Through the novel Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, several exaggerated devices of the gothic novel is seen as Pip’s personality changes. Great Expectations looks back upon a period of pre-Victorian development. In this time period, there was segregation of wealth and class. The main character, Pip, changes throughout the novel as he grows. Characters like Estella, Miss Havisham, Magwitch, Drummle, and Orlick affect how readers see the change in Pip regarding his view of others. Both gothic characters and settings, indicate Pip’s development. The eerie settings, the young characters who are in danger, the evil and deformed monsters, and the reclusive/ villainous aristocrats point out Pip’s progression from a naive, young boy, to a frustrated …show more content…
At the beginning of the novel, Pip is a naive, young lad who does not understand what it means to be a gentleman and how being wealthy can affect his life. An eerie setting he encounters is the Satis house. Pip describes it as "The cold wind seemed to blow colder there, than outside the gate..." (54). Satis house is Pip's first taste of "higher society". Unfortunately, it is a bitter one because it leaves him torn between being insulted for being a lower class boy by Estella and his attraction to Estella. Satis house makes Pip yearn for the life of wealth and privilege it represents. At the Satis house, Pip meets the young character in danger, Estella. Pip knows Miss Havisham hires him to play with Estella, so Estella can practice being cold and cruel, but he manages to fall in love with her. Estella tells Pip that "You must know that I have no heart - of that has anything to do with my memory." (238). This displays Estella has never loved anything in her life because she was taught not to love. Pip’s love for the cold-hearted beauty Estella makes him want to be a gentleman for her. Miss Havisham represents a …show more content…
Pip’s progression from a naive, young boy, to a frustrated social climber, is indicated by London, Magwitch, and Drummle. When Pip first arrives in London, he discovers it is the opposite of what he expected. Pip had been picturing a beautiful, upper-class city, but instead it is very dirty, dull, and poor. Pip said, "...while I was scared by the immensity of London, I think I might have had some faint doubts whether it was not rather ugly, crooked, narrow, and dirty" (171). While he lives in London, Pip feels like he is always being watched. London becomes more spooky when he discovers that the deformed monster, Abel Magwitch, is his benefactor and was watching over him. When Pip learns Magwitch is his benefactor, he is horrified because his dreams are shattered of marrying Estella. Pip feels the Magwitch’s money is dirty and he cannot use it so starts thinking of how to repay him. Pip is the young character in danger because, in London, he loses sight of important things like family and becomes self-conscious. Pip states that “It is a most miserable thing to feel ashamed of home” (106). Pip ends up mistreating Joe and Biddy. Drummle the villainous aristocrat makes Pip feel he should be ashamed of where he came from and establishes Pip doesn’t belong here. On top of that, Drummle marries Estella and Pip is heartbroken. Stage two ends with Pip being broken and destroyed with all the problems he faces,