The best of the best, from a Christmas Carol to Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens is one of the greatest writers of all time. Dickens reputation is known through out the world. Other books that Dickens has written are Great Expectations and Nicholas Nickelby. Both books have a some what similar story line. For example both main characters are on a journey to become gentlemen. The main characters in Great Expectations and Nicholas Nickelby , Pip and Nicholas, become affected by other characters, some who are similar, throughout the story.
These affects are caused by events that have occurred on there way to become gentlemen. Family members affected both main characters greatly throughout the stories. In Great Expectations, Pip, was affected by his parents death at an early age which caused Pip to go live with his sister and brother-in-law. In Nicholas Nickelby, the main character Nicholas, was also affected by a death of a parent. The death of Nicholas’s father caused Nicholas to leave home and pursue a career as a gentleman.
Dickens did not show much affection in his characters especially Pip who had never seen or remembered his parents ” As I never saw my father or mother, and never saw any likeness of either of hem ( for these days were long before the days of photographs ), my first fancies regarding what they were like, were unreasonably derived from their tombstones. “( Great Expectations, pg. 1 ). Nicholas who grew up under his fathers wing also did not show much affection towards his fathers death. Both characters where also affected by there uncles who were very respected gentlemen and money hungry.
Pip was affected by his uncle Pumblechook who introduced Pip to Miss Havisham which changed Pips life for ever. Nicholas was also affected greatly by his uncle Ralph, who helped Nicholas get into a school for gentlemen. These family members affected both characters greatly. When both Pip and Nicholas left home they were affected greatly by the characters that they now shared there life with. Nicholas was affected by Mr. Squeer who is a old man who is cheep with his money. For example when Mr. Squeer is in the tavern with the boys that he is bringing with him to his school he orders enough food to feed three when there is five of them to eat.
Pip was taut by Mr. Pocket who was a kind man and very bright. Although they were affected differently when they stepped in to the world they both came to be gentlemen. The love that the characters experienced was deep. Mostly Pip experienced love. Pip was in love with a girl named Estella whom he chased for many years. In the beginning Estella treated Pip badly. “She came back with some bread and meat and a little mug of beer. She put the mug down on the stone of the yard, and gave me the bread and meat without looking at me, as insolently as if I were a dog in disgrace… that tears started to my eyes.
The moment they sprang there, the girl looked at me with a quick delight in having been the cause of them. ( Great Expectations, pg. 58 ) this was one of the first times they met and Estella seemed not to like Pip although all she knew of Pip is that he was from a low class family. Throughout the story tension between these two is high. They bicker constantly and Estella keeps on being cruel towards Pip even though Pip loves her. She lead him on “…, she would coldly tolerate me; sometimes, she would condescend to me; sometimes, she would be quite familiar with me; sometimes she would tell me energetically that she hated me. Great Expectations, pg. 91 ).
It also didn’t help that Miss Havisham would “… often ask me in a whisper, or when we were alone, “Does she grow prettier and prettier, Pip? ” And when I said Yes ( for indeed she did ), would seem to enjoy it greedily. ” ( Great Expectations, pg. 91) these also led to Pips lovingEstella. Dickens seem to enjoy tormenting his characters in this manner especially in this story. Pip and Nicholas Lived similar lives and are very similar themselves. They both were affected by family and what happen to there families.
There Uncles had similar affects in there life. They also had the same goals. They both wanted to become enlightened by becoming gentlemen. They both lost a parent when they were young and they also live a interesting life. Great Expectations and Nicholas Nickelby are interesting stories. The two main characters are similar and have an equal amount of help from other characters throughout the two stories. They become affected by them greatly especially by there family for example there uncles who have a great impact on there lives.