Charles Dickens Influence

Virtually every parent has spoken these words to their children: “Why did you do that?”, and inevitably, the response was, “I don’t know.” What if they were right? As a matter of fact, countless people believe that actions and intentions can be caused by the influences that encompass a person. Furthermore, this social influence theory is displayed in Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, as both primary and secondary characters alike seem to be swayed by the connections that surround them. As a child, the main protagonist Pip endures consequential circumstances and is shaped by countless, diverse influences. So the question is: How many of Pip’s thoughts and actions are truly his own? Just as Dickens advises the reader to “think for a …show more content…
In the complex novel Great Expectations, the author Charles Dickens reveals the notion that the influences a person allows into one’s life are the greatest determinants of actions and intentions. Throughout the novel, characters are influenced by the actions and intentions of other characters. In particular, both Miss. Havisham and Pip allow other people to influence their action and intention in excessive ways, leading to great suffering and disappointment. Notably, Miss Havisham’s complete character is afflicted by the man she thought loved her, but rather betrayed her. Therefore, his influence upon her made her cold at heart and act out of animosity towards others. In the novel, Pip’s friend Herbert explains to Pip what he knew of …show more content…
To illustrate, Estella legitimately believes that she bears no emotional heart, and that is the reason she cannot genuinely love anyone, including Pip. In fact, Estella explains to Pip, “Oh! I have a heart to be stabbed in or shot in, I have no doubt,’ said Estella, ‘and of course if it ceased to beat I should cease to be. But you know what I mean. I have no softness there, no -- sympathy -- sentiment -- nonsense’“ (237). Estella then continues to use this notion to push Pip further away from her, and eventually leads her to marry a man who abuses her. As a result of Estella’s fictitious perception of herself, her actions and intentions stem from a false concept that is seeded inside her conscious mind. Similarly, Magwitch encounters the same kind of idea driven actions and motives, except he is convinced that he can live the life he wishes he had through Pip by making him a gentleman. Just as a parent likes to push their children to do and be things that they wanted to be growing up but couldn’t, Magwitch was not able to be a gentleman with an education, wealth or high status, so he gives Pip everything with the hope that Pip can be the gentleman he could not. Not only does Magwitch tells Pip that he is his “second father”, but he continues by stating, “If I ain’t a gentleman, nor yet ain’t got no learning, I’m the owner of such” (320,321).