Great Expectations Essay Research Paper Great ExpectationsGREAT

returns his affection. It is Magwitch who has the best

reasons for disbelieving in human companionship, that

supported it the most.

Love in the context of human relationships is best

shown through Pip. The relationship between Pip and Joe

changed as Pip grew up. As a child, Pip regarded Joe as an

equal, though he loved him, “I had a new sensation of

feeling conscious that I was looking up to Joe in my heart.”

Though there is love, the snobbish Pip is critical of Joe,

not verbally, but in his thoughts. When Pip attains his

“Great Expectations,” he is embarrassed by what he regards

as Joe’s commonness and avoids his company.

Pip’s conscience makes him realise, Joe has more

gentlemanly qualities than he himself possesses, his remorse

however is short lived. When Pip’s fortunes take a fall he

is too ashamed to approach Joe and Biddy, their love is too

strong however and are there for Pip in his hour of need.

In Pip’s relationship with Biddy, he is very

condescending, and shows disregard for her feelings, ” If I

could only get myself to fall in love with you,” is a prime

example. Pip compares Biddy to Estella and overlooks her

obviously good qualities. After his loss of fortune, Pip

decides to honour Biddy by marrying her. “I would go to

Biddy.” Pip still snobbishly thought Biddy would be glad to

marry him. However, Biddy has married Joe. Though she was

once half in love with Pip, Biddy recognised his obsession

for Estella and wisely sought a partner elsewhere. Biddy and

Joe share the same values and are ideal partners.

Herbert and Clara, Mr Wemmick and Miss Skiffin and Mr

and Mrs Pocket have loving steady relationships.

Pip’s sexual attraction towards Estella is more

romantic ideology than genuine love. He envisions Estella as

a captive princess and himself as the heroic knight, only he

can awaken love in her heart. Even though Estella tells him,

“I have no heart”, he does not believe her.

Does Estella believe what she says or is she trying

to convince herself? Is she using her unattainability to

perversely keep Pip’s interest?

Redemption is attained by Miss Haversham when she

humbles herself to ask Pip’s forgiveness. After the cruelty

she has endured at the hands of Compeyson, Estella emerges a

more compassionate person. Pip’s forgiveness and love from

Joe, Biddy and Magwitch. He endures hardship and

triumphantly emerges a mature, thoughtful person.

The themes of Love, Isolation and Redemption are the

structure the other themes hang from. The loneliness of

isolation is the beginning; love is the food that staves it

off and redemption is the final cleansing. Love is the

backbone of the novel, the thing that binds the others

together, redemption is its conclusion. There has to be love

or the characters would not be able to interact, if there

were only isolation each character’s tale would be a

separate piece of work. All good novels have a moral to

relate and involve love and redemption.

By Anne Gilmour.

All comments would be welcome as I am studying for exams.

Please Email me at Anne@merton.ftech.co.uk