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Sunday, 27 May 2018

A review on Dickens masterpiece- GREAT EXPECTATIONS

I should admit that I abandoned the book immediately when I started reading it. The narrative was slow, the story wasn't progressing and there were too many characters at the same time. I wasn't just happy. 

I picked up the book again after 10 days and this time, I was wearing a smile at every line that I read, every page that I read and every chapter that I read. It is such a wonderfully written story with touching elements of love, ambition, help, hope and gratitude.


It's all about a boy Pip, and his life. He grows up, he learns and he transforms: that's the story all about. Pip is brought up by his sister and his brother-in-law and is then sent to Miss Havisham to entertain her. Miss Havisham is an eccentric lady: wearing her bridal dress all throughout, she has discarded living. She sits in a black room and does not come out either at day or at night. She has a story of her own. Pip meets Estella here. Estella is a girl of the same age as that of Pip and Pip falls for her. Love for Estella is a constant part of Pip's life. 


Pip, then, receives a fortune from someone he doesn't know but only speculate about. Pip moves to London to get good education and become a gentleman. Pip forgets all that he valued once: his brother-in-law, Joe and his home and his life upon the marshes. Pip's life then is revealed to be full of interesting and shocking revelations and coincidences. 


Dickens has taken care in crafting his characters and story. He hasn't described the characters at length. He gives them their own space to develop and does it so deftly that it all looks very clear and convincing. At some times, he has directly described their characteristics and at other times, he lets them show themselves to the reader through their disposition. 


I found his writing to be humorous and tender at the same time. There are so many times when Dickens made me sit back and think and laugh. Its first person narrative makes you feel that Pip is sitting just beside you and telling you his story. It all is so simple and heartwarming that it makes you keep reading. Be it the love between Estella and Pip, the oddity between Pip and Mr. Jaggers, the sense of gratitude (and ingratitude) between Pip and Joe, everything will move you as a human being and will affect you deeply. 


My reading pace slowed terribly when I was reaching the end because I did not want to finish the book. I wanted the story to go on. I wanted to read more of it. I wasn't convinced and happy that this is coming to an end. I read somewhere the Dickens wanted to write a longer story than the one that he has written. I wanted that too. Nevertheless, this book will touch your heart

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