Real or Fake Character Foils in Great Expectations Essay Example For Students

Real or Fake?: Character Foils in Great Expectations Essay One of the most remarkable aspects of Charles Dickens Great Expectations is its structural intricacy and remarkable balance. Dickens plot involves complicated coincidences, extraordinary tangled webs of human relationships, and highly dramatic developments in which setting, atmosphere, event and character are all seamlessly fused. Although, perhaps the most visible sign of Dickens commitment to intricate dramatic symmetry-apart from the knot of character relationships, of course- is the fascinating motif of character doubles or foils that run through the novel. The use of character doubles or foils in the novel effectively let readers understand important aspects and messages of the novel. Throughout the novel the foils of different characters give readers the opportunity to learn important messages about class, happiness, superficiality, satisfaction, greed, crime, punishment and money. The effect of class and superficiality on a person are clearly identified in the foil and comparison of Biddy and Estella. Biddy and Estella are both friends of Pip that take a key role in Pip’s life, but their level of compassion, attitude towards rank in society and their relationship with Pip, and overall happiness in life are very different. Biddy is a character that is considered common and not very beautiful on the outside but expresses a lot of inner beauty. She is kind and compassionate and understanding. Pip recounts Estella’s physical features, â€Å" She was most noticeable I thought, in respect of her extremities; for, her hair always wanted brushing, her hands always wanted washing, and her shoes always wanted mending and pulling up at the heel† (Dickens, 45). This shows that Pip makes note that Estella is not beautiful. On the contrary Estella is a character that tends to be a snob although she expresses a lot of outer beauty. This relates to the me ssage of superficiality. Although Estella is beautiful what is more important is the way in which you treat other people. As a result Estella can be considered superficial where as Biddy is real. Biddy is very kind and compassionate this is shown in the scene where Pip and herself are by the river, and she still shows her love towards Pip even though he says rude things like, â€Å"I should have been good enough for you; shouldn’t I Biddy? (Dickens, 136). Biddy is very easy going and allows Pip to be disrespectful although his comments hurt her. This shows that unlike Estella, Biddy is a very good friend who allows Pip to take her frustrations out on her, without saying rude things back. In his heart Pip knows fully well that Biddy is the ideal soul mate and wife for him, but he is completely overwhelmed by his foolish infatuation for Estella. This quote, â€Å" The unqualified truth is, that when I loved Estella with the love of a man, I loved her simply because I found her irresistible. Once for all; I knew to my sorrow, often and often, if not always, that I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be. Once for all; I loved her none the less because I knew it, and it had no influence in restraining me, than if I had devoutly believed her to be human perfection† (Dickens, 245-246). This shows that Pip realizes that he shouldn’t love Estella, they weren’t meant for each other and the only reason he is drawn to her is because of her beauty. This passage infers that Biddy would have a much better match for Pip. Biddy unlike Estella was never insulting or capricious and wonders, â€Å"How could it be, then that I didn’t like her much better than the two† (Dickens, 276). Biddy is unaffected by class and doesn’t care less about it. When Pip is a blacksmith she loves him. He is very kind and not condescending. When he is exposed to a higher class he becomes much more condescending and jaded, and she falls in love with Joe who is a lower class blacksmith. Biddy believes not in the rank or class but the kindness of a person. Estella’s view on a persons rank in society is a crucial point to the relationship they will have, when Pip becomes a gentleman. Once Pip becomes a gentleman, Estella starts treating his with more respect, and starts calling him ‘Pip’ his real name instead of boy, which she called him when he was a blacksmith. This shows the respect that Estella treats Pip with once he becomes of higher class, compared to the little respect she showed him when he was of the lower class. All Estella cares about is the position in society whereas Biddy doesn’t care about anything but the kindness and personality of that person. Kindness is much more important than class and as a result of Estella’s superficiality and her lack of ability to posses true love she ends up marring Drummel who doesn’t care about anyone but himself, and is abusive. We see that Biddy is rewarded for her kindness by marring Joe, who is a kind and compassionate person. Biddy is a very satisfied person and finds happiness with Joe, where as Estella is never completely satisfied or happy about the way her life turned out. This shows that social class and money cant get you everything that you want in life, including happiness you must earn it. Global Warming Fact Or Fake?Magwitch does this to spear Pip from getting in trouble. Unlike Magwitch, Compeyson is not a very nice man. He was able to only get half of the sentence that Magwitch received just because of his gentleman ways. He was the one that was going to marry Miss. Havisham but left her at the alter. What is different about Magwitch than many other characters in Great Expectation is that Magwitch becomes wealthy through hard work and devastating conditions. He is a self made man. Although Magwitch does use money to help Pip, it is the tender friend ship towards the end that is the most powerful. This shows us that money isn’t everything, friendship is more important. Compeyson did not believe this according to Magwitch, â€Å" ‘Hed no more heart than an iron file, he was as cold as death, and he had the head of the devil afore mentioned’(Dickens, 369). This just shows us that Compeyson was a coldhearted man that never actually escaped from cr ime. In the end Compeyson died from drowning while in a fight with Magwitch. Magwitch dies away from crime with Pip by his side. Some of the most powerful devises Charles Dickens uses in Great Expectations is the idea of character doubles or foils. Through these foils readers learn powerful messages from each pair. Through Biddy and Estella readers learn about the effect superficiality and class can have on a person, through Joe and Pumblechook we learn about greed and satisfaction and through Magwitch and Compeyson we learn that friendship is more important then money and that crime is always present throughout the novel. All of these foils add contrast and excitement to plot as well as the extraordinary tangle webs of human relationships. Works Cited Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. New York: Bantam Dell, 2003. PRINT