Great Expectations Victor Frankenstein Quotes

As “Great Expectations”, by Charles Dickens, progresses the reader sees the growth of Pip, and his struggle to find his creator. For Pip being and or receiving a creator would be a guide for him as he navigates through his life events. When Victor Frankenstein, from Frankenstein says, “No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs” (Frankenstein, 32). What Victor is saying is that he deserves to be not only a creator to his creature, but to himself. This can relate to Pip, Because Pip’s parents are dead; he deserves to be his own creator. However, Pip intends on becoming a self-creation, in an attempt to fill the whole of the legacy that is missing in his life, for Pip must seek achievement through a creator-created relationship.
In the beginning of Great

Expectations, Pip starts by telling the reader “I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip.”(Great Expectations, 3). Pip immediately starts Great Expectations by announcing that he is self-created. Although Pip’s reasoning for this isn’t solely for the great power that comes with being a creator, but to escape the debt that is received with being created. This can be shown in Paradise Lost when Satan is cast out of heaven and has to recreate himself “And understand not grateful mind by owing owes not, but still pays, at once indebted and discharged; what burden then.”(Paradise Lost, 4.55-57), It may seem that Satan is saying that debt is a part of being the created, however because Satan has his paid his debt to God with his life in heaven, Satan has no debt to repay, making him free and truly his own creator. This can be seen in Pip’s life, as his parents are dead, making Pip no longer in debt to them, verifying himself as a creator.
Although Pip declares himself self-created, he at this moment in the novel is far too young to really be his own creator.

So, by Joe marrying Pip’s sister Joe proclaims himself as Pip’s creator, by asking his new wife if Pip can stay with them. “And bring the poor little child, God bless the poor little child,”(Great Expectations, 44) Because Joe is calling himself Pip’s new creator, he thereby gains the position that Pip;s parents were once in, making Pip in debt to Joe for saving his life. On the other hand Joe could be keeping Pip as a token of innocence, as Pip is still innocent, therefore Joe’s adoption of Pip gives Joe back innocence he had long ago. This can relate to the Gospel of Matthew, when Jesus says, “Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”(Matthew, 18:3-4). Jesus is saying that if you yield, and protect an innocent child, like Pip, then there is great glory, and a place for you in heaven. Joe exemplifies this as he saves Pip, reserving glory for

himself.
Though Joe is the proclaimed creator of Pip, when Joe says, “It ain’t that I am proud, but I want to be right, […] I’m wrong in these clothes. I’m wrong out of the forge,”(Great Expectations, 205) Joe is admitting to being on a lower class level than Pip and that he can’t keep up with him. Further more Joe admits his creation to be free and that Joe has raised his creation successfully. This concept can relate to when Karl Marx said, “The bourgeoisie has torn away from the family its sentimental veil, and has reduced the family relation into a mere money relation.”(Marx, 3) What Marx is saying is that because Pip is a bourgeoisie gentleman, it gives him the right to leave his family and strip them of their sentimental veil. However, it isn’t Pip that has done this, but Joe. In Joe’s attempt to look out for his creation, he has stripped himself of the sentimental veil with Pip for Pip in order to protect him from doing just that. Thereby Joe has sacrificed Pip’s sentimental value of Joe so Pip can become a more successful bourgeoisie gentleman.
Pip grows up under Joe’s care much like a son grows up under the care of his father. However Joe and Pip are more that, and when Joe says in a letter to Pip, “Not wishful to intrude I have departed fur you are well again dear Pip and will do better without […] P.S. Ever the best of friends.” (Great Expectations, 431). Joe starts the letter by showing affection and caring for Pip and seems to show the father-son relationship, however he when he signs off, he lets Pip know that Pip is no longer a bourgeoisie gentleman, as Pip is better than that, and Joe has forgotten about class and is embracing the chance to get Pip back and become his equal. So, Pip mentally leaves behind his high class all to become an equal with Joe as both of them are creators of their new equal relationship.