Philip Pirrip, or Pip, the main character of Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations, is a multi-dimensional character.
Pip is:
an orphan
- his parents died, his sister and her husband (Joe) raise him
a dreamer, ambitious
- he always has a dream or goal in mind (an expectation... nudge, nudge)
- even when he realizes a dream, reaches a goal, he sets a new one
- wants to improve himself and to rise in society
brave
- helps the convict in the cemetery when he's still a child
- persistent in his love for Estella
idealist, romantic
- believes in true love
- tends to see things as black and white, good and bad
good at heart, generous
- judges himself harshly
- does "random acts of kindness" helping Magwitch and Herbert
- loves the people who care for him, like Joe
- has a good conscience
- though loses sight of this when he becomes a gentleman
imaginative
- shown in the stories he tells to sister and Mr. Pumblechook about Miss Havisham
in love with Estella, head over heels
- despite the fact that she doesn't love him back
- they have a shared past as abused orphans
For more information on the character Pip and other characters in Great Expectations, see the page links, further down this page, listed under Related Links.
Charles Dickens is the author of the novel "Great Expectations," in which the character Pip Pirrip is the protagonist. They are both elements of the same literary work, with Dickens being the creator of Pip's character and storyline.
In their characters, they are not especially similar, except possibly in the sweetness of nature that Joe always exhibits and that Pip eventually attains. They might be said to have analogous growth experiences, though the only change in Joe is that he learns to read, whereas Pip learns economy, prudence, loyalty, and the true nature of love.
Both Charles Dickens and Pip had grand dreams of becoming a Gentleman. As a child, Charles's parents pinned all their hopes and ambitions on his brother and sister and they both received the education and opportunities that Charles longed for; he was not the favorite and that's why he was chosen to go to work when he was twelve. His disallusionment in life may be mirrored in Pip's discovery that Miss Havisham was not his benefactor.
First, Biddy and Pip are similar in the beginning of the novel in that they are from the same social class, the lower working class. For both Pip and Biddy, it mean they will work very hard their entire lives an their lives will have little choice. Pip, before the benefactor comes forward with lots of money, will live his life working in the forge. Biddy's path is marriage and raising children.
Second, both Biddy and Pip have dreams of a better life. Biddy realizes that she has a talent for teaching and when Wimmick's ancient aunt dies, Biddy ignores Orlick's advances and becomes a school teacher instead of anyone's wife. Pip, we know, has the dream of becoming a gentleman and impressing Estella with his new position.
Finally, both make sacrifices for others. After Mrs. Joe is injured, Biddy, always the kind and caring, goes to Pip's home and cares for Mrs. Joe. Biddy also teaches Joe how to read and to write so that he can have a better life. Pip, although he seems selfish to his own family, do help Herbert out to get started in a business.
they are both orphans
friendship
Pip's real name in Great Expectations is Philip Pirrip. He is known as Pip throughout most of the novel.
Pip Pirrip
Phillip Pirrip
Pip got his name from his infant tongue mispronouncing his given name, "Philip Pirrip". Instead of saying "Philip", he referred to himself as "Pip", and the name stuck.
Pip, also known as Philip Pirrip, was the narrator of the novel Great Expectations. The story is narrated over several years, beginning with Pip's childhood and then as he grows.
The opening line of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is: "My father's family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip."
"My father's family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip. So, I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip." - Great ExpectationsWho are you to argue with Charles Dickens, one of the greatest English language writers of all time?
The opening line of "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens is: "My father's family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip."
Pip's patron in the book Great Expectations is Abel Magwitch, a convict whom Pip helps when he is a child. Magwitch later becomes wealthy and secretly supports Pip financially, believing that Pip's success will reflect positively on him.
The first line of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is, "My father's family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip."
Pip, the protagonist of Charles Dickens' novel "Great Expectations," lives in the marsh country of southeast England. His home is the forge belonging to his brother-in-law, Joe Gargery, in the village of Kent. Later in the story, Pip moves to London and resides in a modest apartment.
A palindrome for hero of "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens is Pip.