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.