Philip Pirrip Essay Example for Free

Philip Pirrip Essay The initial information that we derive from the opening paragraph is that, Philip Pirrip is known as Pip. Both of Pips parents have died, his tombstone, which informs us that his father has died and the inscription on this Also Georgina Wife of the Above. We immediately feel sympathy for Pip as he says I never saw my father or my mother, not even in a photograph. He does have a very vivid imagination however and from the tombstone the shape of the letters on my fathers gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair. This shows, from the slightest thing Pips imagination runs riot. Our hearts extend even more to the grief stricken Pip when we discover his five brothers are also dead, Sacred to the memory of five little brothers of mine, we perceive him to be a helpless young boy. We soon discover that he lives with his sister, and her husband, who is a blacksmith, as he replies when asked Who dye live with, My sister, sir Mrs Joe Gargery wife of Joe Gargery, the blacksmith, sir. The question is asked by a fearful man Pip encounters in the graveyard whilst visiting the graves of his deceased family. Dickens presents this man in a very explicit manner, this is to contrast the two characters. A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. A man who had been soaked in water, and smothered in mud, and lamed by stones, and cut by flints, and stung by nettles, and torn by briars; who limped, and shivered, and glared and growled; and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin. Pip pleads in terror pray, he is scared for his own safety, willingly he replies to any questions the man, a convict, poses to him. Dickens explicitly expresses Pips worry I was frightened again. We realise Pips sister is twenty years older and once more we feel for Pip, she had bought me up by hand. Pip finds homage from his terrible start in life and his meeting with the convict in Joe Gargery, his sisters husband, who Pip says was a fair man, he was a mild, good natured, sweet tempered, easy going dear fellow. In saying this he indicates to us his fondness of him. Dickens conveys the idea of his rough mistreatment by his sister, he reiterates the harshness of her care for Pip, by throwing me, and shes been on the rampage. Although Pip is young, he still has underminding values and thoughts, the guilty knowledge that I was going to rob Mrs Joe. He is always asking questions showing he is inquisitive. We also find out he is to be apprenticed to Joe showing his future appears mapped out and following a set route.  The character of Pip before his visit to Miss Havisham is one of admiration and security. Joe perceives Pip to be wonderful, what a scholar you are! He shows admiration for Pip, he is proud of his achievements, I should like to be. Pip in turn admires Joe. When I m pren gtd 2 u Jo wot larx. Showing hes looking forward to working with Joe. Joe and Pip are friends, Pip realises the goodness of Joe, Young as I was, I believe that I dated a new admiration of Joe from that night. We were equals, as we had been before I had a new sensation of feeling conscious that I was looking up to Joe in my heart, this shows Pips growing maturity, he sees and appreciates his relationship with Joe. Dickens portrays Joe as a loving, caring minder for Pip, and bring the poor little child. God bless the poor little child, and by saying that theres room for him at the forge Joe shows he has Pips best interests at heart. The crucial turning point and change in Pips character occurs during chapter 8 when Pip visits Miss Havishams. His initial reaction to Satis House, Miss Havishams residence, is one of apprehension, he doesnt think it looks friendly, old brick, and dismal, and had a great many iron bars to it. After his view of the house his outlook of the forthcoming acquaintance with Miss Havisham looks bleak. Pip is very shy when he meets Estella, he sees her as above him as his use of the term conductress shows. The meeting with Miss Havisham devastates the young happy Pip.  Pip is told what to do by Miss Havisham let me see you play cards, to which Estella replies why, he is a common labouring boy which hurts Pip, he feels upset at the scornful remark. Miss Havisham herself is cruel, she appears to enjoy making fun of Pip, she asks him what he thinks of Estella which causes Pip great discomfort, I dont like to say. Estella is constantly tormenting Pip, the turning point is when she exclaims he calls the knaves, Jacks, this boy! Adding and what coarse hands he has! And what thick boots! Pip feels ashamed, he reflects immediately on Estellas hurtful remarks I had never thought of being ashamed of my hands before; but I began to consider them a very indifferent pair. He relays his true emotions I was so humiliated, hurt, spurned, offended, angry, sorry, tears started to my eyes which shows he has clearly been affected by these remarks. Pips immediate angry reaction is to blame Joe for his upbringing, he determined to ask Joe why he had ever taught me to call those picture cards, Jacks. He wishes Joe had been rather more genteelly brought up, and then I should have been so too. This shows he wishes he could have an education. Pip sums up his meeting with Miss Havesham, I had seen, and deeply revolving that I was a common labouring boy; that my hands were coarse; that my boots were thick; that I had fallen into a despicable habit of calling Knaves, Jacks; that I was much more ignorant than I had considered myself last night, and generally that I was in a low-lived bad way. The quote shows Pips new outlook towards himself, and his new considered view of his image. Dickens uses the word despicable, this represents how Pip feels about himself at the present moment in time. After the visit to Miss Haveshams, Pip returns back home, the visit has greatly affected his self-esteem, bringing the character of Pip forward in a new light. Pip lies to his sister and Mr Pumblechook, about the dealings of his visit, I felt convinced that if I describes Miss Havesham as my eyes had seen it, I should not be understood. Showing Pip finds it easier to lie, than to face the truth about Estella and Miss Havesham. He doesnt want his sister not Mr Pumblechook, to find out the truth, I said as little as I could. Showing he has no intention of revealing anything about his encounter.