Finishing Great Expectations

It's FINALLY over. Well, it wasn't quite that bad, but it was a struggle to get through at times. I enjoyed the main character Pip, he just seemed to rub off in a way. I wasn't to fond of the other characters, because of the fact that they were quite boring, except Estella, who never failed to excite. Some parts of the book were interesting but most were horrible... in my opinion. Some parts of the book were predictable for me, like the fact that Magwitch was the benefactor. For some reason I thought that was true.

I ended up making it through the entire book. It seemed I found myself reading late at night, because that seemed to be the only free time I had between baseball and all my other homework. Sometimes I even found myself reading between commercials while watching SportsCenter. Although my reading habbits might not have been the best, I seemed to understand the book pretty well. The last reading I had to do I ended up reading 40 pages because of my inability to understand the little yellow sheet... but besides that everything went well.

Connections

I connected the story of Cinderella to Pip's life because of what they both went through to reach where they are today. Cinderella also grew up with a hard childhood and was pushed around by the elders. When Cinderella turns into the princess for the ball is just like how Pip became a gentleman. Pip's benefactor was Abel and Cinderella's was magic but they both had help from outside things to become who they are. Although Pip doesn't get the prize of Estella and Cinderella gets her prince, I could still relate these two stories.

Connections

To me, Pip in "Great Expectations" is chasing his dream of becoming a gentlemen. The only thing I could think of that I am familiar with that could relate to this book was the movie "Rudy". Rudy in this movie chases after his dream of becoming a football player at Notre Dame. Rudy and Pip I think are both kids growing up with not the greatest of lives, but they both have motivation to do what they want to do within them.

Both these characters are unique and had to push through difficult things and times to achieve what they wanted. I know were not finished with "Great Expectations" yet, but at this point in the book, this is how i can relate these two characters.

Stage 2

In Stage 2, the theme/motif of "becoming a gentlemen" is still in play when Pip is on his way to London. When Pip arrives, he is not very pleased with London, and actually is quite disappointed. When he arrives at Mr. Pockets house, he is greeted by the pale young gentlemen (now known as Herbert). Herbert has to teach Pip some table manners such as how to hold your fork and how to eat your food.

This relates to what we have been talking about in class because Pip is on his way to becoming a gentlemen. He has the sponsor, the money, the place to live, and the clothes but he still doesn't know the basics. I believe that Herbert will be the one that will be guiding him through all the basic manners.

quote

Pip is talking in this quote, to meeting Esthella and Mrs. Havisham. That day changes him because he begins to agree with Mrs. Havisham, which leads him to the 25 pounds and an apprenticeship with Joe. Pip withgoes serious changes in his life. A lot of these are good changes in maturity and understanding of what goes on around him. I can relate more and more to Pip's experiences as he grows older.

 My development as a person, has been caused by multiple things, but if I had to track down one moment in my life that made me who I am today, it would have to be my parents. My parents always taught me well and to do the right thing. They shaped me and helped me become the person I am today. Without them, I would be just nothing.