The Meaning of Tears, Saddest House, and Money in Great Expectations

TLDRCharles Dickens uses tears, the saddest house, and money as powerful symbols in his novel Great Expectations to represent passionate emotions, stagnation and death, and power and control, respectively.

Key insights

😢Tears represent passionate emotions and have a clarifying effect on the characters in the story.

🏠The saddest house symbolizes a lack of growth and a stagnant, death-like existence.

💰Money represents power and control over others, but it often leads to unintended consequences.

Q&A

What do tears symbolize in Great Expectations?

Tears in Great Expectations represent passionate emotions and have a clarifying effect on the characters.

What does the saddest house symbolize in the novel?

The saddest house symbolizes a lack of growth and a stagnant, death-like existence.

What is the significance of money in Great Expectations?

Money represents power and control over others, but it often leads to unintended consequences.

How does Miss Havisham use money to control Estella?

Miss Havisham uses money to make Estella do exactly what she wants, exerting control over her.

How does money affect Pip's life?

Money has a profound impact on Pip's life, leading him to become miserable as a gentleman.

Timestamped Summary

00:01Emotionally evocative symbols, such as tears, the saddest house, and money, occur repeatedly throughout the novel.

00:10Tears are used by Charles Dickens to represent passionate emotions like gratefulness, love, and shame.

00:12Tears have a benevolent clarifying effect on the characters, helping them gain insights and move forward.

00:15The saddest house symbolizes a lack of growth and a stagnant, death-like existence.

00:17Miss Havisham's bitter attitude creates a mausoleum-like structure where time seems to stand still.

00:20Money in the novel represents power and control over people's lives.

00:22Miss Havisham and Magwitch use money to manipulate and control others, but it often backfires.

00:25Money leads to unintended consequences and affects characters' lives in profound ways.