Great Expectations" & "The Sun Also Rises," Essay

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Great Expectations" & "The Sun also Rises," one may concur that both narrators are on opposites ends of the spectrum when comparing their reliability. In Great Expectations the main, character Pip is the narrator. Pip is considered a reliable source in the novel, on the other hand in " the Sun Also Rises" the narrator Jake Barnes is not viewed as a reliable source, there are scenes in the reading where it appears that one is not given all necessary information, as if to put the narrator in a better light in the reading overall. One main difference in the story detail is in the form of speech. Another correlation between the two books is the dramatic depictions of scenes and emotions throughout the readings.

The two novels compared here contrast in more ways then they compare. The setting of the book Great Expectations is in England during the mid-nineteenth century. In "The Sun Also Rises, the setting is more specifically stated as 1924. One point that is consistent between the novels is the tense of the writing which is past for both works. Another way that the readings contrast is in the tone of the works. The tone of Great Expectations is cheerful, comical, and satirical at times. On the other hand, The Sun Also Rises has, a tone that is somber, ironic, nostalgic, and detached at times. Another way that the two novels differ is the point-of-view from which the story is depicted. In Great Expectations, the point-of-view is in the first person, which the main character Pip gives his rendition of the occurrences. In The Sun Also Rises, the point-of-view is that of Jake Barnes who is not the main character. Both readings have various quotes throughout that help to bring the whole story together.

The quotes that will be discussed first are those found in Great Expectations. The following quotation depicts how the main character is consumed with the importance of what others think of him. This is truly, where one begins to see the characters developing. " My convict looked round him for the first time, and saw me . . . I looked at him eagerly when he looked at me, and slightly moved my hands and shook my head. I had been waiting for him to see me that I might try to assure him of my innocence. It was not at all expressed to me that he even comprehended my intention, for he gave me a look that I did not understand, and it all passed in a moment. But if he had looked at me for an hour or for a day, I could not have remembered his face ever afterwards as having been more attentive" (Dickens, 1965, Chapter 5).

This quote allows the reader to see that Joe does not want to blame Pip for the division in their friendship, but yet balm the division on society as a whole. "Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever so many partings welded together, as I may say, and one man's a blacksmith, and one's a whitesmith, and one's a goldsmith, and one's a coppersmith. Divisions among such must come, and must be met as they come"(Dickens, Chapter 27).

This quote is important in providing a rather significant metaphor. The metaphor is daylight actually meaning love. This quote also gives one insight into the character Estella. "I begin to think," said Estella, in a musing way, after another moment of calm wonder, "that I almost understand how this comes about. If you had brought up your adopted daughter wholly in the dark confinement of these rooms, and had never let her know that there was such a thing as the daylight by which she has never once seen your face -- if you had done that, and then, for a purpose, had wanted her to understand the daylight and know all about it, you would have been disappointed and angry? . . ."

'Or," said Estella, " -- which is a nearer case -- if you had taught her, from the dawn of her intelligence, with your utmost energy and might, that there was such a thing as daylight, but that it was made to be her enemy and destroyer, and she must always turn against it, for it had blighted you and would else blight her -- if you had done this, and then, for a purpose, had wanted her to take naturally to the daylight and she could not do it, you would have been disappointed and angry? . . .

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'So," said Estella, "I must be taken as I have been made. The success is not mine, the failure is not mine, but the two together make me" (Dickens, 1965, Chapter 38).

The following quote is significant in the fact that here Pip must re-evaluate his views and opinions of wealth and success. Here Pip learns that he owes all of his wealth and standing to a man of lesser means then that of himself. "Look'ee here, Pip. I'm your second father. You're my son -- more to me nor any son. I've put away money, only for you to spend. When I was a hired-out shepherd in a solitary hut, not seeing no faces but faces of sheep till I half-forgot wot men's and women's faces wos like, I see yourn. . . . I see you there a many times plain as ever I see you on them misty marshes. 'Lord strike me dead!' I says each time -- and I goes out in the open air to say it under the open heavens -- 'but wot, if I gets liberty and money, I'll make that boy a gentleman!' And I done it. Why, look at you, dear boy! Look at these here lodgings of yourn, fit for a lord! A lord? Ah! You shall show money with lords for wagers, and beat 'em!" (Dickens, 1965, Chapter 39).

Here Pip realizes that it is important to let Magwitch know about the daughter he never really knew. As well as a strong point for realizing the things that are most important to him in life and love. "Dear Magwitch, I must tell you, now at last. You understand what I say?"

A gentle pressure on my hand.

'You had a child once, whom you loved and lost."

A stronger pressure on my hand.

'She lived and found powerful friends. She is living now. She is a lady and very beautiful. And I love her!" (Dickens, 1965, Chapter 56).

The following are important quotes from the book The Sun Also Rises. This first quote sets the stage for the whole storyline. Early in the storyline, one sees the competitiveness of the character Cohn as well his growing insecurity. "Robert Cohn was once middleweight boxing champion of Princeton. Do not think I am very much impressed by that as a boxing title, but it meant a lot to Cohn. He cared nothing for boxing, in fact, he disliked it, but he learned it painfully and thoroughly to counteract the feeling of inferiority and shyness he had felt on being treated as a Jew at Princeton" (Hemingway, 1926, Chapter 1).

In the following quote Cohn show the reader that he hoped to change his perspective, and improve the way he felt about where he was and what was going on by moving and in a sense starting over. "You can't get away from yourself by moving from one place to another" (Hemingway, 1926, Chapter 2).

Here Jake, struggles with the fact that Brett has told him she would not be able to be faithful to him in they were together. He has a rather hard time with this fact and does not take the news well. "Couldn't we live together, Brett? Couldn't we just live together?"

" I don't think so. I'd just tromper you with everybody"(Hemingway, 1926, Chapter 7).

This quote comes from the final chapter in the book, it shows one the feelings of regret that Brett has over a love that could have been. Here Brett turned yet another prospective mate away only to find herself alone. "Oh, Jake," Brett said, "we could have had such a damned good time together." Ahead was a mounted policeman in khaki directing traffic. He raised his baton. The car slowed suddenly pressing Brett against me. "Yes," I said. "Isn't it pretty to think so?"(Hemingway, 1926, Chapter 19).

The climax in the book Great Expectations is a sequence of events i.e. Miss Havisham's burning in the fire, Orlick's attempt to murder Pip, and Pip's attempt to help Magwitch escape from London. The protagonist is Pip, and there does not appear to be an antagonist in the reading. There are characters throughout the reading that Pip must struggle with in the story.

Great Expectations does not contain a traditional single antagonist. Various characters serve as figures against whom Pip must wrangle with at various times: Magwitch, Mrs. Joe,.....

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