In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, she explores how the knowledge of the creator has crippling effect on the creature. Throughout the story of Frankenstein, the Shelley makes a comparison of human development through contrasting ideas of humanistic and religious relationships. The story concludes that the spiritual and moral development can be achieved through dogmatic belief structures. Frankenstein is a creature showing how education and growth emerged in his short existence, resulting in the freedom of the creature through the death of his own creator. On the other hand, the novel "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens depicts the story of a young man named Pip who desires to fulfill his expectations; however, his world and society do not provide an easy path for him to pursue his dreams. In the story, Pip was exposed to the world that he felt can bring satisfaction to all his expectations in life. The pervading imagery of the characters portrayed in the novels "Great Expectations" and "Frankenstein" illustrates the creators need to live vicariously through their creations, and their creations not finding acceptance in life or society easy.
In the life of Pip, we encounter a vast catalog of human emotions such as despair, sadness, love, hate, anger, and sympathy. The story began on the English marshes where Pip lived with his sister and brother-in-law named Joe Gargery. One day, Abel Magwitch intimidated Pip into getting him some food and file for his chains; but then, Abel was caught and taken to prison. Later, Pip was asked by Miss Havisham to come to her mansion and accompany her. Eventually, Pip met Estella at the house of Miss Havisham and he fell in love with her. While staying in the mansion, Pip met Mr. Jaggers the steely eyed lawyer of Miss Havisham. When Pip reached the age of 14, he ended up his visits to the mansion and began his apprenticeship as a blacksmith.
A few years later, Mr. Jaggers showed up telling Pip about a mysterious benefactor who wants to teach him how to become a gentleman. That time, Pip assumed that the benefactor was Miss Havisham so he was encouraged to go with Mr. Jaggers. Into his surprise, Mr. Jaggers brought him to London and asked him to stay with a grownup Herbert Pocket. Through Mr. Pocket, Pip learned many things about Miss Havisham like how she used Estella as instrument of vengeance against all men. Estella is only a heartless creation of Miss Havisham intended to break men's hearts. At the age of 21, Pip went back to his hometown and later received a request from Miss Havisham who wanted to see him. Pip was so delighted being reunited with Estella, despite of all the things he heard from Mr. Pocket way back in London.
Pip doubted many things about Mr. Pocket's advice, and he does not believe that Estella even though she kept telling him that she has no heart. Pip and Estella spent a lot of time together, until Pip observed how Estella likes flirting with other men. Pip is so disgusted with Bentley-Drummle; despite Estella confessing that she was only flirting and has absolutely has no feelings for other guys (Great Expectations, 2003). Later, Pip meets Magwitch again who told him that he is his benefactor and not Miss Havisham. This truth is confirmed by Mr. Jaggers, telling him that Magwitch has paid for Pip's refinement to become the gentleman he always wished to be. Eventually, Pip and Estella ended their relationship after Estella's plans to marry Drummle. Again, Pip visited Miss Havisham in her mansion and acknowledges that she has gotten her revenge. After Pip leaves the mansion, he heard the scream of Miss Havisham being enflamed from the coal dislodged from the fireplace. Although Pip was able to put out the fire, Miss Havisham finds repentance toward her creation of Estella. Later, Pip visits the deserted house of Miss Havisham where he found Estella living alone after breaking off the engagement with Drummle. That time, Estella is already decided to live in seclusion like Miss Havisham; however, Pip tells her that he has never stopped loving her. Finally, they both leave the house and start a new life together.
In the story, the character of Pip embodies hopes and disappointments; his life is full of unexpected twists and turns. The character of Pip demonstrates the most human-like qualities; he lives a very personable character. Eventually, Pip realizes the very important lesson in his life that money cannot buy happiness. While the character of Estella represents the life of people with insensitive personality and enjoys making other people cry (Great Expectations, 2003). Magwitch is the convict and creator that Pip encounters, and is the man who bestows new life into Pip through a large amount of money to start his life as a true gentleman. Magwitch is a person who is always willing to help anyone in need. He possessed a personable character despite he is not at all good or evil. Through the help of Mr. Jaggers and Magwitch, Pip realized that true love is not just the woman he cannot obtain but more than that. There are so much characters and events in the story that interact with each other. Throughout the story, Pip and Estella have a love hate relationship. Pip was once a caring young man, and he fell into material things; however, he changed dramatically while he acted towards others. The twists and conflicts in the story created some interesting facets in the life of Pip. Overall, the novel follows Pip from his early childhood through his later life. The entire story developed through its characters, just like how it presented the mysterious and bitter character of Miss Havisham as the creator and the beautiful Estella as her creation. The story is filled with very human characters that harbored real and complex emotions. The life of Pip is filled with many surprises, disappointments, anger, sadness, and love. The novel "Great Expectations" and Frankenstein" elaborates the simple truth in life that there is human in all people, it just takes time to reveal itself at times. However, on the other hand, the novel "Frankenstein" contains biblical symbolisms such as the theme of creation, whereas "Great Expectations" uses creation as the molding of a youth vicariously through the creator's eyes and experiences. Although, Frankenstein has a sympathetic character, he still feels the bitterness after being turned away from human. Victor, the creator, causes Frankenstein's hideous existence that eventually leads to creature's being spurned. After Frankenstein is repeatedly rejected by people, he later becomes violent and aims to seek revenge. The story demonstrates how the creation forms own code of behavior based on example and behaviors he viewed from other people. It should be noted that Frankenstein instinctive sense of morality comes without the knowledge of his creator. The story elaborates how Frankenstein desires to be accepted and assimilated with people. Frankenstein has a sense of simplistic desire, uncorrupted as malevolent forces later come to shape his existence. It shows in the story that Frankenstein believes himself capable and worthy of emotional reciprocation, and capable to exist in harmony with other people.
The novel "Great Expectations" has several twists and conflicts that contribute and bring interesting facets in the creation of Pip's life. We follow Pip from his early childhood through his later life, and view somewhat of the same journey with Estella. The story is filled with very human characters that harbored real and complex emotions that are echoed by Victor's monster. While in the novel "Frankenstein", it demonstrates how the creation forms his own code of behavior based on example and behaviors he viewed from other people. It should be noted that Frankenstein's instinctive sense of morality comes without the knowledge of his creator.
