Pip's Transformation In Great Expectations

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In the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Pip, an orphan raised by his cruel sister, Mrs. Joe, and her kindly husband Joe Gargery, a blacksmith, becomes very ashamed of his background after a sudden chain of events which drives him to a different social class. Pip's motive to change begins when he meets a beautiful girl named Estella who is in the upper class. As the novel progresses, Pip attempts to achieve the greater things for himself. Overtime, Pip realizes the dangers of being driven by a desire of wealth and social status. The novel follows Pip's process from childhood innocence to experience. He undergoes a contrasting change of character, kind, ambitious and in some cases, immature. Young Pip is a gentle boy who treats people with kindness. His kindness goes out to help a convict, Magwitch, that he meets on the marshes. Pip is terrified at the sight of a man with a leg iron. The convict threatens him and demands that he …show more content…

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. Additionally, Pip's immaturity is truly evident when he asks Biddy if she could teach Joe everything she knows because he is ashamed of his lack of knowledge. Lastly, as Pip comes into his expectations, he is blessed with more and more money. Pip receives an endless supply of money which causes him to spend munificently. He spends all of his money on self-centered luxuries to impress the other young rich gentlemen. As a result of careless spending, Pip runs into