The Virtual Coffeehouse

After reading the first part of Great Expectations, I find that Pip and Alice are extremely similar because of their adventures that ensue right from the beginning. Pip meets the convict while sitting in the graveyard looking at his parents grave, and Alice also starts her adventure with the hare while sitting around and being bored. In the same manner, both Alice and Pip, are unsure of what they are getting themselves into but instead of taking time to think about it, they just dive right in. Pip hesitates many times when thinking about giving the convict food, yet he still goes back to the graveyard to do so. Alice also follows the Rabbit down the hole and drinks concoctions without thinking about the effect of them on her. Even though Pip is a little more cautious about his decisions, Alice and Pip have many common adventures and traits.

I agree with Sarah in the fact that Pip and Alice are very similair in these two stories. They are about the same age in their stories, so that are still in that childhood phase when they are very curious about the world around them. They jump right into situations without a further thought about it, and without thinkng what might happen to them. They both go on adventures early on in the stories. Neither one of them is concerned about getting hurt or getting in trouble, they are more concerned about learning about the unknown. It is funny that they are both at the age where everything seems new and interesting, and they both somewhat want to find out and discover new things during their adventures.

Well, I agree in part. In the beginning of each story, both Alice and Pip seem to be in a state of boredom or, more so in Pip’s case, a state of reflection. They both get dragged into a vastly different situation by an outside force: the White Rabbit and the convict (the latter being severely more forceful and unpleasant than the former). As a side thought, it is interesting that Alice’s story pairs with a softer image (rabbit) while Pip’s story contains a violent, masculine image – try to imagine how different each story would be if Alice, or any young female character were in Pip’s place during that convict scene, or if a little boy started following the White Rabbit (would gender of the characters in each story make a difference?)

I think Pip’s situation is different in the sense that, although he still acts contrary to how I assume a child like him was raised – not to speak to strangers, not to steal, not to lie, etc., he feels guilty about going against these things and out of fear for his life (in accordance with the convict’s threat) goes against his better judgment. His guilty conscience for helping the convict makes him paranoid about getting caught. Alice, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to really think about her actions. She eats and drinks unlabelled things and goes along with her own vague scrutiny, or lack thereof, rather than based on what lessons she’s learned in reality.

I really enjoyed reading Danielle's take on the similarities and differences between Alice and Pip's worlds, and how each's curiosity guides their adventures and mishaps. It is true that Pip is basically dragged into the situation with the convict, where Alice chooses to go down and follow the rabbit. Also, at the end of Alice's adventures she wakes up, and is taken out of wonderland while Pip's adventures take place in the world that he lives in all the time, and are therefore inescapable in a way. Pip to me is also more contemplative and reflective than Alice. The grown ups in both world are frightening, except for Pips old chap Joe whom he seems to rely on for emotional support. Alice doesn't have anyone like that throughout her adventures, someone that she looks up to the way that Pip looks up to Joe. Pip also seems to have more freedom, as a male, than Alice does as a female, to roam about and do what he must. I could almost see how Alice's character could be alot like the character of Estella, in her manner. I think the thing that is most similar about them is the fact that they are children and because of this they will be curious about the world around them naturally.

I agree with what has already been said. Both Alice and Pip are naturally curious about the world around them in each of the novels. They are carefree and do not really consider the reality and consequences of their curiousity and actions. However, a major difference between the two characters is that Pip is living in this world and constantly experiencing things, where as Alice is dreaming and has the opportunity to wake up. All in all though, both characters grow and mature through their curiousity and actions in their worlds.

I agree with the direction that Danielle was taking her post. In a sense I find Pip and Alice to also be very similar in that they both have a sort of innocence that holds value. Also, both characters are intrigued by the unknown and unfamiliar: Pip is intrigued by the graveyard and the old man and Alice is intrigued by the white hare.

However, the way that Pip was brought up, I feel is slightly different from Alice's childhood. Pip states, "She [his sister] brought me up "by hand." (7). I think that this implies that his older sister brought him up using an abusive manner, which is why I think Pip feels guilty about his certain actions and also contemplates on being disobedient. Yet, Alice doesn't think about the consequences her actions might have, and I think it might have been because those who cared for her might have been a little more linient (although it was never really stated). Alice went to a prestigious school for young children, while Pip was an orphaned child living slightly less fortunate than her.

I agree with a lot of what has been said regarding curiosity, exploring, etc. And like Jessica said, they were raised in completely different ways. Alice had a more upscale upbringing while Pip was raised by his much older sister and her blacksmith husband.

Another important similarity though, is that they both feel the domination of those in charge of them and they feel the strain that it places on them. They are also differing in their authorities because Alice does not have an adult to confide in like Pip has in Joe.

I definitely agree with Cherilyn and Jessica about the different circumstances of how Pip and Alice were raised serving an important point. I feel that Alice's bravery and curiosity come from the fact that she is a well off girl who is surrounded by a lot of knowledge-provoking factors in addition to a (probably) loving family. She is curious and creative because her circumstances permit her to be so (a lot of free time, education, books, people like her sister who care to listen to her stories) and she is bold because her life allowed her to have confidence in herself and her surroundings (she is probably used to dealing with servants since she discusses her nanny and from the way she picks and chooses how to respond to strangers it's likely that she was taught to interact with others rather than be quietly present). Pip on the other hand is more likely creative out of a need for escape and brave because he otherwise wouldn't survive under the tough household that his sister runs. Maybe it's symbolic that his first unusual encounter is in a graveyard with a convict while Alice's is with a white rabbit in a pretty garden.

I agree with all of the points made in the above posts. Both Alice and Pip are questioning, curious, and explorative about a world which children cannot possibly fully understand. It is interesting to note that both Carroll and Dickens were fascinated with the intrigues of children and placed a great deal of emphasis on play and childlike behavior in their works. The repercussions of Alice's actions are essentially non-existent, for she is able to awake from her dream-like state. Pip, however, is an impoverished child being raised in 1800's industrial England. In this way, his 'adventure,' is less child-like than is Alice's adventure. Perhaps, his childhood reflects the extent to which Dickens himself was forced to grow up before his due time. Alice's character, and therefore her adventure, is more abstract and philosophical -- a dream, more or less. Pip's childhood is realistic and, therefore, easier to grasp.

Pip and Alice are both subject to their surroundings, like all children. Because they are children they look at the world through childrens eyes but as they pass through their journeys they see things that intrigue but disturb them. They become frusterated because things are not how they had always thought them to be. Alice sees how rude the mad hatter and the march hare are, Pip meets a convict who threatens him. They are adventurous children but still children with a lack of experience and common sense. Pip should have gone to the police, or told Joe of the man he saw. Alice should not have followed the rabbit down the hole but both go blindly forth because their years have not taught them caution.

I liked reading what everyone here has said about how everything that happens to Alice and Pip is filtered through their childlike perspectives, and they're both curious about the world around them and mentally fill in the gaps on their own when they do not fully understand the world. I thought about this right from the beginning of the novel - when Pip is at his parents' graves, he imagines his father was "a square, stout, dark man" based on the lettering on his grave. This reminded me of something Alice might think.

Since they are both so young, things happen to them rather than them actively creating their circumstances (especially Pip, as others have pointed out). Because of this, they spend most of their stories reacting to the world around them, and they do so in a childlike way.

I agree in part also, they both find themselves in strange situations... but I feel as thought Pip has a much more drastic situation. He is in an unloving home, and at times an abusive in an abusive home. Alice's situation is much more whimsical while Pip's is much more intense. They are both children put in very adult situations where adults are the aggresser, but I think Pip has a much harder situation to deal with than Alice does.

i agree with many points in the above posts. i do feel that in some ways pip and alice are in similar situations, however the main thing that i find important and different is that alice's story is all a dream where as pip is truly experiencing the dangers of his story. Alice may be in danger but it is never a true danger as she can wake up and escape the threats like the queen. Pip's life is truly endangered by the convict and he has no easy escape like alice did.