Herbert in Great Expectations

The only real gentleman in Great Expectations is Herbert. Write an

essay arguing either for or against this point of view using quotations

to support your arguments.

The only real gentleman in Great Expectations is Herbert. Write an

essay arguing either for or against this point of view using

quotations to support your arguments. You should look at other

characters, for example, Pip, Joe, Drummle and Compeyson. You will

need to define exactly what you think is meant by a 'gentleman'.

Throughout Great Expectations, the author, Charles Dickens, makes a

point of focussing on 'gentlemen', in particular, Herbert Pocket, Pip

Pirrip, Bentley Drummle, Compeyson, and Joe Gargery. He shows his

personal opinion on the subject, namely that money does not

necessarily make a gentleman. The dictionary defines a gentleman as

being a man on honourable and kindly behaviour and of good social

position. In this essay, I shall be arguing the point that Herbert is

the only true gentleman in the dictionary sense of the word.

Herbert Pocket is one of the children of Mr. Matthew Pocket and his

wife Camilla. His father is a private tutor, and his mother comes from

a well-bred family. They are impoverished aristocrats and do not have

much money. Despite this, Herbert has been well brought up. In the

book, our first encounter with Herbert is during Pip's second visit to

the home of Miss. Havisham, Satis House. He is referred to as the

"pale young gentleman". Before he and Pip fight just after their first

meeting, Herbert said, "I ought to give you a reason for fighting."

This is an example of good manners and is an example of gentlemanly

behaviour. Even after been defeated by Pip during the fight, he says

"it will be magnani...

... middle of paper ...

...ing his time living with

Herbert, Pip learns from him and evolves into a more gentlemanly

figure, although he still lacks certain things. When Magwitch arrives,

Pip plans for him to leave the country, putting his own life at risk.

Pip also sets Herbert up in business, without his knowledge. At the

end, after losing Magwitch's money, he is quite content in moving back

to the forge to live with Joe. These three things show that Pip has

completed his personal evolution from a simple country by into a

gentleman.

Herbert, throughout the entire book, has been a gentleman, whilst Pip

has grown up to become a gentleman throughout the whole course of this

book. Joe has the morals of a gentleman, yet lacks status and money,

while the opposite is true for Drummle and Compeyson, they have status

and money, yet they lack the morals needed to become a true gentleman.