Orlick as the Dark Side of Pip in Dickens Great...

Orlick as the Dark Side of Pip in Dickens Great Expectations Charles Dickens’ aptly titled novel Great Expectations focuses on the journey of the stories chief protagonist, Pip, to fulfill the expectations of his life that have been set for him by external forces. The fusing of the seemingly unattainable aspects of high society and upper class, coupled with Pip’s insatiable desire to reach such status, drives him to realize these expectations that have been prescribed for him. The encompassing desire that he feels stems from his experiences with Mrs. Havisham and the unbridled passion that he feels for Estella. Pip realizes that due to the society-imposed caste system that he is trapped in, he will never be able to acquire†¦show more content†¦On the surface, both characters appear to be polar opposites of each other. Pip is referred to as Young Pip by Orlick who refers to himself as Old Orlick, even though according to Pip, he was about five-and-twenty, but he usually spoke of himself as an ancient person (106). The wor k ethic of the two blacksmith apprentices vary immensely, with Pip basically being a diligent worker as opposed to Orlick’s lazy habits who is described by Pip as always slouching (105). Orlick hates his job and is a generally mean and dispirited individual. The reason why the initial forge scene is so vital to the relationship between Pip and Orlick is because despite the apparent differences seen in the two characters, it is here that Pip realizes that he and Orlick are very much alike. He sees himself as just a younger, naive, version of Orlick who he is soon to replace as Joe’s right hand man at the forge. Pip knows that he is doomed to follow in Orlick’s dormant and miserable existence because he too shares the same disdain for the forge that Orlick does: I was truly wretched, and had a strong conviction on me that I should never like Joe’s trade. I had liked it once, but once was not now (99). Pip’s change of heart is due to his encounter with Mrs. HavishamShow MoreRelatedVictorian Era Research Paper1048 Words   |  5 PagesDickens Exploits 19th Century Criminal Profiling in Great Expectations In the nineteenth century, the harsh consequences for committing crimes depended on various factors, including social status, appearance, behavior and gender. The law was biased towards those who were both superior in appearance and thoroughly educated. Women were seen as respectable but naà ¯ve rather than murderers. 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