What single adjective do you feel best describes Pip and why? Point to at least one specific textual example to support your claim. (This needn't be a direct quote, just a direct detail/example).
Pip is best described as discontented. Throughout the majority of his life it seems that Pip is just never fulfilled. It started with his visit to Miss Havisham's and his first encounter with Estella. There, faced with her rude comments and name-calling, he began to see himself as a "working boy", horribly "coarse" and "common". He was not satisfied with himself or his situation, as his future was not one that was likely to impress Estella, and he would remain a working man. You would think he would be fulfilled after he became a gentleman, a figure worth Estella's respect. But of course not. Even though his life had changed in the ways he had previously only dreamt about, Pip was not satisfied. Despite the expensive lifestyle, Pip remarked several times that he and Handel were not happy with their lives. In fact, Pip longed for the days when he was a simple boy looking forward to becoming Joe's apprentice. Because no matter how his fortunes change, contentment eludes him. Pip wishes he had never met Miss Havisham or Estella, because they placed a discontentment in his heart that would rule the majority of his life.
Although I agree with Julie's adjective of choice, I'm going to address a different side of Pip and call him "generous."
Even though he was completely unhappy with all of the wonderful opportunities and possessions provided to him, somewhere deep (deep, deep, deep, deep, deep) down, I'm positive Pip still has his simple love for the people who care about him the most. For example, take helping Magwitch escape and helping his homie Herbert (LOOK, AN ALLITERATION) with his business opportunity.
I'm glad that Dickens was able to still remind us readers about Pip's (obviously diluted) sympathy and care for others, although Pip just seems like relentless, giant jerk to us throughout the book. I think it makes the story more real; although Pip is engrossed in being a gentlemen, at least there's still a tiny bit of him that still cares.
One word to describe Pip’s character would be confused. Throughout most of the novel, he is just beginning to grow up and search for his place in life. Pip is figuring out what it is to be a man, what love is really about, and most importantly, what are the most important things in life. His most confusing time is when he comes into great wealth. He is not sure how to deal with this new circumstance so as a result, he messes up by letting the wealth overtake his life. With all the many failures and mishaps Pip encounters, he does grow wiser in time and learns to prioritize different aspects of his life before others. But even though he does learn, he never really sorts through all of his confusion. At the ending of the novel, though Pip has figured out the importance of family in life, he still is trying to sort through what he wants to do with his life. In all, Pip is just beginning to figure out the world and I have a feeling he will never completely break free of his confusion.
3 comments:
Pip is best described as discontented. Throughout the majority of his life it seems that Pip is just never fulfilled. It started with his visit to Miss Havisham's and his first encounter with Estella. There, faced with her rude comments and name-calling, he began to see himself as a "working boy", horribly "coarse" and "common". He was not satisfied with himself or his situation, as his future was not one that was likely to impress Estella, and he would remain a working man. You would think he would be fulfilled after he became a gentleman, a figure worth Estella's respect. But of course not. Even though his life had changed in the ways he had previously only dreamt about, Pip was not satisfied. Despite the expensive lifestyle, Pip remarked several times that he and Handel were not happy with their lives. In fact, Pip longed for the days when he was a simple boy looking forward to becoming Joe's apprentice. Because no matter how his fortunes change, contentment eludes him. Pip wishes he had never met Miss Havisham or Estella, because they placed a discontentment in his heart that would rule the majority of his life.
Although I agree with Julie's adjective of choice, I'm going to address a different side of Pip and call him "generous."
Even though he was completely unhappy with all of the wonderful opportunities and possessions provided to him, somewhere deep (deep, deep, deep, deep, deep) down, I'm positive Pip still has his simple love for the people who care about him the most. For example, take helping Magwitch escape and helping his homie Herbert (LOOK, AN ALLITERATION) with his business opportunity.
I'm glad that Dickens was able to still remind us readers about Pip's (obviously diluted) sympathy and care for others, although Pip just seems like relentless, giant jerk to us throughout the book. I think it makes the story more real; although Pip is engrossed in being a gentlemen, at least there's still a tiny bit of him that still cares.
One word to describe Pip’s character would be confused. Throughout most of the novel, he is just beginning to grow up and search for his place in life. Pip is figuring out what it is to be a man, what love is really about, and most importantly, what are the most important things in life. His most confusing time is when he comes into great wealth. He is not sure how to deal with this new circumstance so as a result, he messes up by letting the wealth overtake his life. With all the many failures and mishaps Pip encounters, he does grow wiser in time and learns to prioritize different aspects of his life before others. But even though he does learn, he never really sorts through all of his confusion. At the ending of the novel, though Pip has figured out the importance of family in life, he still is trying to sort through what he wants to do with his life. In all, Pip is just beginning to figure out the world and I have a feeling he will never completely break free of his confusion.
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