By Ethan Payne

"I am ashamed to say it," I returned, "and yet it's no worse to say it than to think it. You call me a lucky fellow. Of course, I am. I was a blacksmith's boy but yesterday; I am—what shall I say I am—to-day?" (194)

I chose the quote above because I feel like it describes exactly how Pip feels throughout this book. Pip is in the lowest social class, and most lower class people dream of being a blacksmith. Instead, Pip does not want to become a blacksmith, and he wants to become a gentleman and join a higher social class.

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 nonetheless because I knew it, and it had no more influence in restraining me, than if I had devoutly believed her to be human perfection. (181)

I chose this quote because it describes the relationship that Pip and Estella have throughout the book. Pip always seems to care about Estella, but he admits that he loves her because he finds that she is irresistible. Pip tries to show Estella that even though she does not love him.

As I declined the proposal on the plea of an appointment, he was so good as to take me into a yard and show me where the gallows was kept, and also where people were publicly whipped, and then he showed me the Debtors' Door, out of which culprits came to be hanged: heightening the interest of that dreadful portal by giving me to understand that "four on 'em" would come out at that door the day after to-morrow at eight in the morning, to be killed in a row. This was horrible, and gave me a sickening idea of London: the more so as the Lord Chief Justice's proprietor wore (from his hat down to his boots and up again to his pocket-handkerchief inclusive) mildewed clothes, which had evidently not belonged to him originally, and which, I took it into my head, he had bought cheap of the executioner. Under these circumstances I thought myself well rid of him for a shilling. (128)

I chose this quote because it describes how Pip feels when he arrives in London. Pip thinks that London is going to be colorful and grand, but it ends up being dirty and dull. Most of the story is also spent London. One of the main events in part 2 is Pip arriving in London, which is why I decided to use this quote.

At the end of Part 2, Pip starts to realize that Ms. Havisham is teaching Estella to treat men badly and to break their hearts. He learns that he is not destined to spend his life with Estella. He also learns that the convict is his benefactor, which causes Pip to respect the convict more. Pip also starts to realize that he did not treat Joe very well. He felt that he had treated Joe poorly when he had left for London to become a gentleman.

Motifs: Jealousy, Dreams, Love, Anger

Theme: Anybody can become anything, no matter their social class.