Great Expectations Analysis

In the book Great Expectations, Pip demonstrates the theme of change. Throughout the book, he is trying to find out who he really is, thus, changing himself socially, physically, and morally. Pip starts out as a young, innocent, poor boy, who doesn’t seem to be too disappointed in his life style. His Uncle Pumblechook introduces him to Miss Havisham and Estella. Through meeting Estella, then later falling in love with her, he decides he wants to become a rich gentleman, and change his lifestyle completely. This wish is made possible when a lawyer comes forward with a fortune left for Pip, from a secret benefactor.

In Chapter 39, on page 307 Magwitch says: “Look’ee here, Pip. I’m your second father. You’re my son-more to me nor any son. I’ve put away money, only for you to spend. When I was a hired-out shepherd in a solitary hut, not seeing no faces but faces of sheep till I half-forgot wot men’s and women’s faces wos like, I see yourn….I see you there a many times plain as ever I see you on them misty marshes. ‘Lord strike me dead!’ I says each time- and I goes out in the open air to say it under the open heavens-‘but wot, if I gets liberty and money, I’ll make that boy a gentleman!’ And I done it. Why, look at you, dear boy! Look at these here lodgings of yourn, fit for a lord! A lord? Ah! You shall show money with lords for wagers, and beat ‘em!”

In this paragraph, Magwitch has just revealed himself as Pip’s secret benefactor. This is an important plot because Pip is shocked that the fortune came from a criminal, and not Miss Havisham. He begins to love Magwitch, and care for him, and realizes that his idea of his wealth was not accurate. He is forced to realize that he is indebted to Magwitch, and is a rich gentleman because of a criminal. This paragraph also reveals Magwitch’s true feelings toward Pip. Since Pip showed the one act of kindness Magwitch ever received, he felt like he would always be in debt to him, and he wants to make him a gentleman. Although Abel Magwitch starts out as a rough, frightening criminal, he grows to love and appreciate Pip, and the small kindness he showed Magwitch.

The theme of change is showed in this paragraph also. It shows that Pip started out as a kind young boy, and grew to be a gentleman, with many riches, a huge fortune, and a nice house that is “fit for a lord”. It also shows that Magwitch changes from a criminal, then realizes the kindness Pip showed toward him, and feels like he will never be able to repay him, so he will give him money, and educate him.

The way this paragraph is said, or rather spelled, shows that Magwitch was not bright or educated. He talks with slang and it shows, though he was just a dirty criminal, he loved and cared for Pip like a son. It did not take an educated gentleman to make one!

Magwitch is a mysterious, frightening, uneducated man that changed Pip’s life, by anonymously loaning him a fortune, and making him a gentleman. This demonstrates a very big change that happens in this book. Magwitch changes from a criminal to a benefactor, while Pip changes from a poor, humble boy to an arrogant, rich, educated gentleman.

Great Expectations is a book that demonstrates change. Many of the characters undergo a lot of change, including Pip and Magwitch. The young, beautiful Estella makes Pip want to be better, and change his lifestyle so that he is a rich, educated gentleman. Pip receives a fortune from a secret benefactor, who later comes out as Abel Magwitch, a criminal Pip showed a small kindness to when he was young. Throughout this book, Pip goes through a battle with himself, trying to find who he really is. In the end, he figures out that money is not everything, and he then turns to his real, humble friends and family, who has been there for him the whole time.