The moment you are brought to life you are surrounded by the idea of being someone's daughter or son and as a child you are unaware, but as time passes you realize this relation. Thus, from the beginning of anyone's time they are already bound to the people around them in an inseparable way and these bonds continue through life. Then the expectations of not only living, but succeeding somehow in life are put on the children of the world. It is in "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens we see a vivid image of this painted before our eyes, mainly with the characters Estella and Pip. The affects of the people who brought up these characters made every difference in how they learned to react to the world and what place they saw themselves being in, in the future.
Mrs. Havisham, the adopted mother of Estella, plays a crucial role in guiding Estella and Pip along their lives. She becomes the puppeteer that warps Estella by making her heartless and through Estella creates a enormous dissatisfaction in Pip in his former life style. She plays her cards and uses her tricks because of how she yearns for a vendetta against men, and thus we realize how she was warped herself;
the pressure of living as we are supposed to can dictate our lives. The person we want to be for our family, friends and lovers can guide us in our decisions. The expectations of life are universal and ultimately subjective to every person alive and always present.
We have infinite ties to those around us and their influence is not always negative; we can learn to become stronger, love harder, think deeper and be kinder. The ties we make may end, but their memories will last much longer. Pip gains an ambition above all other to be with the one he loves, he does everything he is capable of to become a man Estella can love and be with in her society. This just shows how Pip gained an enormous strength and his kindness remains from the times he was side by side with Joe, helping guide his friend Herbert to happiness.
All in all, we are bound to those around us. We have people who will help carry us through the hard times and we have people who will challenge us in at times distressing way. They help shape who we are as can be seen through "Great Expectations" in Pip and Estella; one becomes cold the other becomes desperately in love. We are our own person and these things do help make us, but in the end we do have a choice. The choice to see things in our own way and the choice to choose who we are influenced by. So in the end who will you see in the mirror and when you take a good look around who will be standing beside you?
Works Cited:
Image 1:
"Tell Me You're Happy by yuumei on
deviantART." Tell Me You're Happy by yuumei on deviantART. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2014. <http://www.deviantart.com/art/Tell-Me-You-re-Happy-344159572>.
Image 2:
"Red String by Arcky-Cano on deviantART." Red
String by Arcky-Cano on deviantART. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2014.
<http://www.deviantart.com/art/Red-String-255243761>.
Image 3:
"Warped Reality by oO-Rein-Oo on deviantART." Warping Reality by oO-Rein-Oo on deviantART. N.p. n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2014 <hhtp://lith-lie-ark.deviantart.com./art/Warping-Reality-252490795>.
This same situation is one that I find myself grappling with on a daily basis. It is trying to create my own identity and not let the influence of family and friends affect my decision making process. The issue of school is also a concern. I remember when I approached my parents about pursuing literature, they were somewhat skeptical as they probably would have preferred that I take the science route. I stood my ground and insisted on my choice. Ultimately, it is my life and my future at stake and so I have to take matters into my own hands.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting perspective. Well said!
This is a very interesting post and it is entirely true. We all grow into adolescence with the influence of our parents and the people who surround us. Until we are old enough to become our own person and develop our own opinions, we are what our parents project upon us. We, as their children, are either stuck with whatever image they put into our brains, be it good or bad, or we can form our own opinions and live our own lives independently of our parents views. In order to live a good life, we must surround ourselves and keep company with the people who matter the most, and the ones who will love us no matter what. When you look into the mirror, you will see whoever and whatever you wish to see, it is all up to you.
ReplyDeleteOn one hand we do develop attachment to those who are close, physically or emotionally, to us. However, that attachment can also be mixed with obligation, and that is when we are faced with what is healthy to maintain. I do not believe that we are bound to people, I think that we make, or that we have the power to make, conscious decisions that can potentially benefit our person. And if being in relationship with someone takes away that power, then it isn't worth it.
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