Works Cited

"Cain - Old Testament People of the Bible - Profile of Cain." Christianity - About Christianity and Living the Christian Life. 22 Jan. 2009 <http://christianity.about.com/od/oldtestamentpeople/p/cainprofile.htm>.

McLeod, John. "Rules of : Beggar My Neighbour." Card Games. 3 Jan. 2007. 22 Jan. 2009 <http://www.pagat.com/war/beggar_my_neighbour.html>.

Perseus Digital Library. 22 Jan. 2009 <http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Herakles/stories.html>.

"Prison hulks on the River Thames - People and places - Port Cities." PortCities UK Home. 22 Jan. 2009 <http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/ConNarrative.56/Prison-hulks-on-the-River-Thames.html>.

"The Tragedy of King Richard the Third." Absolute Shakespeare - plays, quotes, summaries, essays... 2005. 22 Jan. 2009 <http://absoluteshakespeare.com/plays/richard_III/richard_III.htm>.

"The Wandering Jew FAQ." Yahoo! GeoCities: Get a free web site with easy-to-use site building tools. 22 Jan. 2009 <http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/1720/wjfaq.htm>.

I went on against it.

"There was a melancholy wind, and the marshes were very dismal. A stranger would have found them insupportable, and even to me they were so oppressive that I hesitated, half inclined to go back. But I knew them, and could have found my way on a far darker night, and had no excuse for returning, being there. So, having come there against my inclination, I went on against it." (Dickens 538).

This quote, from near the end of the novel, shows not exactly how Pip's character has changed, but how he has become aware of his flaws anyway. Here he is aware that the he pressing on although perhaps he should not be. This had been, throughout the novel, one of Pip's flaws; he was rash, fearful, and jumped upon any oppourtunity, for better or for worse. Now, however, after he has learned his lesson and gained knowledge, he is able to recognize it and poke fun at himself.

Why should I pause?

"Why should I pause to ask how much of my shrinking from Provis might be traced to Estella? Why should I loiter on my road..." (Dickens 450).

This quote shows us something about the style of writing used commonly in Victorian literature, and also an important point about Pip's character. The rhetorical device, asking questions of the reader, and the blatant interruptions from the narrator and central character are both devices that were widely used in the Victorian era. Novels became popular in this era, and with them, the first-person voice and orally told story formats. This quote reminds us that it is Pip telling us the story of his life. It also reminds us of an important characteristic of Pip, one that drives the whole novel; his rashness. He consistently makes decisions without thinking about them, and, as is shown here, without looking back or questioning his choice.

A gallon of condescension

"As I passed the church, I felt (as I had felt during service in the morning) a sublime compassion for the poor creatures who were destined to go there, Sunday after Sunday, all their lives through, and to lie obscurely at last among the low green mounds. I promised myself that I would do something for them one of these days, and formed a plan in outline for bestowing a dinner of roast-beef and plum-pudding, a pint of ale, and a gallon of condescension, upon everybody in the village." (Dickens 191)

This quote is interesting because it contains another repetition of a message of the novel, a witticism by Dickens, and perhaps a comment on religion. Dickens, in Great Expectations, warns against pride and greed; this quote shows Pip's pride yet again. He has lived in this tiny village all of this life and has, up until the time he is leaving it for "greater" things, been happy there. Now he thinks that the "poor creatures" who live in the village and in the country must be unhappy because of their lack of wealth and high-class standing. He says he shall bestow a feast upon them, and Dickens jabs again at his pride by adding in "a gallon of condescension" to
the things he proposes to give to the villagers.
I believe that Dickens is saying in this passage that the people who attend the church in fact are happy, and content to be there, living in the village, because Dickens is clearly disagreeing with Pip's point of view in the latter part of this quote. Therefore I think that this is a point on religion on Dickens' part, and in favor of it.

Herbert Pocket

"I began to think with awe, of having laid a young Insurer on his back, blackened his enterprising eye, and cut his responsible head open. But, again, there came upon me, for my relief, that odd impression that Herbert Pocket would never be very successful or rich." (Dickens 235).

Here is another example of Pip being too proud, and also an example of indirect foreshadowing. Dickens warns us against pride and greed and rashness in Great Expectations. Pip, here, is feeling proud that he once beat up Herbert Pocket and Miss Havisham's house. He also states his feeling that nothing great would come of Herbert, that he would never be "successful or rich," probably because he is, at the time, still getting his grounding in money-making, and "looking around him" before he makes any financial moves; thus he is as of yet not wealthy. However, later in the novel it is Herbert, not Pip, who ends up financially well-off, with a good job and a happy marriage.

Looking about me.

"'I haven't begun insuring yet,' he replied. 'I am looking about me.'
Somehow, that pursuit seemed more in keeping with Barnard's Inn." (Dickens 236).

This is another example of a message Dickens is trying to pass on. He is suggesting that people think twice before they make quick decisions, especially ones involving money; Pip does not do this and ends up in debt because of it. At this point, he is in Barnard's Inn, a seemingly cheap, unpleasant place, to Pip. He wants to get ahead and out of it too quickly, whereas Herbert, as he says, is "looking about [him]," before he makes any financial decisions and invests his money. As a result, Herbert ends up happy and successful.

Twenty minutes to nine.

"Her watch had stopped at twenty minutes to nine, and that a clock in the room had stopped at twenty minutes to nine.
'Look at me,' said Miss Havisham. 'You are not afraid of a woman who has never seen the sun since you were born?'" (Dickens 77).

This is a perfect quote to show one moral or message that Great Expectations, and therefore Charles Dickens is trying to send. One of the things he says, over and over again, through this book, is how much one single moment can change ones life, so it is better to think before acting and not make rash decisions, as Pip does. This quote shows how one particular moment (twenty minutes to nine, to be exact) changed things intensely in Miss Havisham's life. Her bridegroom left her at the altar, changing the remainder of her entire life, as is shown by the fact that she hasn't "seen the sun" since Pip was born.

Beggar my neighbour

"'Nothing but beggar my neighbour, Miss.'
'Beggar him,' said Miss Havisham to Estella." (Dickens 79).

This reference is not only a joke added in by Dickens, but a pointed remark juxtaposing Pip and the Havishams. "Beggar my neighbour" is a card game in which cards are given up to the other player as "payment." The first player to run out of cards loses. This game is appropriate for Estella and Pip to be playing because of their contrasting financial situations; in comparison to Estella, Pip is a beggar. Adding this game into the story only emphasizes this point.
http://www.pagat.com/war/beggar_my_neighbour.html

Far above such common things...

"I thought how Joe and my sister were then sitting in the kitchen, and how I had come p to bed from the kitchen, and how Miss Havisham and Estella never sat in a kitchen, but were far above the level of such common things." (Dickens 95).

This quote is a prime example of a character flaw of Pip's that leads to his downfall. As soon as he sees or experiences a situation that is "better" than his own, or perhaps more advanced, or of higher societal standing, he immediately becomes self-conscious of himself and his own lowly position, and immediately wants it changed. Here, after his first day at Miss Havisham's, he is comparing her and Estella's way of life, with their fancy mansion and evident fortune, to his own humble existence. He wants to change the way he lives, to rise to their level.

A piece of money, worth nothing.

"But I felt that the kiss was given to the coarse common boy as a piece of money might have been, and that it was worth nothing." (Dickens 121).

This is an odd quote to be coming from Pip, who seems to be so in love with money. He says indirectly here that money is "worth nothing," just as Estella's kiss was. This is probably Dicken's point of view, as is shown in the moral of the book. Money has no real value, no intellectual or personal value, and is "worth nothing" to him. Dickens says it is bad to yearn for money and seek it out.

Enough House

"'Enough House!' said I: 'that's a curious name, miss.'
'Yes,' she replied; 'but it meant more than it said. It meant, when it was given, that whoever had this house, could want nothing else. They must have been easily satisfied in those days, I should think.'" (Dickens 75).

This quote adds to the social commentary that Great Expectations, and therefore Dickens, is making. The novel is about the evils of having too many material possessions or money, and especially wanting too much of these things. Dickens seems to think that society was deteriorating into people wanting too much and trying to gain too much too quickly, resulting in disappointing lives for them, like Pip's. This quote shows distinctly this deterioration that he thought was happening; "they must have been easily satisfied in those days," Estella says, showing how people need more and more to be satisfied as time passes.

Pause you who read this

"Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorn or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day." (Dickens 95)

This quote represents two things; a specific style of writing popular in the Victorian era, and foreshadowing. In the Victorian era, linear and simple narration was popular, with strong narrating characters, using first person perspective. To enhance this style of writing, authors often inserted narration interruptions by the narrators, to remind that it was a story being told. This interruption from Pip does just that. It also is an example of foreshadowing, something Dickens uses an great deal of. This quote refers to his future situation as a chain, which implies something binding him negatively. He is referring to the first day he went to Miss Havisham's, meeting Estella. This quote suggests that big changes are in store, and this day began them.

Richard the Third

"Having his hand in, Mr Wopsle finished off with a most terrifically snarling passage from Richard the Third, and seemed to think he had done quite enough to account for it when he added - 'as the poet says.'" (Dickens 101).

Richard the Third is a play by William Shakespeare about the rise to power and reign of King Richard III. Richard III rose to power in a malicious, evil way, even though his brother, Edward IV, was the current king. He has people who are in the way of him getting power killed, including Edward IV's sons, after Edward has died of natural causes. He was, in the play, an evil man, and his evil ways came back around to him in karmic ways. He was visited by ghosts, telling him about his impending doom, and is slaughtered in battle by Richmond, who was also in line for the throne, shortly after Richard III has taken power.
http://absoluteshakespeare.com/plays/richard_III/richard_III.htm
Just the very mention of the play Richard III is a very pointed foreshadowing as to Pip's situation. He is so anxious to get ahead in the world financially and socially, that he is too hasty with it and consequently falls to ruin shortly after, much as Richard III did.

Cain and the Wandering Jew

"...or went away at night, he would slouch out, like Cain or the Wandering Jew, as if he had no idea where he was going..." (Dickens 146).

Cain was a son of Adam and Eve, along with his brother, Abel. He became jealous that God liked a sacrifice Abel gave more than his, and killed his brother, thus committing the first murder.
http://christianity.about.com/od/oldtestamentpeople/p/cainprofile.htm
The Wandering Jew was a Jew who taunted Christ when they were on their way to Jesus' crucifixion. He was then sent away by Christ upon his resurrection, and destined to wander the earth with no home or respect for the rest of his life.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/1720/wjfaq.htm
By comparing Orlick to these two men, Pip is making a very pointed remark, and adding a good deal of foreshadowing. Later in the book, Orlick attacks Mrs. Joe, Pip's sister, giving her great injuries. These references foreshadow this fact; at the point in the book where they are stated, Orlick still seems like a good man, although a little odd. However he represents himself later, in attacked Mrs. J, as a figure of evil in the novel.

THE END

"And the mists had all solemnly risen now, and the world lay spread before me.
THIS IS THE END OF THE FIRST STAGE OF PIP'S EXPECTATIONS." (Dickens 208).

This quote shows a very particular characteristic of Victorian novels. Great Expectations, like many other novels from the era, was published in parts, and one would have to wait for the next bit to come out to read more. This passage was clearly at the end of one such section of the book--it was left as a cliffhanger, so that people would buy the next bit to read more. It also adds a note of foreshadowing to the novel. Pip says that all the world was in front of him, but the narrator then says in no uncertain terms that this is the end of the "first stage" of his expectations--clearly things are about to change.

The Hulks

"'I should like to know--if you wouldn't much mind--where the firing comes from?'
...'From the Hulks!'" (Dickens 21)

The "Hulks" were old merchant ships which were left floating in the river Thames in England and left and penitentiaries--this is where they kept criminals. When Mrs. Joe tells him that the Hulks were firing shots to alert people of the escape of a criminal, and that the Hulks anchored on the other side of the marshes, he knew that the man he had met in the graveyard was an escaped criminal.
http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/ConNarrative.56/Prison-hulks-on-the-River-Thames.html

Hercules

"He was a mild, good-natured, sweet-tempered, easy-going, foolish, dear fellow--a sort of Hercules in strength, and also in weakness." (Dickens 13)

Hercules was an ancient Greek mythical demi-god figure, son of the mortal Alcemena and the god Zeus who impregnated her. He was incredibly strong, both physically and mentally, and completed the "12 labors," twelve tasks that were incredibly difficult and once completed as they were by Hercules, transformed him into a hero.
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Herakles/stories.html
By calling Joe a "Hercules in strength, and also in weakness," this shows Joe's two sides, as extreme as Hercules'. Joe is married to a harsh and intense woman, Pip's sister, who does not treat him with kindness. Despite this, he persists and pushes onward, helping to bring Pip "up by hand."