Great Expectations shows how it is sometimes necessary for a person to experience a series of humiliations in order to grow, and each humiliation forces the humiliated to redefine themselves in order to become whole. At the beginning of the novel, Pip has an innocence, without thoughts of "great expectations" because he has never had anyone suggest to him that he is in any way unusual. After Pip goes to the Satis House, he expects to become a gentleman and begins to value this opportunity more than anything else in his life, including Joe. Pip abandons his old life in search of gentlemanly status. During his attempt to become a gentleman, Pip is humiliated and with each humiliation he grows. This growth makes him value those who love him more than social status and wealth, just like he did before he got the idea of ​​"great expectations". Pip appreciates those who love him at the beginning of the novel not because he has grown up. on, but because this is all he has experienced. When he visits the Satis House, he is exposed to those who value money and status over family. This exposure makes Pip desire money and social position. Pip becomes dissatisfied with the life he was living. Pip's love for Joe before the Satis House is shown by Pip's thoughts when he thinks back to when Joe told Pip why he hadn't learned to read: “Young as I was, I think I dated a new admiration for Joe from that night . Afterwards we were the same, as we had been before; but afterwards, in the quiet moments when I sat looking at Joe and thinking of him, I had a new sensation of knowing that I was looking at Joe in my heart” (48). Pip's first visit to the Satis House corrupts his character by making him disgusted by t... middle of paper... just as Joe was from the beginning of the novel. Through a series of humiliations, Pip grows up and overcomes the corruption imposed on him by his childhood visits to the Satis home. He learns to appreciate those around him more than wealth or social status. At the beginning of the novel, he did not wish to be seen talking to Joe and Biddy, but at the end of the novel Pip was able to hold the hand of a man sentenced to death. He comes to terms that, while he may not be elevated to "gentleman", he has Herbert, Joe and Biddy. He realizes that while he may not be special in the grand scheme of things, his small action of stealing a file and some food for a desperate inmate, meant the world to Magwitch. He learns that even though he is not much of a London gentleman, he is the most important thing in Magwitch's life, and is therefore important and loved..