GE Bildungsroman

The first stepping stone in Pip’s coming of age is finding a place to belong. A quote that shows the fact that Pip did not know where his place was is when he says “l am ashamed to say it,” I returned, and yet it’s no worse to say it than to think it. You call me a lucky fellow. Of course, I am. I was a blacksmith’s boy but yesterday. Before Pip knows where he belongs he lives the dreaded life of a blacksmith. He knows what he wants, but he must grow to achieve his goals. An instance in which Pip shows that he has found where he belongs is when he says “As passed the church, felt… Sublime compassion for the poor creatures who were destined to go there, Sunday after Sunday, all their lives through, and to lie obscurely at last among the low green mounds”. This quote shows how much Pip despised his old small-town life. At this point in the story, he seems to know what he wants, and has no intention Of living and dying in the same place.

Another quote which shows that Pip comes of age by finding where he belongs is when he tells Estella ‘You have been in every prospect I have ever seen since – on the river, on the sails of the hips, on the marshes, in the clouds, in the light, in the darkness, in the wind, in the woods, in the sea, in the streets” (345). Pip, completely infatuated with Estella, has found his place physically in London, but mentally with Estella. No matter what he cannot stop loving Estella and is convinced that she is the one for him. Pip had to first find where he was destined to be to come of age. Once Pip finds where he belongs, he also figures out who he can depend on, which is another milestone in Pip’s coming of age. The first lifelong companion that Pip figures out he can depend on is Joe when he tells him “l sis it was only me that got put out, Pip; I wish there wasn’t no Tickler for you, old chap; I wish I could take it all on myself… “. Through Joe’s comforting and caring words, Pip knows he can depend on him as not only a best friend but a father.

Despite the abuse of Mrs. Joe, he wants to do right by women, and more than anything else, he wants to protect Pip, in which Pip comes to realize and respect about him. Another person Pip learns he can depend on is Biddy, from which he says “She was not beautiful – she was common, and could not be like Estella, but she was pleasant and wholesome ND sweet-tempered”. Although he will never love her in the way he loves Estella, Pip will always trust and depend on Biddy because of her patient’s behavior and her role in helping Pip with his education. Biddy is a constant in Pip’s life, a stable aspect in which he knows he can always depend on. Another person who Pip depends on throughout his coming of age is Miss Having when she says “You made your own snares. Never made them” (361 Pip can depend on Miss Having to be honest with him. Without honesty from Miss Having, it would be harder for Pip to grow up. Once Pip learned whom he could depend on, those individuals helped him grow up and come of age.

After learning who was most important in his life, another stepping stone in Pip’s coming of age was learning what is most important in life. A quote that shows the fact that Pip did not know what was actually important is when he says “l was to leave the village at five in the morning… And I told Joe that was to walk all alone. I am afraid… That this purpose originated in my sense of the contrast there would be between me and Joe, if we went to coach together. Pip was so concerned about his social status that he Was ashamed to be seen with Joe. Before Pip learns what is most important in life, he thinks it is his social status. A quote showing Pip’s transition into realizing the important aspects of life is when he thinks, “It was fine summer weather again, and, as I walked sunshine should be softened as they thought of me. In this thought, Pip is reminiscing on his childhood and with this develops a hope to be remembered after he is gone. Pip comes to realize in the back of his mind that he wants to be remembered or his personality, and not so much his status. Another quote in which Pip finally realizes what is most important is when he states “l washed the weather and the journey from my face and hands, and went out to the memorable old house that it would have been so much the better for me never to have entered, never to have seen”. Pip comes to the conclusion that he would’ve been better off if he had never entered the sati house or ever became infatuated with the idea of being wealthy. Pip opens his eyes to realize that the road to wealth and status never even mattered, and this is where he comes of age.