Great Expectations Gentleman Quotes

Pips quest to become a gentleman is dictated by what others perceive the status to be rather than relying on his heart and moral judgement. Great Expectations is a story that follows the life of a boy named Pip. Pip as an adult narrates his life story about how he became a gentleman. There are many examples in the beginning of Pips young life that showed him what and how a gentleman should act.

When Pip was young he did not realize the value of Joe’s actions. Joe ‘s support was constant and he did all that he could to satisfy Pip. When Pip invites Joe to Mrs. Havisham’s house he shows up wearing his Sunday best clothes. Pip says “It was not for me to tell him that he looked far better in his working dress…because I knew he made himself

He learns from Jaggers that a person’s appearance and fortune are important traits and requirements for becoming a gentleman. When Jaggers arrives to pick up Pip for their journey to London he notices the raggedy clothes Pip is wearing. “…you should have some new clothes to come in, and they should not be working clothes” says Jaggers (156). Jaggers is a high-class man and because he is a lawyer he is valued by many people. He has money and dresses well and he wants Pip to be the same way because that would make him a gentleman like himself. When Pip arrives at Mr. Jaggers office he is surprised to see that the room is a dark and an uninviting place. “Mr. Jaggers room was lighted by a skylight only, and was a most dismal place; the skylight, eccentrically patched like a broken head, and the distorted adjoining houses looking as if they had twisted themselves to peep down at me through it “(179-180). Pip looks up to Mr. Jaggers and because he is a gentleman he assumes everything associated with him is clean, grand, and tidy. Pip does not find Mr. Jaggers office inviting or attractive, he finds it to be bleak and dirty. He cannot believe such a rich and powerful man such as Jaggers can live under these conditions. Pip has just learned that Magwich is the benefactor of his fortune and he is very upset about it because he always assumed it was Mrs. Havisham. Mr. Jaggers tells Pip

He says “I only saw a man who had meant to be my benefactor and who felt affectionately, gratefully, and generously, towards me with great constancy through a series of years. I only saw in him a much better man than I had been to Joe” (495). Pip realizes that Magwich is a good man and has been a big part of his life and he never appreciated it until now. He thought that he was not as a good as Mrs. Havisham because he was a manual worker and convict but in the end, he was a gentle good man. Pip is finally able to return kindness and love to Joe. When Pip finds out that Biddy and Joe are getting married he is shocked but happy. He says “Dear Joe, I hope you will have children to love, and that some little fellow will sit in this chimney corner of a winter night, who may remind you of another little fellow gone out of it forever” (532). Pip finally gives Joe the admiration and love he deserves by blessing him and his new life with Biddy. He wants Joe to be happy for the rest of his life and be surrounded by people who love him. Pip knows that he did not treat Joe well nor did his sister and it is time that Joe find true happiness once and for all. Towards the end of Pips journey he meets his love Estella. They have finally met again after several years and they are grateful to be together. “I took her hand in mine, and we went out of the