论文总字数：37024字

本科毕业设计(论文)

学生姓名 袁文娟 学 号：2401150121

所在学院： 外国语言文学学院

专 业：英语

设计(论文)题目：Growth of an Orphan: A Critical Analysis of the Effect of Environment on Pip in Great Expectations

一个孤儿的成长：分析环境对《远大前程》中皮普的影响

指导教师：耿晓京

2019 年 6 月

Growth of an Orphan: A Critical Analysis of the Effect of Environment on Pip in Great Expectations

by

Yuan Wenjuan

Under the Supervision of

Geng Xiaojing

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for

the Degree of Bachelor of Arts

English Department

School of Foreign Languages and Literature

Nanjing Tech University

June, 2019

Declaration

I solemnly declare that the dissertation submitted is completed by myself under the guidance of the supervisor. Except for the content already marked in the paper, it does not include any materials previously written or published by other individuals or collectives or materials that I have used to obtain other degrees or diplomas.

Signature:

Name: Yuan Wenjuan

袁文娟

Date: May 30^th, 2019

Table of Contents

Abstract (English) i

Abstract (Chinese) ii

1. Introduction 1

1.1 Research background 1

1.2 Literature review 1

1.2. 1 The research status of foreign countries 1

1.2. 2 The research status of China 3

2. Theoretical Basis: the Theory of Bildungsroman 5

2.1 Definition, origin and development 5

2.2 Characteristics and emphasis on the effects of environment 5

3. Effects of the Society on Pip in His Growth 7

3.1 A brief introduction to the Victoria era 7

3.2 Pip’s growth under the effects of society 8

4. Effects of Other Characters on Pip in His Growth 10

4.1 The hypocrisy in the village 10

4.2 The love in the village 11

4.3 People who exerted negative effects on Pip in London 12

4.4 People who exerted positive effects on Pip in London 13

5. Conclusion 15

Works Cited 17

Acknowledgments 18

Abstract (English)

Charles Dickens is a great writer of critical realism in the 19th century in Britain. He has created a large number of works throughout his life, in which described the social life of the British Victorian era and exposed the injustice and evils of the money world of the bourgeoisie. Great Expectations is a classic of growth novels, which mainly depicts the ups and downs of the growth of an orphan, who was born under the capitalist system. Bildungsroman originated in Germany in the turn of 18^th and 19^th century, and then continued to develop into a new genre of novel. Bildungsroman focuses on the growth of the protagonist from childhood to adulthood, highlighting the significant effect of the environment on people. Based on the theory of Bildungsroman, the thesis is to analyze the influence of various environmental factors on the growth of the protagonist in Great Expectations, and further explores the power of critical realism of Dickens, so that readers can better understand the masterpiece.

The full thesis is divided into five parts. The first chapter introduces Dickens and Great Expectations, and summarizes the previous research on Great Expectations of scholars. The second chapter claims the theoretical basis of the education novel from the aspects of definition, origin, development and characteristics. The third chapter briefly introduces the Victorian era and analyzes the influence of the overall background and social atmosphere on the growth of the protagonist, Pip. The fourth chapter divides the people around Pip into four categories and analyzes their impacts on his growth. The last chapter concludes that the social environment has a vital impact on a person's growth. Encountering the complicated environment, one should learn to understand himself and stick to his principles, so that he can make the right choice and gain more.

Keywords: Bildungsroman; Great Expectations; environment

Abstract (Chinese)

查尔斯·狄更斯是英国十九世纪伟大的批判现实主义作家，一生创作了大量作品，广泛描写了英国维多利亚时代的社会生活，揭露了资产阶级金钱世界的种种罪恶。《远大前程》主要描绘了资本主义制度下出生贫穷的孤儿皮普跌宕起伏的成长经历，是成长小说经典之作。成长小说起源于18世纪末19世纪初的德国，随后不断发展，成为一种新的小说流派。成长小说聚焦主人公从幼年到成年的成长，突出表现了环境对人的重大影响。本文主要是在成长小说理论的基础上，结合成长小说的特点，分析各种环境因素对《远大前程》中主人公皮普成长历程的影响，进而揭示了狄更斯批判现实主义的强大力量，使读者更深入理解《远大前程》这一经典作品。

全文共有五章。第一章介绍了狄更斯和《远大前程》的基本情况，以及综述了学者们对《远大前程》的研究。第二章从定义、起源、发展和特点几个方面论述了成长小说的理论基础。第三章简要介绍了维多利亚时代，并且分析了整体时代背景和社会氛围对主人公皮普成长的影响。第四章将皮普身边的人物分成了四类，分别分析他们对于皮普成长的影响。第五章是结论，即社会环境对一个人的成长有着至关重要的影响，面对纷繁复杂的环境，一个人应该学会认识自己并做到坚守本心，才能做出正确的选择，获得更好的成长。

关键词：成长小说理论； 《远大前程》； 环境

Introduction

Research background

Charles John Huffam Dickens, who has written a great amount of masterpieces including novels and non-fiction articles, is one of the most famous British writers in the history. He was a popular writer who enjoyed a good reputation at that time and his works are still widely read today. Born in an extremely poor family, Dickens was greatly influenced by his hard childhood, which made him become one of the outstanding critical realism writers in the history of literature in Britain. His works are full of brilliant, witty humor and nuanced psychoanalysis, which made many of his characters be forever alive in the readers’ heart. Fellow writers praised Dickens for his realism and prose style.

Great Expectations is a literal masterpiece of the world, which has been popular since its publication and is still universally read nowadays. Chapman and Hall published the novel in three volumes after its first publication as a serial in Dickens’ weekly periodical. Set in Britain in the early mid-19th century, the novel depicts the personal growth of an orphan nicknamed Pip. Besides Pip, various lively characters from different classes were also created, such as the impatient and hypocritical Mrs. Gargery, the pretty but arrogant Estella, and the kind and helpful Joe, who exerted indispensable influence on Pip’s growth and life. The theme of the novel reflects Dickens’ critical thinking about poverty and wealth, hatred and love. The happy ending shows the author’s positive expectations for the reality.

Literature review

1.2. 1 The research status of foreign countries

Great Expectations has become a focus among many scholars soon since it was published. Since the 19th century, western scholars have started researching on the novel, but their comments and reviews differ. Some critics think that Great Expectations remains the style of Dickens while its characters are more vivid and the structure of plot is very rigorous. But others criticize that the plot is unreasonably structured and the characters are stilted and eccentric. Compared with Dickens’ earlier work, it is tasteless and tiresome.

According to the materials in foreign languages I have consulted, the scholars who research on Great Expectations mainly focus on the following aspects: social history, text language, character image and expression techniques.

The researchers have noticed that Darwin’s theory of evolution has influence on Dickens’ Great Expectations. For instance, in Meditating on the Low: A Darwinian Reading of Great Expectations, Goldie Morgentaler (1998) represents the transition of Dickens’ point of view on personality forming by genetic determinism to environmental determinism from A Tale of Two Cities to Great Expectations with the influence of Darwin. She points out that Miss Havisham is a symbol of British economy at that time. The development of Victorian society changed the traditional way of women’s investing and also influenced the ambitions and aspirations of young people like Pip. The ruined Satis House, the beer factory and the history of Havisham’s failed investment have all shown Dickens’ knowledge and comments on the economy at that time.

At the end of Great Expectations, Orlick tricks Pip into a lime house with the intention of killing him. Before the murder, Orlick berates Pip for making him lose his job, forcing him to attack Mrs. Joe and thus being expelled from the country. He mocks Pip for using only one type of handwriting, while his new accomplice, Compeyson, can use fifty types. In Sneaking You as Writes but One: A Note on Forgery and Identity in Great Expectations, Marie McAllister (2008) points out that this angry sneer reveals a deeper meaning that the speaker has not yet realized. Compeyson’s knack for forgery reveals his nature: a liar under a gentlemanly shell, a betrayer of Magwitch, and a cheat of Miss Havisham. On the contrary, Pip does not have the capacity to write fifty types of handwriting, which also hints at his consistent nature. Due to Estella, Pip once tried to become an upper-class gentleman, wearing different clothes and in different accents. That is using another type of handwriting. But Pip finally learns the value of Joe, so he forgives Miss Havisham and corrects his mistakes. Pip has never completely lost the nature of good.

In Estela's character in the Great Expectations, Lucile P Shores (1998) puts forward that although Estella is regarded as cold and cruel, she always keeps her real feelings and sincerity when she gets along with Pip. Estella was insolent and arrogant influenced by Miss Havisham, but she has always been kind to Pip in her own way. Estella knows that she has been twisted and destroyed by Miss Havisham, and she was ashamed of herself. Therefore, she sincerely warned Pip to stay away from her for many times. It is true that she wants to escape from her adoptive mother’s control, but more importantly, she doesn’t think she is good enough for Pip.

In The Literary Orphan as National Hero: Huck and Pip, Hana Wirth-Nesher (1996) compares Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn with Pip, pointing out that the two orphans have many similarities: They are both in a low social class. Their names both show the unimportant status, and they both harbor strong expectations for the future. Pip desires to enter the upper class and become a gentleman, while Huckleberry wants to deviate from society and get rid of the pollution of civilization. One seeks social status, while the other escapes from the civilization. The author thinks that the difference between the two orphans symbolizes the discrepancies in social and cultural identity between Great Britain and the United States.

In terms of imagery and theme in Great Expectations, Robert Barnard (1998) discusses the functions of images of prisons and animals in Great Expectations. He believes that the change of images is used by the author to imply the transfer of evil from one character to another. Barnard argues that the evil of one character pollutes another. The characters are all linked by a chain of guilt and corruption.

1.2. 2 The research status of China

Chinese readers’ exposure to Dickens started in the early 20th century. In the Republic of China, there were some comments on Great Expectations. During this period, the comments on Great Expectations are not concentrated and profound enough, only limited to the translation and introduction of foreign materials. Independent researches have not been carried out. In fact, the deep and prosperous domestic researches on Great Expectations began after the foundation of new China. At the beginning of new China, influenced by the Soviet Union, our country’s scholars attach great importance to Dickens. In 1962, the 150th anniversary of the birth of Dickens, a climax of researches has formed. Great Expectations also drew the attention of the researchers at this time. But until now, the focus in the study of Dickens’ novels has always been A Tale of Two Cities, and there are a few achievements about the study of Great Expectations.

In terms of domestic books about history of literature, the writer mainly refers to the Foreign Literature Course (2007), the Outline of World Literature History (2000) edited by Jiang Chengyong, the History of World Literature (1997) edited by Zhang Liangcun. In most of these works, the theme of Great Expectations is summarized as the corruption of human nature by money and the disillusionment of ciphers in the capitalist society. In the Brief History of Foreign Literature, Yang Jiangxian evaluates this work as “a work with profound social significance and artistic appeal” (Yang, 2003:98), and “emphasizing that people should live an upright and honest life” (Ibid.). These papers either expound and criticize the characteristics of the certain times reflected in the work and analyze the influence of the work related to Dickens’ thoughts and theories, or discuss the features of narrative, structure of plot and characterization of the novel.

As for Dickens’ thoughts, in On the Male Consciousness of Dickens in Great Expectations, Guo Rong (2008) points out that Dickens is not a writer who discriminated against women. In his daily life, he loved and respected them, willing to take care of them. However, in his works, intentionally or unintentionally, he always demeans them, and puts them under the control of men. In Dickens’ works, men can actualize themselves, but the plights of women are caused by irreversible event (Estella is economically controlled by her adoptive mother). Besides, women are faced with the risk of abuse.

2. Theoretical Basis: the Theory of Bildungsroman

2.1 Definition, origin and development

The original meaning of the bild of which was model, so in German, Bildungsroman means novel of education. Gradually, it was universally accepted by litterateurs and philosophers and it refers to a specific literary genre. There appeared a great number of masterpieces of Bildungsroman in history, which made it become a significant constituent of world literature. It was prevalent in Britain in the 19th century. Especially in Victoria era, the education function of Bildungsroman was emphasized on the basis of the traditional type. In fact, there is no clear definition of Bildungsroman, because the connotation of it is enriched with the development of society and literary theory and experts have not reach a consensus.

2.2 Characteristics and emphasis on the effects of environment

There are some typical characteristics of this genre of masterpieces. A novel of Bildungsroman mainly describes the protagonist’s experience from childhood to adulthood and shows his physical and psychological growth. In the beginning, the protagonist is a pure child. Then he gets away from the place that he is familiar with and is exposed to a new environment for some reasons. The protagonist is bound to meet many difficulties, but he would grow after he overcomes all hardship and pain or in the process of it. Therefore, different from biographies, heroes in Bildungsroman are dynamic images, not static ones.

Although the hero’s nature and his self-exploration contribute to his growth and transformation, it cannot be denied that the effects of environment play an indispensable role. To see from a macroscopic perspective, growth of the hero is achieved in the process of interaction between him and the society, so the overall social atmosphere and time background exert significant influence on the protagonist. In Bildungsroman, apart from the hero, other characters created by author can be called initiation mentors who affect the hero in different ways. No matter what relations they have with the hero, such as relatives, friends, lovers or even enemies, they cannot be ignored in the growth of the hero. Certainly, some of them are positive guides who help the hero overcome difficulties and achieve his goals, while others are negative ones who sharpen the conflict between the hero and the society and may lead him to inanity and puzzlement.

3. Effects of the Society on Pip in His Growth

3.1 A brief introduction to the Victoria era

The era was the culmination of the British Industrial Revolution and formed the golden age of the British Empire, together with the Edwardian era. During the 63 years of her rule, as a model of morality in that era, Queen Victoria fulfilled the constitutional monarchy and was deeply loved by the nation. During this period, electricity began to be used as an energy source and science and technology developed rapidly, so the second industrial revolution began. The industrial revolution promoted the rapid development of capitalism and the rise of the bourgeoisie, which triggered changes and reforms in all aspects of society.

In industry, London became a place which was filled with various factories and their smoke. The system of capitalist was gradually developed. Meanwhile, the negative aspects of capitalism were revealed. Values such as money supremacy, egoism and utilitarianism became prevalent, and social contradictions were prominent.

Britain is a nation which traditionally has strict hierarchy. At the beginning of Victoria age, the economy and politics were controlled by the aristocrats, and they used hereditary system to give their wealth and power to their descendants, so they kept the ruling status. Family names represented dignity and glory, and it was of great significance for the aristocrats.

Gentleman was an important concept emphasized by the aristocrats. At first, there was only the men of the dominant class, that is the aristocrats, could be called gentlemen. They were considered to be wealthy, dignity, well-educated and knowledgeable. They were born to be gentlemen and the moral values of noblesse were the soul of them. In the Victoria age, with the rise of the bourgeoisie, the economic and political influence of the aristocrats declined. However, they were still the ruling class in culture. With the development of capitalism, the bourgeoisie or the middle class people occupied a great amount of wealth, but they still desired to raise their status in culture, so they endowed the concept of gentleman with new connotation. This kind of gentleman stressed wealth and respectable life, so everyone could be a gentleman as long as he owed enough money regardless of his moral value.

3.2 Pip’s growth under the effects of society

When analyze Pip in Great Expectations, the readers have a chance to see the panorama of the society in Victoria age. It was full of rapid changes and serious contradictions. The aristocrats firmly believed that they were superior to any other classes, while the middle class tried to enhance their political and culture influence. The extreme unbalance of social hierarchy led to the inequity and injustice and some dark sides of the society, such as prudery, hypocrisy, sexual oppression and rigid social control. Pip was a pure and innocent child in the beginning. Lacking of education and right guide, his value and identity had not been formed. Under such social environment, his desire to be a gentleman could be taken for granted, though his love for Estella was the trigger.

In fact, two important characters, Miss Havisham and Magwitch, who exerted great influence on Pip, were also the products of the society. They were not born to be such persons or to take such actions.

Miss Havisham once deeply loved Compeyson, but he deceived her and abandoned her for the reason of money. Her happiness was destroyed by Compeyson and she had no chance to change her destiny mainly due to the inferiority of women at that time, so she chose to take revenge. She tortured others as well as herself. She was an eccentric woman for little Pip because of her special house, strange clothes and unpredictable temper. However, little Pip did not discover her cruelty and even mistakenly considered her to be his benefactor. Estella, Miss Havisham’s adoptive daughter was just her tool of revenge. She cultivated Estella to be a woman who did not understand true love. Her goal of taking revenge on men was achieved, but the life of Estella was also destroyed. Because Pip’s love and his Great Expectations were distorted even controlled by Miss Havisham’s hatred for men and the society, His great future is doomed to disillusionment.

Magwitch, Pip’s true benefactor, who provided Pip with financial help and sent him to London to study, was actually a criminal. He worked under terrible condition, but he still determined to help Pip to become a gentleman. It was true that Pip once helped Magwitch when he was a little child under Magwitch’s threat, but it was not the main reason of Magwitch’s action. Born to be poor, Magwitch led a miserable childhood. He was homeless and did not have enough food to eat, so he had no choice but to be a thief in order to survive. Expecting to change his life, he met Compeyson, who only led him to worse condition. Compeyson was a ruthless and cunning business man, who made good use of him and led him to the jail. As the law in capitalism society is beneficial to the bourgeoisie, Magwitch was sentenced to longer time of imprisonment than Compeyson although he was only an accessory. Magwitch believed it was his low social class that made him suffer a lot in this unfair society. Only gentlemen could enjoy the privileges and lead respectable life. He could not be a gentleman himself any more, but he chose Pip who once helped him. He desired to prove that he, as a criminal, could cultivate a gentleman who used to be a poor child from lower class. To some extent, it was his revenge on the society, though it was milder way, compared to that of Miss Havisham.

2. Effects of Other Characters on Pip in His Growth

4.1 The hypocrisy in the village

It is known to all that Pip did not have parents. He lived with his sister, who should have played a role of mother and taken good care of him. However, she was never patient or kind to Pip. It was common for her to bully and maltreat Pip. Her husband, Joe Gargery was a nice man, who was kind to Pip. However, Pip’s sister was the dominator of the family. Joe had to tolerate her bad temper, and he had no say at home. Home became a bad place that could not give Pip any warmth and love, so he even preferred to stay at the graveyard. Pip could either escape his sister or turn to her help when he got into trouble. For his sister, Pip was just a tool to get praise and reputation rather than a dear little brother. She always exaggerated that it was her who brought Pip up with great hardship and toils in order to establish her selfless image in front of neighbors and outsiders, however, which exactly revealed her hypocrisy.

Besides, Mrs. Joe Gargery’s bad undesirable traits also affected little Pip unconsciously. She was frequently impatient to Pip’s questions, which strangled his curiosity and deprived him of correct guide. She always complained about her life and felt ashamed to be a blacksmith’s wife, so she was bad to her husband. She enjoyed flattering words from people who were beneath her, while she did pretty well in currying favor with people who were from upper class. Her attitude to her rich uncle Pumblechook clearly shows her snobbishness. Her effects made Pip become a sensitive boy who tended to feel inferior. Pip did not form the correct value from the beginning, so he was easily misled after he fell in love with Estella.

Another typical character of hypocrisy and snobbishness was Pumblechook, who was a rich corn-chandler living in the town nearby. In terms of their relationship of blood, Pip should call him uncle, but he was not allowed to do so in the beginning. In Pumblechook’s eye, Pip was just a tiny child who worked in the blacksmith’s shop. He could not bring him any interests or benefits, so he was reluctant to admit their relation. He showed no sympathy for Pip, and coldly called Pip “boy”, just like a stranger who never knew Pip. He taught Pip that he was supposed to consider his hypocritical sister as his benefactor, knowing that she was cruel to Pip. Due to some kind of tortured mindset, he liked giving dry conditions to Pip and bulling the little boy. When on the Christmas dinner, his conversation with other people deeply hurt Pip.

Pumblechook always judged people from their money and status, so it was not strange that his attitude began to change when Pip was invited to Miss Havisham’s house. He even went to Pip’s home in person to ask about Miss Havisham after Pip returned from her house. After knowing Pip was financially aided by an anonymous benefactor to leave for London to be a gentleman, his attitude towards Pip was totally changed, which could be clearly felt from the cold “boy” to the enthusiastic “my dear friend”. The irony was that a child once bullied and maltreated by him became treasure for him. He provided his room for Pip to try new clothes, and regarded shaking hands with Pip as a favor. He was the person who once hurt Pip, but later made Pip feel uncomfortable. To some extent, his great change made Pip realize the power of money, which can swift him from existence of no significance to somebody. So the seed of his profligacy life in London was planted.

4.2 The love in the village

Joe Gargery may be the most important person for Pip, who was kind to Pip in his early years and helped Pip after his expectation was destroyed. He was a blacksmith, a common person of working class, whose shop was in the countryside. Totally different from his wife, he was good-natured and easing-going, though he sometimes seemed kind of awkward and foolish. He worked diligently, staying in his shop from dawn to dusk. Pip’s life in blacksmith’s shop should have been boring, but he was happy due to Joe’s love. Before he met Estella and fell in love with her, all he wanted was to lead a life like Joe. So it was obvious that Joe was Pip’s model at that time.

On the one hand, Joe worked hard to create his own and his family’s life. On the other hand, he was so forgiving that he could endure his wife’s bad temper and keep harmony of the family. For Pip, he showed great empathy and give fatherly love. Influenced by Joe, Pip was inclined to taking sympathy for others. When he met Magwitch, he could feel the criminal’s pain and wanted to help him, though he was terrified. Joe was almost illiterate himself, but he realized the significance of knowledge and encouraged Pip to learn. Although there was poor schooling for pip in the countryside, Pip was eager to learn. Although Joe’s influence under his wife’s dominance was a little feeble for Pip, but part of Pip’s good nature was formed due to Joe’s existence when Pip was a little child. When Pip was in London, he sometimes thought of Joe. When Pip lost his expectation and became ill, Joe did not mind his offence and offered to pay off debts for him and looked after him. Joe was like the light in Pip’s life, who taught him precious positive value and gave him correct direction.

Apart from Joe, Biddy was another person who was kind to Pip when he was in the village. In fact, she was also an orphan who lived under the same terrible condition as Pip, but her attitudes towards life were admirable. She did not complain but to work and learned hard to improve her life. She tried her best to teach Pip when he expressed his wish to learn, though she was not knowledgeable herself. Pip treated her as an intimate friend and he once said to her “I think you would always improved, Biddy, under any circumstance” (Dickens, 2003:269). Biddy comforted Pip when he was hurt by Estella’s contempt. She also tried to lead him to the correct direction when he felt lost. At last, Biddy and Joe became a couple and won their own happiness. Pip was touched by them and found the true self.

4.3 People who exerted negative effects on Pip in London

Two typical characters exerted negative influence on Pip during his stay in London. One was Mr. Jaggers, and the other was Bentley Drummle. Mr. Jaggers was a famous lawyer in London, who was paid to be Pip’s guardian. There was nothing that was more important than money in his life. The law, which should represent fairness and injustice, became a tool in his hands to earn money. He created false evidence to protect Molly, who killed her enemy in love. He succeeded and this case brought him fame. He differentiated his clients according to their wealth and social status. He knew the truth at the beginning, but he chose to let it be because he did not want to bother himself, considering there was nothing to do with him. Besides, while he was a gentleman to other wealthy clients, he was rude to Pip. Pip frequently contacted him and was unconsciously affected by his money-talk nature and his way of judging people. Pip began to lead a luxurious life and looked down upon Joe who had little money and came from the working class.

Drummle, a bad-natured young man, was Pip’s classmate. He was proud of his noble birth and looked down upon other people. As the heir to a baronetcy, he enjoyed showing off. He considered himself to be a gentleman, but any moral characters could not found in him. He was always idle, never taking study seriously. He was mean to people around him and often sneered at others. He regarded his classmate, Startop, as his personal affront. While borrowing money from Startop, he said in the dinner in Mr. Jaggers’s house that he would not lend anyone a sixpence, which vividly revealed his selfishness. However, it was such a man that Estella married, while Pip loved her deeply. Drummle married Estella to satisfy his vanity. He did not love Estella at all, so he treated her badly. Pip couldn’t accept it and he attributed Estella’s choice to Drummle’s wealth and social status. Therefore, he was even thirstier to become a gentleman. In fact, Estella didn’t have choice under her adoptive mother’s control. It was Pip’s blind love to Estella led him to a deeper whirlpool.

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