Great Expectations Photo Connection

Janus, the Roman God of Doors

Throughout Great Expectations, and so in both of the first two stages, there are a multitude of comparisons, contrasts, and association in doubles. These are a greatly important part of the book, as they concern and enhance many of its other literary elements, including characterization, plot, and setting. A great number of characters can be compared or contrasted with others, such as Pip and Herbert, Magwitch and Compeyson, Jaggers and Wemmick, and Estella and Biddy. In addition, other concepts can be compared to one another, such as the settings of Satis House and Walworth, and the relationship between Pip and Estella and between Herbert and Clara.

 In Roman mythology, the deity Janus is the god of beginnings, endings, changes, doors, and gates, depicted as having two faces. The photo depicting him serves well to give connection to the motif of doubles in Great Expectations. Janus strongly symbolizes, in his appearance, all of the twos that occur in the book, especially in the relationships between the characters. An added layer to this symbolism is that of the character Wemmick. Just as Janus has two literal faces, Wemmick has two figurative faces, namely two lives. 

Great Expectations: Connection to Another Story

One work of literature that I can relate to Great Expectations is the series The Bartimaeus Trilogy, by Jonathon Stroud. Though the latter is of the fantasy genre, with plot, conflict, and other literary elements being drastically different, one of the major underlying themes is shared by both. In the first book of the series, the main character, the apprentice magician Nathaniel, is apparent as young, childish, and inexperienced as to how to act in the world that he lives in. As the trilogy progresses, he becomes of an increasingly high status, both in class and in government, adopting a new name, John Mandrake, as custom to the magician world. However, he also becomes increasingly mean, and as a result, I experienced while reading the books a progressive loss of my liking and sympathy for him, these things moving to the supporting characters. At the climax of the series, he reverts back, metaphorically, from Mandrake to Nathaniel, to his old self and personality.

I have not yet reached the climax of Great Expectations, but I can still see in Pip much of what I saw in Nathaniel. What is most prominent is the path of character development that steers them both in their respective stories. Both have the opportunity to further their societal statuses, and each, most likely unintentionally, are changed themselves by this. My lack of affection and admiration for each occurred at identical times, and for the same reason. Another part of this is the connection with names. Pip becomes Handel as he becomes a gentleman, just as Nathaniel does in becoming Mandrake in his transition to being a magician of the government. Because of this, I am convinced that by the end of his book, Pip will return to his old name as well as to his old self.

While other connections can be made, such as the personalities of certain supporting characters and their roles in the story, the twin nature of Pip and Nathaniel is by far the most striking and distinct in my mind. It feels very inspiring to see this journey of The Bartimaeus Trilogy relived in Pip. I have faith in him to repair the damage of his actions and thoughts and to justify himself in my eyes, just as Nathaniel did.

Great Expectations: Second Stage

In the second stage, specifically chapter 21, Pip comes once again comes across the pale young gentleman that he met in the first stage, now named Herbert. As well as being an extraordinary coincidence, their exchange over dinner that night leads to Pip learning of Miss Havisham's past, specifically the history of how she was abandoned by her fiance. He also, by way of Herbert, comes to knowledge of much other interesting information, including the occupation of the latter, insight that Miss Havisham's purpose for Estella is to break the hearts of men, and details on how to become a gentleman, namely holding spoons, glasses, and napkins correctly.

The exchange between Pip and Herbert relates to several major motifs in the book. For one, there is an existing contrast between the two, as both are similar in age and size, and both are gentleman, or in the former's case, at least developing into one. This relates to the motif of "becoming a gentleman," as well as when Herbert helps Pip to become this by way of table manners. In addition, elements of Herbert's tale of Miss Havisham have some literary significance. Her delusion that her cousin had been jealous of her prior to her marriage is very similar to how Pip was deluded in to thinking that Biddy was jealous of him prior to him becoming a gentleman, providing an important "double."

Great Expectations Passage

In the passage, Pip is reflecting upon his experience at Miss Havisham's house that day. Previously, he had not been aware of the possibility that there could be much more to his contentedness than working with Joe in the forge and had not given thought to the fact that others would look down on him due to his class. In addition, he had most likely not met a person before, namely Estella, for whom he had romantic feelings. When Pip tells the reader to think of, "the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day," he is speaking metaphorically of the fact that his life from then on would feel altered completely, only as a result of that one day. After meeting Estella, his thoughts are mainly occupied with the desire to become a gentleman, something that he had never done before. Also, he begins to consider Joe, one of his greatest friends, as common, a most definitely negative change. As a whole, after first going to Miss Havisham's house, Pip becomes much less satisfied and content with his life, quite irrationally.

In my life, I find it difficult to think of a single day that I can compare to Pip's, as the many changes in my life were started by more gradual intervals of time. However, one experience that could be similar is the day that I started middle school at NOVA. The school had a greatly different community than I had experienced in the past, and over the time I spent there, I learned a lot about myself, especially in how my role as a student changed from year to year. In this way, the transition for Pip between his prior life and his exposure to new ideas is similar to my transition between a public elementary school and a private middle school. I think that the change for me was more positive than for Pip, as it was enjoyable, whereas Pip's made him in ways miserable. I think for sure that since that day, I have become more open and thoughtful, in terms of both personality and idea.