19. Great Expectations (pg. 482): “A cold silvery mist had veiled the afternoon, and the moon was not yet up to scatter it. But, the stars were shining beyond the mist, and the moon was coming, and the evening was not dark...”:
In this passage, Dickens speaks of the moon scattering the mist. Dickens uses these words in a metaphorical sense. Mist stops one from seeing. However, the moon will clear the mist that night; the stars will be shinning. Pip and Estella will find each other. In these writings, the symbolism of the mist, the moon, the stars, and the evening that "was not dark" all lead the reader to feel that though things have been uncertain for Pip throughout the story, things are to clear up for him. Dickens begins to conclude his book on a happy note. Pip’s confusion will be cleared, and his desires will be met tonight. According to David Purdue, Dickens Great Expectations had an unhappy ending at first. Estella married another man, and she and Pip went their separate ways. Dickens was advised to change his ending to make the story more popular with readers.
Purdue, David. “Great Expectations.” David Purdue’s Charles Dickens Page. 1997-2009. 29 December 2009.
http://charlesdickenspage.com/expectations.html
“Symbolism in Literature.” Scribd. 10 September 2008. 29 December 2009.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/6472314/Symbolism-in-Literature.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
18. Expectations (pg.416)
18. Expectations (pg.416): “But, there was recompense in the joy with which Herbert would come home of a night and tell me of these changes, little imagining that he told me no news, and would sketch airy pictures of himself conducting Clara Barley to the land of the Arabian Nights, and of me going out to join them (with a caravan of camels, I believe), and of our all going up the Nile and seeing wonders.”:
In this passage, Dickens writes of Herbert's wishes to take Clara to the land of Arabian Nights. This is a reference to the Middle East (mainly Egypt and Arabia). The Middle East, in this time, was a mysterious place. Herbert speaks of living with camels and traveling up the Nile River to see all of the wonders. The Arabian Nights are also adventure stories. Dickens makes this reference to show that while Herbert still dreams of adventure and does not see reality clearly, Pip is now being forced to face the reality of his life.
“The Thousand and One Nights.” Encyclopædia Britannica. 2010. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 29 December 2009. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/593514/The-Thousand-and-One-Nights.
In this passage, Dickens writes of Herbert's wishes to take Clara to the land of Arabian Nights. This is a reference to the Middle East (mainly Egypt and Arabia). The Middle East, in this time, was a mysterious place. Herbert speaks of living with camels and traveling up the Nile River to see all of the wonders. The Arabian Nights are also adventure stories. Dickens makes this reference to show that while Herbert still dreams of adventure and does not see reality clearly, Pip is now being forced to face the reality of his life.
“The Thousand and One Nights.” Encyclopædia Britannica. 2010. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 29 December 2009. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/593514/The-Thousand-and-One-Nights.
17. Great Expectations (pg. 324)
17. Great Expectations (pg. 324): “... the fire was dead, and the wind and rain intensified the thick black darkness.”:
Dickens word choice in this section uses imagery and is also symbolic. The bleak imagery of the dead fire and the storm and darkness reflect Pip’s feelings. Pip is sad, and he feels lost now that he knows who his benefactor is. He had been certain that Miss Havisham was the one who had been helping him. Dickens finishes the second part of the book with this gloomy imagery. Pip’s sister is dead. He feels lost. All is black, dark, and stormy in his life. When the storm passes, we will find out how Pip will deal with things. Great Expectations was written in installments. This ending also served as a way to get the reader to keep looking for the next installment to find out what eventually happens.
Allingham, Phillip V. “An Introduction to Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations.” 31 July 2004. 29 December 2009. http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/ge/pva10.html.
“Symbolism in Literature.” Scribd. 10 September 2008. 29 December 2009.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/6472314/Symbolism-in-Literature. gentleman.
Dickens word choice in this section uses imagery and is also symbolic. The bleak imagery of the dead fire and the storm and darkness reflect Pip’s feelings. Pip is sad, and he feels lost now that he knows who his benefactor is. He had been certain that Miss Havisham was the one who had been helping him. Dickens finishes the second part of the book with this gloomy imagery. Pip’s sister is dead. He feels lost. All is black, dark, and stormy in his life. When the storm passes, we will find out how Pip will deal with things. Great Expectations was written in installments. This ending also served as a way to get the reader to keep looking for the next installment to find out what eventually happens.
Allingham, Phillip V. “An Introduction to Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations.” 31 July 2004. 29 December 2009. http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/ge/pva10.html.
“Symbolism in Literature.” Scribd. 10 September 2008. 29 December 2009.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/6472314/Symbolism-in-Literature. gentleman.
16. Great Expectations (pg. 285)
16. Great Expectations (pg. 285): “Once more, the mists were rising as I walked away.”:
Dickens uses mist to foreshadow that fact that “Biddy was quite right;” Pip will probably not come back to visit soon. Mist stops one from having clear sight of things and shows something that is separate. Dickens portrays Pip to now understand the fact that he has been treating Joe and Biddy badly. Dickens shows the reader that Pip is remorseful, but he still will not make good on his promise to visit. Pip is isolated but it is because of his own choices. Furthermore, this quote is near the end of the second stage of Pip’s Expectations. Dickens is drawing a conclusion, and beginning to shift Pip into the third stage of Expectations. By using mist, Dickens also is using imagery to create a dismal tone. Pip does not realize what is ahead of him and what he will learn about the origin of his expectations in the next section. (Dickens used mist was used symbolically at the end of each of the three sections in Great Expectations.)
“Symbolism in Literature.” Scribd. 10 September 2008. 29 December 2009.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/6472314/Symbolism-in-Literature.
Dickens uses mist to foreshadow that fact that “Biddy was quite right;” Pip will probably not come back to visit soon. Mist stops one from having clear sight of things and shows something that is separate. Dickens portrays Pip to now understand the fact that he has been treating Joe and Biddy badly. Dickens shows the reader that Pip is remorseful, but he still will not make good on his promise to visit. Pip is isolated but it is because of his own choices. Furthermore, this quote is near the end of the second stage of Pip’s Expectations. Dickens is drawing a conclusion, and beginning to shift Pip into the third stage of Expectations. By using mist, Dickens also is using imagery to create a dismal tone. Pip does not realize what is ahead of him and what he will learn about the origin of his expectations in the next section. (Dickens used mist was used symbolically at the end of each of the three sections in Great Expectations.)
“Symbolism in Literature.” Scribd. 10 September 2008. 29 December 2009.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/6472314/Symbolism-in-Literature.
15. Great Expectations (pg.212)
15. Great Expectations (pg.212): “... but I know that I had been to see Macbeth at the theatre, a night or two before, and that 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’ caldron.”:
Dickens uses a reference to Shakespeare's Macbeth to describe Molly, the housekeeper. The witches in Macbeth foreshadow the tragic events that will take place throughout the play. By describing Molly in this creepy way, Dickens creates a tone of suspense, agitation, and wariness for the dinner group. Because of his work, Mr. Jaggers is often surrounded by people who are criminals. One is not sure what the housekeeper might do or has done.
Dickens uses a reference to Shakespeare's Macbeth to describe Molly, the housekeeper. The witches in Macbeth foreshadow the tragic events that will take place throughout the play. By describing Molly in this creepy way, Dickens creates a tone of suspense, agitation, and wariness for the dinner group. Because of his work, Mr. Jaggers is often surrounded by people who are criminals. One is not sure what the housekeeper might do or has done.
14. Great Expectations (pg.206)
14. Great Expectations (pg.206): “‘At nine o'clock every night, Greenwich time,’ said Wemmick, ‘the gun fires. There he is, you see! And when you hear him go, I think you'll say he's a Stinger.’”:
Greenwich, England is the "zero point" or prime meridian and determines the worldwide system of time zone and latitude. A Stinger is a person who “stings” by insults. However, it also means “a highball of whiskey and soda” in informal British language. Wemmick is referencing the firing of the gun as being something unique that he created that is memorable to watch. Dickens makes the reference to Greenwich time to tell the reader that the gun fires precisely at nine everyday as measured by the time in Greenwich, England. Dickens develops Wemmick’s character by beginning to show us the great contrast between where Wemmick lives and what he has created and cares for and where he works.
“Greenwich 2000.” Greenwichmeantime.com. 15 December 2008. 27 December 2009. http://wwp.greenwich2000.com/
“Stinger.” Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 02 Jan. 2010..
Greenwich, England is the "zero point" or prime meridian and determines the worldwide system of time zone and latitude. A Stinger is a person who “stings” by insults. However, it also means “a highball of whiskey and soda” in informal British language. Wemmick is referencing the firing of the gun as being something unique that he created that is memorable to watch. Dickens makes the reference to Greenwich time to tell the reader that the gun fires precisely at nine everyday as measured by the time in Greenwich, England. Dickens develops Wemmick’s character by beginning to show us the great contrast between where Wemmick lives and what he has created and cares for and where he works.
“Greenwich 2000.” Greenwichmeantime.com. 15 December 2008. 27 December 2009. http://wwp.greenwich2000.com/
“Stinger.” Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 02 Jan. 2010.
13. Great Expectations (pg.176)
13. Great Expectations (pg.176): “Pooh!” said he, “I didn't care much for it. She's a Tartar.”:
A Tartar was a member of one of the many tribes of followers of Genghis Khan. Dickens makes this reference to illustrate Estella's hardness and savage behavior and to show Herbert Pocket’s dislike of Estella. Herbert’s expression also serves to emphasize Pip’s constant adoration of Estella despite all advice to the contrary from people that he respects.
“Tartar.” The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 02 Jan. 2010..
ferocious or violent tempered person
A Tartar was a member of one of the many tribes of followers of Genghis Khan. Dickens makes this reference to illustrate Estella's hardness and savage behavior and to show Herbert Pocket’s dislike of Estella. Herbert’s expression also serves to emphasize Pip’s constant adoration of Estella despite all advice to the contrary from people that he respects.
“Tartar.” The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 02 Jan. 2010.
ferocious or violent tempered person
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