Great Expectations Essay, Research Paper

In the novel Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, many characters have a great influence on Pip’s life. The characters that affect him most are Magwitch, Pip’s benefactor, Estella, whom Pip adores, and Joe, Pip’s best friend throughout the novel. Some of the people in Pip?s life, unfortunately, drew him away from the fact that social status does not matter as long as you have a good heart inside.

Magwitch is the character that affects Pip most throughout the story. He is the nightmare-creator that scared Pip as a young boy one Christmas, and from that point on Pip?s life was turned upside down. A few years after the incident on the marshes the convict shows that he still remembers Pip by sending a curious looking man to Jolly Bargemen to give Pip several pounds, and to stir his drink with the file that Pip gave the convict. Some time passes and while Pip is still apprenticed to Joe a lawyer by the name of Jaggers comes to Pip and tells that he is to become a gentleman and that he has great expectations. Pip does not know it yet but once again Magwitch has come in, and this time, greatly influenced his life by putting forth the money for Pip to become a gentleman. And after years of living as a ?gentleman? Pip?s benefactor is revealed to him, and Pip is embarrassed and his chances with Estella are shattered.

Pip briefly sums up the relationship between Estella on page 143 when he says to Herbert, ?I adore Estella?. Unfortunately for Pip, the two old friends were never meant to be. No matter how hard Pip tried to change himself, he could not change Estella?s cold-hearted ways. The reason for Pip?s quest for ?uncommonness? was a failing attempt to receive Estella?s love. In the end the two friends part, never seeing the other again.

Another character that had a great influence on Pip?s life was his childhood friend Joe. Joe was Pip?s best friend when the two were under the wrath of the immoral Mrs. Joe. Once Pip meets Estella, it is in the young boy?s greatest wishes to separate himself from the common folk, including Joe. When Pip moves off to London Joe comes to visit him and Joe knows that they are not a pair to best be seen in London together. Joe departs and Pip is relieved that he was not embarrassed by Joe, as the wise old Joe knew that he would be. When Pip becomes very ill Joe comes to London and takes care of him, while paying the debt that Pip could not repay himself.