In both Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations and Oscar Wilde’s De Profundis, the reader is presented with a reflective, and, at least partially, regretful narrator. Though Pip represents a fictional narrator and Wilde is relaying events that presumably actually happened in his life, a similar feeling is gleaned from engaging with both works. Indeed, though Pip’s life story is told linearly, from the time he first realized where he fit into the world to the moment he is reunited with Estella, it is told as a recollection of the past and is therefore laden with intermittent and personal reflection. On the other hand, Wilde’s De Profundis lacks this seemingly linear structure and instead is completely based on reflection as the entire piece centers around Wilde’s coming to terms with his imprisonment and realization of his past misdeeds.

Pip and Wilde seem to have committed similar misdeeds. They both lived hedonistic and materialistic lifestyles. Pip is enormously in debt by the time he uncovers the truth about his expectations where said debt was accrued by his participation in superfluous clubs and activities, such as the Finches of the Grove. In a similar way, Wilde devoted his life to satiating his each and every fancy. However, as Wilde learns during his time in prison, his desire was a “malady” that led him further from himself.

Furthermore, it is only through reflection that Pip and Wilde are able to recover themselves and follow the path of self-realization. Pip reflects upon the way in which he treated his loved ones, Joe and Biddy, and how he should have cared for them instead of for wealth and high society, entities that only ended up bringing him misery. As a result of this reflection, Pip is presumed to finally be satisfied and at ease with himself and seems to be content with his situation in life. Similarly, Wilde realizes that pleasure is fleeting and finds solace in sorrow, deeming it to be the most human and also the most eternal sensation. This act of reflection allows Wilde to be comforted in the knowledge that his time in prison, though painful, has not been in vain and that he will be the stronger for having undergone this experience and made the aforementioned realization regarding sorrow.

While reading Oscar Wilde, De Profundis. One quote really stuck out to me. “Morality does not help me. I am a born antinomian. I am one of those who are made for exceptions, not for laws. But while I see that there is nothing wrong in what one does, I see that there is something wrong in what one becomes. It is well to have learned that.” I made a connection to Great Expectations. I think the theme of morality is one that we can draw connections on through many pieces of this course. Specifically here, Pips struggle with morality, with who he becomes, how he treats other people is one reflective in the quote pulled from the reading for today. Pips development as a character is one where he loses certain aspects of his morality along the way. This is seen as his focus is narrowed in one what he wants even if that meant disregard for others. Overall, morality is a theme we can track throughout this course with many readings. We see how certain aspects of morality are either followed, or disparaged, and it is interesting to see the different values, expectations and further the effects of them.

In both of today’s readings shame is shown to be a result of the Victorian criminal justice system. In particular, “Ballad of Reading Gaol” reflects the huge role of shame in crime and punishment during this time period. The prison is said to be “built with bricks of shame,” the noose is described as “the rope of shame,” and the grave is the “pit of shame.” The poem describes the shameful way criminals are buried. The people are “eaten by teeth of flame” and then put in nameless graves. The poem reflects the inner turmoil of these prisoners in the lines, “And down the iron stair we tramped, Each from his separate Hell.” This poem makes it clear that Victorian society can be very toxic. Specifically, the justice system cripples people with shame leaving them unable to grow as people. Wilde writes, “and by all forgot, we rot and rot, with soul and body marred.” Shame is also a recurring theme in Great Expectations. We see Pip feel ashamed many times throughout the novel. Estella makes Pip feel shameful of his upbringing and social status by criticizing his rough hands and unrefined manners. This haunts Pip causing him to obsessively think about improving his social status. Pip also grapples with feeling ashamed of Joe. For example, when Joe visits Pip in London, Pip dreads Joes arrival and mentions that he is relieved that he won’t be meeting Drummel. Pip even feels ashamed when he thinks he will be killed by Orlick; he worries that his friends will think that he ditched them for his own sake. This shame keeps Pip stagnant; he is held back from developing as a person. For example, when he realizes that he must not feel shame for Joe by the end of the novel, Pip is set free, now able to evolve into a better person. It is well-known that Dickens did not approve of many aspects of Victorian society, including it’s brutal criminal justice system. “Ballad of Reading Gaol” depicts the justice system in a way that sheds light on the tendency of Victorian society to demonize, humiliate and degrade its citizens. Dickens uses shame in Great Expectations to reflect the harmful effects that society can have on its people. While society does this institutionally through the criminal justice system you see guilt and shame seep into daily life in these examples of Pip’s shame in Great Expectations. Whether in prison or not, people become stuck by their shame.

From what I’ve gathered in both the texts, The Ballad of Reading Gaol and De Profundis by Oscar Wilde, is that the speaker is being kept inside of jail cell. However, I believe that this ‘jail cell’ is a metaphor for the entrapment of depression. When one is in this state, they detach themselves, becoming someone they aren’t. In the poem, when it repeats that ‘the man killed his love’, I believe that this is a representation of who ‘he’ is and all ‘he’ has lost; his desires, his dreams, his fortune. Although this can be read literal, I choose to see my interpretation as the correct path as it relates to any reader who reads these texts. When looking back at our semester’s catalog of texts, I think back to every text we have read, as it gives off this dark ominous theme that leaves characters and the audience feeling sorrow and gloom.

In Oscar Wilde’s letter, “De Profundis,” it was disheartening to read of people’s reaction to seeing him handcuffed in his convict’s uniform. Evidently, he recalls the experience and describes, “I had to stand on the centre platform of Clapham Junction in convict dress, and handcuffed… When people saw me they laughed. Each train as it came up swelled the audience. Nothing could exceed their amusement… For half an hour I stood there in the grey November rain surrounded by a jeering mob” (97). Hence, people thought the situation was humorous and lacked compassion for someone who was suffering. All in all, just because of his attire and appearance as a criminal, people’s initial reaction was to make fun of him. Notably, no one had any inclination of sympathy or attempt to understand his situation. Similarly, the way that people made instinctual judgements because of his appearance can be compared to Magwitch in Great Expectations. Indeed, Pip’s initial reaction to him is fear, based on his appearance. However, after learning about his character and situation, he grew to be more understanding and tried to help him in an escape plan. Thus, this proves how by getting to know someone, and not making assumptions based on appearances, that can change your whole perspective. If the people who were laughing at Wilde actually tried to get to know him and his situation, they might have more compassion for what he is going through. Not to mention, it is easy to make fun of a stranger because there are seemingly no consequences because there is no personal attachment. Therefore, appearances don’t tell someone’s full story and instead of making assumptions about people who you don’t know, if you get to know them and try to understand their situation, that can change your entire outlook on the situation.