Great Expectations is a novel that, in its first part, focuses largely on the upbringing and education of a young boy, Pip. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised "by hand" by his older sister and her husband, a blacksmith. Written from the point of view of adult Pip, the novel describes his limited education at the hands of Wopsle's aunt, as well as his apprenticeship in Joe's forge. His moral education is left to his sister, whose main teaching is that Pip should never have been born to torment his life with worries, and to a few lines from the Catechism, whose message to "walk in the same way in all the days of life" Pip follows religiously taking the same route home every day. Throughout his education one aspect is noticeably absent: the indoctrination of a spiritual code or set of beliefs. Indeed, throughout the novel, Pip seems unaware of any higher purpose for his actions and circumstances, and most of the philosophical thought in the narrative comes from Pip the Narrator, writing in a later period. Because of this distinct absence, the first mention of something that has spiritual significance is important. For Pip this is not a teaching of the Church, but rather his own domestic space. Embracing this space would perhaps be Pip's best chance at happiness, but instead he rejects it. Pip's rejection of "sacred domesticity" occurs three times in his early life and leaves him vulnerable to external forces that threaten to take away control of his destiny. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Before Pip is even consciously aware of the sanctity of his home, he violates that sanctity by stealing food for the inmate. This is one of Pip's first actions narrated by his older self, and the first instance the reader sees of him losing control of his actions. However, although in his mind he is forced to commit this theft without resorting to anything, the degree to which he follows his orders shows a deliberate violation of the sacred space of the kitchen. As he explains, "I almost left without the cake, but I was tempted to climb onto a shelf, to see what had been so carefully placed in a covered earthenware dish in the corner, and discovered it was the cake." . , and I took it, in the hope that... it would not be missed for some time" (52). First, the condemned man did not specify the amount to be withdrawn and Pip had already taken bread, cheese, minced meat, brandy and a meat bone. Taking the cake is Pip's choice; he says he is "tempted" to turn and climb onto the shelf. The cake has a greater meaning than all the other foods; final of the next Christmas dinner. Assuming that young Pip had no choice but to take a certain amount of food (as he believes and makes the reader believe), he would take a minimum of bread and cheese and a piece of meat. made a victim of the prisoner, rather than a criminal, as he feels in his heart that when he takes the cake, perhaps it is unconsciously out of spite towards his sister, but whatever his motive, the choice serves him in a small way to regain control. : He can choose what to steal.Pip's second rejection of sacred domesticity occurs when he begins to be ashamed of his home and longs for a different life. She says, "Home had never been a very pleasant place for me... but Joe had sanctified it... I had believed in the front door, like a mysterious State Temple portal... I had believed in the kitchen like a chaste but not magnificent apartment I hadbelieved in the forge as a bright path to virility and independence" (140). Ironically, it is only when he realizes this that he feels he must distance himself from it. The final sentence of this passage is significant in that if the forge represents virility and independence, then rejecting that physical structure also means rejecting those ideals; he never declares that he does not want to be a man or independent, but in the years following his realization these things are not a priority, and his actions are. they reveal. He enjoys the independence of his newfound fortune, but only to the extent that it takes him away from home and brings him closer to the vague situation of "gentleman". .And since he does not work, he is actually more dependent than the humblest blacksmith. When Pip moves to London, and during his residence with Herbert Pocket, Pip becomes a man in terms of years, but age does not lead to maturity. He never mentions his pride in being a man and lives far beyond his means, lacking the wisdom to curb his extravagance. Pip rejects domestic life, but if he hadn't he would have been financially stable and more independent. After rejecting sacred domesticity in thought, he ultimately rejects it in practice when he moves to London to obtain his gentlemanly education. Pip mistakes his potential for domestic happiness for his expectations. Although he thinks this is a positive change in his life, in reality he is more uncertain than ever. He says of his expectations, “And at best, how undefined and unfulfilling, only to know so vaguely what they are” (277). The very word “expectation” implies an indefinite end, because that end depends on external forces. Pip simply waits for events to happen, instead of working towards an end goal. His view is reflected in his roommate Herbert, who is "always looking around" for his fortune. He expects his fortune to be made through opportunity, rather than making a fortune for himself. Pip is even less active; while Herbert has the dream of making capital to invest, Pip simply lives life day by day, only doing what he is told. He tells Herbert, “I can't tell you how dependent and uncertain I feel, and exposed to hundreds of possibilities” (277). By placing his future entirely in the hands of others, Pip allows others to take control of his life story. When Pip learns of his great expectations, his higher life purpose changes from the glory of manhood and independence to dependence on luck. He increasingly looks to this changing deity for meaning and support. Pip tells Herbert, "I know that I have done nothing to grow in life, and that only luck has raised me; that is very fortunate" (277). Until he realizes his expectations, Pip appears to have no notion of Fate or Luck, and mention of these is noticeably absent in the first part of the novel. To Fortune, however, Pip attributes the most significant thing that has happened to him. In this sentence he also rejects the education he received from Mrs. Joe: he states that he was "raised by luck", echoing the phrase "raised by hand" that he heard several times during his childhood. For Pip, being raised by luck is much more pleasant than being raised by hand, which for him meant being constantly subjected to punishment. However, Pip's rejection of sacred domesticity in favor of his expectations is problematic because it does nothing to help him. control his own destiny and does not bring him happiness. At one point he even thinks that "I would have been more, 1998.