Great Expectations is a book written by Charles Dickens set in the Victorian times in

London. It contains many different elements. There is the element of moral principles, which
were often violated. Great Expectations also exhibits elements of a fairy tale in the character
types and themes that are presented. Finally, Great Expectations is a bildungsroman, or a coming
of age story.
There are a set of principles that define a person and what type of person they are and
what they want to be, These principles are known as the six pillars of character, they include;
Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. These principles
define what it is to be perceived as morally and ethically competent. Characters from Great
Expectations range from being morally and ethically amicable and performing great deeds and at
times being uncivil and crude performing malicious acts. The main character varied on the moral
principles there are a few that are worth highlighting.
Miss Havisham, a caring but odd divorcee to befriending Pip at first was indeed the
opposite, turning cruel and untrustworthy hidden by her radical exterior. Miss Havisham was
coaxing Pip into believing that he was meant for great things but all of it was just a front, setting
him up to have Estella crush his heart and destroy his dreams. This kind of behavior is the polar
opposite of what a competent person who has control of their emotions would act like. Miss
Havisham viciously conformed Estella to what she desired her to be, a heartless destroyer of
men. She took in an orphan and turned her into a weapon to exact her revenge, practically
ruining her life and leaving an imprint on Estella for the rest of her days. All of these actions go
against what the six principles say one should abide by and what makes you a person an
adequate person of moral standards.

Pip was a model of the six principles, caring to all that he passed. Even though Pip was
raised in a ruthless home full of resentment and abuse he grew up to be a gentleman. Pip, given
very little opportunity to thrive in his household, certainly was not shown any kindness except by
his uncle, which may have been the reason he turned out so exempt. He strived to be like Mr.
Gargery, embodying all the six principles. He never gave up being a great and honorable person.
Even when all was lost and he had no money he still respected others and used the last of his
fortune to bury Magwich who had done so much for him. He never lowered his morals to
accomplish something and created a personality that most would strive for.
Finally, Mrs. Gargery, Pip's sister. After their parents died she took Pip in, becoming his
guardian and taking care of him. Although she did take care of him, she wasnt caring.
Resentment for Pip grew in her heart; Pip was a burden to her. She beat and abused him, wanting
to get rid of him and not have to deal with him anymore. She was hoping Mrs. Havisham would
take him in and relieve her of her job as "guardian." These morals are unaligning to the
principles of character. She was a cruel woman that cared about the public's opinion and money
more than her family's well-being and wanted to be rich more than have a good family. She
embraced none of the principles and was in many instances a horrible person.
There are many ways Great Expectations resembles a fairy tale, such as its themes and
characters. Most characters in the book have characteristics that reflect the characteristics found
in fairy tale characters. Miss Havisham plays the role of fairy godmother in the beginning, as she
appears to be the one who will help Pip. Later on, she becomes the wicked witch, when her true
identity and motives come to light. Another witch-like character is Mrs. Gargery, who was cruel
to Pip as a child. Estella is the princess of the story. At first she comes across as mean and coldhearted, but over time she becomes pitied because she is the product of being raised by a "witch",

Miss Havisham. Pip believes he can be a prince charming of sorts, and rescue Estella from Miss
Havisham and live a happy life with her. Magwitch represents the ogre one would see in a fairy
tale, with his grotesque appearance and criminal background. Joe Gargery is the loyal character
that will always be faithful to Pip. He is the type of character that will always put others before
himself because he is always aiming to please.
Great Expectations contains fairy tale themes, such as poor people receiving riches, love,
impressions, and moral lessons. Pip is expected to receive riches when he becomes a certain age.
Pip believes that Miss Havisham was his benefactor, but later on he learns that it was really
Magwitch. Pip falling in love with Estella is another theme in Great Expectations that is
common in fairy tales. The impression is given that Pip has fallen in love with someone who is
almost impossible for him to actually marry. Miss Havisham purposely made Pip fall in love
with Estella so that his heart will be broken and he'll feel worthless. The first impression of
Jaggers is another theme. It teaches that looks can be deceiving and one shouldn't always judge
from first impressions. Jaggers is made out to be a mean person, but later on it is learned that he
is an ordinary human being and that he does actually take others into consideration. The entire
story of Great Expectations teaches a main moral lesson: do good to others and you will be
repaid.
Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, is a bildungsroman, or a coming of age story, set
in nineteenth century England. A bildungsroman usually involves the protagonist finding a place
to belong, discovering who he or she can depend on, defining what really matters in life, and
coming to peace with his or herself. Great Expectations follows the life of a boy, Pip, from
childhood to maturity. Pip was an orphan, and was looked after by his cruel sister and her
husband, Joe, who was Pips best friend at the time. As a boy, Pip was good, gentle, and morally

strong, because of the guidance Joe provided for him. However, whenever he is forced to commit
an evil deed, he is mentally disturbed. For example, after stealing food and a file for Magwitch,
he becomes anxious and uneasy. He thinks that he has betrayed Joe and his sister. Despite this, he
maintained his basic humanity by supplying an outcast with food and a file.
Pip lead a humble life with his sister and Joe, but that changed when his sister decided to
send him to the Satis House, where he meets Ms. Havisham, a wealthy upper-class woman, and
her adopted daughter, Estella. This is the turning point in the development of Pips personality.
Until that point, he had been blind to the fact that there were indeed social classes. He feels for
the first time his inferiority complex that was not present in his simple life at the forge. He lost
his mental peace and calm. Also, he fell in love with Estella, and was determined to become a
gentleman to win her heart. Pip later learns that he has a benefactor (who turns out to be
Magwitch) and was going to inherit a large fortune, but the identity of his benefactor was to
remain a secret until Pip came of age. So, he was taken to London to be brought up as a perfect
gentleman, per the wishes of Magwitch. Pip thinks that his benefactor is Ms. Havisham, which
comforts him, because he thinks he is meant to marry Estella. He starts his lessons with a man
named Herbert Pocket, to become a gentleman. He acquires the outward appearance of a
gentleman and along with it came snobbery. Joe ends up visiting Pip in London, and Pip greets
him coldly, and feels embarrassed with the unsophisticatedness of Joe. Pips attitude and actions
towards Joe is betrayal, and his original morality is ruined for the time being. Money turned Pip
into a fake man. Pip eventually learns that Estella is marrying another man, which makes him
realize his self-deception about gentleman, how bad of a person he has become, and that he has
turned his back on everyone who had cared about him. Pip then learns that his benefactor was
Magwitch, and this realization cleared the clouds which covered his original goodness. He is able

to recognize the worth of humanity and he goes about trying to repair old relationships that he
has damaged. Pip then goes home to Joe and his family; the people that loved him.
Great Expectations contains many different aspects. It exhibits moral principles,
characteristics often found in fairy tales, and those of a bildungsroman. Great Expectations is a
great piece of literature that should be read by any and every educated person, because of all the
different aspects. So much is to be learned in Great Expectations.