Blog Post 1 by Luke Leslie

Pip's Early Maturity

Topic B

April 17

Blog Post 1 by Luke Leslie

In Charles Dicken’s, Great Expectations, we are introduced to a young orphan named Philip Pirrip. He goes by the name of Pip due to his inability to pronounce both his first and last Christian names.

Pip has never seen his parents before which is a tragedy for most kids growing up only being able to derive what they look like through their tombstone. He concludes that his mother was freckled and sickly while his dad was square and stout. Pip also had five brothers in his family who all too had passed away. While Pip was sadly staring at the graves of his family a large man threatens to cut Pip’s throat if he doesn't stop crying. The man, in a prison uniform and shackles, threatens Pip to bring him food from his home and a file for the shackles unless Pip wishes to die. Pip agrees to meet next morning and the prisoner leaves back to the marsh where he was hiding. When Pip runs home to his abusive sister and the next morning returns to the prisoner to give him his wants. One night Pip eats dinner with his sister and three guests when soldiers interrupt them because they are looking for two escaped convicts. They find the two wrestling and take them back to Jail.

The opening chapters of this book introduce us to the main character, Pip. The meeting between Pip and the escaped convict shows a significant change in the main character even though it feels like I've hardly read about him. He is a innocent young orphan who is just trying to picture his family at the beginning but is now helping an escaped convict. After the convict finishes the food Pip steals, Pip shows no regret for helping a convict but rather feels proud saying, “I am glad you enjoyed it.” Pip matures greatly throughout the meetings and forms a bond with the man which could result in a longer relationship throughout the story.