In literature, many authors utilize minor characters to significantly add to the meaning of the work. In Great Expectations, three minor characters have important functions, such as serving as a foil to the main character, and adding on to the theme. To begin, Herbert, a minor characters, illustrates a direct foil of Pip. A foil can be defined as another character who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist). Even though Pip and Herbert share a great friendship (since opposites seem to attract), many differences between Herbert and Pip exploit the presence of a foil. For instance, Herbert represents an extremely realistic character; “So I would, Handel, only they are staring me out of countenance,” (Page 238). This quote …show more content…
Estella endured a rough upbringing; Miss Havisham raised her to hate men and break hearts. Miss Havisham even says, “Break their hearts my pride and hope, break their hearts and have no mercy,” (page 81), which shows how Estella heartlessly acts as a pawn. Estella represents the theme of unbridled love, and how unbridled love can act as a negative device. Throughout the whole book, Pip falls madly in love with Estella...he goes to the ends of the Earth for her. Pip wants Estella so badly that he tries to change everything about his life: he attempts to become rich, well educated, popular, and a gentleman. One is constantly reminded of Pip’s love for Estella. Estella allows the theme of unbridled love to come through, and demonstrate how love can possess too much power, driving one to the ends of the Earth. Love also resembles something very abstract but yet so powerful. The following quote demonstrates the power of Pip’s love for Estella, and how Estella holds power over Pip since he loves her. “The unqualified truth is, that when I loved Estella with the love of a man, I loved her simply because I found her irresistible. Once for all; I knew to my sorrow, often and often, if not always, that I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be,” (page 200). Overall, Estella, a minor character, …show more content…
Joe Gargery exemplifies the theme of the power of friendship in this book. When Pip prepares to go to London, he gives Joe a very mean and snobby attitude. He even lets on that Joe and his background cause him embarrassment, “I have been thinking, Joe, that when I go downtown on Monday, and order my new clothes, I shall tell the tailor that I 'll come and put them on there, or that I 'll have them sent to Mr. Pumblechook 's. It would be very disagreeable to be stared at by all the people here,” (page 126). Throughout Pip leaving on a sour note, Joe always remains around for Pip. Joe even meets Pip in London and tells Pip that he cares about him and understands the social divide and changes that have taken place, “Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever so many partings welded together, as I may say, and one man’s a blacksmith, and one’s a whitesmith, and one’s a goldsmith, and one’s a coppersmith. Divisions among such must come, and must be met as they come,” (page 192). In reality, Pip does not deserve Joe’s friendship, but Joe continues to act kind-hearted and remain in Pip’s life, even though Pip displays rude behavior. This right here, represents true friendship, and the power that Joe’s bond has with Pip. When Pip needs help, and comes back to his home, Joe still helps Pip. Joe always supports Pip and exemplifies a great friend. Pip greatly relied on Joe, which also demonstrates
his common ways.(page 54-57) Pip, ashamed of his background, wants to become a rich gentleman and win Estella's favor. (page 57) After
Character Foils In The Scarlet Letter Those who contrast each other make for engrossing storytelling. Nathaniel Hawthorne demonstrates this truth often in his romantic narrative, “The Scarlet Letter”.
In her writing, Jane Austen used literary techniques to display her character’s integrity, poise, grace and charm, or lack thereof. Throughout most of Austen’s works, a common theme is women and their behavior. In Emma, Jane Austen weaves a story between the differences of society through the actions of a young woman, Emma Woodhouse. The strongest literary technique in Jane Austen’s Emma is the use of a foil.
In summary, Bartleby is an introverted and selfish man who focuses on himself, in contrast with the Narrator who is extroverted and thinks too much about others’ well being. Bartleby also does what he wants at any given moment when the Narrator does what is expected of him. The Narrator fully grasps life when Bartleby has given up on life itself. Going to the second foil between Turkey and/or Nippers and the main character. Turkey and Nippers are portrayed as highly emotionally unstable men.
All Joe wanted to be was respected and liked, even if that meant hurting a couple of people. He was slapped with the knowledge that “Boys Don’t Cry” and that is heavily shown throughout his
For these reasons, Joe’s perseverance show he is a gritty, mentally strong, and independent person. Joe’s abandonment and his ability to fight through it convey the idea that his life experiences have helped create grit. Furthermore, Joe’s actions prove that he has become a mentally tougher person. He uses his abandonment as motivation to become independent and to prove to Harry that he can survive and succeed. Later on in the book, Joe develops a good relationship with Washington’s boatbuilder, George Pocock, who gives him advice on rowing.
“The Scarlet Ibis” and Simon Birch have a common story line. Both stories are about a boy who had a physical disability and how society looked at them. “The Scarlet Ibis” is a story that takes place in The South; Simon Birch is a movie that takes place in Maine. The main characters of the short story are the Brother and Doodle. The main characters of the movie are Joe Wentworth and Simon Birch.
Joseph Pitt: The Silent Progression What is progress? How do we measure progress? Who has the answers for these questions? Tony Kushner’s Angels in America helps give the reader insight on these questions. Through the use of characters that he creates in his play, Kushner is able to help kindle the curiosity in the reader and helps generate thinking.
In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, she tells the cautionary tale of Victor Frankenstein and the downfall he brought upon himself by creating a horrid creature. In literature, a foil is a minor character that possesses traits that emphasize the characteristics and qualities of the main character. For example, the ideas or behavior of a minor character might be used to highlight the weaknesses or strengths of the main character. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, supporting character Henry Clerval serves as a foil for lead character Victor Frankenstein. The foil between the two characters expresses their interests and desire to become famous, Frankenstein’s foolishness, and their passion in pursuits.
Oftentimes, minor characters help to reveal a theme or contribute to the characterization of the protagonist. In the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Helen Burns serves as a foil character to the protagonist, Jane Eyre. Throughout the novel, Helen’s docile and pious nature helps to emphasize Jane’s development from a passionate girl to a modest woman. Helen’s theological beliefs also allow her to serve as a foil character to Mr. Brocklehurst, the headmaster of Lowood Institution, and St John Rivers, a zealous missionary, in order to reveal how Christianity is used to control Jane. Compared to the male characters in the novel, Helen’s positive use of religion proves to be more effective in encouraging Jane to adopt Christian values.
Instead, Mrs. Joe uses Joe’s first name, representing her taking his identity and not being in possession of Joe. This displays how she has authority over Joe, and not the other way around. Besides having power, how Mrs. Joe treats Pip is another example of her stepping outside the expectations of a woman. Mrs. Joe confesses to Pip and Joe after beating them, “I must truly say that I’ve
Love can cause illusions and false realities that enhance the idea of perfection that does not really exist. Juliet’s idea of Romeo being a man of wax is questioned when Juliet learns that Romeo killed her cousin, Tybalt. She is conflicted as to whether she should hate Romeo or not for killing someone in her family. She exclaims, “Oh, that deceit should dwell/ In such a gorgeous palace!”
Although Pip does not know the identity of his benefactor, he keeps in his mind that Miss Havisham is his benefactor. Pip thinks that she is there to raise him to become a gentleman so he can marry Estella. Pip's thoughts as to who he wants his secret benefactor to be shows a sign of immaturity. Additionally, when Pip starts learning to become a gentleman, he becomes mean to Joe and Biddy because they are much different to his new lifestyle. When Joe visits, Pip is snobbish to him because he is not behaving properly.
Through her attempts she replaces her daughter’s heart with ice and breaks young men’s hearts. In Dickens’ bildungsroman Great Expectations, Pip and Miss Havisham’s morally ambiguous characterization helps develop the theme, that one needs to learn to be resilient. The internal struggles that Pip experiences through the novel, reveal his displeasure to his settings and
Not just does Pip treat Joe in an unexpected way, Joe likewise treats Pip distinctively in view of their distinction in social class. He starts to call Pip "sir" which annoyed him in light of the fact that "sir" was the title given to individuals of higher class. Pip felt that they were still great companions and that they ought to treat one another as equivalents. Joe soon leaves and clarifies his initial separating, "Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever such a large number of partings welded together, as I may say,