Great Expectations is a novel which, in its first part, focuses largely on the upbringing and education of a young boy, Pip. Orphaned at a very young age, he was raised “by hand” by his older sister and her husband, a blacksmith. Written from the adult Pip's point of view, the novel describes his limited education under Wopsle's aunt, as well as his apprenticeship in Joe's forge. His moral education is left to his sister, whose main teaching is that Pip should never have been born to torment his life with worries, and a few lines from the Catechism, whose message is to "walk in the same way every day of your life." Pip follows religiously, taking the same route home every day. In all of his education, one aspect is conspicuously absent: the indoctrination of a spiritual code or set of beliefs. Indeed, throughout the novel, Pip seems unaware of the higher purpose of his actions and circumstances, and most of the philosophical thinking in the narrative comes from Pip the Narrator, writing later. Because of this obvious absence, the first mention of something with spiritual significance is important. For Pip, this is not a teaching of the Church, but rather his own domestic space. Embracing this space would perhaps be Pip's best chance at happiness, but instead he rejects it. Pip's rejection of "sacred domesticity" occurs three times early in his life and leaves him vulnerable to external forces that threaten to take away control of his own destiny. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Before Pip is even aware of the sanctity of his house, he violates that sanctity by stealing food for the convict. This is one of Pip's first actions narrated by his older self, and the first example the reader sees of his loss of control over his own actions. However, although in his mind he is compelled without recourse to commit this theft, the extent to which he carries out his orders shows a deliberate violation of the sacred space of the kitchen. As he explains: “I was about to leave without the pie, but I was tempted to go up to a shelf, look at what was arranged so neatly in a covered earthenware dish in the corner, and I found out it was the pie. , and I took it, in the hope that... it would not be missed for a while" (52). Firstly, the condemned did not specify the quantity to take and Pip had already removed some bread , cheese, minced meat, brandy and a meat bone Taking the pie is Pip's choice; he says he is "tempted" to turn around and climb the shelf. greater importance than all other foods; it will be the crowning glory of the next Christmas dinner Assuming that young Pip had no choice but to take a certain amount of food (as he believes and is led to believe). reader), taking the bare minimum, perhaps bread and cheese and a piece of meat, would have made him a victim of a convict, rather than a criminal, as he feels in his heart When he takes. the cake is perhaps unconsciously out of spite towards his sister, but whatever his motive, this choice serves to a certain extent to regain control: he is capable of choosing what he will steal. the rejection of sacred domesticity occurs when he begins to be ashamed of his home and to wish for a different life. He said: "Home was never a very pleasant place for me...but Joe had sanctified it...I had believed in the front door, as the mysterious portal to the State Temple ...I had thought of the kitchen as a chaste apartment but notMagnificent ; I had believed in the forge as the luminous path to virility and independence” (140). Ironically, it is only when he realizes this that he feels he must turn away from it. The last sentence of this passage is significant in that if the forge represents manhood and independence, then rejecting this physical structure means rejecting these ideals as well. Pip does not do this consciously; he never states that he doesn't want to be a man or independent, but in the years following his realization, these things are not a priority, and his actions reveal this. He enjoys the independence of his new fortune, but only to the extent that they take him away from home and closer to the vague position of a "gentleman." He lives extravagantly from this “independence” but does not work to guarantee it for the future. And by not working, he is actually more dependent than the smallest blacksmith. When Pip moves to London, and during his residence with Herbert Pocket, Pip becomes a man in terms of years, but age does not bring maturity. He never mentions any pride in being a man and lives far beyond his means, lacking the wisdom to curb his extravagance. Pip rejects domesticity, but would have been financially stable and more independent if he had not. Having rejected sacred domesticity in thought, he finally rejects it in action when he moves to London to obtain his gentleman's education. Pip trades his potential for domestic happiness for his expectations. Although he thinks this is a positive change in his life, he is actually more uncertain than ever. He says of his expectations: “And at best, how indefinite and unsatisfactory, only to know so vaguely what they are” (277). The very word “waiting” implies an indefinite end, because this end depends on external forces. Pip simply expects events to happen, rather than working towards an end goal. His vision is reflected in his roommate Herbert, who “always watches around him” for his fortune. He expects his fortune to be built through opportunity, rather than making it himself. Pip is even less active; while Herbert dreams of making capital to invest, Pip simply lives his life day by day, only doing what he is told. He tells Herbert, “I cannot tell you how dependent and uncertain I feel, and exposed to hundreds of chances” (277). By putting his future entirely in the hands of others, Pip allows others to take control of his life story. When Pip learns of his great expectations, his life's higher purpose shifts from the glory of manhood and independence to a dependence on Fortune. He increasingly turns to this changing deity for meaning and support. Pip said to Herbert: “I know that I have done nothing to rise in life, and that only Fortune has raised me; it’s very lucky” (277). Until he realizes his expectations, Pip seems to have no concept of fate or fortune, and their mention is noticeably absent in the first part of the novel. However, Pip credits Fortune as the most important thing that ever happened to him. In this sentence, he also rejects his upbringing by Mrs. Joe: he claims to have been "raised by fortune", echoing the phrase "raised by hand" that he heard repeatedly throughout his childhood . For Pip, being raised by fortune is much nicer than being raised by the hand, which for him means being constantly subjected to punishment. Nonetheless, Pip's rejection of sacred domesticity in favor of his expectations is problematic because it does not help him in any way. control his own destiny and does not bring him happiness. He even thinks, at one point, that “, 1998.