An Analysis Of Pip’s Initiation In Great Expectations From The Perspective Of Bildungsroman

Adopting the Bildungsroman theory,this thesis employs the close reading method to analyze the initiation journey of the protagonist Pip in Dickens’ classic work Great Expectations.The thesis divides Pip’s initiation into three phases and explores the personal and social causes of his growth.Innocent Pip fails in resisting the temptations from the society,experiences all kinds of hardships after leaving home,obtains epiphany from reflections and finally achieves his maturity.In addition,the thesis analyzes the five guides who influence the growth of the protagonist,including the positive guides Joe,Magwitch and Herbert,as well as the negative guides Miss Havisham and Estella.Under the guidance of the positive guides and the seduction of the negative guides,Pip grows from an innocent boy to a mature adult.The thesis draws the conclusion that in Great Expectations,Dickens reveals a series of problems behind the Victorian prosperity through the process of the protagonist’s pursuit of great expectations,which shows Dickens’ special concern for the growth environment of the vulnerable group,especially the children.The study on Pip’s initiation still has a long-term educational significance for the growth of young people nowadays.