Likeness

The picture I have chosen is of a plant sprouting out of ones hands.

In the first two parts of the novel, Pip has grown and developed from a small boy full of potential and life, with an unknown plant ready to bloom,  into a young man whos life is primarily set.

A seed is a capsule of life. Unplanted, it can be moved anywhere until a location is chosen for it. From there it may sprout in to a beautiful orchid or perhaps a rose, beautiful on the outside but leathal upon inspection of its thorns, or maybe a thistle, ugly, dangerous and avoided. Until planted we may not know what will come of this seed. 

Once sprouted the identity begins to unfold.

In the particular picture I chose, the sprout was growing out of ones hands.

In the novel, Pip begins as a young boy, much like a seed, unset life ready to sprout and blossom. When the beginnings of a plant start to form they are dependant and manipulated by the hands in which they are growing. As the plant grows larger, it's roots begin to wind and creep through the fingers of its holder, reaching out and searching for its own ground. The plant grows larger and becomes a heavy weight for the hands to hold and at last is free to grow in its own peice of soil, ready to determine its own life. As the novel progresses, stems turn into branches and a complex tree of life emerges. This tree is the older Pip, forever living with the manipulations of his childhood.

Many times looking back, Pip regrets ever being brought to Miss Havishams, ever being ridiculed by Estella and becoming ashamed of his home. He wishes that he had grown ignorant and became a happy idiot pursay. Happy with being a poor blacksmith. But now his roots are set in riches. These riches however are self consious and ashamed of the seed that was planted orriginally in the soil of commonality.

Great Expectations vs Jane Eyre

Great Expectationas and Jane Eyre may seem very different in some aspects but in others are very similar. For instance, even tho Jane Eyre is much a romance and Great Expectations is not, they are both gothic, mysterious, coming of age stories. Both start by looking at a young child and watching them progress through life. Both resolve partly in that some person reuniting with they're love. Also, both stories display a foundation common in works from the 1800s, a look at social class and differences. Subsequently, although they may be displayed differently, the two books deal with motifs of contrast. In Jane Eyre it is "fire and ice" pursay. In Great Expectaions it is contrast simply between characters, setting, ideas, or experiences. Both novels depict the protagonist's search for the meaning of life and the nature of the world within the context of a defined social order.   In essence, the two novels encompass the all-around self-development of the main characters, by employing similar techniques.   Each tells of a protagonist on their journey that is introduced to some form of loss or discontent which then results in the main character departing their home or family setting.   In both Great Expectations and Jane Eyre the process of maturity is long, tedious, and gradual. Aside from plot and detail, both books are written in the first person, the protagonist writing about themself and they're life which alows the reader to develope a strong idea of the character and develope this idea throughout the novel.

On this specific cover of Jane Eyre, a budding rose is shown. A common symbol in Great Expectations is a comparison between a plant and life. In both cases, the rose is a symbol for coming of age.

Starting Second Stage

In the second stage of Great Expectations Pips character developes through his interactions and experiences in london. He meets many new poeple and sees many new things. He is exposed to a highly 'overrated' city and is dissapointed by the results. Some people he meets are: th whole pocket family and household, Mr. Jaggers's 4 clerks particuarily Wemmick, along with the aged man. The Pocket parents, Ma and Pa, are contrasting much like Joe and Mrs. Joe. Ma seems to have lost hold of reality where as Pa has more of a level head and can tell right from wrong.

These experiences develope Pip's character to become even more stuck up and un-lovable. His character has gone from an adorable innocent child to an exposed annoying young man. Pip is goggled over by Mr. Pocket much like he was by Mr. Pumblechook after discovering Pip's newly found wealth and 'gentlemanly' stature. Wemmick, however, is nice to Pip but does not have any alterior motives so this is probably good for Pip's character.

Seeds and Chains

Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.

This quote basically says that life is a long chain of links representing days. Iron and thorns represent bad memories and experiences. Gold and flowers are lovely. This analogy goes deeper to say that you are free of this chain and all of life’s experiences until you allow it to tether you and take over due to one experience or link. This experience starts the chain that determines the rest of your life and decides whether you will be draped with gold or entrapped with iron, garnished with flowers or eternally pierced by thorns. In Pip’s case he has become ashamed of Joe and has changed his mind about wanting to learn the blacksmith trade due to the remarks of Miss Havisham and Estella. In chapters 1-9 of the book, Pip had a very close developed relation ship with Joe. It wasn’t until his encounters with Miss Havisham and Estella in chapter 9 that changed his outlook through chapters 10-16 and forthly the rest of the book. He now finds Joe to be common and the trade to be shameful. This takes away Pip’s ignorant innocence that the reader come to love and strains the relationship between Pip and the reader.

When I was young, a seed started forming that soon sprouted into a flower that started and golden chain to the rest of my life. When I was only 2 years old I saw a documentary on gymnastics. Two year olds and documentaries don’t see to mix to well but this one seemed to have an impact. From that day forward I was a gymnast. When my parents realized that this was not just a phase they stuck me in a little kinder class and watched me learn discipline, patience, teamwork and dedication that came with me even when I left the gym and has made me the person I am today. Sometimes I wonder if my parents hadn’t happened to put on that show, if I hadn’t happened to be in the room, if I hadn’t happened to watch, I wonder if that first link would have formed, I wonder if I would be who I am today.

I must also add a hidden aspect to this particular quote. The two annalogies that Dickens deciceded to you happened to be that of chains and plants or seeds. Both, reaccuring motifs and symbols in the book.