What was the reason behind Pip’s quest for education in Great Expectations ? [British Novel June 2019]

    In "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens, Pip's quest for education is motivated by his desire to improve himself and rise above his humble origins. He sees education as a means of achieving success, wealth, and status in society, which he believes will enable him to win the love of Estella, the girl he admires. Additionally, Pip also hopes to use his education to distance himself from his embarrassing and unsophisticated family and associates, including his abusive sister and the criminal Magwitch. By acquiring knowledge and culture, Pip believes he can become a gentleman and transform his social status, which he believes is essential for winning Estella's heart and achieving his dreams.

In Charles Dickens' novel "Great Expectations," Pip is motivated by a desire for social advancement and improvement. He wants to move beyond his humble origins and become a gentleman, which he believes will allow him to win the love of Estella, a girl he meets at Miss Havisham's house [1]. Pip's education as a gentleman includes learning bad habits such as wasting time and money, which he believes are part of the lifestyle of the wealthy elite [2]. His desire for self-improvement, both morally and educationally, is driven by his idealistic and kind nature [3]. The novel explores themes of social class and human worth, and Pip's journey chronicles his coming of age and moral growth [4]. Pip's kindness and idealism are among his most important qualities and are part of what makes him a sympathetic character [5]. Pip believes that Miss Havisham, with whom he meets early in the novel, is his mysterious benefactor and wants to raise him into high society [6]. Pip initially feels torn and lonely when he learns about his change in fortune and must leave his previous life behind [7]. Ultimately, Pip's desire for self-improvement and social advancement drives his quest for education in the novel [10].


[1] "Analysis: Chapters 8-10. With the introduction of Miss Havisham and Estella, the themes of social class, ambition, and advancement move to the forefront of the novel. Pips hopes (encouraged by Mrs. Joes and Pumblechooks suggestive comments) that Miss Havisham intends to raise him into wealth and high social class are given special ..."

URL: https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/greatex/section3/


[2] "Pip develops bad habits. He learns how to waste time and money, and this is part of his education as a gentleman because he is becoming like all the other young gentlemen of London. Dickens..."

URL: https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/great-expectations-what-pips-education-like-under-609853


[3] "As a character, Pips two most important traits are his immature, romantic idealism and his innately good conscience. On the one hand, Pip has a deep desire to improve himself and attain any possible advancement, whether educational, moral, or social."

URL: https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/greatex/character/pip/


[4] "Great Expectations, novel by Charles Dickens, first published serially in All the Year Round in 1860-61 and issued in book form in 1861. The classic novel was one of its authors greatest critical and popular successes. It chronicles the coming of age of the orphan Pip while also addressing such issues as social class and human worth. Pip (Philip Pirrip) narrates the tale from an ..."

URL: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Great-Expectations-novel-by-Dickens


[5] "From the beginning of Great Expectations, Pip communicates to the reader that he has stayed relatively true to his character of kindness. Perhaps his two most important qualities are kindness..."

URL: https://study.com/learn/lesson/pip-great-expectations-character-traits-analysis.html


[6] "When, four years into his apprenticeship, a mysterious benefactor enables him to escape the working class, Pip moves to London as a teenager to become a gentleman. In his youth, he believes that his patron is Estellas guardian Miss Havisham, who wants to make him a suitable contender for her wards hand."

URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pip_(Great_Expectations)


[7] "Explain why he feels upset after first learning about this change in fortune. Pip learns that he has been adopted by a wealthy person and he has to move to London to become a gentlemen of Great Expectations. Pip feels torn at leaving Joe and Biddy, who are loyal and kind, and feels lonely at the idea of leaving his whole life behind."

URL: https://quizlet.com/292033098/great-expectations-questions-flash-cards/


[8] "Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like In chapter 8, Pip meets the mysterious Miss Havisham. What is unusual about her appearance?, In literature, dialect signals where the speaker comes from geographically, but it also can signal the speakers __________., As with many authors, Charles Dickens got his start in writing as a reporter and worked as a freelance writer ..."

URL: https://quizlet.com/472988664/english-great-expectations-module-4-study-guide-flash-cards/


[9] "This revelation causes Pip to feel disgusted, disappointed and also incredibly guilty. Any hope of marrying Estella is now gone and he realises with remorse that he has abandoned his true friend,..."

URL: https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/in-great-expectations-what-terrible-news-does-pip-80825


[10] "Pip is the protagonist of the novel Great Expectations. We follow his journey from being a poor young boy in the countryside to a well-to-do young man in London who moves in high society. Although ..."

URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zsc8hv4/revision/2