The world lay spread before me (Vol.I, chapter xix). How does Dickens Essay

The world lay spread before me (Vol.I, chapter xix). How does Dickens use narrative to explore the idea of great expectations in his novel - Essay Example These words carry great expectations, doubts, apprehensions, excitement, and anxiety. Charles Dickens drew on some of his own childhood perceptions with Pip as the narrator. Pip’s education and development takes place through adversity as he discovers the true nature of his great expectations. The adversities come in the form of intriguing incidents, which changed Pip’s life from that of an orphan to a rich man. He abandons his humble origins to begin a new life as a gentle man in London. Each incident, starting from a terrifying encounter with an escaped convict in a graveyard, summons to meet Miss Havisham whose clock of life has stopped, to the meeting with Estella, the beautiful but spiteful ward of Miss Havisham, and the sudden generosity of an unknown benefactor – all of these touch Pip’s life and give rise to great expectations within him. Pip had grown up an orphan in harsh conditions and difficult situations. He does a good turn for an escaped convict (as much out of fear as out of charity). This act of kindness is the beginning of his transition. He then finds himself going up the socio-economic ladder all the while enjoying great expectations with the help of an unknown benefactor. Pip receives great expectations as a reward for his act of charity. His life takes a turn when he is given a huge sum of money, which takes him to London to lead a life of a wealthy man. Dickens uses the narrative to point out that great expectations blind us to reason and gives rise to arrogance. Drawing from his personal experiences, Dickens provides deep insight into the lives and expectations of a society rich in wealth and power. They are far removed from moral values. The simple and hardworking people in the same society during the same era uphold these moral values. Dickens enlightens us with the fact that good and evil will exist in