Discussion #1

Discussion was led by Henry Sledz
Note Taker: Jeremy Sharp


Question 1: Pip lives a very hard life, do you think his sister makes his life harder or do you think Pip is being an unreliable narrator?

Kevin: Yes his sister does make his life difficult, but at the same time she doesn't mean to be as harsh since she sometimes feels obligated to be a parent which comes out in a mean way.

Henry: Pip is a little bit too harsh on his sister, because she's been through even more hardships, and has been forced to raise him without any choice.

Mrs. Joe has it very hard because of her forced role as a parent at her young age. She had to grow up and become the adult of the household in the only way she knew how, this just happened to include strict discipline and harsh punishments.

Question 2: Why do you think the author made Joe the most compassionate character?

Jeremy: The author was trying to show that just because he was older, it didn't have to mean that he couldn't see things from the same point of view as Pip. They both share similar lifestyles, and are for the most part, in the same boat. I think he sees a lot of similarities between himself and Pip, which makes him more understanding of his actions and behavior.

Henry: Just because he's illiterate and poor, it doesn't mean that he's a worse or more bitter person than any other wealthy person.

Kevin: Mr. Joe sees a lot of potential in Pip, thinking that he just needs the right upbringing and influences to make something of himself.

Luke: Joe is older and has experienced many of the same things which help him to sympathize with Pip's harsh life at home. He seems to be the only true friend in Pip's life right now.

Question 3: Why do you think we were introduced to Pip in a morbid place like a cemetery?

Luke: he setting is meant to represent what Pip's life has been up to this point, which is gloominess and sadness.

Jeremy: I agree with Luke, but at the same time i think the fact that he visualizes his parents appearance solely from their tombstones shows a side of innocence and child like imagination.  I think that even with all of the hardship he's forced to deal with at his young age, he still has that little part of him that is still innocent and uncorrupted.