Charles Dickens uses his own opinions to develop the larger-than-life characters in Great Expectations. The novel is written from the point of view of the protagonist, Pip. Pip guides the reader through his life, describing the different stages from childhood to manhood. Many judgments are made regarding the other characters, and Pip’s views of them are constantly changing according to his place in the social hierarchy. For instance, Pip feels total admiration that, later, turns to total shame for the man who raised him, Joe Gargery. The primary theme in this novel questions whether being in a higher social and economic class helps a person to achieve true happiness. This idea is shown through Pip’s innocence at the forge, visits to Satis House, living a faade to become a gentleman, and the revealing of the truth about his expectations.Pip was an innocent child whose parents died when he was very young. He tells the story of being raised “by hand” by his sister, Mrs. Joe. Her husband, Joe Gargery, and Pip share a special kind of camaraderie, and they were the “best of friends”. Pip tries to keep a connection with his own parents by visiting the churchyard where they are buried. It is at this churchyard that he first encounters an escaped convict, Magwitch. The criminal appears ominous and threatening, instilling fear into Pip. He was “sudden and strong” (page 4) with powerful eyes. The convict begins by turning Pip upside-down. Then, he holds the boy by the arms, tilts him back, and orders Pip to bring him a file and some food. If Pip does not come through with the requests, he will rip out Pip’s heart and liver and eat them. However, Pip seems sensitive to the criminal as he watches him walk away with his arms crossed. The convict and Pip are both alone, in their own way. Pip steals the goods from his guardians and delivers them the next day. Pip does not tell J...
