Themes in The Return of the Native and Great Expectations
Classic novels usually share in the aspect of universal themes
which touch people through out the ages. All types of audiences can relate
to and understand these underlying ideas. Victorian novels such as Thomas
Hardy's The Return of the Native and Charles Dickens' Great Expectations
are examples of literary classics that have universal themes. Hardy's tale
illustrates the role of chance in his characters lives. Through the story
we encounter events of pure coincidence and their effects. Dickens,
considered to be more of a reformer (Literature Online), tries to portray a
social theme in his novel. The basic theme of Great Expectations is that
good does not come from ones social standing but rather comes from their
inner value. These novels are considered classics because of their timeless
themes.
Thomas Hardy's The Return of the Native displays a theme of chance.
Book First, chapter 8 contains a perfect example. Eustacia persuades young
Johnny Nunsuch into helping her feed a fire. She dismisses him and begins
to walk home. Before reaching home, he is frightened by the light coming
from the heath and returns to discover Wildeve meeting with Eustacia. By
pure chance, Venn discovers the boy and quizzes him.
"Then I came down here, and I was afeard, and I went back; but I didn't
like to speak to her, because of the gentleman, and I came on here again"
[Johnny Nunsuch]
" A gentleman--ah! What did she say to him, my man?" [Diggory Venn]
"Told him she supposed he had not married the other woman because he liked
his old sweetheart best; and things like that" [Johnny Nunsuch]
[Book First, chapter 8, pp. 82]
This chance exchange reveals that Wildeve is meeting with Eustacia. Venn
uses this to his advance by announcing himself to Mrs. Yeobright as a
suitor for Thomasin. This backfires because Mrs. Yeobright tries to use the
second suitor to force Wildeve to marry Thomasin. These events all occur
from the chance meeting between Venn and Johnny Nunsuch. Another example of
chance and coincidence can be seen in the famous gambling scene of Book
Third, chapter VII. This is perhaps one of the most critically examined
parts of the book.
" "Very well," said Wildeve, rising.
I think this applies to both of the openings of the films as in the
that brings the reader’s eye to the effect of sociopolitical policies on the Irish by the
David Lean takes advantages of this story to carry out a film critic and with it; he wants to reveal how England was at post-war times. It remains a vital decisive point in the history of the British cinema. After postwar period the course of doing films changed automatically, from this time onwards filmmaker focus on recreate the atmosphere in which England and its population were living.
Ireland From Being a Burden to Their Parents or Country, and or Making Them Beneficial to the Public." The Norton Anthology. Eighth Edition. Ed. Greenblatt, Stephen. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, 2006. 1114-1119.
O’Brien, Conor and Cruise. A Concise History of Ireland. Thames and Hudson; New York, 1985.
The opening of the novel is first set in a grave yard, then in Mr and
Based on the above analysis and the various alternatives, Sam Nolan should take the following steps –
Great Expectations Notes Chapter 1 Setting: early in the 1800s; Churchyard in tiny village east of London  Joe Gargey and her husband in the Marshes.  His parents died Pip- Phillip Pirrap- main character- 7 years old- Lives w/ sister Mrs. when he was younger  One time while visiting his parents grave he meets a strange man- He asks Pip to get him a file and some writtles (food). Chapter 2 Setting: At home; We meet Joe Gargery, the blacksmith, and Mrs. Joe, Pip’s sister  Joe Gargery and Pip were both brought up by hand  At dinner Pip placed his bread for the convict down the leg of his trousers  The family receives news that Hulks(convicts) are on the loose  Later that night, Pip gets some bread, cheese, pork pie, mincemeat,  brandy, and the file (from the forge, this is where Joe works) Chapter 3 Setting: In the churchyard again; Pip delivers the stolen goods  Pip approached a man who was dressed in coarse grey, and had a great iron on his leg, but this was a different man  Pip saw the right convict hugging himself and limping. He had the chills and the fever  The convict asked Pip if he brought anyone and he said no, and the man believed him  The convict asked Pip where the man w/ the bruised face went. Pip pointed and handed him the file Chapter 4 Setting: At home; Christmas dinner we meet Mr. Pumblechook, Mr. Wopsle, and the Hubbles  Pip was fearful on his return that there would be a police officer waiting for him at home, but no one suspected the robbery  Pip made the excuse that he was listening to Christmas Carols  The guests: Mr. Wopsle- Church’s assistant to a parish priest- Mr. Hubble- one who makes wheels- Uncle Pumblechook- a grain merchant. He also had a chaise-cart  A file of soldiers w/ handcuffs. The wanted Joe to fix the handcuffs  They all go to the marshes in search for the convicts Chapter 5 Setting: On the marshes; Pursuit  The search party could hear voices calling  They found the two convicts; There was water splashing and mud flying, and oaths were being sworn and blows being struck  They lit torches and marched separating the convicts  In order to take pip out of suspicion, this convict tells the sargent that he stole the food from Joe – The convict was taken on a boat and disappeared into the night Chapter 6 Setting: At home; Pip receives an odd job  Pip learns to write at Mr.
The settings of Great Expectations are Pip’s homes, one home that he lives in during his childhood in Kent, England, and the other that he lives in when he is grown in London, England. Social status was a big deal in the mid-nineteenth century. The rich were highly respected and liked by all, and the poor were treated unkindly and were sometimes made fun of. The rich could have any job that they liked, but the poor would almost always take over the job that their father had. The narrator of Great Expectations is Pip. If the novel were narrated from any other point of view, it would not have the same effect as it does now.
Hughes, Michael. Ireland Divided: The Roots of the Modern Irish Problem. New York: St.Martin’s Press Inc., 1994.
Job analysis is necessary and comes with four acceptable job analyses such that (1) use several up-to-date sources, (2) be conducted by experts, (3) use a large number of job incumbents, and (4) cover the entire range of worker activities and qualifications (Sparks, 198...
In today's society and in Victorian England, people act differently at work compared to how they carry themselves at home. Charles Dickens, in Great Expectations, writes about the workplace and home environments in Victorian England. Wemmick works and Jaggers' office and has a completely separate home life with a parent and a girlfreind. Dickens uses contrasting tones, critical and pleasant, to illustrate how Wemmick feels and acts at work rather than at home.
leg. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes and with an old rag tied
The book that I read is called Great Expectation By Charles Dickens. It is based mainly in London but also has scenes in Pip's home town. Which is a small village in the country? Where he and his sister Mrs. Joe and her husband Joe Gargary live and Pips was raised. The setting of where Pips is is not as important as what is there with him. There are many contrasts to good and evil or more justice and innocence.
Kennedy, P., Kiely, G., Mathews, A. and Quin, S.,eds. (2005) Contemporary Irish Social Policy, 2nd edition, Dublin: UCD Press.