Hi,
I have received numerous emails asking me where are those entries I promised previously. Sorry people. Somehow or rather things got caught up in my way. I wasn't sure what it was but here I am. Are you ready?
I have read Great Expectations more than 10 times. Yeah..I know many of you must have thought how morbid I am. I think you must have questioned my sanity when I said I love reading the novel. But each time I read Great Expectations I find something new. I think it is because each time I read the narrative, my focus would be different.
In your readings of Great Expectations, I am sure you would have focused on the elements of LOVE (yeah..love), education, moral, economy, culture and social status. But for your first time sharing here in this space, I would like you to look at the elements of abuse.Remember, abuse can be in the form or physical, emotional, intellectual etc. What are the forms of abuse you have stumbled upon in your readings and what are the effects of those abuse on the individuals you have chosen to focus on.
p.s. the extra vitamin c from the oranges abundance during Chinese New Year would definitely help you out here...
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ReplyDeleteGood afternoon madam. It is good to hear from you. well in Great Expectation, i find that Pip is physically and verbally abused by his sister, Mrs Joe. She kept on picking on the issue that she had 'brought him up by hand'. She nags all the time and causes much emotional disturbance for Pip. She does not hesitate to whack Pip. She used the Tickler to whack him on the backside just because he was late. When Pip just keeps quiet when Mrs Joe asks about how it went in Miss Havisham's place, she shoves his face into the wall and pounds his head! At the end Pip lies to her out of fear being whacked again. In my opinion, Pip could have been very stressed out living with his abusive sister. Only thing he wanted to do is get out ASAP. Maybe all the abuse over the years could have made him very sad. Pip must have been a little glad when his sister became bed ridden.
ReplyDeleteBarisha (J38838)
dear puan,
ReplyDeletei found that Pip abused the money he inherited.
Magwitch was never a gentleman. Therefore, it was intended for Pip to upgrade himself to become a gentleman. Magwitch made Pip his beneficiary to become a gentleman he never was. Instead it becomes the tool for Pip’s social transformation to win Estrella’s heart. The money enables Pip to make his dream comes true– to impress Estrella. The money made Pip started to lead a empty and meaningless life full of luxuries.
Then, i believe that Pip also abuse his feelings.Pip made himself to believe that it was Miss Havisham’s who made him her beneficiary and wanted him to marry Estella. He has high expectations for himself although he doubted it often. When Pip found out the truth, Pip is awakened from his fantasy world. Pip abused his own feelings by making himself to believe what he himself doubted was true. When Estrella asked him not to love her yet he ignored it and he even made Estrella his aim of life.
Lastly, the abuse of loyalty. Pip rejected his background when he inherited the money. He started to mingle lesser with Joe, his brother in law and Biddy, his friend at the evening school where he studies. Then, he broke all connections with Joe and Biddy. Pip is ashamed of his brother in law and friend. He even abandoned him. Even so, Joe still loves and supports Pip unconditionally. At the end of the novel, Pip realizes the true worth of Joe’s friendship.
--TAN KAI LYNN BPTESL6 J38861--
Hi Madam, nice blogging with you.
ReplyDeleteHonestly i haven't read great expectation before. After my first reading, i discovered so many elements in the novel and one of it was abuse. At the very beginning of the story, Pip's feeling of conscience are determined largely by his fear of others might think and in my opinion this called emotional abuse (within himself). In the other hand, Pip has strong feeling of guilt but inadequate system by which to judge right from wrong and unable to determine the value of his own action. Pip feels guilty even when he does the right things and he was truly intellectually abused. There also an emotional abuse crosses the social class as high social class is associate with luxury and education as for Pip, he began to see social class for what it is after he is elevated the status of gentlemen.
Hi Madam, nice to hear from you.
ReplyDeleteThroughout my reading on Great Expectation, I found that Pip is physically and emotionally abused. The phrase "brought him up by hand" in the story shows that Pip has been abused physically by his cruel sister and emotionally abused by Estella. Therefore, Pip tried to improve himself both morally and socially. Other than that, the abuse made Pip to change his true nature to please Estella. He believes that as long as he tend to be an ignorant country boy he has no hope of social advancement. Pip also learns that, social and educational improvement are related to one's real life. This changes are deeply connected to his social ambition and longing to marry Estella.
PREMITHA J38862 BPTESL SEM 6
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDear madam,
ReplyDeleteAn example of psychological abuse that stumbled me is the way in which Mrs. Joe treats Pip. She blames him for having forced her to change her life since she had to take care of Pip when their parents died and she had to marry Joe. This is the reason why Mrs. Joe makes Pip’s life miserable by beating him and also constantly complaining about him being a nuisance, a burden. Pip is the destroyer of her dreams of becoming a wealthy woman, so she seeks revenge to destroy his dreams. Mrs. Joe says to Pip, “I may truly say I’ ve never had this apron of mine off, since born you were. It’s bad enough to be a blacksmith’s wife, without being your mother’’ (page 11, Ch. 2). Statements like this hurt any child’s mind and emotions very deeply. No doubt that Mrs. Joe’s altitude towards Pip is negative but due to her actions Pip and Joe become even closer as both share the same experience.
Estella, who is a very beautiful young girl also treats Pip violently in physical and verbal ways when she slaps him and uses words like, You little coarse monster (page 77, Ch. 11) or You little wretch (page 78, Ch. 11) in addressing to him. Estella hurts Pip’s emotions and feelings when she rejects him and acts coldly. The result of this has caused Pip to make transition from apprentice blacksmith to young gentleman. He is determined to improve himself in order to win the hand of Estella. Pip dreams of becoming worthy enough of her, and he is determined to obtain some sort of education. Later, Pip persistently tries to impress Estella by moving up the social ladder, though the benefits of this climb are uncertain. Pip begins the story as an innocent and generous boy who turns arrogant and ungrateful as he became a gentleman.
As for the emotional abuse, it can be seen in the case of Joe. He often told Pip that they "were ever the best of friends" but Pip was no longer content to living at the forge and working with Joe. He yearned for Estella's acceptance, and yearned to impress her with any means possible. When Pip got his chance to be a gentleman immediately, he did not seem to realize how his departure would affect Joe. He left him at home without thinking twice. While Pip lived in London, Joe visited him once. Pip acted very stand-offish and made it quite clear to Joe that he was not comfortable. Joe only came to deliver news about Estella's return from school and her wish to see Pip. Pip's mood changed immediately and he asked Joe to stay, but Joe declared that they were "not two figures to be together in London." After Joe departed, Pip cried. His guilt of treating Joe as an inferior person was beginning to eat away at him. At this point Pip was just beginning to realize how much he had changed.
I noticed that all the characters in the great expectations went through some kind of abuse whereby at a stage they realized it and come to their senses.
Good morning Pn. I would like share some opinions pertaining to the element of abuse in Great Expectations.
ReplyDeleteGreat Expectation is a novel of hope and heartbreak, identity and intrigue. Although the major themes in the novel are all pertaining to the ambitions which related to the title : "Great Expectations". One of the issue explored under this umbrella theme is abuse. Abuse means to treat a person or an animal badly or violently.
Great Expectations is an excellent illustration which highlight the elements of abuse.By reading the novel, we know that Joe's alchoholic father physically abuse him and his mother. Joe and his mother ran away from home several times because of his father's cruelty. Joe had to sacrifice his childhood and begin working at a very early age to support his family because his alcoholic father did not. It is not surprise that Joe accepts verbal and physical abuse from his wife and intends to take all the abuse to protect Pip.Here Dicksons used Joe's past to show that the consequence later life for victim of abuse made Joe passive and quicker accepter which made him mental weak for the fear of being hurt in some way " a sort of Hercules in strength and also weakness".
Pip, the protaganist also goes through physical abuse in the form of his sister, Mrs.Joe. He was badly abused by his sister where the later makes he became very sensitive and morally timid. Mrs Joe beat Pip with a cane for nearly no reason, threw him against wall and treated him like dirt. By looking at Joe as a role model and he accepts verbal and physical abuse from his sister.
Pip also mentally abused by Estella and Miss Havisham. Pip instantly fall in love with her. But Estella has proud yet snobbish aura which made Pip feels miserable. When Estella unable to return her love towards him and married his enemy , Bentley Drummle, it have caused Pip to endure pain mentally. Miss Havisham also displayed verbal abuse in a harsh, cold manner toward Pip to make him feel miserable because he is of male gender.
Another character was mentally and physical abuse would be Estella. Miss Havisham brought her up to wreak revenge on male sex on her behalf. She has been abusing Estella mentally as a person who takes pleasure in her role of avenger.Miss Havisham's bitterness has ruined Estella's life. Estella became physical abuse victim of her husband, Bentley Drummle although she was brought up as avenger. Bentley used her with cruelty and makes her lead a loveless marriage life and made she was forced to leave him and later lived alone in the village.
These are some of the abuse elements that I obtained when I read Great Expectation.
Good Evening , Puan,
ReplyDeleteThrough my reading on Great Expectation,I found that Mrs. Joe act as a 'violent woman' through out her character's life.
Mrs. Joe appears to be total evil, however, some of her behavior is understandable. When she was twenty, before this story begins, she was left alone with a helpless infant brother who was not even weaned. By the time the reader is introduced to her, she has already buried two parents and five brothers and has no husband, and hence, no means to support herself. Joe solves that by marrying her. However, because of all the loss in her life early on, she fears abandonment and wants security, so her focus is survival. She seeks it through power and wealth and unconsciously communicates these values to Pip. Joe alludes to her fear of abandonment when he notes that she does not want Joe to better himself. That would take away her power in handling the business end of things in their relationship, and may even give Joe the opportunity to leave her.
CHUA WEI THING
J 38851 ( BPTESL SEM 6 )
hema J38837
ReplyDeletehi madam....its nice to keep in touch with you through this blog. i have read the novel once.I have notice that two women ,Mrs.Joe and Estella have brought a great impact in Pip's life.Mrs.Joe, Pip's own sister, has been cruel to him and had abused him physically.Pip has went through a miserable childhood life.His sister always beat him up and pick on him.When Estella came into his life,he was abused emotionally.Estella has rejected his love and uses words like "you little coarse monster"(pg77 chap11).Pip has changed his life from an apprentice blacksmith to young gentleman to just win Estella's heart.Although, Pip receives verbal abuse from Estella,he continues to like her and will not stop liking her.He sees the good inside of her eventhough she had ill threated him.Miss Havisham's efforts to use Estella as an instrument of revenge on all men had caused Pip to endure pain.I found that,all the characters in this storey have went through a kind of abuse.
Dear Madam and friends,
ReplyDeleteAfter reading “Great Expectation”, there are several characters that I feel have been abused in some ways. The antagonist, Pip suffers physical and emotional abuse by Mrs Joe, her overbearing sister. Pip gets beaten from time to time using the “Tickler” and being shoved around like a “connubial missile”. It is made known by Pip to the readers that Mrs Joe has a “hard and heavy hand…laying it upon her husband as well as upon me.” Mrs Joe also uses harsh words on Pip like calling him “young monkey.” She belittles Pip and often reminds Pip that he would not have survived because of her, making it clear that taking care of Pip is an obligation that she took up as a heavy burden. Mrs Joe also likes to dose him with Tar-water, a foul-tasting mixture. Because of the ill-treatment from Mrs Joe, Pip does not seem to have good recollection of his home. “Home had never been a very pleasant place to me, because of my sister’s temper.” Even upon his sister’s death, he could not help to ponder over the times when he was “a little helpless creature, and my sister did not spare me.” Without Joe’s love and support, Pip would not have survived the whole ordeal.
I also believe that Estella is an object of abuse. Estella has been programmed to hate men, to be cold and hard – a kind of intellectual and emotional abuse by Miss Havisham. Estella is taught to hate men and break their hearts “from the dawn of her intelligence”. The act of loving does not seem natural to her. It seems like her mind and conduct has been dictated to her by Miss Havisham- how to behave and feel. To her, men are meant to be toyed around and that love will only lead to suffering. I feel that it is unjust for Estella to be planted with such notion in her mind since a very tender age. Even Estella admitted that who she is as an adult is the result of her upbringing by Miss Havisham - “I must be taken as I have been made.”
The character of Miss Havisham herself is the result of emotional abuse by someone she dearly loves but somehow betrayed her. The act of being jilted by Compeyson on her wedding day, drives Mrs Havisham into seclusion and insanity. She feels tormented by her lost love and is left with a vengeance to all male species that unfortunately is passed on to Estella.
PUTERI MARINA MOSTAFA
J38845 (BPTESL SEM6)
Dear Madam,
ReplyDeleteIn Great Expectations, Pip often talked about the abuse he received at the hands of his sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery. His sister, who "brought him up by hand", mentally and physically abused Pip to the point that he had become "morally timid and sensitive". On one occasion he remarked, "I soon found myself getting heavily bumped from behind in the nape of the neck and the small of the back, and having my face ignominiously shoved against the wall, because I did not answer those questions at sufficient length." She regularly thrashed Pip for minor offenses. As a result, Pip felt insecure about himself. Pip being "morally timid and sensitive" has made his moral judgment weakened when threatened by fear. Pip watched Joe as his role model and himself accepted verbal and physical abuse from Mrs. Joe who stated that he should never have been born and wished that he was dead. In fact Pip became the scapegoat for her entire family system.
As for Joe, he was also physically abused as a child. His alcoholic stepfather beat both Joe and his mother. As what we now might call the “hero-child" — the oldest -- Joe tried to protect his siblings. He had to sacrifice his childhood and go to work to support his family because his alcoholic father did not work. As a result of abuse and neglect from his father, Joe wanted to give to his family what he couldn't give to his mother. This is an illustration of transgenerational transmission of abuse and rigid roles. Joe was also verbally and physically abused by his wife and he wanted to take on all the abuse to protect Pip. Indeed he may have chosen his wife to accept the punishment his father should have received from his mother. In any case Mrs. Joe had the kind of addictive personality he was used to: a rageaholic obsessed with controlling her house and everyone in it.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteZizie Ardina Lim Abdullah (J38867)
ReplyDeleteAssalammualaikum Madam,
‘Great Expectations’ was written
by Charles Dickens in 1861 and is considered a classic in English literary terms. In the novel Pip, who is a working class child, changes his class by becoming a gentlemen. It is clearly understood that Pip is the main character which received the aspect of abuse. He was abused from the aspect of physical, emotional and as well as his intellectual.
Pips childhood may seem unpleasant to the reader and not what children
would enjoy today;
“You young dog...”
This shows how young lower class children were treated and spoken to. Adults had no sympathy or respect towards children, in fact if they shared their opinion they would get hit and treated like animals.
Pip is treated awfully by his sister and sometimes even hit;
“…she had brought me up by hand.”
Pip was often hit and mistreated by his sister for things every child would enjoy today. He would get beaten up with a cane for simply
asking his sister a question or even just not doing what he was what he is told.
His uncle, Mr Pumblechook, who is also a working class man, is bossy and harsh. Pip is ignored by his uncle and always insulated and embarrassed by questions that he gets asked.
Miss Havisham, who is an old weird, half decayed woman likes Pip in the inside but treats him in a harsh way. Miss Havisham talks to Pip In good manner but treats him badly because of his social class. Because she is a higher class woman, she thinks that she is better than Pip.
In the novel, Pip is treated awfully even by other children at his own
age;
“ he is a common labouring boy!”
Estella disrespects Pip and she has no manners towards him or to any other lower class person, even adults. This is because she is a high
class girl and she thinks that she is better than other people.
Herbert Pocket who is a higher class child, and roughly the same age as Pip, doesn’t like Pip at the start but then they become friends.
Education for a lower class child like Pip was limited. They would get taught by their parents or friend, however higher class children like
Estella would go to proper schools and get good education.
Lower class children like Pip had to work because they didn’t go to school or sometime just to help their poor parents;
“I was quite as dejected on the fist working-day of my apprenticeship…”
Pip was ashamed to work as a blacksmith but he had no choice.
I also found out that Estella had contributed in abusing Pip’s emotion. She rejected Pip’s love and married to the person who he had most. This had deeply crush Pip’s emotion too.
As conclusion, though there are other characters that have involve in the abusing issue but Pip is the most affect and abuse in his whole life.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteIt's been a quiet week for me. And as it is a quiet week so, I've been keeping quiet even though the fire crackers were booming left and right.
I like what Chua Wei Thing said about Mrs. Joe Gargery. I have never thought that all those cruelties are actually a defense mechanism. This is like the poem 'The Man He Killed' you either kill or you get killed, you hold a grip on someone before someone overpowers you. Good job.
I like Puteri's thought on Estella. Even though Estella has everything, we never thought that she could be a victim. she is actually a victim. She has no choice in becoming the person she is. Miss Havisham played god and raised Estella according to her grand plan.
There are many other victims in the story. So far you have managed to scrape the surface. You want to try again and hopefully this exercise will help clear your way to the examination hall?
Assalamualaikum and good day to Puan Juridah and friends..
ReplyDeleteUpon reading Great Expectations, now I know why Puan Juridah read it more than 10 times. It is an interesting read, and after the assignment question is given, I began to think that this story is not all about Pip's love for Estrella.
But, abuse was the first thing that came in my mind when I read how Mrs Joe treated Pip and also her husband Joe Gargery. She used the "Tickler" on both of their bodies without compassion and on some occasions, forced them to gulp down the "Tar-water" despite the foul-taste of the drink.
As she brought up Pip "by hand", she must have thought that she has all the rights to treat him the way she did. Also, as Joe is only a mere village blacksmith, Mrs. Joe thinks nothing of him and does not have a slight respect to him as her husband.
Eventually, Pip became emotionally abused as well. As a child, he grew up not knowing about family love rather than the care Joe gave him whenever they are both abused by Mrs. Joe. He did not have a fond and good memory towards Mrs. Joe. One must think that living with a family member is a good thing after the parents' death, but that definitely was not true in Pip's case.
Being introduced to Miss Havisham (and Estrella), adds another color to Pip's rather dull life. Even though he was verbally abused by both Miss Havisham and Estrella, Pip endured it because he has a soft spot for the pretty Estrella. He didn't mind being called names and being reminded of his "low-class" self by Estrella. And as for the latter, I honestly think she actually enjoys Pip's company in Satis House.
Rather than love, I think TRUST is the most important trait in Great Expectations. It is also the trait that is abused so much in this story.
The first one is the trust Pip's parents have towards Mrs. Joe. They must have wanted her to take care of Pip with love, but instead, she abused him physically, mentally and emotionally.
Next is the trust Estrella has towards men. Being brought up by Miss Havisham who lost her trust for all men after she was jilted by her fiancé minutes before her wedding. Miss Havisham raised Estrella to become her tool to revenge towards men. She trained Estrella to break men's hearts, the way her heart was broken many years before, when she was still a young woman.
This then was made true after Estrella marries Bently Drummle. She was not loved by her husband and he ended up abusing her despite the fact that he's a nobleman.
Pip also has abused the trust Joe had in him by acting coldly towards Joe when he made a visit to Pip's place in London. No longer Pip was his friend, instead Pip turned out to be a snobbish "gentleman" who treats Joe like he was not someone he used to be close to.
Besides that, while learning to be a gentleman, Pip abused the money Magwitch gave him. He lives rather lavishly, more than he could afford to and ended up in debt.
Upon learning that "The Convict" a.k.a Abel Magwitch was his secret benefactor, Pip was shocked and accepted it in disbelieve as all this while, he thought Miss Havisham was the one responsible for his "climb" in the social ladder.
I enjoyed reading Great Expectations, and indeed the story is way beyond my expectations. Besides that, reading fellow course mates' comments is also a refreshing experience, as we read and reacted similar yet differently on the same issue: ABUSE.
Regards,
Nur Hafiza Hasan,
BPTESL Sem 6 (J 38860)
Dear Madam and friends,
ReplyDeleteIn the novel, I have noticed that Pip and Estella are both the objects of abuse for different reason. Pip was physically abused by his sister, Mrs. Joe whom I believe the reason is his sister wants Pip obeys all her rules. Secondly, a bad way to show the responsibility and love to take care of Pip. Thirdly, to show the power of controlling the whole family. Furthermore, from the line, "Tell me directly what you've been doing to wear me away with fret and fright and worrit.” She tried to show that she was fear of losing her family members again and tried very hard to protect it by using the wrong method.
For Estella, I truly believed that she was a tool that Miss Havisham raised to be a high class "heart breaker". Miss Havisham even tells Estella, "You can break his heart" . This type of teaching from Miss Havisham leads to Estella thinking of herself as above Pip. This shows that Miss Havisham is intellectual abusing Estella to be a man killer which I believe that Miss Havisham is planning her revenge to man.
Gan Siaw Fui (J38855 BPTESL SEM6)
Good morning, Puan.
ReplyDeleteGreat Expectations is an interesting story. I found that there are many abusing scene happening within in.
Firstly, Pip is being abused by his sister, Mrs Joe physically and verbally. She hits him, pulls his hair, says harsh things and calls him names. Anyhow, I understand that Mrs Joe is also going under stress and being tired with the responsibe given to her, as she has to take care of Pip as a brother and also as a son of hers.
On the other hand, Mrs Joe also abuses her husband. Probably, to her, he's just an ordinary village blacksmith and they're living in a low-class status which makes her thinks that there is no neccessary for her to respect him at all.
Miss Harisham in the story, plays Pip like a puppet and she even taught her adopted daughter, Estella to have a cold and loveless heart. Miss Harisham locked herself in the past, which gave her a huge impact of her life, to me, that is some kind of abuse she is doing towards herself. Living in an environment that is dark, full of dust and with dirty animals is showing that Miss Havisham abuses herself in the story.
Estella, a lady with intelligence and a pretty face, plays with men's heart, making their heart broken, as she was brought up to do so. Estella verbally abuse Pip using harsh words and also physically slapped on his face. Estella shows tenderness and coolness that all the time makes Pip feels bitterness and miserable whenever he is with her.
What I think is, in the story, the relationships of Mrs. Joe & Pip, Miss Havisham & Estella, Estella & Pip, all consist LOVE.
1. Mrs. Joe abuses Pip most of the time, but she takes care and brought him up all the way.
2. Miss Havisham loves Estella, giving her a living and brought her up to be a lady, but somehow, abuses her 'silently' and made her a puppet to break the hearts of men.
3. Estella never admit that she has sympathy and care for Pip. Her style of treating all men make Pip misserable and feeling pain in heart. In some part of the story, Estella did warned Pip not to love her as she was meant to break hearts.
But these people have used the wrong way, ABUSE, by loving the people around.
This is my feeling about the story.
Baby Teh Ling Chee
PJJ-BPTESL J38846
Hi Madam, nice to hear from you.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all Madam I want to thank you for instilling in me the habit of reading especially novels which never imagined myself doing before. However I loved the experience of doing so believe it or not i might find myself in the bookstore piling up novels at the cashier!Okay..abuse..i find that the whole journey of Pip's life in the novel was abusive. Be it mentally or physically and he seemed to only enjoy few brief moment of happiness.Not just Pip's life alone, people surrounding him had been abusive aren't they? Assuming they'll get whatever they want by being so I suppose. Being abusive could have only two reasons in that novel, good intention or vice versa.
I’ll consider Mrs Joe the one having good intentions for Pip although he often got visited by the "tickler" which even Mr Joe was afraid of.That was actually funny too, the tickler might come in handy for other housewives at that time? To tame their husbands? Love, ironically could be used to cause abuse on Pip’s expectations….Miss Havisham ‘having no shame’ in appearing dreadful all the time, master planning a long term objective to cause pain and suffering in Pip .Poor Pip why him? Had not he is kind enough to the convict earlier? Well nobody is ruled out of having bad luck. You may happen to be a good person and so you would think nothing bad could happen to you? However getting back to the novel, Estella has taught us that you don’t always have to be harsh or hit anyone to hurt them badly. So that’s an abuse with a bad intention.
My believe is that we should never be sorry for ourselves regardless of bad incidents that may have happened to us, a Guruji whom I refuse to name here often says “Never live your life in past”. Thats exactly the case with Miss Havisham, she definitely is a self destructive woman abusing herself by reliving her past with her wedding gown on and the house left as it is the day he wedding was called off. Wearing a wedding gown for years can be very uncomfortable too, logically typing.
Pip as a young man could have been abusive himself, unintentionally, when he started avoiding his brother in law, thinking that he should not be seen with a commoner…even having felt uncomfortable to receive Mrs Joe’s visit.This was felt by Mr.Joe, undoubtly feeling hurt for being treated by Pip that way. Not wanting to express the disappointment of such hospitality could cause Mr Joe to be even more hurt.To adore and being disappointed can be a huge pain. Biddy had that coming.Pip had hurt her too, emotionally, confusing her, admitting to like her, showing signs of jealousy towards Orlick but would rather go after Estella and her inheritance than a genuine love from Biddy. Indirectly, Pip’s greed does played a role in causing Biddy’s pain.
The most obvious of all, Orlick the man Pip despise, can be regarded as very heartless man, hitting and swearing has been his way to express his anger, clearing pictures his mean face while I was reading the novel. He had been the person behind Mrs.Joe death and had assaulted Pip. Making me wonder, how accepting Mr Joe was earlier to allow Orlick to work for him having known of his jagged character. However Orlick is the one Im least interested to discuss further on.Jaggers too, having abusing Provis’s trust for sometime. Pip was not honestly given the money which Provis has sent through Jaggers while Pip was just adjusting to the moment of great expectations of being a benefactor.
Pip’s character was shown some mercy by letting him have the most genuine friendship from Herbert and also the most genuine fatherly love from Mr Joe. To me the most obnoxious of all, the near ending of the novel, Biddy getting married to old Mr Joe…?I expected better…I don’t enjoy the part very much.As a whole Great expectation was a great reading journey.
Girija A/P Ramdas
J38853
BPTESL
SEM 6
Dear Madam,
ReplyDeleteMiss Havisham's fawning, self-interested, envious relatives and their competition for her wealth illustrate the evil effects of the love of money and picture the abuse of children and criminals to the corruption of wealth. And she is also abused by wealth and money for the way she lives her life isn’t really a live worth living because the lack of meaningfulness and real love.
The Abuse of Legal System are obvious in:
a) Jaggers ruthlessness speech toward children.
b) the unfair treatment of Magwitch over Compeyson
c) the prisons: Newgate and the hanging of children
d) corrupt juriciary of scalping trial tickets.
The movie Bride and prejudice was adapted from Jane Austen's Pride and prejudice...only that the time,settings and culture was a lil different!
ReplyDeleteDear Madam,
ReplyDeleteI am personally quite sympathy to Miss Havisham. Miss Havisham’s life is defined by a single tragic event: her jilting by Compeyson on what was to have been their wedding day. This kind of abuse resulted the mad and vengeful Miss Havisham wears an old wedding dress every day of her life, never to move beyond her heartbreak. She wears only one shoe, because when she learned of his betrayal, she had not yet put on the other shoe.
With a kind of manic, obsessive cruelty, Miss Havisham developed another abusement on others. Her “grand plan” of abuse is raises Estella as a weapon to achieve her own revenge on men. Both Miss Havisham and the people in her life suffer greatly because of her quest for revenge. Being mentally abused by Compeyson, she seek revenge to abuse others. This causes a deep impact on Pip and Estella. Both of them are hurt by Miss Havisham’s abuse actions.
Miss Havisham is redeemed at the end of the novel when she realizes that she has caused Pip’s heart to be broken in the same manner as her own. Miss Havisham immediately begs Pip for forgiveness, reinforcing the novel’s theme that bad behavior can be redeemed by contrition and sympathy.
Yong Mei Shia (J38865)
BPTESL SEM 6
Hi, Madam..
ReplyDeleteAs I read through Great Expectations, I found out one of the kind of abuses showed in this novel is the abuses on human rights which is portrayed by the characters of Estella Havisham who was abused by Miss Havisham. Estella was raised in a controlled environment where she actually brainwashed by Miss Havisham. Miss Havisham, who had adopted her, raised her as a tool to take revenge on men because she was once left at the altar. Miss havisham was pleasured by Estella’s abusive behaviors towards Pip and she continually misleading Estella by praising her for her beauty thus making Estella a very proud and heartless person. The abuse is clearly showed when Estella said "I am what you have made me. Take all the praise, take all the blame; take all the success, take all the failure; in short, take me." (Chapter 38) it seems that she was very helpless in the way she was brought up by Miss Havisham. In my opinion, Estella was blameless for her abusive attitude towards Pip as she cannot controlled herself in the way she behaves as she was molted to be cruel to men by her mother figure, Miss Havisham.
Another kind of abuse found in the novel is child abuse. Pip was both physically and mentally abused by his sister, Mrs Joe who had been grudging over Pip and blamed him for her marriage and that she was forced to take care of Pip after the parents passed away. Mrs Joe was very cruel to Pip as she can simply whack Pip with whatever she caught in her hand besides torturing him by uttering harsh words on Pip. Pip, who was still a child and so much younger than Mrs Joe surely suffered neither in physical nor mentally as Mrs Joe seems never nursed him in a gentle manner where all kids deserve. Pip also being abused by Magwitch when he was stil a child when they first met at the marsh. He was severely threatened by Magwitch who was a convict that had just escaped. Magwitch as a convict who asked Pip to steal a file and food for him beside threatened his life if he refuses to do as he said. “Or I’ll have your heart and liver out.” He tilted me again. I was dreadfully frightened and so giddy that I clung to him with both hands…” (Chapter 1, Page 3), and “ Say, Lord strike you death if you don’t!” (Chapter 1, Page 4) Pip granted Magwitch’s wishes which then had caused Pip to have a guilty conscience from stealing food. After the incident left a bad memory and conscience in the kid’s heart as pip felt very bad for helping Magwitch to steal food from his sister.
Mrs Joe also been very cruel to her husband as she was a person that tends to take charge of the household and take decisions for Mr Joe. She was also never respect her husband as she insults and looked down on Mr Joe by saying “lowly blacksmith”.
YAP GEOK PENG (J38869)
PREMITHA MOHAN
ReplyDeleteJ38862
BPTESL SEM 6
Good evening Puan.
Maybe I should add something on top of what I commented initially.
Thanks for enlightening us and I agree that each time I read the novel I find something different at the end of it. For instance,
1) It is very true that Pip has been
physically abused by his own sister and
emotionally abused by Estella who he really
fond of. Estella, abused him verbally which
I think might have hurt him more than the
physical abuse he received. This is clear
from his reaction.
2) Estella was 'nurtured' by Ms Havisham to
hate men, an act in my opinion completely
change Estella's view towards men and her
social contact.In other words, Estella was
misused for her own motive and revenge.This
is indeed a deep psychological blow for
Estella.
3) On the other hand, Mrs Havisham has been
the victim of abuse too. She has been
emotionally and intellectually abused by her
fiance and that's why she has fixed in her
mind that men are heartless and should take
revenge on.
4) Mrs Joe has her own reason for abusing Pip.
She totally blame Pip, who changed her life
since she had to take care of Pip when
their parents died. Even, Mrs Joe who has
been shown as a cruel personality in this
story also has been abused physically by
Orlick. Thus, abuse ends her life.
In short, this novel portrays abuse as a vicious circle that affects every individual in its own way and magnitude.
Regards,
Premi
Dear Madam,
ReplyDeleteIn the novel of great expectation, I find that Pip is abused both mentally and physically by people sorround him and force of life that he is facing. However, i would like to write about the mental abuse that Pip might experience.As an orphan, he realizes that he isn’t such other boys who have parents to take care.I think, he thought of having them like others. We can see this when Pip visits his parents graves.In this case, he is mentally abused by the natural force of life where death has it’s line that we cannot cross.Pip is forced to accept the phenomenon which is for me an abusive force for young boy such Pip.Beside that the vengence force of Ms Havisam which t is channelled to the young estella is also an abusive thing to Pip. Pip and Estella should have a very good moment toghether as children if not of that Ms Havisam’s trait who teaches Estella as girl who capable of hurting men heart.In his life as a young man, Pip is mentally abused when he is forced many things in gaining of a better life while in the same time he has to find out the samaritan that sponsoring his study.we can see this when he guesses Ms Havisam is the person and that she wants him to marry Estella. As this novel title this expectation is so high that could make people mentally abused.What a hope he is expecting when the truth actually isn’t that way!
Saria Limpot (J38828)
Since a child, Pip had been physically and mentally abuse by his sister, Mrs.Joe. As a seven year old boy, he always whacked by his sister with a tickler along with her pompous cursing.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Joe not only complaining how difficult she brought Pip up 'by hand' in the house, she also spread her hardship Pip had brought to her since she was twenty years old to all her neighbours. "My sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery, was more than twenty years older than I, and had established a great reputation with herself and the neigbours because she had brought me up 'by hand' (Dickens, Chapter 2). This is a kind of mental abuse to Pip.
Pip always burden with his sister's "kindness" (according to neighbours and his sister) but actually it is a kind of torture for Pip.
He always reminded by his sister and neighbours to be grateful to his sister and they complaining how ungrateful young people are according to Mrs. Hubble "Why is that the young are never grateful?"(Dickens, Chapter 4). All these tirade about ungrateful young people, for Pip seems like her sister's "kindness" to him is a "sin" he had done to Mrs. Joe.
The neighbours always talking how much trouble Pip cause his sister until he cannot tolerate. He wants to run away from all these torturing. "I released the leg of the table and ran for my life" (Dickens, Chapter 4).
It seems like Mrs. Joe brought Pip up 'by hand' is a burden to her and Pip has to repay for the rest of his life. Mrs.Joe responsibility taking care of Pip is like a punishment to her instead of love of a sister to a brother. This is so heart broken for a little boy.
This also one of the factor contributes Pip to accept large amount of money from an anonymous benefactor.
Weikuen (J34110)
(2nd entry) Commenting on post by WeiKuan,"by hand" does it seems like a burden..? it sounds to me that "done by herself"..and so Pip is entitled to value and appreciate Mrs Joe's effort to do so by obeying her.
ReplyDeleteGirija A/P Ramdas
j38853
Sem6
Commenting on comment post by Giriram, for a seven year old boy, he needs love not tirade from everyone to remind him how ungrateful he is to his sister. I think he is appreciating because he never retaliate her sister's rampage. Its just that her sister's nagging is putting him under a lot of stress. As I qoute from Dicken's Chapter 4, he cannot stand any longer, his leg wants to run away from the table.
ReplyDeleteIf we read chapter 7, Joe is the one that welcome Pip to the forge after Joe and Pip's sister married. Pip is so touched and hugged Joe and cried because he find out that Joe really wants him not like his sister always mentioning how ungrateful he is, like she is so eager Pip to repay her.
Wei Kuen (J34110)
Child abuse and religion were often targets of Dickens’ satire. In chapter 1-3, it is very clear about how the relationship works in Pip's house. Pip's sister rules the house, beats both her husband and brother and is insecure and wants to be thought as irreplaceable. The irony of the whole thing is that Joe is described as being strong and big (after all her is a blacksmith and definitely has immense strength) but he does not even once stop his abusive wife when she hits him and also Pip. In my opinion, Joe is also an 'accomplice' in the abuse. It is not only, the abuse from the sister that Pip has to endure but also the other adults (chapter 4-6). The adults attack on Pip about the young never being grateful degenerates into the ridiculous when Mr. Wopsle and Mr Pumblechook turn a conversation about pigs into Sunday sermon and moral lecture for the young ‘ What is detestable in a pig, is more detestable in a boy.’ The satire continues as Pumblechook takes great delight in describing what a butcher would do if Pip were a pig, ‘You would have been disposed of for so much shillings, according to the market price of the article, and Dunstable the butcher would have whipped you under his left arm, and with his right he would have tucked up hid frock to get a penknife from out his waistcoat – pocket, and he would have shed your blood and had your life. No bringing up by hand then. Not a bit of it!’. Poor Pip had to listen to this verbal abuse all through their Christmas dinner and all Joe did was pour more gravy for him. It is like rubbing more salt into the wound. If only Joe was man enough to stand up and put a stop to the abuse. Joe contributed to the abuse and I am sure he need the abuse like a drug.
ReplyDeletePip loves Joe very much, mostly because Joe lets him love him. Pip feels that Joe is the only good thing in his life and at the age of seven, Pip is at a very impressionable age and Pip feels that he cannot lose the love of the only gentle adult around him. Being young, Pip has never questioned Joe about why he does not stop his wife or the others from abusing them both. The thought had never accoured to Pip. His love for Joe blinded him.
ReplyDeleteWhat barisha had entered is an awesome point. I totally agree, Joe could have done something seeming he is stronger than his wife. Probably pouring all he had locked up inside him onto the metals..or is it that although he thinks that although Mrs Joe is an abusive sister to Pip she has good reasons for it..as living in 19 century then parents may belive in caning their kids.
ReplyDeleteGirja A/P Ramdas
J38853
Ms Haversham was another character that i noticed during my 2nd reading. Hatred made her did those awful things e.g. raising Estella to break the men's heart.. wearing her worn gown, keeping the wedding cake.. etc.. i think she is abusing herself and those who care for her. the man who broke her heart was far away and long ago gone.. i don't see why she need to mourn for such person.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Estella was born to a convict father and accused murder mother, i think she deserves a better life. She shouldn't be controlled by Ms Haversham. She should have her own thinking of what she want to be. Well, i think at that time in the story, Estella's life would not be any better than what she was. However, if she was born in our era, i think she will live a better life.
TAN KAI LYNN J38861 BPTESL6
I would like to give my opinions on Barisha’s and Girija’s comments. According to my understanding, Pip was an innocent child at the beginning. The circumstances had brought the changes on him. I think it’s better to indicate it as the ‘REALIZATION PERIOD’ of his life. I feel Pip has always loved his sister. Just that he never showed it openly; vice- versa with his sister. When Georgiana was hurt by Orlick, Pip’s care was revealed through his agitation as he rushed to check on his sister’s well-being. So does his sister. If Mrs. Joe(Georgiana) had been a cruel person, she wouldn’t have brought up Pip. Most of all, Joe wouldn’t have disobeyed Georgiana if she didn’t want to raise her brother. I feel Mrs. Joe really cares for Pip. Even though, with a meager income, Mrs. Joe did not abuse Pip’s earning from the odd jobs that he used to do. Pip had kept the earnings for himself. Moreover, she has sent Pip for basic education and provided him with food and shelter as well. She was a good home manager. I think the circumstances had made her to be cold in nature. Generally, everyone has their own way in presenting their love and care towards others. Pip as a child doesn’t stand a chance to understand how his sister was brought up or the tormenting moments that she might have gone through. Even in the story the author never made any effort in revealing her past. She was not being cruel. She might have become abusive towards Joe and Pip due to the stress that she had undergone while managing her home. Maybe she experienced similar treatment during her upbringing whereby she thought it is okay to behave in such way for disciplinary purpose.
ReplyDeleteMogana J38844 BPTESL6
Salam and good day everyone,after reading again and again i discovered cause of abuse related to personal revenge.hmmmm.....
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 1, the words 'My father's family' in my opinion demonstrate a family system critic is a illustration of abuse and rigid roles. Alcoholic father of Pip's stepfather beat both joe and his mother. Joe sacrifice his childhood and go to work to support his family. It is no suprise that joe accept verbal and physical abuse from his wife just to protect pip. This may due to joe doesn't want pip to go thorough what he went. Pip, of course watches joe as his role model and himself accepted verbal and physical abuses from Mrs.Joe. Another instance of psychological violence is the way in which Mrs. Joe treats Pip. She blames him for having forced her to change her life since she had to take care of Pip when their parents died and she had to marry Joe. This is the reason why Mrs. Joe makes Pip's life miserable by beating him and also constantly complaining about him being a nuisance, a burden. as for her Pip is the destroyer of her dreams of becoming a wealthy woman, so she seeks revenge to destroy his dreams. Later on pip 'falls in love' with Estella and Estella's violent behavior towards Pip can be explained by the way she was raised by Mrs. Havishman. Mrs havisham in a way was mentaly and emotinaly abuse when was left by her fiancé just before their wedding and that is why she wants to take revenge on men.
Estella is Mrs. Havishman's tool for her revenge. The old woman teaches Estella to feel contempt for men and break their heart. This example shows how violence is used psychologically by Mrs. Havisham who prevents Estella to fully demonstrate her feelings for Pip.
Estella is the daughter of Magwitch and Molly. She is separated at birth from her mother by Jaggers and handed over to Miss Havisham her foster mother. But unfortunately Estella instead of enjoying the love and affection of her "mother by adoption," ch.38 is used by her as an instrument of revenge against all men. She is constantly, mentally and emotionally abused by Miss Havisham and she reveals her mental anguish in Ch.33:
"you did not gradually open your round childish eyes wider and wider to the discovery of that impostor of a woman."
Finally, she marries Bentley Drummle who abuses her physically and mentally and is relieved when he finally dies in an accident. Ch.59:
"I had heard of her as leading a most unhappy life and as being separated from her husband, who had used with great cruelty."
Joe, Pip, Mrs Havisham and Estella are the characters in Great Expectations shows, there are abuses, revenge, sufferings and violence which can mark a person's destiny and life.
I personally agree with Mogana's view. Mrs. Joe in the novel is not an evil character who just know to cane Pip. For me, she is just using her own method to teach and take care of Pip. As Mogana said, she is a good "home manager". She cooks for Pip and we never heard Pip mentioned that he was suffer from hunger. The way Mrs. Joe portrays her love is just like the older days of the Chinese. During older days, Chinese like to use cane when looking after their children. This does not mean that they are abusing their children, is just this method of teaching children is not well accepted during our days.
ReplyDeleteWhen I did my revision on this novel for the mid-term exam, I also found that Miss Havisham is mentally abusing herself. As Tan have said, she wore the worn wedding gown, kept the cake... Somemore, she did not want to know the date and even have sunlight in her room. I strongly believe that she did not want to accept the reality that happened to her which she had been left by her loves one. She lets me feel that she is still waiting for the man to return.
Gan Siaw Fui
J38855
BPTESL SEM 6
Dear Madam,
ReplyDeleteI have classified the abuses that I have encountered while reading the novel. There are evidence of abusive words, abuse of power, abuse of trust and child abuse in this novel.
1. Abusive words
Georgiana prone to use abusive words when she scolds Pip or Joe.
For example, she called Joe ‘ a great stuck pig ‘ during one of her quarrels.
2. Abuse of power
Power can be misinterpreted in many aspects. Money shows status and the beholder of a great materialistic lifestyle. Miss Havisham showed her status and power of her wealth by treating Pip in a demeanor way. She brought Pip outside her house and fed him like a dog. Furthermore, she made Estella to humiliate Pip as often as possible about his upbringing and his poverty.
3. Abuse of trust
Miss Havisham felt betrayed when Compeyson swindled her money along with Arthur and left her all alone at her wedding altar. She felt her trust to her half brother and her fiancé had been abused so she retaliated by shunning men and trying to seek revenge with them through Estella.
4. Child abuse
There are two types of child abuse in this story; physical abuse and emotional abuse.
Georgiana might assume that all her beatings and cursing towards Pip is only for the purpose of disciplining him but in the 21st century, it is called child abuse. Even Estella went through child abuse (emotional aspect) while staying with Miss Havisham. She was trained to hate men and trick their feelings through her charm and beauty. As a child, she was not given a choice of living like a normal kid with fun and play instead her feelings were emotionally tampered in order to become a revenge machine for Miss Havisham. This is also a form of child abuse in the 21st century.
mogana(J38844) BPTESL6
abuse of trust can lead a person to harbor ill feeling and vengence. Miss Havisham is so full of vengence that she brought Estella up to dislike men and to use her beauty to inflict pain upon the men especially little Pip
ReplyDeleteAssalamualaikum,
ReplyDeleteHi puan Juridah... i also agree with Puteri's though about Estell. She has been adopted by Miss Havisham just to break men's heart. She can not do anything even she realize that she loves Pip as she has been programmed to do that since she was small. Poor Estella!! As for miss Havisham... also poor her...her fiance left her minutes before their wedding. the incident coz a revenge in Miss Havisham and indeed Estella is a true victim in the story..being mentally abused. In my opinion .. the story would be more interesting if at the of the story Pip and Estella is meant to be together and have a happy ending relationship.. get married having children... what an amazing love!!!
thank you gan..
ReplyDeleteafter reading the novel again.. i still couldn't understand why the author created such a character like Ms Haversham. this is because she was still in the midst of revenge until pip told her what she has done to estella. not until then she woke up but its too late. it's so unfair to ruin someone's life. no one has the power to control anyone.
if one's life is controlled, it's an abuse of freedom and rights!
TAN KAI LYNN BPTESL 6 (J38861)
Hi friends,
ReplyDeleteYes, it's very true that abuse has played a big role in Great Expectations. The effect of abuse suffered by each character in this novel speaks for itself. It is also made me to realize the repercussion of abuse which could be devastating. It is also tells us that abuse is not a way to exert control over any individual as it can lead to serious physical and psychological side-effects as we witness in Pip and Estella cases.
PREMITHA J38862 SEM6
Estella puts Pip in an awkward position. From the begining Estella had warned Pip don't fall in love with her, but from throughout the story, Estella never let Pip alone. She keeps enticing Pip. Whenever she goes, she will call Pip to accompany her. This giving Pip a hope that he has a chance to get Estella.
ReplyDeleteFor example in Chapter 38, once again Estella warns Pip about how dangerous she is and don't fall in love with her. She seems so care for Pip. But on the other side, she gives many chances to Pip to come near her. She even wants Pip to take her back to Miss Havisham.
How can Pip rejects such an enticing offer, take Estella back to Miss Havisham. If Estella really wants to help Pip from being hurt, she should leave Pip alone, instead she always giving hope to Pip that they have a chance to be together.
This is a kind of love abuse towards Pip. Pip wants Estella even passionate than before until Pip will do anything for her.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHema j38867
ReplyDeleteThrough my reading of Great Expectation, I have came across that the characters in the story mostly deal with feelings. I can see the feeling of unsatisfaction and anger of Mrs.Joe towards Pip. The second feeling i can see through the deep love of Pip towards Estella. Eventhough she has negleted Pip's feeling but he tried his best to change himself to win Estella's heart. The third is the hatred feeling of Ms Havisham towards men.. She has a feeling of anger because of the betrayal of her fiancee. Her feeling of anger makes her to take revenge on men through the brought-up of Estella, her adopted daughter.
Joe is one good character starts from the beginning. Mrs.Joe takes this as an advantage to take over Joe. She takes control of everything like Joe cannot handle things without her. This is a kind of abuse even though she thinks she is helping and taking care of Joe. She makes Joe so little and afraid Joe will be better than he is.
ReplyDeleteThen, after Pip become a gentleman, Pip feels ashamed of Joe because he thinks Joe's condition humiliating him. Even though Joe loves Pip more than his sister loves him. He doesn't appreciate at all. Pip has abused the love and kindness Joe has given him.
I kind of agree with kwan on Pip treatment of Joe once he became a gentleman. His new found status blinded him and made him look down upon Joe and Biddy. That is one kind of abuse which leaves no physical scar but it would have hurt Joe and Biddy very deeply.
ReplyDeletePuan Juridah, how are you? i just want to ask u something, during the 2f2f, you mentioned that you will also want us to comment on Pride & Prejudice. will you give us a topic to blog? plz let us know. thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, thank you Barisha for your comment.
ReplyDeleteThen, Pip also abused the wealth that he had received. He doesn't spend the money moderately. He is so obsessed by all those luxury until putting himself in deep debt. When he realized, he already spend all of his money.
But sometimes it happens in our society too. When suddenly become rich, usually this person will lose himself and eager to become one of those glamorous class member.
To think again..Pip I found frustrating. Why does he fall for Estella when she clearly does nothing to earn his affection? Why does he turn his back on good old Joe? He turns out all right in the end, but he makes a lot of annoying mistakes that make you want to strangle him.. all in the name of 'love'.
ReplyDeleteUpon reading all other novels, i found that the Great Expectations, was the only novel i had hard time comprehending it. However it was worth the while...truly a superb piece!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe most abused character in Great Expectation would obviously be Pip.I felt pity and cried when I imagine how Pip's life would be.
ReplyDeleteHe who is habitually mistreated, expects to be abused and is comfortable being abused (this is not the same thing as liking or wanting to be abused). Estella's cruelty fits his expectation of abuse, his sense of powerlessness, and his low self esteem, so he is drawn to her.
A variant of the expectation-of-abuse theory is that Pip's sense of guilt requires punishment, which Estella amply provides. Pip reveals the urge to punish himself when, in reaction to her treatment of him, he kicks the wall and "took a hard twist at my hair".
I believe those have gone through painful lifestyle in their younger days tend to write thosE type of novels well.
SIVASANGHARI A/P NADARAJAN
J36340
BP TESL SEM 8 ( UPM PJJ)