Great Expectations Coming Of Age Quotes

1355 Words6 Pages
Throughout Charles Dickens’ book Great Expectations, the multiple references and instances referring to the idea of being “common” versus being what Joe calls "uncommon" and what Pip perceives as gentlemanly serve to convey a clear theme -- one central to Pip's coming of age. In order to become a man, Pip must learn that being exceptional, worthy, and capable of genuine pride requires noble behavior, not high social status. The first glance at the book’s themes concerning being common appears with the way Pip portrays his self image after meeting Miss Havisham for the first time. This first encounter followed by Pip’s reflection, relates the idea of what Pip believes being common means. He never thinks too much about his living conditions…show more content…
When he enters her home and takes a look around, he is impressed and intrigued by how stunning the house is. He had never really been any place this elegant in his life. The house is a huge contrast from the dark and dreary imagery that Dickens uses to describe the rest of Pip’s surroundings that have been shown thus far. In addition to this, Miss Havisham also tells him how she thinks he is odd. When he leaves the home, he remarks on how seeing Miss Havisham’s luxurious lifestyle makes himself seem lower class, stating “I took the opportunity of being alone in the courtyard, to look at my coarse hands and my common boots” (page 62). This is the first time in the book Pip reflects on his own lifestyle and have his lense change. Before meeting Miss Havisham Pip felt overall content with his life. Now, however, he starts to hate everything about where and how he was raised. Pip later remarks how he is displeased with the way he was raised by declaring “I wished Joe had been rather more gently brought up, and then I should have been so too” (page 62). Even though throughout the beginning Pip has seen as someone whom he loves deeply, this one experience at Miss Havisham’s house has completely
Open Document