Great Expectations

Rating:
Summary: Struggle for Contentment
Review: Contentment in life is a struggle; in "Great Expectations," by Charles Dickens, a young boy is faced with disappointed expectations of ambition and desire for social self-improvement. Set in the mid-nineteenth century in Kent and London, England, social class is portrayed as utmost importance. For young orphaned Philip Pirrip-Pipp- life is a struggle of realization of the real world and place in life as well as culture. Through traumatic events, mishaps and altered expectations to the truth, Pipp learns that social improvement is irrelevant to one's real worth.

The reoccurring motif in, "Great Expectations," is in direct relation to the major them of self-improvement through social class. Through characters, places, and infatuations, this motif is prominent. Miss. Havisham, Estella, the Satis House, and Bently Drummle all introduce different levels and perceptions of social class of the 1800's. Bentley Drummle represents the grotesque side of high class, Miss. Havisham and Estella are the quintessence of the highly educated, lavish and greatly respected side of the upper class, and the Satis House is merely the embodiment of the riches young Pipp adores and idolizes. Each character not only adds to Pipp's life long obsession of social well being, but life lessons learned in his battle for fulfillment.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect in everything, even in two endings
Review: From the moment I discovered that "Great Expectations" was a mandatory book to read in many high schools I thought that I belonged to those happy people on whom, by good luck, it hadn't been forced in their teenage years. I do not think that even if it had, the novel wouldn't have brought me pleasure later, when I grew up, but my past experience with it would have certainly impeded taking the book in my hands again. There is little doubt that in many cases high school stifles the willingness to read literature (not "bestsellers", however) when young people are confronted with such serious and complex works as "Great Expectations".

The situation with "Great Expectations" is similar to that when a high school student is forced to read a fairly technical textbook on contemporary physics: there are chances that he or she will like or even be enthralled by some ideas in the book, but inability to follow and understand details (although symbols might be recognised) will almost certainly produce a negative opinion of it in the end.

"Great Expectations" is one of the greatest novels I have ever read. Often humorous, with a carefully planned structure and set of heroes, wonderful narration and an unmatched appeal to senses, it reveals a story of unrequited love, an affair which now stands out as one of the most painful in classical literature. The complex relationship of the principal heroes - Pip, a touchingly honest and faithful young gentleman, and Estella, his beautiful and highbrow tormentor, are at the heart of the plot. But such original figures as Miss Havisham, Mr Jaggers, Mr Pumblechook, Joe Gargery and Biddy supply a rich background - each of them being a perfect example of a character in literature. For, as Alphonse Daudet noted, "It is the business of the novelist to create characters, not to write fine prose". Though Dickens' fine prose is also above all praises.

But "Great Expectations" is much more than a simple romance - it is a great life lesson. Why do people "destined for each other" often end up being apart? What makes us break other people's hearts? How long will true love last? What obstacles surmount?

Rating:
Summary: This is a story about a dreamer, Ingenue, passionate boy.
Review: Astonishingly this book joins passion and soul with dreams, i bought this book since i saw the movie and i just tought i needed to go deep inside, as a personal review, i've always enterteined the vogus idea to get an analogous life experience so this story might be great for those who dream with going ahead, this story is also helpful to find out for certain that you can see your dreams comming true from where you're least expecting.

Rating:
Summary: "Who taught me to be hard?" ...
Review: * * * * * * * * *
"Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our
tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust
of earth, overlying our hard hearts. I was better
after I had cried, than before -- more sorry,
more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle."
* * * * * * * * *
Ah, Pip...ah, humanity... there is so much richness
and depth here, that it is a real sadness to read of
reactions of boredom and "not his best"... somehow
one feels that such reactions are as much an injustice
to Dickens and this work as Pip's reactions to Joe and
Pip's former life at the blacksmith's, once Pip has come
into his "handsome property"...
There is so much to learn from in this work...perhaps
learning which comes from experience...which deepens
and enriches this work, if one comes back to it...I
first read it in the textbook of a highschool English
class...it was enriched with black-and-white photographs
taken from David Lean's film version of this novel...
At that time, the things that seemed interesting were
the bizarre and suspenseful elements...the convict, the
cemetery, Miss Havisham, the manor house of Miss
Havisham...Satis House..."enough house"...where
"the cold wind seemed to blow colder there"...the
young lady, who was very pretty and seemed very
proud ("beautiful and self-possessed; and she was as
scornful of me as if she had been one-and-twenty,
and a queen")...Estella...ah, but one cannot know at such
an age...with little experience...that such haughtiness
can reside within the male as well...such cold, removed,
unfeeling calculation and manipulation...which is aware
of talk of "sentiments," but which has no feeling or real
understanding of them...
Now, years later, much more depth resides within these
wondrous lines and images...much more wisdom...much more
pain...for it is in the larger flow and shapings within
this world, that the real meaning emerges...the effects
of perceived poverty...the effects of scorn and
renouncing...the effects of envy and condescension...
it is not so much a study of the effects of class
consciousness as rather a world attuned only to its own
self awareness and self attainment... a world of
detached selfishness...fueled by money, prestige,
and heartless, relentless vanity...and the effects
upon a young boy who is sensitive and keenly aware
of injustice...and yet, that same young boy can fall
victim to the effects of the world around him...he,
too, can become hard and condescending and snobbish...
towards those who have cared for him...have valued
him...have loved him...without his knowing...or
understanding, until later...in hindsight...as he
recounts this tale of his forward propulsion, fueled
by a secret benefactor and supposed "great expectations"...
"I think I would have gone through a great deal to kiss
her cheek. But, I felt that the kiss was given to the
coarse common boy as a piece of money might have
been, and that it was worth nothing."
* * * * * * * * *

Rating:
Summary: Good...but not his best
Review: Although I rated this book four stars, I wish there was a three and one-half star rating- that's what I'd really like to give it. Dickens is one of my favorite novelists, and normally I am passionately enthusiastic about his books, but I could only manage to get slightly warmer than lukewarm about this middling novel. Overall, it wasn't bad- it is, in fact, one I wouldn't mind rereading in future. However, I didn't think it was quite as good as many of Dickens' other works. The plot, while not bad or boring, was not as suspenseful and intriguing as that of "Oliver Twist", as slowly but enjoyably developing as that of "David Copperfield", or as wonderfully tantalizing and gripping as that of "Bleak House." The characters, while not hopelessly mediocre or bland, were not nearly as likeable and were much more forgettable than those of other Dickens novels. Although Pip was not a bad protagonist, I did not enjoy or like him as much as I did, say, Oliver Twist or Esther Summerson. Likewise, his character development, while interesting, was not, to my mind, as good or as interesting as that which is undergone by David Copperfield, a hero who I liked better than, and with whom I could sympathize more than with Pip. Estella and Miss Havisham, while interesting, did not add much to the plot, and when it comes to criminals those of "Oliver Twist", are, in my opinion, more memorable, and in many ways, more sympathetic than Magwitch. While not a thoroughly forgettable or bad book, I wouldn't reccommend it to first time Dickens readers- it may discourage them from reading more. Wait until you've read one or two of his better novels, such as "Oliver Twist" or "Bleak House." Then come to this one- only don't come with expectations that are TOO terribly great.

Rating:
Summary: Expectations Prevail
Review: I think that the character development alone makes this novel stand out as one of the best novels of Charles Dickens. The plot summary is also well-crafted, with so many characters intertwining in the books final chapters. We see a personality change in not only Pip, but other major characters such as Estella and Miss Havisham, as we find out that they are all connected in some way.
This book might be seen as a rather long and detailed book. Some of the details are probably overdone and unnecessary. This is definitely a book that takes some getting used to. However, I think that one of the morals of the book-- understanding your roots and accepting them-- make this a great book to read.
The many characters contrast each other in so many ways, and there are so many good and bad characters, that it becomes a fun book to read. However, you must have patience to read a book this long and detailed.
I think this book is well-written (some of the language is a little tough), and Dickens exposes his great writing ability and his abilty to deal with a complex plot and make it all come together in Great Expectations.

Rating:
Summary: Tip Top
Review: There are two main sorts of novel - those that end quite happily and satisfactorily, with everything essentially "working out" for the better and most great problems resolved. The second kind is quite the opposite, an about-face, and of course "Great Expectations" would fall into the latter category. It's only main tender-bellied spot for me to prod with critique would be the fairly obvious plot unfolding, even to someone unfamiliar with the story as I was.

As so often happens with "classics", in the end the main characters end up being one another's long lost aunts or cousins, fathers, daughters, stepmothers, caretakers, lovers, or perhaps the cause of misery to one or many, of course all unbeknownst and hidden until you happen to stumble in on their story. That's not really giving anything away, for those that are worried. And it is not to say that Dickens was unoriginal with this one, because it's a fantastic read, but that he's had better - even in the form of "Oliver Twist".

Those that like the happy ending shouldn't really be too interested. Those who like ..., intrigue - um, stay away too. The heart of this pup is dialogue and the torture of internal thoughts and personal dissatisfaction. The protagonist is poor, so desperately wants to be a gent and have "expectations", ... The guy doesn't get the girl. No real living happily ever after. But I don't see why that's necessary.

Rating:
Summary: Does Give Great Expectations
Review: Great Expectations is a really good book. The plot is suspensful and you don't know what to expect. Also, the main characters are all very well developed. Like I said before it is really good, but if you don't like the classics don't bother because then it will be very boring.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding - one of my all-time favorites!
Review: What can I say that hasn't been said already? "Great Expectations" is a tremendous novel from the introductory paragraph to the final sentences. The plot is deep and intricate, and there's even a surprising plot revelation occuring late in the book about the origin of Pip's wealth and opportunity in life. The characters are all well-defined and inherently interesting, and such major characters as Pip, Estella, Joe, Miss Havisham, and others vividly live in the mind. Even minor characters such as Mrs. Joe and the Aged Person are memorable and amusing. The novel's storyline, beginning with Pip's early childhood and ending in his late middle age, is epic in breadth. "Great Expectations" treats the reader to a delightful plot and scene for all of its five hundred pages.

Even better, however, is the brilliant prose Dickens gives us in the novel. It is humorous, moving, touching, witty, clever, and always perfectly phrased. Never for a single second does the reader feel bored. Like many great works of literature, there are plenty of moments where the writing is almost awe-inspiring in its beauty and language. With a talent as great as Dickens, one could write about almost anything and it would be tremendous reading. When paired with the brilliant plot of "Great Expectations," it feels almost heaven-sent.

Many readers see the term "classic" on a novel and feel that it becomes a type of chore, and add it to a laundry list of literature that somebody felt would be good for them. "Great Expectations" is a classic, but it's not at all the literary equivalent of medicine. It's a delightful treat, and a quick read despite its length. I can't imagine reading this and not treasuring it. It is, quite simply, fantastic.

Rating:
Summary: Not quite as good as I expected, but not bad
Review: This is one of Dickens's better known classics, though not his best. The theme is worthy enough of study, though, and the reading is enjoyable. Recommended.