Discussion Questions- By Nadyah

1. If you were in Pip's position, how would you thank/ and or react Magwitch for all of the money he had gifted you ?
2. Why do you think Miss Havisham tricked Pip to believe she had given him the money to go to London?
3. Give some reasons why you think Estella had changed over the years ?
4.Why does Miss Havisham repent her mistakes ?
5. Why did Magwitch give all of the money to Pip? What did he think he would use the money for?

Nadyah Hussein - News Article

Great Expectations

Major Theme

How the themes relate to contemporary society

The major theme of Great Expectations is simple and evident throughout the whole book: affection, loyalty, and conscience are more important than social development, wealth, and sophistication. In the novel, particularly the last third, Pip learns many lessons through trial and error.

When he goes to London to become a gentleman, he realizes that achieving class is not the main goal of life, and instead plays a very minor role in what he wants to become. He comes to the conclusion that loyalty is needed in every relationship, and if it is lacking, the main support has been lost because everything is doubted.

 Contemporary society is “characterized by at least three fundamental directions: increasing human interconnection through a network of relationships”.

During the time the novel was written, class and respect in society was of high importance. A person’s status relied on what others thought of them and where they stood in society.  Great Expectations, being a "gentleman" is basically equivalent to being part of the popular crowd.

Unlike today, most people do what they please and do not solely base their actions on how others will react. Pip learns that being well-liked is more about how you act than how you look.

 There are three types of ambition and improvement—moral, social, and educational; they are the reason for his varying behaviours throughout the novel.

First, Pip desires moral self-improvement. He is very hard on himself when he acts badly and feels guilty which makes him want to act better in the future. When he leaves for London, for example, he becomes mad at himself about having behaving so unjustly towards Joe and Biddy. Secondly, Pip desires social self-improvement.

In love with Estella, he longs to become a member of her social class, and when encouraged by others, he has dreams of becoming a gentleman in everybody’s eyes.

Another major theme in Great Expectations is wealth. Everyone believed all you need is love, but in Great Expectations love doesn't get far without money.

In Pip’s perspective there is no doubt that Estella will love him as a poor blacksmith's boy: he has to make his fortune. In the grand scheme of things, all that wealth is not very appealing to.

Miss Havisham had a fortune, and appears to have enough of it to make Estella who she was, but she’s depressed—and all the people who want her money are just as sad too. At the end of it all, Pip fails as a fortunate orphan but succeeds as a self-made man.

This theme is all true in modern society . Lots of people work their whole lives , without really living any of those days. On the other hand . many times , 

Analysis of Setting

            The time period in which the book takes place in is the Victorian era and is set in England. During that time period class also played a huge role in whole could be associated with who and how people lived their lives. From that time period many things have changed but some things are still similar to the way people live now. During this era, industrialization was starting to become popular as more jobs were in the city instead of farming. Also trains and railways were becoming more popular sources of travel as compared to the horse and carriage although they were still commonly used at that time. For example, when Pip was just traveling in shorter distances walking and horses were more common means of traveling but when he was moving to his new property, he took a train. Most families during this time were working class and were hardly associated with the higher classes. This played a role in the book because Pip wouldn't have been able to be with Estella when he was working class since during that time people of the same class would often marry each other as opposed to someone higher class marrying someone lower class. Women in that time were also expected to get married and they worked doing jobs mainly at home or domestic jobs. Their outfits also consisted of floor length dresses, but would vary in style and material depending on the class of the person. Gowns would often be worn by those of higher class or for more formal occasions. The men during this time would take on jobs that often involved business aspects or more manual labor. Their wardrobe often consisted of coats or jackets and button down dress shirts. They would also have clothes for different occasions such as work clothes, casual wear, church clothes and etc. It was also seen during this time that children were inferior and did not have an opinion of their own that they could share and that it was common for children to be “brought up by hand”. People during this time were also into being religious and that they prayed and celebrated Christmas in ways in which many people would gather. It also was believed that older children did not have a need to go to school if they could already be put to work somewhere and that children often ended up working for their parents or guardians once they were old enough to. 

By Ashley

I choose to answer Ashleys question that is “Why is it that Estella referred to herself as having no heart?”. In my opinion, i think that Estella told Pip she has no heart because of her lack of sentimentality. Estella was raised by Ms. Havisham and due to the way she raised and brought up Estella is why she is emotionally damaged. Estella feels not loved and lonely. However though, Estella actually does have feelings. But she just keeps her feelings (heart) locked and hidden because she doesn't want to get hurt. Eventually she does open up her heart (feelings) in the book. 

By: Akshave Arulparan

Discussion Questions

1.      If you were in Pip’s position, would you have gotten the food and file like the convict asked?

2.      How do you think Ms. Havisham felt about Pip when she first met him?

3.      Why do you think the other adults at the beginning of the book treated Pip poorly as a child?

4.      Why is it that Estella referred to herself as having no heart?

5.      Do you feel that Pip should have told Estella the truth about where she came from?

By Ashley

Critical Thinking Questions - Made by Akshave Arulparan

1. Describe Pip and Mrs. Joe’s relationship throughout the novel. 
2. What role does Miss Havisham play in the novel? 
3. Miss Havisham confesses to Pip that she adopted Estella, in order to “save her (Estella) from misery like my own." Do you think this is true? Why or why not? 
4. Why do you think Miss Havisham manipulates Pip into thinking she is his secret benefactor?
5. Why does Pip's attitude towards Magwitch change? 

Most Memorable Moment -Nadyah Hussein

In my section, which the last third of the novel, is when Pip finally finds his benefactor. When he comes to the realization that he had received the money from Abel Magwitch, he is taken aback because he had always believed that Miss Havisham had given him the money, as she had lead him to believe that. This moment is memorable because out of all the people suspected, the escaped convict was the last person he had expected to get the money from. Shortly after he turned 23, he trips over a man, and realizes that the man is the convict he met so long ago. The man gives his name as Abel Magwitch.

Later, he finds out that this was the very man that gave him the opportunity to become a gentleman to impress Estella .He is extremely grateful for this stranger's actions that changed his life. Abel states “Look’ee here, Pip. I’m your second father. You’re my son—more to me nor any son. I’ve put away money, only for you to spend.”  This is a very important line to Pip because he had not really had any true father figure in his life, and this man was the first to care for him in this way. In these moments, Pip finds out about his life and a lot of the questions that he has often wondered about were answered.

He feels ashamed for looking down upon the convict, and fearing him when they first met, almost fifteen years ago.Horrified, Pip learns the truth about what happened to Abel:he went to Australia, where he worked in sheep ranching and earned a lot of money. Moved by Pip’s kindness to him on the marsh, he arranged to use his wealth to make Pip a gentleman.  He realizes the convict was his benefactor  and not Miss Havisham, .At this point of the novel, Pip knows that he is not meant to marry Estella at all.

All in all, this scene is very memorable and significant to me because Pip realizes many things that he should have seen apparent long ago, such as knowing that him and Estella were not meant to be. It is the turning point in the novel, which is comparable to the turning point many of us have at a certain point in our lives, we learn from them and change for the better .