GE

Great Expectations

Set in Victorian Britain between 1810-40

self improvement; moral, social and educational, affection,gentlemen, class

Bildungsroman structure- growing up, follows Pip

Expectations- two meanings- monetary expectations, archaic, prospects and inheritance or hopes and wishes of being a gentleman and marrying Estella

Pip- narrator, apple seed- growth, innocence, at the 'core' of the story, common labouring boy, no physical descriptions because he is constantly changing and growing and it is about his inward journey, thick boots, coarse hands, embarrassed by Joe, longs for moral, social and educational self improvement

Joe- simple, short, undecorative- mere blacksmith, angelic and religious imagery; flaxen curls, fair, sweet-tempered, Hercules, in strength and weakness, mild, blue eyes, takes Pip's beatings, plays with Pip, what larks!, loving, gentleman at heart but not on the exterior, working class, forgiving, pays Pip's debt, looks after him when he falls sick

Mrs Joe- brought Pip up by hand, not a good-looking woman, forced Joe to marry her by hand, harsh, argumentative, rude, beats Pip, fine figure of a woman

Jaggers- washes hands; like pontius pilate, criminal lawyer, corrupt,Dickens disliked law system, pompous, selfish, unsympathetic, tamed Molly, grand house, liked drummle; spider, unpleasant office with death masks on the walls, Have you paid Wemmick?, formal relationship with Wemmick, doesn't know Wemmickas a person, protects Estella, keeps secret about Provis, newgate prison where he visits, is described as ugly, disorderly and depressing by Pip, this shows the dirt and corruption of the city compared to the meshes

Miss Havisham- what have I done? Seen at her best when she shows earnest womanly compassion, tells Estella that she can break Pips heart, Satis; she has had enough, iron bars and chains on the door; trapped, withering away in her wedding dress, gothic dark house, the table he walks her round is the table she will be laid on when she dies in a fire; symbolising cleansing and redemption

Handel- when Herbet calls Pip Handel it might symbolise Pip loosing his identity as he becomes a gentleman and leaves behind the meshes and Joe he is ashamed of his past and so becomes separated from what he once was, partially because of Estella

Herbet Pocket- Pip's dear friend who he lives with in London, they meet as children in Satis house and fight, Herbet is shown as a sweet, weak,…