i'm not crying you're crying

„What is detestable in a pig, is more detestable in a boy.“ – Or: How to Become a Gentleman

Unfortunately, monotheistic religions, for some reason or other, seem to be quite reluctant when it comes to giving the pig its due, irrespective of all the crunchy potential of this bountiful creature in the form of fried bacon or roast pork. Mr. Wopsle, to whom we are indebted for the quotation above, in this vein, deems it quite appropriate to ponder on the dangers of a young boy’s being pampered and degenerating towards ingratitude and gross sensuality, while he himself is actually partaking of a dish of fine hog roast, and Uncle Pumblechook, this servile hypocrite, dutifully backs him up – in both actions. This Christmas dinner is one of the finest comic scenes in Charles Dickens’s novel “Great Expectations” (1861).

Dickens was already a well-established author and editor at the time of writing this novel, and for all his fame and popularity likewise had experienced some fears of his old star being about to wane, what with Thackery’s appealing to the genteel readers and with social problems also being treated by the Brontës, George Eliot and Mrs. Gaskell. The happy-go-lucky days of Pickwick, Nickleby and Little Nell were long over. When sales of Dickens’s magazine “All the Year Round” were dropping alarmingly, due to the public’s lack of interest in the serialization of a novel by Charles Lever, the Inimitable himself stepped into the breach with “Great Expectations”, a novel that showed a new Dickensian quality – that of drawing life-like, full-dimensional characters instead of mere caricatures.

The story centres around the orphan boy Pip, who grows up in his virago sister’s household on the marshes near a town that is easily recognizable as Rochester. One day, this young boy is threatened into helping an escaped convict, and from this day on his existence changes, which is, first of all, noticeable in his awakening sense of guilt. Some time later, he is taken to the secluded place of Miss Havisham, a bitter old lady who was jilted in her youth and who raises her beautiful ward, Estella, in the spirit of taking revenge on the male sex by making her break everybody’s heart. Pip soon falls in love with this cruel and haughty girl. When he suddenly learns that he has an unknown benefactor and that he is to move to London and become a gentleman, the case is clear to him: Miss Havisham must have singled him out to become a worthy husband for Estella. Very quickly, Pip’s character changes, and soon he thinks himself above the company of Joe Gargery, a simple blacksmith and his foster-father, and Biddy, the only childhood friends he had. One day, however, the truth about his benefactor’s identity is disclosed, and all of a sudden he finds himself in a whirlwind of remorse, danger and guilt.

Although in some respects “Great Expectations” is similar to “David Copperfield”, I would consider this work of fiction as one of the Inimitable’s finest achievements. There is a lot of humour, especially in the first third of the book, which thrives on Dickens’s childhood memories, and it is peopled with all sorts of memorable caricatures, such as brazen Uncle Pumblechook, hapless Mr. Wopsle, the walnut-shell faced Sarah Pocket, and the audacious Trabb’s boy. Yet, there are also more complex characters: Miss Havisham may be a freak, but behind the façade of madness there is deep suffering; Estella may be cool and cold-hearted, but she is the victim of a cruel education; Mr. Jaggers, the seemingly unfeeling lawyer, may be a jaundiced man, but not altogether an evil one; there may be a business-like Wemmick, but there is also a private-life one, and let’s not forget about the touching death scene of Mrs. Joe Gargery, as recounted by Biddy. And there is Pip, the first-person narrator, who is warped by his promising prospects, and who has to re-learn how to behave with decency and kindness.

This, to me, seems to be the major idea of “Great Expectations”: It does not take a title, nor money, nor just manners to make a gentleman – as can be seen from the example of Pip’s rival for Estella, Bentley Drummle, who actually has no manners, because he has no heart –, but it takes the potential for affection, sympathy, and friendship to entitle you to this epithet. Pip’s moral rise becomes most obvious in his decision to provide for his friend Herbert and in his change of feelings for his unexpected benefactor.

Unlike “A Tale of Two Cities”, this brilliant tale is fired with all the sparks of Dickens’s unique imagination, which is even capable of bringing to life the casts of the faces of two convicts that serve as sinister ornaments in Jaggers’s London offices and of giving a waterside man “a slushy voice, as if much mud had washed into his throat”.

All in all, “Great Expectations” shows Dickens at his best, and may be recommended as a good first-read to anyone interested in getting to know this non-pareil author.

Yes Pip’s expectations met my expectations in this brilliant Classic. I’ll be reading more Dickens over the years as I have the full set.

Great Expectations was initially published in All the Year Round, a weekly periodical founded and owned by Charles Dickens. There were nine monthly instalment's, running from December of 1860 until August 1861.

In the novel, Pip, like Dickens himself, dreams of becoming a gentleman. However, Pip comes to realise that there is more to life than wealth and station.

The moral theme of Great Expectations is quite simple: affection, loyalty, and conscience are more important than social advancement, wealth, and class. Something that I was taught at an early age.

It is very difficult to know where to start with this review of Charles Dickens’ ‘Great Expectations’ – a novel that has been for many years and almost undoubtedly always will be one of my very favourite novels.

Perhaps one day when I can find the time and the inspiration, I will write a lengthy, well thought out, elegantly constructed and truly insightful in depth review – perhaps managing to convey and capture a modicum of the brilliance of ‘Great Expectations’ and the literary genius of author Charles Dickens.

In the meantime, I will take the easy option and just say that ‘Great Expectations’ is almost definitely the greatest novel by one of the greatest novelists in the English language ever to have put pen to paper. ‘Great Expectations’ is an absolute joy to read from start to finish – it is funny, moving, compelling, exciting, thought provoking, intelligent and insightful. It has unforgettable and well-drawn characters (who can forget – Pip, Magwitch, Miss Havisham, Joe, Estella et al?) along with so many unforgettable scenes forever etched in the memory. Dickens provides us with brilliant and perfectly paced narrative, along with enlightened social and political commentary. Basically there is something for everyone here.

Everything about ‘Great Expectations’ is done to perfection. Beyond that, I will say little more – other than that if you only ever read one book by Charles Dickens – then this must be it.

Great Expectations, Charles Dickens' 1860 first person narration centers on the formation and social development of the inimical English character Pip.

Set in and around London in the early 1800s, Dickens uses vivid imagery and his usual genius at characterization to build a story that has become one of English languages greatest and most recognized stories.

As always in a Dickens’ novel, his brilliant cast of intriguing characters takes center stage as the reader comes to know a parade of literary gems. Perhaps the most intriguing is the escaped convict, Abel Magwitch, a complex man who Dickens brings to understandable life. Another classic portrayal is that of the jurist Mr. Jaggers, a lawyer who no doubt has become the template for a long list of legal caricatures since.

Two words: Miss Havisham.

Typical Dickensian themes such as wealth and poverty, isolation and salvation, and the struggles between good over evil come to life in this very entertaining story.

** 2018 - So many great memories of this wonderful book and like all of Dickens' stories, so many great characters. Pip, Magwich, Estella and of course Jaggers (wonder how he dances? Does he have moves?) But without a doubt the one who stands out most to me is that psychological train wreck that is Miss Havisham. Well worth the time in reading, probably good enough for a re-read.

Not as good as Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist, a tiny bit better than A tale of two cities, but to its core just Oliver Twist 2.0 with a first person narrator, and a perfect reason for why nobody likes serialized short stories condensed to weak novels.

I mentioned some of the weaknesses of Dickens writing in my review of A tale of two cities
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and the reason why it´s not as bad as it because he went back to a topic he could describe with more credibility because of the real life experiences he had made, and possibly people wanted more Oliver Twist and he knew he could sell more or just because he was nostalgic while getting old.

Dickens is a prime example of a not ingenious author motivated to produce new content due to market forces
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_E...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_E...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_E...
and was unable to reach the level of the incredible quality and timelessness of Austen, London, Twain, etc.

It´s quite kind of sad that his great, timeless, and important first works that point the finger at many societal problems are indirectly reduced by readers who choose to pick this work or Tale of two cities first instead of reading his masterpieces. I would completely understand if one wouldn´t want to try a second book after this one.

From all UK/US classics I´ve read, these two novels are by far the weakest. I do often think that some classics, many of them I won´t be able or willing to read, weren´t really good, subtle, or ingenious, but just the first on the market and had no competition, as simple and unromantic that might sound. I mean, reading outside stupid indoctrination BS was long time deemed a dangerous, stupid women activity real men would never do and as the wasted centuries were over and humankind awoke out of the terrible nightmare of the unnecessary Middle Ages, the first average writers had the easy stand of being the only person writing in a genre or even just one of 5 to 10 authors sold at all. That´s what I call a monopoly,

And the authors were idealized and glorified, mixed up with patriotism and national pride, made superstars, it was the first wave of endless Bieber fever for all ages.

Both factors contributed to a romanticized idealization of works that are just your average reading if nothing else is out there, but nothing one would read with flow and enthusiasm, more with a meh attitude instead of watching TV, social interactions, or other wastes of lifetime.

Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...

Ce poți să adaugi în plus despre un roman care e o capodoperă a literaturii universale. Povestea lui Pip este veche de când lumea, tot ceea ce se obține simplu și fără muncă se risipește ușor.

I guess I’ll try to pick this up again next year.
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Not saying I’m out of my reading slump, but I’m marking this as “currently reading” just to feel more motivated to pick it up as soon as I can.
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I love classic literature, Shadowhunters's The Last Hours trilogy is totally not the reason why I want to read Great Expectations.

Romanul de fata reprezinta fara indoiala una din cele mai mai valoroase lucrari ale lui Charles Dickens, prin care ne demonstreaza cat de priceput si de talentat este la a spune povesti credibile si de a transmite cititorului cea mai valoroasa speranta, cea de a gasi bunatatea atat in randul oamenilor bogati cat si in randul celor saraci. Pe langa faptul ca se face o analiza aprofundata a societatii, povestea infatiseaza si transformarea baiatului sarac intr-un tanar aristocrat si felul lingusitor si interesat in care se poarta oamenii din jurul sau dar si modul in care se poarta el cu familia lui modesta.
In ceea ce priveste actiunea, il avem in prim plan pe Pip, un pusti simpatic, crescut de sora lui "pe palme" si care intr-un Ajun de Craciun ajuta cu mancare un puscarias evadat. Timpul trece si printr-un noroc, Pip ajunge in casa domnisoarei Havisham, o batrana bogata pe care trebuie s-o distreze. Aici o cunoaste pe Estella, o tanara infumurata si foarte frumoasa care se poarta dispretuitor cu el. Dupa aceasta intalnire, Pip incepe sa-si considere traiul modest, in casa lui Joe si a surorii sale, drept umilitor si tanjeste sa ajunga un gentleman. Aceasta ocazie se iveste atunci cand devine mostenitorul unei misterioase averi si singura conditie pentru a o primi este sa nu cerceteze de la cine provine. Acceptand-o incep marile sperante pentru Pip.
Mi-ar placea sa amintesc despre dragostea dureroasa pe care o poarta Pip pentru Estella, aceasta reprezentand motorul ambitiei sale pentru a se educa si pentru a-si desavarsi manierele. Pe de alta parte, Estella este si distrugerea lui, deoarece il face sa-si dispretuiasca saracia si conditia sa.
Pentru ca imi plac declaratiile de dragoste am selectat aici cateva:
"Pentru ca n-am sa mai plang niciodata din cauza dumneavoastra." - dovedindu-se o declaratie mincinoasa deoarece tot romanul Pip va plange dupa ea.
"Estella, n-ai de ales, pana in ultima clipa a vietii mele vei ramane o parte din fiinta mea. O parte din putinul bine care salasluieste in mine, o parte din raul din mine."
"Dar mi-ai spus atunci, raspunse Estella cu insufletire, "Dumnezeu sa te binecuvanteze, Dumnezeu sa te ierte." Daca ai putut sa mi-o spui atunci, n-ai sa refuzi sa mi-o spui acuma... Fii la fel de bland si de ingaduitor fata de mine cum ai fost alta data si spune-mi ca suntem prieteni."
Mi-a placut foarte mult de Joe, de simplitatea lui de om sarac dar intelept si de Povris, puscariasul cu inima mare care nu uita niciodata ca Pip l-a ajutat cand avea cel mai mult nevoie.
In incheiere, cateva citate memorabile:
"Daca nu poti sa ajungi om de seama, mergand de-a dreptul, n-ai sa ajungi niciodata luand-o pe ocolite."
"In miezul iuresului, Pip, si in afara lui - asa e viata!"
"Nici un om care nu este un adevarat gentleman in sufletul sau nu va fi, cat ii lumea, un adevarat gentleman in purtari."
"Slabiciunile noastre de neiertat si marsaviile noastre le infaptuim, de obicei, pentru oamenii pe care-i dispretuim cel mai tare."
"... ce inseamna adevarata iubire. Inseamna devotament orb, umilinta de sine fara preget, supunere desavarsita, incredere si credinta in pofida ta insuti si in pofida intregii lumi, abandon al inimii si sufletului in mana care le zdrobeste..."

I see more in this book each time I read it. Class distinctions, friendships, character development, sin, repentance, forgiveness, redemption--all are explored and charted in this thirteenth novel of Dickens.

My favorite characters are Joe Gargery, the gentle and loving blacksmith; the faithful Herbert Pocket; and the helpful Mr. Wemmick and his Aged P.

I've been seeing a recurring theme in several of Dickens' novels--a degrading reliance on hopes of the future to the detriment of the duties and joys of the present. Whether they are waiting for something to turn up (Mr. Micawber), for the settling of a lawsuit (Richard Carstone), for a son to join the family business (Paul Dombey), for the dignities that come with freedom (William Dorrit), or for the unfolding of the plans of a benefactor (Pip), certain key characters are addicted to gambling just as surely as is Little Nell's grandfather.

The supreme Dickens' tragi-comedy, the tale of Pip and his great expectations, the bitter Miss Haversham, her ward Estella and other great characters. I could not put this down, a Dickens tour-de-force, and a must-read if you intend to read only a few of his works. I gave this a Four Star 8 out of 12.

2009 read

It is frustrating being slapped around the head by classics that leave you trouserless in a lukewarm puddle. Because the failure, as Mr. Gass points out, is never with the book. You are to blame, always. I am to blame for not embracing Great Expectations with the same open-armed ever-lovingness with which I embraced Little Dorrit and David Copperfield and so on down the line. My reasons, thus: the second act loses the momentum and powerful perspective established in Part One, as Pip becomes a priggish late teen and the manoeuvrings of the cast of characters replaces the exacting and beautiful childhood reflections. The story doesn’t bounce, build or blow up for me. The plotlines hinge on a series of not-that-interesting revelations about Pip and Estella’s parentage. The characters (Joe excluded) don’t have that heaviness, that heart-crushing quality about them—instead, an all-purpose grimness pervades the novel, lending it a faux-gothic tone that doesn’t transform into swinging emotional lurches and surges. Also, Pip’s narration isn’t as interesting as an omniscient Dickens third-person panorama. Pip, as a writer, is a dull bugger. For me. Remember, I am at fault, always.