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Gowher Ahmad Naik, Lovely Professional University Unit 15: Great Expectations: Plot Construction

Unit 15: Great Expectations: Plot Construction Notes

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
15.1 Great Expectations: Plot Construction in Detail
15.2 Plot Overview
15.3 Summary
15.4 Keywords
15.5 Review Questions
15.6 Further Readings

Objectives

After studying this unit, you will be able to:
• Explain plot construction in detail

• Discuss overview of plot construction–Great Expectations.

Introduction

Charles Dickens is said to have explored a new ground in his novel, Great Expectations. The
theme of self-knowledge explored in the novel expresses in part Dickens’ own search for a
sense of self. May readers and historians have suggested that Pip has a touch of Dickens in
him, making the fictional book feel almost autobiographical? Structurally, the novel is a narration
by a mature and retrospective Pip. It is divided into three distinct ‘stages’, each labeled as a
specific “satge of Pip’s expectations.” In chronological fashion, these chapters trace Pip’s progress
from industrious obscurity as a child through willful idleness as an adolescent and young
adult, to a resigned and modest acceptance of his true place in society.
This is an obvious variation on the picaresque theme and carries with it many of the significant
overtones of earlier picaresque novels. The first stage introduces all the major characters and
sets the plot in motion. Pip’s situation is developed fully, including the first seeds of his desire
to be “uncommon.” It leads to the revelation by Mr. Jaggers, the lawyer, that Pip is to inherit
a huge fortune and become a gentleman. It is something Pip considers as miraculous, though
mysterious, as his patron’s identity is not to be revealed for the time being. Mr. Jaggers only
imparts to him that his benefactor has great expectations from him and so with the support
of his anonymous provider, Pip’s expectations of himself also rise, and the action shifts to
London. The second stage of Pip’s expectations, therefore, has a change of setting.
In this section, Pip’s development into a “gentleman” is explored. It describes the spendthrift
and idle way Pip squanders wealth and what kind of person he has become. On the surface
of things, Pip believes that he is living up to his great expectations. He also expects to have
Estella’s hand in marriage. But this stage of his expectations is brutally shattered when Magwitch
discloses his identity to Pip. The third stage of Pip’s expectations explores the complete collapse
of Pip’s great expectations, which are replaced by a more mature sense of life and respectability.
This section primarily constitutes his transformation, which has been at the heart of the novel.
Such a pattern of growth, development and reeducation reflects the Bildungsroman tradition
of Great Expectations.

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