Pip In Great Expectations

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The Path to Becoming a Gentleman Mahatma Gandhi once said, “A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes.” (Ghandi) As expressed by Gandhi, when one’s mind becomes engulfed in certain aspirations or goals, an individual’s personality begins to mold to do whatever necessary to accomplish said goals. This is directly related to the character change of Pip in Charles Dicken’s novel, Great Expectations. After Pip becomes enticed with shallow expectations, his personality begins to fluctuate, transforming Pip from an immature, shallow, and ungrateful boy, to a loyal and responsible gentleman. Pip’s maturation throughout the novel is shown through the development of his relationships with Joe and Magwitch, and the changing of his “great expectations”. To begin, Pip demonstrations his maturation throughout the novel through his frequently changing relationship with his brother-in law, Joe. In the beginning of the novel, Pip greatly admires Joe, considering him his best friend. However, after he receives a benefactor and is introduced to high-class society, he is immediately ashamed of his family and origins, instantaneously becoming greedy and insensitive. Pip’s gluttonous and petty behavior is shown through his reaction to Joe visiting him in London , “I was looking forward to Joe’s coming not with pleasure, though I was bound to him by so many ties; no; with considerable disturbance, Spriet 2 some mortification, and a keen sense of incongruity. If I could have kept him away by paying money, I certainly would have paid money” (Dickens 170). Despite the fact that Joe has always protected and cared for Pip like he was his own, Pip is embarrassed by Joe’s low social standing, demonstrating Pip’s immaturity. Pip conveys himself as an ungrateful person, showing Joe no gratitude for all his help throughout his juvenile years. Pip’s neglecting of
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