In the novel Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, he uses Pip as his narrator to describe his ideals, opinions, and thoughts. He conveys the idea that wealth leads to isolation, and also that affection and kindness are more important to a person than social class and wealth. Pip is the perfect character to depict these concepts in the way that Pip is kind as a child but faces changes in himself as money and social class get involved and begin to corrupt him. This causes isolation but he straightens himself out eventually, putting an end to the solitude and coldness that he once carried.
In general and as a child, Pip is kind. The personality of someone as a child shows the quintessence of a person since it is the time before lifetime experiences affect the person's behavior and thoughts. In the case of Pip, he was kind until he met Estella, Miss Havisham, and the Satis House. They corrupt his way of thinking by making him believe that social class and wealth are what is going to bring he and Estella together. Pip first displays his kindness when he brings the food to the convict and is happy to see that the convict is enjoying the food. This kindness was what gave Pip his education and training to become a gentleman. Simple kindness was the motivation behind a convict who wanted the best for Pip. This shows how kindness has greater effects on a person than wealth and social class do. It did not matter to Magwitch when he was saving money the fact that Pip was poor and had no education; all that mattered was that Pip was a kind boy who helped him escape starvation.
Pip had a great desire to please and meet the demand of Miss Havisham and Estella. He believed that if Miss Havisham found Pip worthy, she would let him have Estella's hand in marriage. This was the reason Pip ended up changing so much. Pip was entirely unaware of Miss Havisham's true intentions of letting him meet Estella, and she was the reason that Pip wanted to become of a higher class and gain wealth.
