Great Expectations 16

• "Joe was a fair man, with curls of flaxen, hair on each side of his smooth face ... He was mild, good-natured, sweet-tempered, easy-going, foolish, dear fellow -- a sort of Hercules in strength, and also in weakness." (p. 6)

In Greek mythology, Hercules was a divine hero, known especially for his strength, courage, and determination. Ultimately, Hercules was forced to complete Twelve Labors because he killed his wife and children. Aside from committing this violent act, Hercules' weaknesses also included being lustful and gluttonous. Dickens alludes to Hercules to describe Joe's character. Joe possesses strengths such as patience, unconditional love, and faithfulness. However, here Pip indicates Joe's weaknesses being that he is defenseless and vulnerable when it comes to dealing with his wife, Pip's cruel sister.

Work Cited:
"Fast Facts on Hercules." About.com. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://gogreece.about.com/cs/mythology/a/mythhercules.htm.

Photo Credit:
Photograph. WIkipedia. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:0064MC.jpg.

Video Credit:
"The Twelve Labors of Hercules." Youtube. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGMG-t3t98s

Great Expectations 15

• "In short, I was always full of fears for the rash man who was in hiding ... But I thought with dread that it was flowing towards Magwitch, and that any black mark on its surface might be his pursuers, going swiftly, silently, and surely to take him." (p. 382)

Upon meeting Magwitch and understanding his situation more in depth, Pip develops very contratdicting feelings towards him. Originally, Pip has a fear of Magwitch because he is unsure of his intentions. However, Pip now also has a fear for Magwitch and his safety. It takes him awhile to realize this, but Pip has uncovered his genuine appreciation of Magwitch's loyalty and friendship, and can't help being concerned with what the convicts future holds. Dickens is able to exemplify the theme of realizing human connections are more important than social status through Magwitch and Pip's relationship.

Great Expectations 14

• "Oh, dear good Joe, whom I was so ready to ... leave and so unthankful to, I see you again ... Oh, dear good faithful tender Joe, I feel the loving tremble of your hand upon my arm, as solemnly this day as if it had been the rustle of an angel's wing" (p. 142)
  

One of the most important themes that Dickens expresses in Great Expectations is overcoming the fact that social status is not a standard for happiness and the importance of treating loved ones with respect. By the end of the novel, Pip realizes that he is extremely unthankful to Joe, his most loyal and supportive family member. Even though Pip's huge dreams and emotions clash, he put aside his main concerns of appearance and social status, and is able to appreciate the continuous love and friendship Joe has for him.

Photo Credit:
Photograph. Life Vesting. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://www.lifevesting.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/loving-father.jpg.

Great Expectations 13

• "Not another word had I heard to enlighten me on the subject of my expectations, and my twenty-third birthday was a week gone." (p. 314)
  

In a few cases, Pip references his 'great expectations' and what he feels needs to be accomplished or maintained in order to be successful. Readers are able to understand the title of the story as we learn more about Pip's personality and other characters. Charles Dickens intends for the title to indicate Pip's ultimate desire for an improved status and romantic advancement with Estella. Another interpretation of the title may be Pip's expectation of wealth once he becomes a gentleman or all the things that is assumed to accompany life of high importance. Not only do other characters put pressure on Pip to thrive, but ultimately he has even higher expectations for himself, and dreams he wishes to conquer. Though this title, Dickens is able to express the major issue in the novel: Pip's high expectation to find happiness through becoming a gentleman ... yet, he counts too much on what he doesn't have/wants to have in the future and values too little, which he does already have.

Photo Credit:
Great Expectations. Photograph. Blondie Rocket. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://blondierocket.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/great-expectations1.jpg.

Great Expectations 12

• "It was a dark night, though the full moon rose as I left the enclosed lands, and passed out upon the marshes ... There was a melancholy wind, and the marshes were very dismal." (p. 425)

Throughout the entire novel, Dickens uses vivid imagery to set a dramatic tone. Keying in on the weather, particularly elements such as darkness and mist, Dickens creates a powerful setting for the mystery and action about to take place. Readers know that whenever mist is present something dangerous is about to happen. Obviously mist and darkness hinder one's vision, therefore, Dickens uses it to forewarn readers of Pip's unsureness and potential risk. Mist is present when Pip meets the convict in the cemetery, when Orlick attempts to kill Pip, and even in the re-written ending, mist appears as Pip meets Estella. Rewriting the ending including the eerie-mist-effect could indicate Pip's potential dangerous future.

Work Cited:
"Great Expectations." Shmoop. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://www.shmoop.com/great-expectations/symbolism-imagery.html.

Photo Credit:
Trees in the Mist. Photograph. Google Image. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://gallery.photo.net/photo/1313809-lg.jpg.

Great Expectations 11

• "The man who was pulling a lock of hair in the middle of his forehead, like the Bull in Cock Robin pulling the bell-rope." (p. 166)
  

Dickens alludes to the poem "Cock Robin" as Pip compares the bull in the poem to the man tugging at a lock of hair. In this poem, the death of Cock Robin is declared:

Who killed Cock Robin? I, said the sparrow With my bow and arrow I killed Cock Robin.

Numerous animals gather to prepare for Cock Robin's funeral when the Bull announces:

Who'll toll the bell? I, said the bull, Because I can pull, I'll toll the bell.

The image of the man pulling at a lock of his hair instantly reminds Pip of the Bull in this childish poem.

Work Cited:
"Notes on the Novel." Discovering Dickens. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://dickens.stanford.edu/archive/great/great_issue7gloss.htm.

Photo Credit:
Who Killed Cock Robin? Photograph. Mama Lisa's World. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mamalisa.com/images/mother_goose/cockrobin_gut.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.mamalisa.com.

Great Expectations 10

• "They were all in excellent spirits on the road home, and sang "O Lady Fair!" (p. 105)

At this point in the novel, Pip confirms his apprenticeship with Joe, yet is disappointed and angry with this decision. Pip's sister and Joe take him out to celebrate with Pumblechook and Mr. Wopsle. On their way home, Mr. Wopsle begins to recite Collins's Ode and sing the song, 'O Lady Fair' by Thomas Moore. Charles Dickens alludes to this particular song as it was very popular for a late night walk. The lyrics read:

"Oh, Lady fair! where art thou roaming? The sun has sunk, the night is coming. Stranger, I go o'er moor and mountain, To tell my beads at Agnes' fountain. And who is the man, with his white locks flowing? O Lady Fair! where is he going? A wand'ring Pilgrim, weak, I falter, To tell my beads at Agnes' alter."

The poems' tone and many questions asked reveal the curiosity of the speaker; much like Pip describes Mr. Wopsle as always wanting to know others "personal affairs." Still regarding Mr. Wopsle, Pip directly answers the lines in the poem by saying "he was the man with the white locks flowing, and that he was upon the whole and weakest pilgrim going." (p. 105) Pip's emphasis on "he" suggest that he was mocking Mr. Wopsle. His overall tone in this excerpt appears critical and annoyed with Mr. Wopsle's curiosity.

Work Cited:
"Great Expectations." Google Books. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://books.google.com/books?id=d55huNQmSGgC&pg=PA491&lpg=PA491&dq=o+lady+fair!+-+great+expectations.

Great Expectations 9

• "This was always followed by Collins's Ode on the Passions, wherein I particularly venerated Mr. Wopsle as Revenge, throwing his blood-stained sword in thunder down, and taking the war-denouncing trumpet with a withering look." (p. 43)
  

Charles Dickens alludes to the poet William Collins and his piece "Ode on the Passions." Collins published Odes on Several Descriptive and Allegorical Subjects. Collins work influenced the early Romantics. Here, Mr. Wopsle narrates the sixth stanza of the poem, where he plays the part of "Revenge." -- "And longer had she sung, but with a frown. Revenge impatient rose; He threw his blood-stain'd sword in thunder down. And with a with'ring look. The war-denouncing trumpet took..."

Work Cited:
"William Collins." Net Poets. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://www.netpoets.com/classic/biographies/017000.htm.
"Great Expectations." Google Books. Web. 3 Jan. 2010.

Great Expectations 8

• "Hammer boys round - Old Clem!
  With a thump and a sound - Old Clem!
  Beat it out, beat it out - Old Clem!
  With a clink for the stout - Old Clem!
  Blow the fire, blow the fire - Old Clem!
  Roaring dryer, soaring higher - Old Clem!" (p. 94)
  

Dickens alludes to the song "Old Clem" in Great Expectations while Pip is visiting Miss Havisham. The song originates from the blacksmith's patron Saint Clement. On November 23, The Day of Saint Clement, blacksmiths took a holiday. A senior apprentice, representing Old Clem, led a march that traveled around town and stopped at taverns to share the history of Old Clem. The blacksmiths would pass around a box for donations and the money gained was used to pay for the apprentices' meal. Growing up, Pip, the prospective apprentice, would hear Joe "hum fragments" (p. 94) and retained the lyrics to share with Miss Havisham. Unlike Pip, who is concerned about appearance, and Mrs. Joe, who is cruel and dominating, Joe's silent, yet diligent character suggest he is a traditional, happy-go-lucky guy. Even though he might be uneducated, Joe takes pride in his work. Humming a familiar tune shows his true enjoyment being a blacksmith. One could also notice that instead of singing out the words, Joe hums, indicating his timidness around Mrs. Joe.

Work Cited:
"Old Clem - Dickens expression. Help!" The Phrase Finder. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/14/messages/65.html.

Photo Credit:
Saint Clement. Photograph. Orthodox Images. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://www.orthodoximages.com/images/icons/patrons/dingman/Clement_Ding6x8.jpg.

Great Expectations 7

• But, judging from the wind, it looked to me that when he see the ghost in the queen's apartment, he might have made more of his stockings." (p.257)

Charles Dickens alludes to Hamlet, a play written by Shakespeare, throughout Chapter 31. In Shakespeare's play, Hamlet portrays himself as insane, ultimately to reveal the cause of his father's death and his uncle's rise to power. Hamlet shows disgust towards his mother and her decision to so quickly marry his uncle. Hamlet desires to ruin the King's power and to make the truth known. Dickens alludes to Hamlet in Great Expectations because many of the main ideas draw parallel connections with each other. Like Hamlet, everything Pip is doing will lead to his eventual downfall. Hamlet desires to marry the beautiful Ophelia -- except other characters hinder that wish -- where Pip is madly in love with Estella, despite the fact that she cannot accept his affection. Overall, Great Expectations and Hamlet possess similar themes: trust, love, deception, status/power, etc.

Work Cited:

"Hamlet: Plot Overview." Sparknotes. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/hamlet/summary.html.

Photo Credit:
Photograph. Concentric.net. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://www.concentric.net/~marlowe/olivier_hamlet3.jpg.

Great Expectations 6

• "Now, Biddy," said I, "I am very sorry to see this in you. I did not expect to see this in you. You are envious, Biddy, and grudging. You are dissatisfied on account of my rise in fortune, and you can't help showing it." (p. 150)

As soon as Pip realizes the opportunity he is given, he becomes extremely rude towards Biddy and Joe. Dickens introduces the significant theme of social class importance through Pip's excitement of becoming a gentleman. Being immature, Pip is excessively boastful (as he thinks this is how wealthier people act) until the point where he turns snobbish towards his main supporters. Throughout the novel, Dickens shows the importance of loyalty and maintaining good relationships, yet here, Pip is so eager to improve his status, he acts completely out of line towards his friends and family. Dickens stresses that social class has little matter in comparison to human relationships. Although Pip acts disrespectful here, eventually he comes to the realization that his bond with Joe/others is invaluable and worth so much more than what any status could give him.

Photo Credit:
Photograph. Chicago Now. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/improvised-blog/snob.jpg.

Great Expectations 5

• "Nevertheless, I knew while I said those words ... It was two years more before I saw herself. I had heard of her as leading a most unhappy life ... Given her a heart to understand what my heart used to be." (p. 487-490)

Edward B. Lytton, a novelist, was able to persuade Dickens to change the original, unhappy ending of Great Expectations. As a reader, the revised version of the ending doesn't appear to fit the overall tone of the novel -- it almost comes across as fairy-tale-like, where in most of the story, nothing ever turns out perfectly. Dickens may have had the desire to please readers with a happy ending, to illustrate love can be realized, or that Estella and Pip were destined for each other. While some believe the original is too harsh, harsh is more suitable than unrealistic.

Work Cited:
"Edward Bulwer-Lytton." The Lost Club Journal. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://homepages.pavilion.net/tartarus/lytton.html.

Great Expectations 4

• "Enough House!" said I; "that's a curious name, miss." / "Yes," she replied; "but it meant more that it said. It meant, when it was given, that whoever had this house could want nothing else. They must have been easily satisfied in those days." (p. 55)

Upon learning more about the Satis house, there seemed to be a deeper connection with the name "Enough House" rather than the one described by Miss Havisham. The word 'enough' connotes the feeling of 'having enough' or 'being too much to handle.' Yet, Miss Havisham appears to lead a life that was never 'good enough' for her. She is unsatisfied with her lifestyle -- hence the dreary, dark theme of the house, the wedding objects, and the stopping of the clock. Dicken's illustrates Miss Havisham's misery through the connotation of the word and it's deeper meaning.

Photo Credit:
Photograph. Flickr.com. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3565/3610550576_9e9ce2f953.jpg.

Great Expectations 3

• "Joe laid his hand upon my shoulder with the touch of a woman. I have often thought him since, like the steam-hammer that can crush a man or pat an egg-shell, in his combination of strength with gentleness." (p. 142)

Throughout Pip's childhood he was never accustomed to a maternal figure. In this passage, Pip describes Joe's touch as one of a woman. Pip's sister's cruelty and abuse failed to serve Pip with a proper parental figure, which is why Dicken's indicates Joe's patient, compassionate character to be one Pip respects. Pip lacked a stable father figure during his lifetime, but Joe defined his childhood, Mr. Jaggers was constantly referred to as "my guardian," Magwitch served to be a figure that constantly cared for Pip, and towards the end of the novel, Joe returned to nurse Pip back to good health.

Great Expectations 2

• "To see her, with her white hair and her worn face, kneeling at my feet, gave me shock through all my frame... 'What have I done! What have I done!' She wrung her hands, and crushed her white hair, and returned to this cry over and over again. 'What have I done!'" (p. 400-401)

In the beginning of the novel, Dickens portrays Miss Havisham as a controlling, strange woman whereas Pip is more innocent and vulnerable. Now, towards the ending of Miss Havisham's life, their characteristics appear to completely switch. Miss Havisham desperately cries at Pips feet, "What have I done!" The once powerful woman appears overwhelmed, broken down, and apologetic -- a state Pip is shocked to see her in. The line "what have I done" seems strikingly similar to Conrad's line in Heart of Darkness, "The horror! The horror!" As a reader, it can be interpreted that both Kurtz and Miss Havisham repetitively shout these lines, reflecting on their unhappy life.

Great Expectations 1

• "At any particular time, Miss Havisham?" / "There, there! I know nothing about times. Let him come soon, and come alone with you." (p. 97)

Miss Havisham's refusal to give a specific time indicates that she never cared to know what time it was. Every clock in the house was stopped at "twenty minutes until nine" -- this was the time that Miss Havisham was informed her husband-to-be rejected their marriage. Charles Dickens illustrates Miss Havisham's denial by stopping the clocks, an attempt to cease time and leave everything unchanging, like the way it was before/on her wedding day. Miss Havisham believes this strange action will possibly lead her husband to accept her love and return to marry her.

Photo Credit:
Clock 8:40. Photograph. Clipart. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/33300/33394/clock-08-40_33394_md.gif.