Theme Of Coming Of Age In Great Expectations

The theme of “coming of age” is common in many novels and medias, especially those directed towards youth. A novel with such a theme is generally about a young person’s journey from childhood into adulthood and trying to navigate their way into society. In Fifth Business by Robertson Davies, and Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, the theme of coming of age is ubiquitous throughout both novels. Therefore, the theme of coming of age is demonstrated in the characters Percy (Boy) Staunton and Pip Pirrip in their journey towards self-improvement, their discovery of their personal values and moral, as well as their acceptance into society.

Firstly, the characters’ strive towards self-improvement is a key element in both novels, which in turn,

Evidence of this is shown in regards to Boy when he tries relentlessly to improve his wife Leola. Dunstan says, “Boy Staunton was also distinguishing himself as an educator. He was educating Leola … He wanted to make her into the prefect wife for a rising young entrepreneur in sugar, … [she] had acquired a sufficient command of cliché to be able to talk smartly about anything Boy’s friends were likely to know, and adored Boy, while fearing him a little.” (117-118). This shows that he believes that he has to have the perfect image to be accepted into the high class society of wealth and reputation, and will even go the extreme of trying to improve his wife by educating her in skills and knowledge associated with such a station in the social order. Likewise in Great Expectations, he reader sees Pip’s acceptance into society when he visits the common village of his birth. Pip narrates, “It was interesting to be in the quiet old town once more, and it was not disagreeable to be here and there suddenly recognized and stared after. One or two of the tradespeople even darted out of their shops and went a little way down the street before me … my position was a distinguished one, and I was not at all dissatisfied with it … ”(Dickens 742). This displays the high social status that Pip has now achieved, originally born into an underprivileged, working class family. Furthermore,

Boy Staunton has great ambition and works on his mannerisms and Pip tries to expand his knowledge and better his education to advance in society. Moreover, in regards to each individual’s development in their personal morals and values, Pip learns the importance of family and love above any measure of wealth and social standing, whereas Boy does not, and results in him dying unhappy and alone. Boy believes that to be accepted intro a high class society, he must improve his wife by educating her to complement himself perfectly, a rising wealthy businessman. Moreover, Pip is happy with his acceptance into the upper class society that comes with being an educated gentleman. As the two men age, their true identity is revealed ending in two very different conclusions. These two coming of age novels prove to the reader that formal education will not always end in maturity, but it is experience and realization of one’s faults and mistakes that result in a mature, wise