Great Expectations - Photo Post

     Great Expectations is a novel that is driven forward by the suspense of mystery. The mystery of what is going to happen next in the plot and other character's past histories. For example, in chapter 40, the reader finds that Magwitch, otherwise known as Pip's convict from his childhood, is the founder of his fortunes. This is unlike what Pip had expected and he becomes horribly depressed and disappointed that he was never meant to be with Estella. The tone that sets the motif of mystery is the weather that foreshadows the next few scenes of the story. The last sentence of part three states: "When I awoke without having parted in my sleep with the perception of my wretchedness, the clocks of the eastward churches were striking five, the candles were wasted out, the fire was dead, and the wind and rain intensified with the thick black darkness." (325) Overall this is a dreary dark, ominous setting that one might imagine from a horror movie. Because it is the concluding statement for the second part, it gives the reader an idea the part three is going to have more dark times ahead. This is not the first time that the author has given the description for a dark setting. In the beginning of the novel he describes the marshes as one too. The entire novel is based off this tone and the way the author describes it.

     With this in mind, for my picture to represent the entire novel thus far, I have chosen a simple black and white photo of a prominent black tree that seems to be dead but still standing upright. There are two reasons why I believe that this photo fits with this novel. First of all, The setting of the picture is very dark and you seem to have the feeling that suspense is around you. I feel like this is what Great Expectations is like, dark with an underlying motif or theme to it. Another reason why I chose this photo is because it has the tree as the focal point. It also casts a shadow into the water. To me Pip is similar to the tree. He is very egotistic and seems to feel like he is the the middle of everything and only his problems matter. The shadow that this tree casts into the river is like Estella. Pip cannot make her just disappear from his life ever since she was brought in by Miss Havisham. This tree seems to be portrayed as an old frail tree that has been through rough weather, just as Pip has, with the huge amount of debt he owes and guilt towards the family he left behind. The smaller, less prominent trees that stand around this one are similar to the people that are revolved around Pip's life. For example, Mr. Jaggers, Herbert, Magwitch, Biddy, and other characters that play a role in changing Pip's life.

     The photo above is, for me, a very accurate representation of the novel Great Expectations not only because of the overall tone of the picture that correlates with one of the motifs of the novel, but also because of the many similarities that the picture poses with the characters of the book.

Great Expectations - Making Connections + Picture

  The 2006 movie The Devil Wears Prada depicts a woman named Andrea who's career is revolved around journalism. She lives a simple, yet satisfying life with friends and loved ones, until the day she goes in for an interview with the magazine company named "Runway". She meets her unreasonable boss and another woman she is to work with. Although the job pays well and will benefit her immensely in the future, Andrea feels that she is soon dedicating all her time towards it. After time passes, she grows farther apart from her loved ones and even they start noticing that she seems distracted and unable to spend quality time with those who had loved her most. In the end, she ends up betraying her coworker to impress her boss, but realizes all the harm she has caused by taking this job, and quits.

     This movie was many correlations to the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, for example, many of the characters have the same characteristics and are in similar situations. Pip and Andrea are both the protagonists of their plots and grow farther and farther apart from their family and friends because of one dream. Pip's dream is to become a gentleman for Estella and Andrea's is to have a job that will benefit her in the future. Both become selfish and only think about their own dreams, not leaving room for anyone else. Some of the similar characters are listed below:

Pip - Andrea

Biddy - Coworker

Estella - Andrea's job

Pip's family - Andrea's friends

     The main idea and moral of both these plots was what the most important similarity is between the two. The theme that to pursue a dream, it may have to take much of your time and effort, but you do not have to make that dream swallow up your entire past.

Great Expectations - 2nd Stage

     One of the main motifs that were found in The Importance of Being Earnest was the concept of comparing and contrasting characters and settings. At the beginning of the second stage, Pip moves from his small town that he grew up in to the big, bustling city of London. His first impressions are of the prison, and Mr. Jagger's run down office. He immediately feels uncomfortable and out of place as he says, "This was horrible, and gave me a sickening idea of London..." (164). Overall he is deeply disappointed in what he had such high hopes for. He was expecting a city full of high class people and gentlemanly behavior, but that is not what he received.
     I believe that this change in setting shows the difference between the two settings and what the consequences are of "becoming a gentleman". This also shows the underlying theme of the upper class. The upper class people may not be what Pip expects. For example, Mr. Jaggers is well off when it comes of money, but his attitude is mean, stubborn, and sometimes ignorant. Comparing him to Herbert (not as well off, but has a laid back, carefree, and nice persona) shows that does not have the best overall personality, even though he is of the upper class. As Pip moves closer and closer to becoming a gentleman, he seems to be growing more and more selfish and egotistic. Only thinking of himself and not of the family he has left behind. He is also not feeling as guilty about things he does that he knows is wrong. Pip is trying to fit the mold of being a gentleman, even if it means leaving his old personality behind.

Analyzing the Quote

     I think that Pip is referring to his experience at the Satis house and how it has altered him to begin a new chapter of his life. When the narrator says "think of a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day", I think he is trying to add a question to the readers mind as to weather Pip's "chain" is made of thorns (something that resembles hurt) or flowers (something lovely), this could be the authors way of showing foreshadowing. This day has introduced many new characters into Pip's life, and Estella is a girl whom he is starting to fall in love with. He is starting to gather more and more expectations of what his life in the future is going to be like. He also wants Miss Haversham to give him a small fortune upon her death. Pip seems to have changed in that he is growing into a young man. He is still sensitive to what Estella teases him about, but not as much as the first few days. He has also grown farther apart from Joe. An example of this is when he confides in Biddy about his troubles instead of Joe on page 95. He seems to have grown out of his childhood.
     In my own life, I think that the transition from 6th to 7th grade really brought me out of childhood and into the real world. I began to open my eyes more and realize all the unfairness of the world. I also began thinking more into the future and not just a few days ahead. I started thinking about what it was like beyond middle school and high school. Now I can just hope that my "chain" is made of gold.