1. Much like his dark and dismal office appears in the book, he represents a dark and harsh image to the people in London. Jaggers doesn’t provide Pip with the kind of care and unconditional type of love that Joe does, but Jaggers is an important figure towards Pip’s development as a gentleman which is why we may not totally love Jaggers because of his disposition but we can appreciate his actions towards Pip
2. Magwitch, a coarse and desperate convict, threatens the young Pip and demands that he bring him back some food, to which Pip, terrified, acquiesces. From the first few pages of the book, the reader feels a connection to the amiable and innocent Pip, so when Dickens places Magwitch in the position of antagonist, he causes the reader to initially dislike the character.
3. Despite all of these attributes that would cause the reader to sympathize with her, Mrs. Joe is one of the most detestable characters in Great Expectations. Though she raised Pip, she is not at all selfless about it. She “had established a great reputations with herself and the neighbours” because she brought Pip up by hand.
4. As intended by Dickens, Miss Havisham’s seemingly dead and chilly manner paired with descriptions of her such as “waxwork and skeleton” (page 44) conveys an intentional feeling of unpleasantness and distaste. While her appearance and tortured heart may draw sympathy, her determination to seek revenge upon innocent Pip will reaffirm a reader’s feeling of resentment toward her.
5. The character Compeyson in the novel Great Expectations is a symbol of betrayal and evil sense, and the very punishment of such sins.
6. The malicious Orlick from the novel Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, is the apparent villain throughout the story. For example, he viciously lashed out at Mrs. Joe, and also plotted to kill Pip, the protagonist of the novel.
7. Herbert Pocket is one of the most admirable characters in Great Expectations. He exhibits virtuous qualities that can be seen through analyzing his strong bond with Pip. Pip gives the following description of his companion:
“Herbert Pocket had a frank and easy way with him that was very taking. I had never seen any one then…who more strongly expressed to me, in every look and tone, a natural incapacity to do anything secret and mean.”
8. Initially Wemmick seems to have no care for people’s feelings and as a reader it is easy to not have any care for him. He refuses to offer Pip advice with his problems and believes mostly that friends are ‘portable property’. At his house he is the polar opposite of what he is at work; compassionate, humorous, and an insightful friend. There he tenderly takes care of his aging father and a garden of his own planting. While at home he gives Pip advice filled with understanding and emotion.
9. Dickens wants readers to admire Biddy for being one of the most reliable, noble, steady minded characters in the novel. Dickens pairs Biddy with Estella as essentially the two women in Pip’s life, Estella is cold, cruel, tormented, and in a higher social class, while Biddy is kind, warm and in the same social class as Pip.
10. With her opulent childhood and constant persuasion by a ludicrously heartbroken mother to “break young men’s hearts,” Estella retrieves a rather pompous reputation by the reader. The reader tends to be discouraged by Estella’s disregard to people around her especially the feelings of kind hearted Pip. Speaking to Pip as if she were superior, acting like she can cause no harm, and the games she plays with her suitor’s hearts does not give Estella any gold stars in the reader’s eyes.
11. Though Drummle is, in essence, everything that Pip thinks he wants to become, Dickens portrays Drummle as a very unlikeable character. Throughout the novel, Pip is always portrayed as wanting to advance in social status. Drummle, being a refined gentleman from a noble family, seems to be the role model of who Pip wishes to become. However, it is through Drummle that one can see where the essence of some of the negatives of such social status derives from. Drummle is a pompous, arrogant, unpleasant young man.
12. As the primary protagonist and focus of Great Expectations, Pip is a character with which Dickens intends the reader to empathize and, in many ways, admire. The connection between Pip and the reader is established as the reader follows Pip along his journey from a naïve young boy to a more mature man. Such a connection would not exist were Pip an immaculate character. He is in no way perfect, and the entire story is driven by his idealistic desires and fantasies of self-improvement. His longing for societal upgrade is both his vice and his virtue. G.K. Chesterton described Pip as a “Great Fool.” He elaborated that this is a character that is “above wisdom, and not below it.” That is, he would not let common sensibilities and the status quo stop him from seeking his dreams. For the mid 19th century English, this was undoubtedly an admirable quality, as it was certainly difficult to focus on improvement while living a meager subsistence life.
Ultimately, though, Pip’s relentless desire to better himself causes him to lose sight of those who really care about him, instead seeking the affections of the icy Estella. The errant nature of Pip’s choices is exemplified by Biddy, whose consistent warmth foils Estella’s iciness. However, Pip realizes his mistakes and decides to propose to Biddy, albeit unsuccessfully. This speaks to his growth and development as a character. It is much harder to admire and care for a completely static character. Because Pip makes mistakes (and rebukes himself for them), Pips positive qualities and decisions are accentuated by his flaws, rendering him a more realistic and more admirable character.