of the irons makes the reader remember the convicts in the beginning, and potentially foreshadowing the many events ahead that they are involved with.

GE #4

“Her face looked to me as if it were all disturbed by fiery air, like the faces I had seen rise out of the Witches’ cauldron” (201). Through Pip’s narrative, Dickens alludes to Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Shakespeare’s works are reference a handful of times in the novel--the reader notices Dickens’ respect for the Bard. This passage assumes the events in Macbeth to be common knowledge, and that any reader would recognize and relate to this narrative. The themes in Macbeth, mainly crime and guilt, are also heavily explored in Great Expectations. In Macbeth, Macbeth and the Queen both commit crimes and experience the guilt afterwards. In Dickens’ novel the convicts, along with Mr. Jaggers, distinguish this theme.

"Macbeth: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article." AbsoluteAstronomy.com. Web. 03 Jan. 2010. http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Macbeth.

GE #3

“Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts” (151). Pip is often confronted with moments of solemnity, of which Dickens stresses the importance of letting your true emotions shine through. Prosperity is not often reached if having to continuously conceal your honest feelings. Dickens’ use of metaphor explains how tears are as natural as rain, and cannot be avoided.

GE #2

“Those six days which were to have run out so slowly…and to-morrow looked me in the face more steadily than I could look at it” (150). This passage explores imagery as well as personification. Personification is often like a branch from imagery. It provides Pip’s feelings at this moment, giving the reader an image, thus being an example of imagery. The author gives a human trait to a nonliving figure, tomorrow, saying how it “looked” Pip in the face, thus being an example of personification. Dickens uses the two literary devices together to create a better sense of Pip’s moment.

GE #1

“I rather think they were displayed as articles of property--much as Cleopatra or any other sovereign lady on the Rampage might exhibit her wealth in a pageant or procession” (93). Pip compares his sister’s nature to carry these extra articles to that of women with authority boasting their wealth. Dickens references Cleopatra, one of the most predominant woman figures in history, comparing her to Pip’s sister. The author deliberately creates an impression of Pip’s sister who brought Pip up “by hand.” He relates her power over Pip to the power of Cleopatra.

"Egypt: Rulers, Kings and Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt: Cleopatra VII & Ptolemy XIII." Egypt Travel, Tours, Vacations, Ancient Egypt from Tour Egypt. Web. 03 Jan. 2010. http://www.touregypt.net/cleopatr.htm.