Analysis of revenge in great expectations
Revenge was a dynamic storytelling tool that was incorporated well by Charles Dickens in his novel Great Expectations. Revenge was instrumental in the overarching plot and was a large motivation in a lot of the character’s actions and events leading up to Pip’s expectations and even after. These events impacted Pip positively and negatively and allowed moral growth in Pip and progressed the plot. It all began with Magwitch who was betrayed by his partner in crime, Compeyson, and wants revenge for it. Then Miss Havisham, who was also swindled by Compeyson, seeks revenge against all men and even raised a child for that sole purpose. Also, there was Orlick who always got the short end of the stick after Pip arrived at his new wealth and developed a great hatred for Pip. These plot lines were in the background of everything that was going on in the book and sometimes took center stage in Pip’s perspective.
Magwitch 's revenge is what kicked off the plot and had a major effect on Pip’s life. Magwitch was born into poverty and had to depend on larceny to survive. Naturally he became acquainted with Compeyson, a smooth talking, good looking, dexterous, and deceiving man, who had “a dab in the ways of gentle folks.”(368) Compeyson was behind a lot of the conflicts that occurred because of his crafty nature. When Magwitch and compeyson was put on trial for their crimes “Compeyson as was recommended to mercy on account of good character and
The author uses revenge as a clear theme, specifically in the ending of the book The Roundhouse. Joe takes revenge on his mother's attacker by killing him with the help of his best friend Cappy. Although revenge was accomplished in Joe’s mind, it did not make the characters, such as Joe and Cappy, feel any better about their situation. However, after he and Cappy, had committed the deed, they did not feel happy, it wasn't a sweet revenge at all as they both had haunting nightmares of his mother's attacker in their dreams. They are both afraid and insecure after their kill and felt nervous around almost everyone.
Pip's fairy tale like view on the upper class is shattered when Magwitch, a convict, declares that he's Pip'd benefactor. Pip can't believe that a low-class criminal had wealth rivaling that of a wealthy gentleman's. It's a wake up call for Pip. (page 294) Magwitch's death also brings out Pip's softer, more sentimental side as Pip learns to love a person for who they are now and not what their standing or past was. (page 428) Pip sells all his belongings to pay for his debts and starts anew as a humble clerk at Clarriker and Herbert's company.
In The Crucible written by Arthur Miller, one theme demonstrated was that revenge does not always work in your favor. Revenge is the action of causing hurt or harm on someone for an injury or wrong suffered at their hands. In The Crucible this theme is represented by the character Abby wanting to be with John Proctor, since they had an affair. Due to the affair Mrs. Proctor, Elizabeth, fires Abby making Abby want seek revenge on Elizabeth. In order to gain revenge, Abby accuses Elizabeth of witchcraft and being a witch.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of revenge is “to inflict injury in return for.” In To Kill a Mockingbird (TKAM) by Harper Lee, Scout, and Jem explore Civil Rights and racism in the segregated Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s. Expressed through the eyes of 7-year-old, you learn about her father Atticus Finch, an attorney who desperately tries to prove the innocence of a black man falsely accused of rape; and about Boo Radley, a mysterious neighbor who saves Scout and Jem from being slaughtered by Bob Ewell. In the scene when Jem and Scout are attacked by Bob Ewell, Lee develops the theme, revenge brings consequences through external conflict, and symbolism. Seeking destructive revenge always creates a larger issue.
In both Crime and Punishment and Pride and Prejudice, the reader is afforded a glimpse of the darker side of human nature. Raskolnikov’s shocking coldblooded murder of Alyona Ivanovna, an elderly pawnbroker, and her sister Lizeveta, reflect a degree of brutality almost unimaginable in a human being. Likewise, Miss Caroline Bingley, while certainly not guilty of crimes as grievous or horrific as Raskolnikov’s, betrays a similar sentiment of heartlessness in her treatment of the Bennet sisters throughout the plot of Pride and Prejudice. However, the nature of each character’s cruel actions remain remarkably different. Raskolnikov seeks to transcend the ethical conventions binding society and act as a conscience-free moral agent, whereas Caroline Bingley’s behavior is very much a product of institutionalized classism, and she acts wholly within the parameters which Victorian England’s strict
Revenge can be a dark and winding road for those who choose to take it. This proves true in the play William Shakespeare's Hamlet and Robertson Davies' fifth business throughout the lives of characters Paul Dempster and Hamlet. In both Hamlet and fifth business, revenge used to avenge another person close to a character leads to the death of the one who causes a character's need for revenge; however, in Hamlet of William Shakespeare's Hamlet and in Paul Dempster of Robertson Davies' fifth business, revenge displays different effects on their lives. Paul and Hamlet's paths to revenge are both born out of anger and resentment, both planned ahead of time, but where Hamlet's personality changes, Paul's stays the same during his revenge.
In the play The Crucible, character such as Abigail and Thomas Putnam seek revenge from others, so much so that it becomes and recurring theme throughout the play. The theme of revenge can best be shown through the characters Abigail Williams, Thomas Putnam, and Giles Corey. Abigail Williams, one of the main characters in the play, becomes one to the biggest contenders for the theme of revenge. It is revealed in the beginning of the play that Abigail has committed adultery with John Proctor. This becomes the root of the revenge because Abigail now thinks that “there is promise in such sweat.”
Throughout history, certain pieces of literature become irrelevant to the modern world. Moreover, the ability to relate to a modern day high school student is an especially difficult task that many novels of the past struggle with. However, there are a select few literary works that preach universal lessons, and stand the test of time. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is one of the few texts that effectively relates to teenagers of the past, present, and future. The struggle to recover from a tragedy, and the repercussions of revenge are two concepts explored in Hamlet which the vast majority of teenagers can relate and sympathize with.
In Charles Dickens’ novel A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens does an excellent job in representing justice throughout the novel. Doctor Manette does not want to get revenge for his imprisonment of eighteen years even though this part of Doctor Manette 's life was wasted. Charles d’Evremonde knows what his family is up to but does not want to be involved in it or have anything to do with this situation. Charles is sent to La Force for being an emigrant coming into France and is going to be executed for it until Sydney Carton comes into play and prevents Charles’ life from ending by risking his own life. In A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens uses the motif of justice to show that one does not have to like another person in order to risk their own life for that other person.
The story of a young man by the name of Hamlet has been told since it was first written in the early 1600s. The timeless classic tells the tale of Prince Hamlet, who discovers that his mother had wed his uncle, two months prior to his father’s passing. He visits the throne in Denmark because he is disgusted at the act of incest, where the ghost of his deceased father confronts him, insisting that he was murdered by Claudius, the new king. Hamlet is enraged, and he becomes obsessed with the idea of proving the crime so that he can obtain revenge against Claudius (Crowther). Despite the myriad of themes that circulate throughout the Shakespearean play, many do not realize one hidden yet extensive theme: actions and their consequences.
He undergoes a contrasting change of character, kind, ambitious and in some cases, immature. Young Pip is a gentle boy who treats people with kindness. His kindness goes out to help a convict, Magwitch, that he meets on the marshes. Pip is terrified at the sight of a man with a leg iron.
Through her attempts she replaces her daughter’s heart with ice and breaks young men’s hearts. In Dickens’ bildungsroman Great Expectations, Pip and Miss Havisham’s morally ambiguous characterization helps develop the theme, that one needs to learn to be resilient. The internal struggles that Pip experiences through the novel, reveal his displeasure to his settings and
In Shakespeare’s, Hamlet, revenge plays a major role in how the characters act. They base their actions off of getting revenge. Hamlet, Laertes, and Young Fortinbras all are trying to get revenge for their fathers. All three of the characters use different methods for getting revenge and they all get different results. Shakespeare uses these three characters to show that revenge can consume you and that is all that you want and he shows how harmful it can be.
When something goes to far normally we would end it however, that 's not what happened in the shakespeare play Othello. In the source “Destructive revenge in Othello” by Harry Keyishian it talks about the revenge that fueled the play as well as Iago’s true ambitions. Keyishian also talks about how Iago tricks almost everyone in order to get his sweet revenge. Once Iago Stabs his assumed friend Roderigo it’s clear revenge had been taken too far.
In that way, it is possible to get a happy ending even after experiencing something similar to what Pip felt. In the end, Pip became friends with Estella, even after knowing that she was the cause for his change which lead to all his misery in life. A moral theme that was taught in Great Expectations is to not change yourself for anyone or any reason. It is important to always keep your individuality and not to be susceptible to being swayed by someone. Overall, everyone should be their own individual person and not change for