Reading Report on Great expectations.docx

Reading Report on Great expectations.docx

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ReadingReportonGreatexpectations

ReadingReporton“Greatexpectations”

Outline

1、Introduction

2、Author’sbackground

3、Analysisthemaincharactersinthestory

3、1Pipandhisfamily

3、2MissHavishamandherfamily

3、3CharactersfromPip’syouth

3、4Thelawyerandhiscircle

4、Styleandthemes

Abstract

GreatExpectationsisanovelbyCharlesDickens.ItwasfirstpublishedinserialforminthepublicationAllTheYearRoundfrom1December1860toAugust1861.Ithasbeenadaptedforstageandscreenover250times.Asitisknownbymanypeople,soIchoosethisbookformyreadingreport.

GreatExpectationsiswritteninthestyleofbildungsroman,which6followsthestoryofamanorawomanintheirquestformaturity,usuallystartingfromchildhoodandendinginthemaincharacter’seventualadulthood.GreatExpectationsisthestoryoftheorphanPip,writingabouthislifeandattemptingtobecomeagentlemanalongtheway.Thenovelcanalsobeconsideredsemi-autobiographicalofDickens,likemuchofhiswork,drawingonhisexperiencesoflifeandpeople.

Keyword:

character、experience、bildungsroman

1、Introduction

Theplotsummary

OnChristmasEve,youngPip,anorphanbeingraisedbyhissisterandherhusband,encountersafrighteningmaninthevillagechurchyard.Theman,aconvictwhohasescapedfromaprisonship,scaresPipintostealinghimsomefoodandafiletogrindawayhislegshackle.Thisincidentiscrucial:

firstly,itgivesPip,whomuststealthegoodsfromhissister'shouse,hisfirsttasteoftrueguilt,and,secondly,Pip'skindnesswarmstheconvict'sheart.Theconvict,however,waitsmanyyearstotrulyshowhisgratitude

Athissister'shouse,Pipisaboywithoutexpectations.Mrs.Joebeatshimaroundandhasnothinggoodtosayaboutherlittlebrother.HerhusbandJoeisakindman,althoughheisablacksmithwithoutmuchambition,andit'sassumedthatPipwillfollowinhisfootsteps.OnlywhenPipgetsinvitedunexpectedlytothehouseofaricholdwomaninthevillagenamedMissHavisham,doesMrs.Joe,oranyofherdullacquaintances,holdoutanyhopeforPip'ssuccess.

Indeed,Pip'svisitstoMissHavishamhaschangedhim.MissHavishamisanoldwomanwhowasabandonedonherweddingdayandhas,asaresult,givenuponlife.ShehasbeenlivedwithEstella,heradopteddaughter.Estellaisbeautiful,andPipfeltlovedinher.

Pipfrequentlyvisitsherhouse,untilonedayshetellshimthatshewouldleavethevillage.SoonayounggirlofPip'sage,Biddy,comestoliveatthehouseinordertocareforMrs.Joe.Pipagainsettlesintohisroutineuntilonenightatthevillagebar,aLondonlawyer,Jaggers,approachesPip,revealingstartlingnews:

PiphasinheritedalotofmoneyfromananonymousbenefactorandmustleaveforLondonimmediately,tobecomeagentleman.

InLondon,Pipstudieswithatutorandliveswithanewandclosefriend,Herbert.PipiscertainthathisbenefactoristherichMissHavisham.Inaddition,hebecomesconvincedthatMissHavisham'sfinancialsupport,towardhiselevatedsocialstatus,istheresultofherdesirethathemaymarryEstellasomeday.PippassesmanyyearsinLondon;heremainsashamedofJoe,andtheygrowapart,Mrs.Joedies,andthoughhefallsharderandharderforEstella--whoseemstogetcolderandcolderbytheday--heneverconfesseshislove.

Onestormynight,Piplearnsthetrueidentityofhisbenefactor.ItisnotMissHavisham,butratherapettycriminalnamedMagwitch.MagwitchistheconvictPipfedinthechurchyardmanyyearsago,andhe'sleftallhismoneytoPipingratitudeforthatkindness,andalsobecauseyoungPipremindedhimofhisownchild,whomhethinksisdead.ThenewsofhisbenefactorcrushesPip--he'sashamedofhim,andworseyet,MagwitchwantstospendtherestofhisdayswithPip.Piptakesthisonlikeadreadfulduty,andit'salltheworsebecauseMagwitchisawantedmaninEngland,andwillbehungifhe'scaught.

Eventually,aplanishatchedbyHerbertandPip,wherebyPipandMagwitchwillfleethecountrybyrowingdowntheriverandcatchingasteamerboundforEurope.Thismustbedoneonthesly,andfurthercomplicatingmattersisthefactthatanoldcriminalenemyofMagwitch's,Compeyson,ishotinpursuit.Compeyson,it'sdiscovered,isthesamemanthatswindledandabandonedMissHavishamsomanyyearsback.MissHavisham,meanwhile,issofteningabit,andseemsrepentantforherlife-longmissionagainstlove.

EstellahasbeenmarriedtoBentleyDrummle,amarriagethatanyonecanseewillbeanunhappyone.JustbeforePipistofleewithMagwitch,hemakesonelastvisittoMissHavisham,andfindsherfilledwithregret,wantinghisforgiveness.Unfortunately,shegetsalittletooclosetothefireandsetsherselfablaze.Pipheroicallysavesher,butshe'sbadlyburnedanddoeseventuallydie