The two endings did not seem as different as I had expected them to. In fact, many phrases are repeated. The only thing that differed was the tone, I think, because the original ending seems less optimistic. We aren’t told that Estella has come to terms with Miss Havisham’s teachings, only that she doesn’t seem to be under them any longer.
As for how things turned out – well, who really survives? It doesn’t seem like anybody does, except perhaps Herbert. To go through the list of characters:
Mrs. Joe, Miss Havisham, and Magwitch are obviously dead.
Joe is alive and still honorable, but his relationship to Pip isn’t exactly what it once was, as seen by his hesitation and use of ‘sir’ when Pip gets stronger and recovers from his illness. Can he really be seen as the same exact Joe?
Estella is…changed, though we don’t really know enough about her to know the extent of the change. She certainly is less proud, no matter which ending you choose to go by.
Pip has suffered the death of Magwitch and the loss of Estella. He has definitely changed.
It is interesting to note, (considering the way we had dissected the title in class) that the only expectation you can ever be sure of is death, and indeed, that seems to be what looms over this novel from the beginning (when we meet Pip at his parent’s graves) to the end.
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2 comments:
Pip is definately changed. Person can't be unchangeble for all his life. Especially Philip Pirrip.
And I think the interesting point for Pip was that he was in love with convict's daughter. Hehehe...
I agree that everyone does change or die in the story and no one remains the same, besides Herbert, as you said. I also agree with slovaak that it is ironic that Pip's great love happens to be the convicts daughter. The convict seems to follow Pip throughout the book, just as death looms throughout it as well.
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