18 July 2011
The novel as a whole
Just two minutes ago I finished reading Great Expectations-- this being precisely the ninth time I've been "finished" with it, but the first time I've come to the end of the book. I must say, I'm quite satisfied! I had a few laughs, learned a lesson or two, and now I don't have to just pretend to know of Dickens' literature. Throughout the novel, Dickens utilizes far-fetched coincidences and, at times tart, comedic twists to accent in Pip's life the course that most human's take anyway: From arrogant childhood, into dream and shame filled adolescence, through remorse and mistake riddled young-adulthood, and finally the arrival at great peace with age! This path of sour to sweet is not only seen in the life of Pip, but in the themes of the novel as well, such as marriage. During the former half of the story, marriage is portrayed as an unhappy and destructive affair; beginning with the description of Pip's parents who are already dead (perhaps as a symbol of childhood, and the "stiffness" of ignorance and arrogance), and then with Joe's mother and father, as well as Joe and his own wife, couples who both possess very abusive forms of communication (this could be considered a symbol of adolescence with its strong accompaniment of dissatisfaction and self-destruction), onto the marriage of Mr and Mrs Mathew Pocket and the failed marriage of Miss Havisham (both relationships containing themes of crushed dreams, perhaps representing young adulthood); however, towards the novel's end, a few very satisfied and healthy relationships present themselves; those being Herbert with Clara, and Joe with Biddy (finally we've reached a point of repentance and happiness-- marriages that symbolize adulthood). So it would seem that Dickens uses his tale as a whole to present the natural revolution of human life. All this being said, I quite enjoyed Great Expectations, and find it now to have been a worth while venture.
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4 comments:
are you saying marriage is symbolic for stages in life throughout the novel?
In as straightforward as possible an answer as I can come to; yes I believe that she is...
First, Will Hardy names himself Mister Hardy to counteract his own female characteristics, and compensates by forcing them on others.
Secondly, back to the actual novel. I did see this evolution of the idea of marriage throughout the novel. I also saw it contribute to the breaking down of social class stereotypes. Pip believed at the beginning of the novel that financial sustenance would bring him happiness, and perceived it as a universal truth that the two factors were proportional to each other. Marriage was one idea that broke that view. The happiest marriages weren't of the highest class, and in fact were extremely informal. Examples being Wemmick and Miss Skiffens fairly impromptu wedding as well as Biddy and Joe's nonpublic marriage. Pip found them alone in the home on their wedding day, in the most formal attire they had. A higher class marriage would have required much more festivities, and yet no other marriage in the novel seemed as healthy as that one. This was the final blow against Pip's starting idea that money is the only route to happiness.
Unenjoyable. Why?
1) It's a book. (kidding! kind of...)
2) The characters are far from believable. In no universe would a Havisham exist without being encased in saran wrap and sent to the nearest crazy-house.
3) Just like in Catcher in the Rye, the main character is an idiot. Yes, I know, it's 'coming of age'! But let's be real here, a four year old would know when to give up.
4) It was summer homework, which = yuck.
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