ALIENATION AND LONELINESS IN GREAT EXPECTATIONS-CHARLES DICKENS

Charles Dickens gives much importance to wealth and that could be understood as the destiny of the alien man. There are a few characters who are obviously orphans like Mrs. Joe, Magwitch, Estella and Pip who all had to face the harsh realities of lonely life. However the way in which these characters respond to life is quite different. Pip during his childhood stood despicable and forlorn in the very grave where his family was buried. Pip always believed that his mother is resting somewhere above in heaven. Pip was threatened with dire consequences and possibly death by his sister. The same happens with convict Magwitch. Another character Orlick who lived in the town and not so good a person made an attempt to kill an adult Pip. The only pal that Pip had on the marshes was Joe Gargery. Pip had very few friends. Estella was in the hands of an old woman named Havisham who was a pervert and hated all men folk. She instructed Estella to hate all relationship with the men folk. Havisham succeeds in making Estella play with Pip’s life just like a cat playing with a mouse. Possibly Estella would have preferred an intimate companion but that was not the purpose for which she was hired by Havisham. Once Magwitch narrated his own Childhood experiences to Pip as to how he roamed on the streets of London, forlorn and careless. That was the reason which made Magwitch turn into a criminal. Mrs. J oe is another rude character. Surprisingly she had no female friends. She was Pip’s care taker and the wife of Joe. She was very violent and hostile to everyone. Mrs Joe’s way of getting along with others was quite contrary to the way in which Pip mingled with others in Society. Mrs Joe created her own difficulties in life and there was a quest to identify her in the world. Jagger too was aloof from others but almost was like the custodian of Law without any humanity.