Benjamin Franklin in his Autobiography Essay

Similar to Benjamin Franklin in his Autobiography and Frederick Douglass in his Narrative, spotlight in Great Expectations in any case demonstrates the send-off boyhood to manhood narrative. Each story recounts a journey of growth and development, of growth and self-discovery through experience. In addition, the protagonist of each smart has a part which directs his actions and decisions throughout the course of his journey.However, one fundamental difference exists mingled with the deuce historical characters and the fictitious Pip-while Franklin and Douglass both strive for substantiveistic and self-improving goals, Pip, like his notional character, entertains an idealistic imagine. Pip desires to leave his former fond class as a third estate boy and advance in life as a gentleman. This idealism quickly swallows Pip and becomes both the thematic revolve about of the novel and the psychological mechanism that encourages much of Pips development.Ironically, more inst ances in the novel show that the symbolic representations and figures of the stiff class that Pip idolizes argon in fact his greatest tormenters. From their unfavorable effects on Pip such as ab social occasion, pain, and un gaiety, manifests the idea that social stand does not bound ones pleasure and substantially cosmos, and most importantly, ones self worth. Even before Pip becomes a member of the wealthy class, his mere exposure to it initiates a procession of pain brought about by visible, verbal, and emotional abuse.Miss Havisham, de go against her eccentricity, represents the class, wealth, and advancement that direct Pips actions and emotions for a large portion of the novel. Upon hearing about Miss Havishams desire to see Pip, Mrs. Joe pounced upon Pip, like an eagle on a lamb, and my impudence was squeezed into wooden bowls in sinks, and my head was put under lights-out of water-butts, and I was thumped and rasped, until I satisfyingly was quite beside myself (52 ). Dickens clever use of violent rhetoric such as pounced, squeezed, and rasped and the metaphor, like an eagle on a lamb paints an unpleasant predator-to-victim photo in the referees mind.Mrs. Joes ecstatic reaction over the idea of Pips opportunity to befriend the wealthy class makes this scene the novels first hint of social advancement that depart later consume Pips life. Consequently, Mrs. Joe becomes the first instrument of the upper class to confabulate pain on Pip, carried out by the violent and painful can. The physical abuse Pip outwears here, so early in his childhood, also foreshadows the wretchedness and pain he will later encounter among the upper classes. Moreover, shutdget the scene with my ablutions were completed (53) presents a resemblance between the simple bath and a ritual cleansing.The word ablution is most often associated with biblical allegories where priests were demand to cleanse themselves before approaching the altar of God. Dickens word prize h ere seems to imply that Pips violent bath was needful not only in cleansing him, but ridding him of the soil from his putting surface life that might taint those in higher places. This bath scene serves as the novels first subtle but significant example that involvement with the upper class does not determine well being.The pain Pip endures from his first exposure to the upper class alerts the reader that an apparently positive development in his life (Miss Havishams invitation to her world) may have results to the contrary. Apart from physical abuse and torment, Pips first interactions with the wealthy class also cause him to suffer emotionally. The general magnificence and grandeur of Satis phratry exists not only as a symbol of the lives of the upper class, but as a symbol of Pips romantic perception of the upper class as well.In this aspect, it is also a source of misery for Pip and he realizes, daylight neer entered Satis House and under its influence I continued at hear t to detest my trade and to be ashamed of home (125). The ornate grandeur of Satis House has raised in Pip a new consciousness of his own low birth and green bearings. After his first visit, he even so lies about his experience there, unwilling to sully his thoughts of it with the contrasting plainness of his each day world, for it must remain far above the level of common doings (72).Pips first visit to Satis House is a momentous event in his life. It raises in Pip an awareness of social contrast, robs him of his youthful innocence and sense of fulfillment and thus, further exemplifies the misery that is inherently linked with representations of the upper class. With the introduction of Miss Havisham and Satis House, the character Estella moves to the forefront of the novel as the ultimate symbol of Pips unattainable dream in Great Expectations, and the greatest cause of his sufferings.Ironically, Estellas condescension and spite matches Pips feelings about himself in the world of Satis House. He accepts her condescension, Why, he is a nothing but a common laboring-boy (60), without defending himself because he idealizes Estella and sorrowfully believes her to be right. This is particularly evident during times when the difference between their social classes manifest itself in the smallest things, I had never thought of being ashamed of my hands before her contempt was so strong, that it became infectious, and I caught it (60).Moreover, Estella systematically refers to Pip as Mr. Pumblechooks boy (58), silly boy (266), or simply boy, using any word but his real name. This is a form of verbal abuse because it ultimately degrades Pip to a gender with no unique identity. Estella practices a deliberate cruelty on Pip that wins his deepest love and causes him to develop a passionate but nonreciprocal devotion for her. This is one of the harshest examples of the pain and torment Pip must endure as he interacts with the upper class.Through these accounts, it becomes evident that social standing and wealth does not always determine well being. In fact, it may accomplish just the opposite-physical pain, emotional disturbance, and misery from the knowledge of ones common bearings. Even when Pip becomes a gentleman and is received by society, there is a sharp decline in his confidence and happiness that accompanies this rise in social status. Pips unofficial admission into the world of a wealthy gentleman can be tag as the event where he put on a real gentleman suit.Interestingly, Pip describes, after this memorable event I snarl rather like Mother Hubbards dog (152). While a notable occasion such as this would have naturally allowed for happiness and celebration, Pip instead compares his elevated social standing to a common animal of a childrens poem. The demeaning effect of the suit, versus its mean dignifying effect, not only foreshadows the unsatisfactory life Pip will lead as a gentleman, but poses further doubt on the hopes and i deals Pip holds of the wealthy class.