Wednesday, 21 December 2022

Comment on the Moral Development of Pip in “Great Expectations”.

Great Expectations is an account of Pip's moral education. The novel shows his progress from a vulnerable child to snobbish gentleman. Yet Pip is largely the victim of his circumstances. He retains his basic goodness amidst all odds.

Moral Development of Pip in “Great Expectations”:

As a child Pip had a high sense of morality. Whenever he committed something morally wrong, his convenience pricked him. The convict compelled him to steal some food and a file from his sister's house. But while going to the marshes he felt that everything was running at him and the cattle seemed to be rushing at him and saying: "Hallo, young thief." He felt sorry for having deceived Joe. Later, he told several lies to his sister and Pumblechook regarding Miss Havisham, and again he experienced the pangs of conscience.

With the change of fortune, Pip's behaviour towards Joe and Biddy changes. At the time of his departure for London, Pip does not bid farewell to Joe and Biddy with proper show of emotion, but on the way he was filled with remorse for his shameful conduct. While Pip was living in affluence in London, Joe paid him a visit to personally deliver a message. But Dip was not sufficiently warm towards Joe. He failed to reciprocate Joe's love which had prompted him to take the trouble of a journey to London with suitable warm- heartedness. Of course, after Joe had gone, Pip felt miserable for his coldness that had caused uneasiness to Joe.

Pip calls himself a self-swindling cheat for the snobbishness that he evinced during his visit to his native town. At this time the feeling of superiority complex does not allow him to stay at the humble forge of Joe. Instead of that he goes to an inn and takes a room there. But he was inwardly conscious of the moral lapse on his part. He says: "All other swindlers upon earth are nothing to the self- swindlers and with such pretences did I cheat myself!"

However, Pip had a number of positive virtues. He helped Herbert by setting him up in business by suppliying the requisite finance. He recommends the case of both Herbert and his father to Miss Havisham. His act of rescuing Miss Havisham from the fire and burning his own hands in the process shows his capacity for self- sacrifice. Although his aversion towards Magwitch is worthy of being blamed yet he reforms himself later and his abhorrence is converted into a profound feeling of sympathy and affection.

To conclude, the fact that Pip had a few lapses did not prevent Pip from moral recovery and adequate improvement and reformation. He becomes a better person in the end than he had been at the beginning.

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