Memories play a big role in our lives and take up a big portion of our mind. The Definition of memories according to Merriam Webster is that a memory is something remembered from the past; a recollection or the faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information. We are constantly playing and replaying memories through our heads and are continuing to make more each day. Memories allow us to remember mistakes so we can learn from them and correct them. They also allow us to recollect important information that we may need in life crisis’ or even just when taking a test in school. Although memories can be helpful, they can also be harmful. They can reminisce bad times in your life that you wish you didn’t remember or bring up past events. Memories can also help your mind wander through a variety of thoughts and ideas when imagination is needed.
An example of recollecting memories is the novel “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens. This overall point of the novel being written was to explain that love, loyalty and a better understanding of right and wrong are more important than just being rich, having a higher level of education, or being better than someone. The novel explains that self-improvement is important and throughout the story, it gives examples of how the main character, Pip, continues to want to better himself. At the beginning of the story, Pip wants to be rich and wealthy and wants all things luxurious. He later realizes that being a morally good human is better than having a great amount of money. For example, Pip realizes that he cannot read and immediately works towards learning so that he can succeed. The whole novel is just how Pip continues to “self-improve” and create “Great expectations” for him throughout his life.
The main idea of the story is that Pip is an orphan who lives in England with his sister, Mrs. Joe, and her husband, Joe Gargery. One day they are all sitting by a cemetery and young Pip is grabbed out from behind a tombstone and orders him to get him food and file that help him with his leg irons. Pip does so but the convict who is ordering her is taken away into custody. Pip is later taken to his Uncle Pumblechook’s house and meets a girl named Estella who acts harsh and hostile towards him and shows no sign of affection. She even goes to say in the Novel, “I looked at him eagerly…waiting for him to see me… I could not have remembered his face ever afterward as having been more attentive.” (Dickens) Disregarding her efforts, he falls madly in love with her and hopes that they will later marry. After months of visiting his uncle’s home and seeing his love, Miss Havisham, the wife, decides to help him out and allow him to be a part of the family’s business. Pip is constantly working and trying to become more educated until one night, Pip’s sister is brutally attacked, leaving her mute. Orlick is blamed for the attack and a lawyer is hired to settle disputes. Pip later friends a man named Herbert Pocket who helps him with his studies but also lives a free lifestyle. After Pip’s sister passes away, he feels grief. Years pass and Pip discovers that the convict is the one helping with his fortune due to his young acts of kindness.
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The main idea of the Novel was that towards the end, Pip lost some of the people that he loved and lost all of his fortunes due to unfortunate events. Pip overcomes the sadness he feels for all the wealth he has lost and solely focuses on the one thing that means the most to him; his love Estella. He states in the Novel that he “[loves] her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be.” (Dickens). Throughout the novel, Charles Dickens provides readers with literary devices that help further our understanding of the story and provide us with details that give insight into what the characters think and feel. “Great Expectations” grabs the reader’s attention by describing things in the Novel with great imagery. He uses imagery specifically to focus on the major difference between a lower class and a higher class. He uses the imagery of a dog to show how low the social class of Pip was at the time. Dickens also used imagery in foreshadowing by using the weather. He makes the weather rather rough when Pip is usually going through a difficult time.
Memory is developed through the entire story using each character to specifically give an example. Pip has memories that contribute to his actions constantly and continues to make decisions based off of them. Pip struggles with the concept of his past ideas and his present thoughts. His memory that deals with pain and suffering have made him into a better version of himself. Magwitch being present in Pips life all the time helps him have a constant reminder of his past and the fact he cannot let anything go. Dickens makes Pips memory very selective and it seems that he only recalls the things he needs to in order to help him in his life. The story is even told as if he is telling it from his memories and past experiences. In this story, the memories are both good and bad because they bring up past fears and unhappy times in his life. But, the good thing that comes from them is the learning experience he gets and the chance to better who his past self-was.
Overall, “Great Expectations” has a great storyline with literary elements that further strengthen the story leaving readers on the edge of their seats and has their curiosity running wild. Pip learns from the memories he makes as a child and continues to want to succeed and better himself despite the losses and unfortunate circumstances he is faced with. Charles Dickens does a good job by presenting the theme all through the story and providing a sense of satisfaction when we watch the characters grow and understand the real meaning of life. Readers can now understand that it is not about how you are ranked, how much money you have or how popular you are but how you treat others and love the way you would want in return.
