Great Expectations by Jane Austen

Great Expectations by Jane Austen

There are two different types of gentleman are presented to the reader

throughout Great Expectations. The first is Pip's earlier definition,

where he finds a gentleman to be someone with wealth, "breeding",

education, and social status. This materialistic definition of a

gentleman is exactly like the description of Bentley Drummle, who,

however is obviously not a gentleman in behavior or manners - "...he

was idle, proud, niggardly, reserved and suspicious. He came of rich

people ... who had nursed this combination of qualities until they

made the discovery that it was just of age and a blockhead." One of

the aspects of being "gentlemanly" to Pip was education. When he

originally arrived in London, he was completely ignorant of common

etiquette and practice in company, and the way of doing things that

was assumed right - "He calls the knaves, Jacks, this boy!" says

Estella - Pip immediately begins to regret his background, and assumes

that as Estella says the knaves are not Jacks, this is the truth,

whereas in reality this is just a socially discriminate term. Herbert

helps to teach Pip the right way to do things - he remains very

polite, and the "pale young gentleman" goes out of his way not to

embarrass Pip whilst he corrects his social misdemeanors - ""...in

London it is not the custom to put the knife in the mouth - for fear

of accidents - and that while the fork is reserved for that use, it is

not put in further than necessary...Also, the spoon is not generally

used over-hand, but under..." He offered these friendly suggestions in

such a lively way, that we both laughed and I scarcely blushed."

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...he subject. In the end however, Pip has turned into a true gentleman.

He loses the lust for materialistic signs of his wealth and

"gentleman-hood". He feels true gratitude and "penitence" for his

actions towards Joe and Biddy, and is happy for them both. He becomes

selfless, and keeps his secret of his "benefactory" presence towards

Herbert, deriving real pleasure from all that Herbert and Clara get

out of Herbert's job. He forgives Miss Havisham, although she has

effectively almost ruined his life, and does not feel resentful

towards Estella for all that she has put him through. Eventually, and,

in my opinion, most importantly, he grows to love Magwitch, even at

the point where his most un-gentlemanly ways seem at their pinnacle,

and puts his own life in danger in a bid to save Magwitch's. He

becomes a real gentleman.