1. Introduction
Charles Dickens’ novel „Great Expectations“ as a Bildungsroman or gothic novel depicts the growth of a young boy from low social class origin to an adult gentleman containing the struggles with women, employers and relatives.
The main character Philip ‘Pip’ Pirrip introduces the reader to the novel as a young boy from about six years, although Pip indeed wrote down the story of his life as an adult. Pip has always dreamt of becoming well-educated and of being introduced to a higher social class than he actually belonged to at first. Fortunately, Pip is granted the chance of social rising and he gets to know a lot of people who influence him and his great expectations from his early youth crucially.
In Victorian times women and men were regarded to be different in their nature but never-theless complementary. Women should be a guideline for their husbands in moral and reli-gious questions. When the husbands were at home they were protected from “destructive tendencies of the market” (Farrell). In “Great Expectations” it is not easy to find one woman who fits into this ideal. Especially the three main female characters are rather de-structive than protective for men.
However, throughout the novel Pip is confronted with several women of different calibre, from shrewd and hysterical, cold-hearted and distant to caring and loveable. On the follow-ing pages I am going to introduce and characterise the three main female characters who influence Pip’s life the most: his sister Mrs. Joe Gargery, Mrs. Havisham and Estella. Of course Pip gets to know more women, but since they play only a more or less minor role in his life, I am not going to put them under consideration. After having described and char-acterised the three women, I am going to analyse their relationship towards Pip and in the end come to a final conclusion.
2. Characterisation of three main female characters
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2.Characterisation of three main female characters
2.1 Mrs. Joe Gargery
2.2 Estella
2.3 Miss Havisham
3. The women’s relationship to Pip
3.1 Mrs. Joe Gargery
3.2 Estella
3.3 Miss Havisham
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the portrayal of the three primary female characters in Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations" — Mrs. Joe Gargery, Estella, and Miss Havisham. The research investigates how these women, who deviate from the Victorian ideal of the "protective" female, influence the development of the protagonist, Pip, and explores their complex, often destructive relationships with him throughout the novel.
- Characterization of Mrs. Joe Gargery, Estella, and Miss Havisham.
- The divergence of these characters from Victorian gender stereotypes.
- Analysis of the complex interpersonal dynamics between these women and Pip.
- The theme of personal growth and the potential for moral reconciliation.
- The novel's exploration of social class and its impact on identity.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Mrs. Joe Gargery
Pip’s sister Mrs. Joe Gargery is that special kind of woman one would definitely describe as ‘shrewd’. She almost resembles the complete antithesis of an ideal woman (c.f. Farrell). When introducing a new character, at first their outward appearance is described, but this description is mostly a simile of the person’s character. This is also the case with Mrs. Joe.
She was tall and bony, and almost always wore a coarse apron, fastened over her figure behind with two loops, and having a square impregnable bib in front, that was stuck full of pins and needles. She made it a powerful merit in herself, and a strong reproach against Joe, that she wore this apron so much. Though I really see no reason why she should have worn it at all: or why, if she did wear it at all, she should not have taken it off every day of her life. (Dickens, p.8)
Pip goes even further with his sister’s description. Although he only describes his conclusions on how his sister washes herself, he also presents a picture of an extremely prickly and trenchant character.
My sister, Mrs. Joe, with black hair and eyes, had such a prevailing redness of skin that I sometimes used to wonder whether it was possible she washed herself with a nutmeg-grater instead of soap. (Dickens, p.8)
Mrs. Joe is unable to behave like a loving wife towards her husband, though he would definitely deserve it for Joe is the incarnation of a warm-hearted and caring person – the complete opposite of his wife. Mrs. Joe has a deep need to control everything and everyone and tyrannizes Pip and Joe with her energetic, aggressive and not-at-all feminine way.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces "Great Expectations" as a Bildungsroman and sets the stage for analyzing the roles of three major female characters who shape the protagonist's development.
2.Characterisation of three main female characters: This section provides a detailed character analysis of Mrs. Joe Gargery, Estella, and Miss Havisham, contrasting their traits with Victorian social expectations.
3. The women’s relationship to Pip: This chapter explores the specific interactions and dynamic impacts that each of the three women has on Pip’s emotional growth and his life's path.
4. Conclusion: The concluding chapter summarizes the transformation of the female characters and reflects on the broader message of the novel regarding self-improvement and change.
Keywords
Charles Dickens, Great Expectations, Pip, Victorian literature, Bildungsroman, Mrs. Joe Gargery, Estella, Miss Havisham, gender roles, character analysis, social class, female archetypes, literary criticism, personal development, Victorian society.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on analyzing the three main female characters in Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations" and their influence on the protagonist, Pip.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The study covers themes of gender expectations, social class, personal identity, and the destructive nature of certain relationships within the Victorian context.
What is the ultimate research objective?
The goal is to understand how these women deviate from the Victorian ideal and how their individual transformations contribute to the novel's overarching theme that individuals can change their lives.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The paper employs a literary analysis approach, characterizing the figures based on the text and secondary scholarly sources to explore their psychological and social development.
What content is discussed in the main body?
The main body characterizes the three women individually and then analyzes their specific, often complex relationships with Pip, illustrating how they shape his experiences.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include "Great Expectations," "Victorian literature," "characterization," "gender roles," and "Pip."
How does the paper categorize Mrs. Joe Gargery?
Mrs. Joe is presented as an antithesis to the ideal woman, acting as a controlling and aggressive figure who represents a rejection of the submissive domestic role.
Why does the author consider Estella a "femme fatale"?
Estella is classified as a "femme fatale" because she is intentionally raised by Miss Havisham to be cold-hearted and to inflict emotional pain on men, specifically Pip.
- Quote paper
- Katrin Zielina (Author), 2003, Women in Charles Dickens’ "Great Expectations", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/24712
