Weather

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade." (e-text)

Throughout Great Expectations Dickens refrences Shakespeare multiple times. However, one connection between the different pieces of literature is maybe a little more hidden to readers - weather. In Great Expectations, the weather is hardly ever sunny. Dickens uses weather to set the tone for his novel by connecting bad and stormy weather with intense events. This can easily be connected to Shakespeare's Macbeth.For example whenever the witches appear in the play booming thunder and frightening lightning always accompanies them.

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1400/1400-8.txt

"SparkNotes: Macbeth: Themes, Motifs & Symbols." SparkNotes: Today's Most Popular Study Guides. Web. 24 Jan. 2010. .

Allusion (2)

“Her face looked to me as if it were all disturbed by fiery air, like the faces I had seen rise out of the Witches’ cauldron.” (201)

Throughout Great Expectations, Dickens makes many references to Shakespeare. The reference to Macbeth is used so readers can make a connection to another and familiar piece of literature. In Macbeth, Lady Macbeth murders Duncan and then is forced to face serious guilt. This can be connected to Pip's feelings of guilt when he chooses to leave Joe and Biddy.

Miss Havisham/The Satis House

“I strolled round by Satis House. . .” (449)

At a first glance, one would think that the Satis House was merely a representation of upper class. However, this house more greatly represents death. In the house, all the clocks are stopped - this is Miss Havisham's attempt to freeze time. Although the clocks never move, time still elapses symbolizing that time waits for no one. The wedding feast and wedding dress are a representation of being stuck in the past. Dickens includes this to show reader's the importance of memories but also the greater importance of living life in the moment.

Mrs. Joe

"Mrs. Joe was a very clean housekeeper, but had an exquisite art of making her cleanliness more uncomfortable and unacceptable than dirt itself."

Growing up without a mother and father, Pip is raised by his sister, "Mrs. Joe" and her husband. Charles Dickens developes Mrs. Joe into a stern character radiating with a quality that makes a lot of other characters uneasy. Although she is completely harsh and cold towards Pip, she brags to others about how she was able to raise Pip all by herself. However, although they do live under the same roof, she does not raise Pip - Joe does. Moments before her death, she reflects back on her life, and realizes how poorly she treated Joe and Pip. She then decides to apologize although it is their decision whether or not to except.

"Google Image Result for http://www.victorianweb.org/art/illustration/mclenan/6.jpg." Google Images. Web. 20 Jan. 2010. .

Estella, Star

". . . and in all the broad expanse of tranquil light they showed to me, I saw the shadow of no parting from her." (479)

Like many other great authors, Charles Dickens uses lightness and darkness as powerful representation. In Great Expectations, lightness is represented in a unique way. Estella, meaning star, is the name of the beautiful women that Pip is in love with. Estella's radiant beauty contrasts with all of the negative events going on around Pip - lack of a traditional family, insecurity and near death experiences.

"Estella - meaning of Estella name." Baby Names | Name Meanings | Baby Boy Names, Baby Girl Names. Web. 19 Jan. 2010. .

The Mist

"The mist was heavier yet...and a flourish of his tail." (15)

In Great Expectations Charles Dickens uses the mist of the marshes to represent mystery as well as danger. Pip has a handful of dangerous encounters in "the mist" which gives it an extremely negative connotation. An example of one experience that takes place in the mist is when Pip is almost murdered. Ever since Pip was a child Joe's day worker, Doldge Orlick was always harassing Pip. However, later on in life the harassment developed into attempted murder. Although no one was killed, Pip's sister, Mrs. Joe, was forced to face serious trauma and became a mute.

"Google Image Result for http://www.nps.gov/mwr/pgallerycontent/p/l/20080918141117.jpg." Google Images. Web. 19 Jan. 2010. .

Parenthood

"We were equals afterwards, as we had been before; but, afterwards at quiet times when I sat looking at Joe and thinking about him, I had a new sensation of feeling conscious that I was looking up to Joe in my heart." (56)

As I child, Pip was faced to grow up faster than other children his age. Having to grow up without his real parents, Pip was forced to face struggles that others would never have to deal with. Being raised by his sister and brother-in-law, he did not get as much loving as he would of from a mother and father. However, Joe, Pip's brother-in-law, worked to give Pip the attention and loving that he deserved as a child. Charles Dickens shows that despite Pip's mood swings and immaturity, Joe always stayed loyal to him, and may have been the only person who was always "true" to Pip.

"Google Image Result for http://www.victorianweb.org/art/illustration/mclenan/19.jpg." Google Images. Web. 15 Jan. 2010. .