Comprehensice Analysis of "Great Expectations"
Comprehensice Analysis of "Great Expectations"
Pip's childish perceptions are shown by the narrator's description of his fanciful images of objects, such as his parents' tombstones: "The shape of the letters on my father's, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair. From the character and turn of the inscription "Also Georgiana Wife of the Above", I drew a childish conclusion that my mother was freckled and sickly." (p.3). This personal comic reflection made by Pip prevents Pip's story from sounding too self-pitying. By narrating Pip's insights and point of vues on morose subjects, the reader is enlightened by the irony of his remarks.
His childish misunderstandings are explained by his naïvete. For example, Mrs. Joe's comment on how people put in Hulks "always begin by asking questions" (p.15) is interpreted so seriously by Pip that he is drawn into dread: " I felt fearfully sensible of the great convenience that the Hulks were handy for me. I was clearly on my way there. I had begun by asking questions..." (p.15).
Placing Mrs. Joe with an anecdote is useful for introducing the catchphrase which is: "brought up by hand". The anecdote gives an explanation to the phrase , which is Mrs. Joe's beatings and assailments of the hand that are inflicted upon Pip and Joe. When Mrs. Joe utters the catchphrase, we are aware of her shrewed character explained in the anecdote.
Since Pip and Joe are both helpless victims of Mrs. Joe's temper, Joe is seen as a fellow-sufferer: "I supposed that Joe Gargery and I were both brought up by hand." (p.8). An example of Joe's suffering is when Mrs. Joe makes him confess his fear, which is that of Pip having "bolted" his food too fast, to which her response leads her to assault him: "By this time, my sister was quite desperate, so she pounced on Joe, and, taking him by the two whiskers, knocked his head for a little while against the wall behind him..." (p.11-12). Joe is continued to be tormented by Mrs. Joe. in this predicament when he is obligated to take a bitter-tasting dose of Tar-water, along with Pip: "Joe got off with half a pint; but was made to swallow that "because he had had a turn." "(p.12). The way Joe is treated by Mrs. Joe is similar to the way Pip is treated by her,...