Everyone in life struggles to live up to what others and society expects them to be in life, the next Harvard Graduate, or the next new celebrity. But, these expectations can begin to define a person if he believes he has to conform to society’s expectations. In Charles Dickens novel “Great Expectations”, young Pip feels the pressure from society and his love, Estella, to become a gentleman. By attempting to rise in his social class Pip then abandons his previous good morals and his family members when he moves to London. Each character has aspirations for Pip which he believes he must fulfill in order to succeed in life. He also sets expectations for his friends and family and becomes disappointed when they do not meet his aspirations. The pressure from all the characters and the pressure he puts on others eventually diminish Pip’s ideals, because he believes that he must please everyone. These Great Expectations pressured on Pip define the storyline of the novel and the progression of each character. Therefore, In Charles Dicken’s novel “Great Expectations”, the title plays a significant role due to Pip’s struggle with the fact he cannot live for himself, but rather is focused on living up to standards placed on him and others.
First, Pip has great expectations Joe. At the beginning of the novel, Pip expects Joe to be a fatherly figure, and protect him from Mrs. Joe and Pip “looking up to Joe in [his] heart” (Dickens 86). Joe and Pip are friends and rely on one another to survive their home life by warning one another when Mrs. Joe “went on the rampage” [173]. However, after Pip receives his benefactor and money, he expects Joe to be a different person than himself. He expects Joe, like himself, overnight, to go from “being co…
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…ot for each of them and each person’s struggle with expectations. Pip struggles the most, because he cannot meet each person’s standards and aspirations for him, resulting in his destruction of his old morals. Every character has goals for Pip and he begins to believe he must attain these goals to win Estella’s heart. However, Pip also sets standards for friends and family and is confused when they do not live up to his expectations. The pressure from the people in his new social class to become a gentleman Pip begins to define himself by how others see him. This happens to many people in life, they begin to define themselves by other’s values, from the pressure to look or be a certain way in today’s society. Overall, “Great Expectations” demonstrates that everyone is challenged by expectations in society and define themselves according to other people’s standards..
