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Through out our lives, symbolism presents itself all around. Every object in the world and every action has a meaning behind it. Symbolism is everything and everywhere including in the novels people read. Often we do not realize these symbols, however it is clear that it is present though out our society. Throughout the novel Great Expectations Charles Dickens s demonstrates symbols of isolation, manipulation, heroism, and mimics. In the novel, the character of Estella represents the symbols of isolation and manipulation.
She shuts herself out from Pip and others by attempting to acting older than her age. Estella has adapted to this way of life because of how Mrs. Havisham, her emotionless guardian, brought her up. Miss Havisham angers men and seeks revenge on men because her fianc e left her at the alter on her wedding day.
On his first visit to the Satis House, Pip overhears Miss Havisham tell Estella Well? You can break his heart. (pg. 65). By acting upon what the heartless Miss Havisham says, Estella shows she is just as cruel as her guardian. Estella also symbolizes manipulation by how she plays with Pip heart, who is madly in love with her even though he has no patience for her. She tells Pip Come here! You may kiss me if you like (pg. 102).
Although the kiss means a lot to Pip, being the girl with no heart, the kiss is meaningless to Estella as she is just playing games with his heart. In the novel, the character of Miss Havisham, represents isolation and manipulation. During her lifetime, she refuses to move on from her past as she continues to wear her decaying wedding dress and keep her rotten wedding cake. The dress and cake show of how her life rotted away after being left at the alter. It also tells the state of the Satis House, where she had isolated herself from the rest of the world.
Throughout the novel, house is used as a metaphor with Mrs. Havisham to show the decay and crumbling as time ticks away. Miss Havisham, like Estella, also illustrates manipulation. She raised Estella, whose main purpose is to seek revenge on men, to be heartless.
Since Mrs. Havisham was by her rejected one true love, her main motivation in life is to seek revenge. Her master plan reveals itself when she tells Estella to go play with Pip and then tells Estella that she is able break his heart. As a result, Estella turns into a monster with no empathy. Near the end, however, Miss Havisham legacy ends as a hopeless neurotic. Dickens s, through the character of Magwitch, presents the symbols of isolation and the tragic hero.
Since he was a convict and looked upon with disgusts, Magwitch was physically isolated from society. When he confesses and apologizes to Joe for stealing the food, Joe replies poor miserable fellow creature. (Pg. 43). Through Joe s and everybody else s eyes, Magwitch is just a creature, Joe doesn t even refer to him as a fellow man. The symbol of the tragic hero is also illustrated through Magwitch. Throughout most of the novel, Magwitch is not highly looked upon by Pip. Magwitch s gratitude for Pip for when Pip helps him as a convict is shown when he talks about the boy in great appreciation.
You acted noble, my boy, he said, Noble Pip! And I have never forgot it! (pg. 356). Magwitch heroism takes place the moment he becomes Pip s benefactor. Magwitch is the one responsible for helping him achieve his great expectations making him a gentleman.
Yes, Pip, dear boy, Ive made a gentleman on you! Its me wot done it! (pg. 359 - 360). After Magwitch s death, however, Pip feels guilty and becomes depressed when he sees that Magwitch spent most of his life trying help Pip. Therefore Magwitch becomes or is a tragic hero. The one character who becomes a mimic and decides he is better off with who he is, is Pip himself. As a child, Pip wishes to be a gentleman.
With help from Magwitch, unknowingly, Pips dreams come true. However after attaining his fortune and his expectations, Pip is miserable. As I had grown accustomed to my expectations, I had intensity begun to notice their effect upon myself and those around me. (pg. 305). After being in debt due to his lavish spending, Pip sees the negative effects and also realizes how he has neglected Joe and Biddy, his two best friends. As the novel approaches its grand finale, Pip transforms into a loyal friend to Magwitch at his highest point in need, and repairs his relationship with Joe and Biddy.
He also goes from almost total destruction to moderate business success. He shows that good can be gained from giving. As shown from the examples provided above, symbolism is a huge role being played in Charles Dickens s Great Expectations. Many symbols are brought to life and put into situations which many can relate to. People in society must realize that much of who a person is, is shown through objects or symbols that they encounter in their lifetime.
Symbols give each person a persona perceived by others showing who exactly one is and what place they have in the world.
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