The Importance of Chapter 8 in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

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The Importance of Chapter 8 in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

'Great Expectations' is a bildungsroman written by Charles Dickens in

1860, about a young boy called Pip. Great Expectations is about how

Pip learns the way of life and the road to being a gentleman. Pip gets

into debt and receives money from a childhood acquaintance - Magwitch,

an escaped convict. During the novel we not only see Pip's life we

also follow the life of his love, Estella. After falling into debt and

running away from the consequences of his reckless actions, Pip

realises that he can no longer be a real gentleman.

A lot of the experiences depicted in Great Expectations are taken from

Dickens' own life. For example, when Dickens was a young boy, his

father wasn't as much a gentleman as he tried to meet up to the

standards but couldn't. This is shown in Great Expectations, as we see

Pip embellish into a gentleman, but can't keep up with the gentleman's

way of life.

Pip life prior to Chapter 8 is lonely. Pip only has one friend and

that is Biddy. She teaches Pip, as he cannot afford to attend School.

We see Pips sister, who is a bossy person and her husband, Joe, who is

not able to read or write, and therefore Pip teaches him as well.

Pip's sister is very strict with him and keeps reminding him everyday

that-"I bought you up by hand." She always conveys this because after

Pip's Sister and his Mum and Dad died she had to bring Pip up by

herself from him being a small baby.

Pip's initial impressions of Satis House are somewhat disturbing to

his personal welfare. As Pip walks into the side entrance of Satis

House, the passages are all dark and a burning candle is left standing

there. As Pip and Estella reach the door of a room, Pip says "After

you Miss" and Estella replies "Don't be ridiculous boy, I'm not going

in" This makes Pip very intimidated before entering the room where

Miss.

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