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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
adventurous
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn't really enjoy reading this book, it's another one of those titles we were bludgeoned with in high school, long before any of us could even hope to follow Dickens' rambling prose. However, I love the story hidden under all the blathering. I really liked the 1998 movie, although it deviated from the book of course, because it succeeded in uncovering the unique saga of Great Expectations and sidestepped Dicken's cumbersome writing. For that reason, I give this 3 stars but can't really recommend it as an pleasurable read.
I enjoyed it! What an interesting character in Miss Havisham! And Wemmick and his aged parent are such a delight! Of all the crappy things some of the characters did, the one I can't get over is Pip telling Jaggers about Wemmick's carefree nature and his father. Dude, he specifically said to keep the two versions of his life separate! The ending is always so varied in the TV versions, which is why I wanted to read this. The book version seems more realistic.
3.5. At the end of the day this is a pretty timeless tale about a young man who discovers, over the course of his coming of age, that money can't buy manners or class. As Pip navigates his changing circumstances, he also discovers how certain types of money (inherited) are acceptable and open many doors, whereas other types of money (earned through work) are unacceptable and provide less social status. Those with inherited wealth have their eccentricities overlooked, while those with earned wealth are not forgiven by society no matter how hard they work.
Pip undergoes a transformation of ideals throughout the novel. As he gains social status, he loses his original moral framework. He shuns Joe and Biddy in favor of Miss Havisham and Estella, because Joe and Biddy are poor and uneducated, albeit more morally good than Miss Havisham and Estella. Towards the end of the novel, Pip very tangibly atones for his moral sins, saving Miss Havisham, becoming ill, letting go of some of his wealth, and returning to Joe and Biddy. He finds redemption in the return to his original work with Joe, and in eschewing London society.
While I enjoyed the themes of the book and found their execution interesting, the other aspects of the book were weak in comparison. The plot was engaging at points, but would go through long bouts of tedium before it picked up again. The characters were likable enough, and I was rooting for Pip, but I didn't feel especially strongly about anyone. I also thought that while Pip was redeemed, Estella was not. The abuse she underwent at the hand of her husband, while technically a type of suffering in exchange for redemption just like Pip undergoes, was played off as a just and inevitable punishment for her bad moral behavior. From a 21st Century lens, of course, spousal abuse is never a just punishment, and I don't think it is from a 19th Century one either. Estella's transformation, therefore, was incomplete in my eyes, and the suffering she did undergo was unjust.
One final thing. I really didn't buy the love story between Pip and Estella. Chapter 44 has one of the most beautiful, masterful love confessions I have ever seen, and it's a damn shame it was the only time I was convinced of the romantic love in the book.
Pip undergoes a transformation of ideals throughout the novel. As he gains social status, he loses his original moral framework. He shuns Joe and Biddy in favor of Miss Havisham and Estella, because Joe and Biddy are poor and uneducated, albeit more morally good than Miss Havisham and Estella. Towards the end of the novel, Pip very tangibly atones for his moral sins, saving Miss Havisham, becoming ill, letting go of some of his wealth, and returning to Joe and Biddy. He finds redemption in the return to his original work with Joe, and in eschewing London society.
While I enjoyed the themes of the book and found their execution interesting, the other aspects of the book were weak in comparison. The plot was engaging at points, but would go through long bouts of tedium before it picked up again. The characters were likable enough, and I was rooting for Pip, but I didn't feel especially strongly about anyone. I also thought that while Pip was redeemed, Estella was not. The abuse she underwent at the hand of her husband, while technically a type of suffering in exchange for redemption just like Pip undergoes, was played off as a just and inevitable punishment for her bad moral behavior. From a 21st Century lens, of course, spousal abuse is never a just punishment, and I don't think it is from a 19th Century one either. Estella's transformation, therefore, was incomplete in my eyes, and the suffering she did undergo was unjust.
One final thing. I really didn't buy the love story between Pip and Estella. Chapter 44 has one of the most beautiful, masterful love confessions I have ever seen, and it's a damn shame it was the only time I was convinced of the romantic love in the book.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Classic tale of poor and kind Pip who comes into some money by an unknown benefactor that inspires his Great Expectations. Themes of moral standing of folks with money and those of lesser means, moral and psychological growth, nature vs nurture influences, prejudice.
Having read this story a few times I will never, ever for the life of me understand 2 things that involve Pip:#1. his intense love for Estella. The only thing about her that is attractive is her physical appearance. She is haughty, proud, arrogant and so cruel to Pip. I know that we are lead to believe this is due to Mrs Havisham's influence and I get that part of her allure is because she represents an unattainable angel of grandeur. However, at the end he is supposed to be in his 30s, not a boy so he hasn't grown up yet when it comes to romantic maturity? At the end when she has been beaten and broken by her marriage, is when she is humbled. I don't particular like how this message sits. The nastiness was beaten out of her and she got a reality check? I would rather her character had evolved due to a combination of life's obstacles, personal maturity and not solely by being married to a man that was a brute. She is just awful. It doesn't make sense to me that someone like Pip would be so steadfast in his love for her #2. how Pip decides he's going to make a romantic play for Biddie. I was all for Biddie and Pip ending up together until I realised that Pip didn't give a hoot about her. We realise this after she marries Joe and in whiplash fashion Pip is back in love with Estella. Yes, I get he is happy for two people he loves but not even a second of disappointment? Really? So what growth has he done here? Shows he had zero feelings for Biddie so why pursue her? If she had said yes and married him, he would be false; perhaps they did have a fine life together, that would unravel when he bumps into Estella. Either way it's bad intentioned and considering it's at the end of the book, leaves a bad last impression of our "hero". I was hoping he would return to the sweet, earnest, little boy he was but with a backbone that would have not only been self assured and no longer fickle in his romantic feelings but had moved on from the shallow, baseless love for Estella.
Biddie, uncle Joe and Herbert are my favourite characters; just have admirable traits and moral compass; this is where I feel like books in characters offer so much in reflection of society and despite circumstances that may never change, you can still be a good human to someone in need. They always made me smile.
Having read this story a few times I will never, ever for the life of me understand 2 things that involve Pip:
Biddie, uncle Joe and Herbert are my favourite characters; just have admirable traits and moral compass; this is where I feel like books in characters offer so much in reflection of society and despite circumstances that may never change, you can still be a good human to someone in need. They always made me smile.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Violence, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Deportation
