Analysis of Pip

In Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Pip is definitely the most important character in the novel. Pip is the protagonist, and the narrator of the story. The whole book reflects on Pip’s growth from childhood into adulthood. Throughout the entire novel, there are two different Pips. There is the Pip who is narrating the story, and the Pip who is in the story. During the book, the reader sees the Pip in the story grow into a young man, and gets to witness the older, mature Pip narrating his life. Pip can be both immature and mature. Pip is immature for dreaming about falling in love with Estella, and knowing that this will never happen. However, Pip is very mature. Pip illustrates his maturity by showing kindness to Magwitch in the first chapter of the book. The obvious choice was to tell the police that there was a convict on the loose. Instead, Pip does as he’s told, and the convict does not starve to death. This leads to Magwitch wanting to repay Pip for his kindness toward him in the marshes. After many years, Magwitch earns a fortune in Australia and becomes Pip’s secret benefactor. Later on, Pip becomes Herbert Pocket’s secret benefactor and buys his way into his business. After Pip finally becomes a gentleman, he starts to treat Joe and Biddy snobbishly and coldly when he visits them. This shows Pip’s immature side. Once Pip realizes what he has done, he finally apologizes to Joe and Biddy for being rude and grows into a mature young man.