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What do you get out of Pip's description of Biddy and how she felt about it? Is he crushing? Does he love her? What DOES he feel towards her?
What are Biddy's feelings towards Pip, based on her behavior and their conversations?
Orlick is a creeper...thank goodness THAT tradition has passed: "I like you, so I'm going to dance at you."
16 comments:
Pip describes Biddy as not beautiful or exceptionally pretty, but common. She is yet another aspect of his life that he compares to Miss Havisham and Estella. Because she is common like Pip and not beautiful like Estella, Pip decides that she can be nothing more to him than a companion; Biddy does not live up to Pip's great expectations. Although she does not appeal to Pip in the ways that he seeks, he is drawn to her, nonetheless. She is the first person that Pip talks to about his goals and problems, and she genuinely cares about him. Pip likes Biddy, but he can't admit it to himself. He's not able to come to terms with the fact that he wants something common, in addition to that something being someone who he has grown up with (I'm sure we're all familiar with the awkward relationships that form out of childhood friendships). In turn, Biddy, who has liked Pip since she was younger, finds herself trapped in the "friend zone," but is mature enough to remain as a reliable and loyal friend. In my opinion, Biddy exceeds all that Pip desires. In fact, he said it himself—that falling in love with her is something that would be good for him.
And yes, Orlick is a super creep. I’ve started to imagine him with a pedophile beard and rapist glasses.
I agree with Lauren, Pip having seen the ways of the rich upper class, cannot come to terms of settling with Biddy. He has placed such high expectations within his life, and comes crashing down when listening to the voice of reason, which is from dear Biddy. He cries and lets his frustrations out to Biddy, because of his dilemma. Poor Biddy, listening about a girl he likes, while she herself has affection for him also. The behaviors of the rich also has clouded his reasoning and and he ultimately misses the greater picture, when he even concludes at the back of his mind that Biddy is THE girl for him.
Regarding Orlick, he's just really shady.
Pip seems to describe Biddy as someone rather ordinary. He has become accustomed to seeing her in his everyday life. There's nothing rather spectacular that Pip notices in her, however he does feel some sort of attraction to her, and becomes jealous when Orlick tries impressing her. This shows Pip has a simple crush, and if he weren't meant to climb the social ladder it is very possible he could have truly fallen for her. However, Pip can't see the possibilities of this because he is simply to caught up in the possibilities of being with Estella and her way of life. After confiding in Biddy that he 'loves' Estella, Biddy realizes she is losing him to the higher class of society. She gives a rather weak attempt at telling him to stay away from Estella, but seems to understand that Pip is destined for bigger and better things in his life.
I think that Pip does have some sort of a crush on Biddy. He describes Biddy as extraordinary and realizes that she is just as accomplished, if not more, than he is. For this reason, Pip finds himself attracted towards Biddy. He also becomes jealous when he is informed that Orlick may have feelings for Biddy. Although Pip tells Biddy that Orlick’s admiration for her does not affect him, it is clear that it does. Pip has known Biddy since they were just children, and he feels that he can confide in her. The fact that he confides in her shows that he is comfortable being around her. I think Biddy shares Pip’s feelings. However, I think that she is afraid of becoming too close to Pip because of the possibility of him becoming a “gentleman.” Pip even admits to himself that if he didn’t have greater expectations for himself, he would have enjoyed living his life with Biddy and Joe. Pip even asks Biddy if he would have been good enough for her. When he asked her this, I realized that he may care more about Biddy than he is revealing. Later on in their conversation, Pip tells Biddy that he will always tell her everything. She responds to him by saying “till you’re a gentleman.” When Biddy makes this statement, she lets Pip know that she isn’t going to waste her time playing games with him. I think that the only thing that is keeping Pip and Biddy apart is his opportunity to become something more than “common.”
I think that even though Pip wants to become part of a higher class, that he won't really be able to escape his "common" life. Even though he declared his love for Estella to Biddy, I don't think he can really know that yet since he didn't have much of a relationship with her. I think he has a crush and more feelings for Biddy then he thinks. I think his jealousy of Orlick is a sign of that. I also think that Biddy has feelings for Pip, but they've been crushed a little bit because of his moment of sharing his thoughts and feelings. I think Biddy would be better for him in the end, because she has understood him and gotten along with him from the beginning of his friendship, whereas Estella judged him on how "common" he was from the beginning.
I believe that Pip, like most young people, does not yet know how to identify love. He paints it as something showy, as seen in how he clings to the image of beatiful Estella, and cannot recognise that he has found his first love in Biddy. I believe that Pip really does love Biddy, but that he is just unaware of what true love is. He is the first person that Pip ever confides his frustrations with, and we see that Pip is often in awe with her intellecual capacity. He also becomes extremely protective of her when he learns of Orlick's pedifile dancing. As for Estella, she remains nothing but a cold reminder of all of things Pip does not have, yet, just like he he yearns to rise from his common life, he is eager to be 'worthy' of the cruel Estella.
Biddy's feeling are not as easy for the reader to sort out because we don't get to see things from her perspective, but one can conclude that she too has feelings for Pip. She is always there for him whenever he needs someone to turn to, and never declines a chance to be with him or help him. She also confides her fears in Pip concerning Orlick, which I believe to be a big step for Biddy considering she always puts others first.
At first I did think that Pip had a "crush" on Biddy, however, as their conversations progressed and they started spending more time together, it looked more like he saw her as a big sister then anything else. He looks to her for advice when he needs it, and most of the advice he needs is about another girl, so I don't think Pip loves Biddy in that way, however I do think he has a special place in his heart for her. I agree that Orlick is really creepy, and I think he needs to back off a little. I wonder if that behavior is normal for Victorian England or is it was just as weird as it would be now?
I feel that Pip subconsciously likes Biddy, and the only thing that's keeping him from liking her is that he has this dream of being with Estella. I think he only loves Estella because he longs for her class of life, and not being common. He instantly casts down the idea of liking her because she is also common, and that's not the life he is trying to pursue. Pip even feels jealous when Orlick tries to woo Biddy. I feel Pip would like Biddy if he would only let go of this dream of higher class and being with Estella.
Pip deffinately has feelings for Biddy. Although it may not be love I think he does feel something for her. However, I think his “love” for Estella keeps him from admitting that he has any sort of remote liking for Biddy. If Pip had gotten close to Biddy before meeting Estella, or therefore never meeting Estella, I think he would have realized that Biddy is someone that would be good for him. His jealousy of Orlick dancing at her only proves that. But his newfound snobbery won’t allow him to admit to himself that he likes Biddy because she is a commoner, just like he once was.
I believe Pip respects Biddy greatly. She is a young woman who seems to offer a sweet respectful home without abuse of its members, like what happened when Mrs. Joe was in charge. He also sees her inspiration to be a better or improved person in all the aspects she can, he really likes this about her. However, I still think that he is stuck on Estella and her mysterious beauty and expectations. Estella pushes Pip with her expectations of him and Biddy is a role model to look upon who chases her expectations and has few for the people around her. I beleive Biddy cares for Pip and has feelings for them but she places her duty before that and she looks to help Pip when he needs it.
Pip is so focused on social status, and outer beauty he refuses to acknowledge his feelings for Biddy. Dickens makes it evident that Pip contains a large amount of respect for Biddy, and he feels comfortable with her. Pip may only have a crush on her now, but it could evolve into something more. Pip's feelings for Estella are only holding on the foundation of her mysterious and unattainable appearance. As Pip grows as a person, he will realize that his relationship with Biddy is much healthier. Dickens gives little insight on whether Biddy has feelings toward Pip. Yet, you get a sense that, because of their close relationship that the feelings are mutual.
Pip describes Biddy as "common, and could not be like Estella," which makes Pip only see her has a friend. I think that Pip really does like Biddy because unlike Estella, he notices things about her personality, not just her looks. I think he isn't admitting his feelings because he still has a strong desire to be uncommon and feels that being with Biddy would prevent that. Pip feels so much lust for Estella that it is shadowing that he could truly love Biddy. Estella is beautiful and mysterious so it keeps Pip wanting more from her while Biddy is just the girl who is always there for him. My prediction is after Pip matures he will realize Biddy is the girl for him.
Pip describes Biddy as not beautiful but very ordinary. I feel that Pip does have feelings towards Biddy but he doesn't want to admit it. He just wants to see her as a friend who he can talk to. I feel that he does have a crush on her because he acts jealous when she tells him that Orlick dances to her. Biddy does have strong feelings towards Pip, but she just wants him to be happy. For example, when Pip told her about Estella, she doesn't really react to it like most girls would. I feel as if these two have a strong friendship. I hope that Pip will choose Biddy over Estella.
Pip is becoming a little more likeable at the end of this chapter, there seems to be a change in his character. Sometimes he treats other people like they have no feelings, yet he expects them to agree with him and love him. It seems like his whole life is made up of complaining and misery. Biddy is nice, but Pip takes little effort to make her happy, even though she’s one of the people who care about him the most. He starts to realize how annoying he’s been, and even starts crying. I’m not sure if he cries out of remorse or because his dreams are stupid. Either way it seemed silly to me the way it was played out. Still, the character looks at his close friends a little differently than before, but the end of the chapter makes it obvious these feelings won’t last.
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet", as Shakespeare once wrote. Or in lamence terms, what truly matters is what something is, not what it's called. It would appear that Pip has failed to realize this truth yet, as he still has a lot of his faith in an idealized longing for Estella when he has someone whom he may love in the form of Biddy. I am sure most of us can identify with the longing for true love, something that Pip, like most of us, can't truly understand. Pip seems to have played up his relationship with Estella so much that when something real comes within his grasp, he doesn't immediately jump on it. Although Pip does not describe Biddy as the most attractive if woman, his respect of her intellect and personality shows that there is definitely a respectable chance at a relationship there.
Pip does not love Biddy. He does care for her, and is beginning to see her as an acceptable girl for his common lifestyle. He even gets angry at Orlick for admiring Biddy. However Pip seems oblivious to Biddy's clues that she likes him, and he wants to confide in her more, but not about feelings toward her. He wants to confide in her about his wish to be a gentleman and his feeling for Miss. Estella. Pip compares the two, saying that Biddy is nice, but she couldn't compare to Estella in his mind. Pip is obsessive over the nicer life like that of Estella's social class and is increasingly dissatisfied of his coarse and common life.
Orlick is very creepy. The "dancing at" people is an odd tradition, but it could be entertaining- imagine the high school's hallways if we had kept the tradition.
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