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.