One thing that struck my interest with the chapters for this weeks reading was the idea of honesty. The theme of honesty overall is very prevalent throughout Great Expectations. It is evident that Joes goodness and honesty is what makes him a special character, one that is a good reference point back to reality for other characters. Through Joe’s character and Pip’s character development, I thought of the honesty in Wuthering Heights as well. However, if we look at both texts, it is in fact the dishonesty of characters that is most prevalent, whether it be dishonesty to themselves or to others. Specifically, Pip is dishonest with himself in all that he pushes aside in order to advance himself socially, which includes pushing aside Joe, quite possibly the most honest character in this Dickens novel. Whereas, in comparison to Wuthering Heights, Catherine is dishonest with herself in advancing/keeping her societal standing when she chooses to marry Edgar over the man she truly loves, Heathcliff. I also think through these narratives and characterizations of dishonesty, self-realization aspects unfold. In Great Expectations this is seen in chapter 28 where Pip goes home intending to apologize to Joe, one aspect of him considering Joes feelings rather than only caring about advancing himself socially. In Wuthering Heights this is seen when Heathcliff sporadically returns, specifically through Catherines response to his return and her actions in keeping him in her life despite her choice to marry Edgar. So through certain characters honest and dishonesty in Victorian Literature, I think many thematic notions unfold. I’m curious to see how Pips character further develops and if he ever becomes truly honest.

In “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens, as Pip grows up, we start to see a change in his personality. We also start to see how social class is significant during this era and a popular topic in Victorian literature. In “Great Expectations”, Pip comes from a lower-class family and Miss Havisham and Estella seem to be from a higher class order. Pip and his guardians, Joe and Mrs. Joe, are excited to be taken under Miss Havinshaw’s wings, however, it all seems to be a ruse. It seems like Miss Havinshaw is training Estella to be a heartbreaker as she was heartbroken by her ex-fiance of lower-class status when he was in alliance with her brother and left her at the alter and took her share. Since she had fallen in love with this man and was used for her money, Miss Havinshaw’s revenge is taken up through another vessel, Estella, whom she adopted, and chose the target for her; Pip, a young man from a lower-class family; a family that would be ecstatic to have been given such good fortune after series of unfortunate events. We can connect this to “Wuthering Heights” because Heathcliff had been a victim of pure hatred and he became the benefactor of revenge through these occurrences and experiences Just as Pip’s personality is shaping into something that he has only seemed to experience.

One similarity I noticed when reading through Great Expectations is that the way Mrs Joe Christmas is described is very indicative of the overall attitude towards both women and the lower class in Victorian England that we’ve talked about in the past. One of the first paragraphs of the chapter is a slight joke about her social status and situation, stating that her position as a blacksmith’s wife is the same thing as “a slave with her apron never off”. This heavily reminds me of the way Carlyle spoke of the ‘lowly black woman’ in the passage of his we discussed far earlier in the semester. One interesting difference I see however, is that while Carlyle seems to look on in pity and admiration at the lower class woman he discusses, Dickens, or more accurately Pip, seems to do no such thing, playing her misfortune off for laughs.

While reading Great Expectations, I noticed that Pip shared many similarities with Hareton. Hareton, for example, was an orphan living in the house of the cruel Heathcliff. Hareton’s mother, Frances, was sickly and died of her illness. In a similar way, Pip’s mother also died of an illness. For example, Dickens writes, “From the character and turn of the inscription, “Also Georgiana Wife of the Above,” I drew a childish conclusion that my mother was freckled and sickly.” This can especially be reflective of the time period when both books took place. Hygiene was poor and people often died young of illness or during childbirth.

Another similarity is that both Hareton and Pip are abused by the person who raises them. Heathcliff for example, deprives him of any economic power and reduces Hareton to a servant in his own home. Pip is beat regularly by his sister who raises him. Dickens says that, “she had brought me up “by hand.” Having at that time to find out for myself what the expression meant, and knowing her to have a hard and heavy hand, and to be much in the habit of laying it upon her husband as well as upon me, I supposed that Joe Gargery and I were both brought up by hand.” This is yet another connection to Wuthering Heights because in Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff is repeating the abuse that he had been subjected to on Hindley’s behalf. The abuse seen in both Wuthering Heights and Great Expectations is cyclic, and within families.

One of the ideas repeatedly emphasized in Wuthering Heights was the opposing settings of Thrusscross Grange manor and Wuthering Heights manor. One is quiet, reserved, pleasant and sickly, while the other chaotic, abrasive and barbaric. I notice a similar dichotomy in the settings introduced during the opening chapters of Great Expectations. Like Thrusscross Grange, Pip’s house is a sort of safe haven. Joe Gargary is a strong, wholesome and honest man who seems to be a positive influence on Pip. Pip’s sister, although she is harsh on Pip, she seems to provide slapstick comic relief, ie. threatening Pip and Joe with her cane, “Tickler” or with “the tar water.” The overall atmosphere created by these characters is comfortable and safe, which stands in stark contrast to the other setting, the marsh. Like Wuthering Heights manor, the marsh is a mysterious and dangerous place filled with desperate and terrifying men. In the same way that the stormy weather of Wuthering Heights contrasted with Thrusscross Grange’s peaceful meadows, the weather in Great Expectations is also telling in regards to the setting and plot. Notably, the mist of the marshes seem to evoke the unknown and the unfamiliar.

As I was writing “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens I noticed that the aggression and reversed gender roles of Pip’s older sister reminded me a lot of Catherine Earnshaw. Like Catherine, she has the ability to assert control over men, and has a certain hardness to her that contests quite extremely with Joe Gargery, similar time Edgar and Catherine’s relationship. Edgar could be described as much more submissive compared to Catherine, and was used for his wealth, similar to Joe. Parenting wise, Pip’s sister is considered selfless for taking Pip in and adopting him as her own, but the way in which she takes care of him is as if he will alwyas owe her, which is probably how Catherine would’ve acted with Cathy if she had not died as soon as Cathy was born. Cathy does though get this sort of treatment by Heathcliff.

In the beginning chapters of Great Expectations, Dickens explores the class system of Victorian England. He discusses the criminals, peasants, the middle class, rich, and more. When Estella lays Pip’s food on the floor as if he were a dog, she is showing that she views herself as high above him on the status pedestal and that he deserves to be treated as less than her.  Pip interprets Estella’s cruel insults as facts accepting that those of the higher class know better and are worth more and begins to reevaluate himself.  This reminds me of Heathcliff, because he was ready to change his whole life to win over high class Catherine because he viewed himself as less than he was due to his status in society. Both characters come from a lower class and grapple with society’s views beginning at young ages. Once they see the higher-class lifestyle, they are left feeling confused, but also in a way enlightened about how the world works.

In Great Expectations, Pip’s childhood is structured similarly to that of Catherine Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights. Although they are both free-spirited as young children, Victorian society prefers a specific development for them. In chapter seven of Great Expectations, Pip’s uncle and older sister send him away to Miss Havisham’s home. Pip only knows Miss Havisham as “an immensely rich and grim lady…who led a life of seclusion.” (19) Catherine Earnshaw has a similar experience of an unconsented move as a supposed way to improve her well-being. Growing up alongside the rebellious Heathcliff, Catherine’s family was concerned that she would remain an unruly woman her entire life. This prompted her forced move to Thrushcross Grange. The goal of making her more civilized, in Victorian ideals, was successful upon her return to Wuthering Heights. This seems to be the goal of Mrs. Joe, who forces Pip to transform into an idealized version of himself so that he may make his fortune while at Miss Havisham’s home. Unfortunately, Pip is not treated with dignity at Satis House due to his status as a lower-classed individual. Perhaps he will change his character to mold into society’s ideal man like Catherine did as a Victorian woman. Hopefully, he will stay true to his character and disregard Estella’s condescending manner.