Great Expectations
Ch. 13-16
p. 99

"It is a most miserable thing to feel ashamed of home. There may be a black ingratitude I the thing and the punishment may be retributive and well deserved, but that it is a miserable thing, I can testify… Home had never been a very pleasant place to me, because of my sister’s temper. But, Joe had sanctified it, and I believed in it…. Within a single year all this was changed. Now, it was all coarse and common, and I would not have had Miss Havisham and Estella see it on any account."


This quote is from Pip’s mind. He is thinking how much he hates his home right now. He never liked it because of his sister’s temper, but, he had always held out hope for how the future would be. Now he is ashamed of his home because of how it would look to Mrs. Havisham and Estella. Pip always compares things to how their standards would be on something. Pip hates his new position as Joe’s apprentice, he finds the work menial and common. He now has no hope for the future because he is so disappointed with being an apprentice. When he was little he thought being an apprentice would be great and that he would love it. Now he hates it and isn’t sure how anything will turn out anymore. Pip had assumed too soon how his future would be, and now that he is disappointed he no longer feels there is anything good in store for him.

People should never jump to conclusions or assume things too soon because they me be proved wrong or disappointed.

Pip was disappointed with the future he chose, so now he just needs to choose a different one. It seems that he wants a future that is sophisticated and wealthy like Miss Havisham and Estella are.