Great Expectations Hero's Journey Essay

In Charles Dickens “Great Expectations” it is made clear that the protagonist, Pip, is on his own hero journey similar to Joseph Campbell’s Hero archetype. Throughout the novel Pip completes each step in the hero’s journey, and comes full circle at the end. Initially Pip’s journey was driven by his desire to become a gentleman, and to view people only by their wealth and social status. However, as Pip’s journey continues, and after several challenges, Pip starts to realize that a person should be viewed by his character not their wealth. Pip’s journey may not fit every section of the Campbell archetype, but his overall journey parallels the archetype.

A hero’s journey typically begins with a difficult birth, or a difficult conception. Pip, however simply has a difficult beginning to life. Pip is an orphan who lives with his abusive older sister, Mrs. Joe, and her

In Pip’s journey these steps all seep into one another. When Pip discovers that his benefactor is really Magwitch, the escaped convict he helped as a child, he must address this relationship. Pip’s atonement with the father is his meeting with Magwitch, and the discussion of why Magwitch gave Pip his money to become a gentleman. The relationship between Magwitch and Pip is not hostile, but more of a complex relationship that has to be explained. Pip hears Magwitch’s story about how he came from poor beginnings and how his money never came from legitimate business deals. Including how Magwitch is Estella’s father, and her mother is Jaggers’s maid. This is when Pip realizes that Estella was born poor, and how wealth does not establish someone but their character does. This moment is Pip’s apotheosis. This is also where Pip’s end of journey goal changes drastically. Pip realizes that he no longer wants to be a gentleman if he must sacrifice his character, and he is determined to reconnect with his family and to make