Introduction
The novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens portrays the protagonist, Pip. Who encounters different people in their life that shape their personality? In particular, Miss Havisham and Abel Magwitch have a significant impact on the main character, serving as parental figures for him. However, this paper argues that, despite this similarity, Miss Havisham weakened Pip’s character and complicated his life, while Able Magwitch empowered him.
Comparison of the Characters’ Impact on Pip
Miss Havisham
Indeed, the similarity between these two characters’ impact on Pip is that they were both older, more experienced individuals who played significant roles in his upbringing. Nonetheless, their ultimate impact on the main character differed significantly, determined by their personality traits and attitudes toward life, particularly Pip’s. Indeed, Miss Havisham’s impact is hostile and derogatory, as evidenced by her attitude toward Pip, particularly in her dismissal of his relationship with Estella. For example, when Miss Havisham said that Estella had gone away and Pip had lost her, “there was such a malignant enjoyment in her utterance of the last words,” and a loud laugh (Dickens 64). This episode demonstrates that she wanted Pip’s humiliation and failure because she viewed him merely as one of many men she despised.
Able Magwitch
As for Able Magwitch’s impact on Pip, it is overall positive compared to that demonstrated by Miss Havisham. Although he was a convict, Magwitch was kind to Pip; he imparted valuable life lessons on how to behave and how to survive, among other things. He significantly impacted Pip’s upbringing, which ultimately shaped his behavior as a gentleman (Dickens 247). Furthermore, Pip appreciates his kind attitude, which is demonstrated in his words to Magwitch, namely, “I will never stir from your side” (Dickens 247).
Conclusion
Conclusively, despite primarily playing parental roles, Miss Havisham and Able Magwitch had both discouraging and empowering impacts on Pip.
Work Cited
Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. Chapman & Hall, 1897.