The `Realism` of Pip`s character in `Great Expectations`

The realist novel as a kind of writing usually involves representations of the everyday , of the past and present world , and is inevitably bound up with the different ways in which we perceive the characters in relation to that world . A novel by Charles Dickens Great Expectations (1860-1 ) is a classic example of the genre of realist novel therefore we would expect to find that the nature of its realism is closely related to the presentation of the moral growth and development of a single character . As the focal point of the realist novel

, Pip is the most important character in Great Expectations . His role in the novel is twofold : he is a protagonist of the narrative whose actions constitute the novel plot and at the same time he is a narrator through the prism of whose attitudes and views the story is perceived by a reader Consequently the realism of Pip 's character determines the realism of the novel itself

Creating the central characters Dickens tends to endow them with eccentric features but in the case with Pip we see quite a realistic person whose gradually changing character runs through the novel . We see a true anti-hero , with no special talents , ambition , or artistic ability , the person which is expected to be an average representative of his milieu . Pip is as close to the ordinary guy as Dickens could ever get . Pip 's character possesses certain features that make him a realistic character . Dickens frees his protagonist of chivalrous conduct to avoid inappropriate idealization . Pip behaves in the way any common person would behave in similar circumstances . Pip strives to improve himself and achieve any possible progress , be it in terms of education or social The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew (73 ) Vol . 1 , Ch . X (the very beginning It appeared to me that it would take time , to become uncommon under these circumstances : nevertheless , I resolved to try it , and that very evening Biddy entered on our special agreement , by imparting some information from her little catalogue of Prices (74 ) Vol . 1 , Ch . X

He lives in idealistic dreams which steer him into learning to read and become educated . As soon as he understands what is poverty and that it is related to ignorance , Pip does not want to be poor nor ignorant once The same motives govern Pip in his desire to marry Estella . She is the inspiration of rosy dreams about good life lived by upper classes and sort of gate that leads to such life . there were picnics , fkte days , plays , operas , concerts , parties , all sorts of pleasures , through which I pursued her -- and they were all miseries to me . I never had one hour 's happiness in her society , and yet my mind all round the four-and-twenty hours was harping on the happiness of having...